Rush's pick in 2012: Palin, of course

At the time of the book’s writing this spring, Limbaugh’s frontrunner for his support in the 2012 presidential race was Sarah Palin, whom he calls “the most prominent, articulate voice for standard, run-of-the-mill, good old-fashioned conservatism.” A surprising second choice so far is Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty, whom Limbaugh praised as a choice for the vice presidential nomination in 2008.

But it definitely won’t be Mike Huckabee (Limbaugh considers him “an irresponsible populist”) or Newt Gingrich (who has “gone soft” in Rush’s opinion) or once-favored Bobby Jindal (he has stopped referring to him as “the next Ronald Reagan” and scarcely mentions him at all)…

Chafets notes Limbaugh’s libertarian streak, which puts him on the opposite sides of some big issues from family values conservatives.

“He regards homosexuality as, most probably, biologically determined, and while he opposes gay marriage as culturally subversive, he has no problem with gay civil unions. — which is the stance of President Obama and Hillary Clinton… He is not opposed to capital punishment, but he ‘wouldn’t go to the mat over it.”