None of those three former ambassadors exactly lit it up as president, and all three were one termers, with Buchanan being the worst president in history.

Obama is a brilliant tactician, having neutralized the Clintons, kept much of the defense and national security team in place (while simultaneously abolishing the excesses of Bush), and now picking this ambassador.

In 2012 my guess is the GOP big shots will make a determination whether Obama is weak enough to lose or not. If not they'll hold their fire for 2016 and allow Palin or Huckabee to be the scarificial lamb.