Many pundits have compared the weak 2012 GOP presidential field to the infamously weak 1992 Democratic field. Steven Taylor rejects this:
Who are the Republican heavy-hitters who are sitting out this race? … If it appears that the current GOP field looks like the 1992 Democratic field (i.e., like a bunch of second stringers) that is a comment on the current quality of the GOP, not that 2012 is a Republican version of 1992. This is important to note because I think that it speaks to the overall weakness of the Republican field at the moment, and also underscores that the party is currently going through something of an identity crisis.
The Dish 