In the words of the Rolling Stones ...

 "You Can't Always Get What You Want".

When conservatives talk about who they'd like to see opposing Obama in 2012, the favored candidates are always the ones who haven't said they're running or have specifically said that they aren't running.

The GOP is waiting to be rescued ...

Who could rescue the GOP in 2012?

Update: Ace of Spaces on the same topic:

"Right now the field as constructed is heavy on people who can really energize small segments of the party (Santorum, Paul and yes, Herman Cain) or are likely to be viewed as "serious" candidates but don't get too many people really excited (Romney, Pawlenty and maybe Daniels). I'd put Palin in Huckabeee in another group...at this point they are polarizing figures that have more support than the first group but face a challenge in growing beyond their current support."