I'm kind of bemused by Joesitz thinking Kwan is not podium material (just because she finished 4th at Worlds 2005, I suppose).
Take a look back at Worlds 2005. The one segment of the competition where Kwan really blew it was the QR---and in fact, that was where she lost out on the podium. The QR was her first attempt at a CoP program, and she failed miserably, perhaps because she had a touch of stage fright. Kwan finished 3rd in both SP and FS, and in fact beat Kostner in both TES and PCS in the FS, despite the emptiness of "Bolero".
We are not going to see any empty programs at Torino. Kwan is working hard at two CoP-friendly programs choreographed by a woman who knows how to construct winning programs.
IMO, Kwan is not only a contender, but a very strong contender. Sasha has never performed at her best at a competition where a major title was at stake, and I don't see her pulling off a great performance at Torino. Irina, too, is subject to nerves at the major competitions, and this time she won't be skating at home. Like Kwan, Shizuka is trying to regain lost glory, but the record shows that she has never been a consistent skater. With a fire in her belly, Kwan can compete with the best and come out on top---and she knows that.