The Scary Ticket

Now that John McCain has secured the Republican nomination, let's play devil's advocate and choose a vice presidential candidate for him.

John McCain has been accused of splitting the Republican Party. Sounding familiar? Seems like the Democratic Party is splitting as well due to the prolonged primary fight (not really, but the pundits would have nothing to talk about otherwise so they have to make up some drama). The problem for John McCain is that he really is a moderate. And being a moderate is what is splitting the conservative base from the moderates in the party. So he has some problems, or does he?

The reality is that the party doesn't get you elected, the general election does. For the most part, when not under duress as has been the case in the past two terrorism-filled elections, the general electorate likes moderates. Bills get passed and everyone feels good. The last time we had hard-line conservatives were Reagan and Bush Jr. Both of whom pretty much trashed the country. Reagan enlarged the deficit so big it took three presidential terms to clean up his mess. And Bush Jr., well, enough said (it's the economy stupid.. or is it the war stupid... or is it the freedoms we've lost during this administration stupid... oh hell). Basically, moderates are the way to go.

So, McCain is actually a danger on the ticket because he's a moderate. The problem he has is that he is turning away the conservative, evangelical base. This may actually hurt him because everyone is either a conservative or a liberal these days and there seems to be no middle ground. So McCain is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Does he stay moderate or does he pander to the Right? Well, he's trying to do both. He's for the war going on indefinitely, he's for doing nothing about the mortgage crisis (let the banks and the people holding the loans work it out... no government interference), and he's for continuing Bush Junior's legacy.

On top of that, he's too damn old to be president! And his wife looks like she can't stand him and is there hoping to be a first lady.

But that aside, who does he pick to be on the ticket? Frankly, it's a no-brainer: Mike Huckabee. Huckabee's days are numbered as a presidential nominee. But he's a great guy. I love listening to him on the radio. I can't stand his views, but he's a great guy as far as conservatives go. And that's the danger. Mike Huckabee can bring in the rest of the vote that John McCain can't. He could easily slip into presidential shoes if McCain were to become incapacitated or die in office forcing the executive branch to lean too far to the right. And he could easily run as his party's nominee if McCain decided not to go for a second term (should he win this election).

Frankly that scares the hell out of me. A McCain/Huckabee ticket would be quite formidable. And, frankly, it's McCain's only choice if he has any hope of overcoming the need for change that the electorate is demanding.