Let me try to answer a few of the things I've read here;
Clinton revived his legend when the GOP took over the Congress in one election (it has been done before). Where Clinton dissembled about balancing the budget the new GOP majority made it happen along with welfare reform in 1996.
The GOP never made Romney's religion an issue why should anyone else except for the democrats and the media.
Sarah Palin? Despite the fact that she was gang banged by the media she is more popular than ever in this country. How do you figure that?
Huckabee? He has spent too much time trying to impress the Hollywood crowd with how reasonble he is and some non-religious conservatives think he is too religious.
There are plenty more but don't wait for the media to tell you about them. Michelle Bachman, Mike Pence, Tim Pawlenty, Rick Perry, and Hailey Barbour to name a few.
As for the differences between the GOP and the Democrats; it is now about conservatives and progressives. There is a huge difference twixt the two. Progressives are the next worst thing to marxist-socialists. Read the history of the progressive moment. This isn't Glenn Beck redux. I wrote my first paper on progressives and eugenics about four years ago. Beck is now finding this stuff out. Progressives do believe that they can run you life better than you. They have believed in science and think science can make better people whether they want to or not.