Did anyone think in 2004 that Democrats would deliver a whoop-ass licking to Republicans in 2008 and that an African-American would be elected president? No one that I can recall.
Early speculation by Republicans about who may be their candidate in 2012 is pointless and a bit comical.
When one party gets stomped in the polls, for the first few weeks at least, they often loudly proclaim how they are already organizing for the next election and that the other side had better watch out. Then reality sets in and they see just how much power they have lost and how long back their road really is.