I don't really know too much about Jeb so I can't say for sure about him. But I do know that he has absolutely no shot of winning anything on a national stage; his name is now poison.

Mitt, before he got sucked into the evangelical trap, ran as a fiscal conservative and was the "I understand the economy" candidate. I think, had he gotten the nod, things might have gone a lot differently in terms of response to the financial crisis. One way or another, Mitt would have had a plan, which is something I can't really say for President-elect Obama or Senator McCain.

As for Palin, she was 4 years ahead of her time. Put her running a state for long enough and you're experienced, no matter how small the state is. Even with four more years of training, I think she's too damaged goods to try for a national office nowadays.

Anyway, this wasn't the author's choice, just a prediction of who would run.