Reply #159: That's an interesting choice too

[MADem]

Makes you wonder, if this might be part of the GRAND PLAN. All I can do is think of the constipated expression on McCain's face whilst he campaigned with weecowboy. He really did look like he was on the receiving end of a brutal protological exam by Dr. Edward Scissorhands. But hey, he's a war hero, he suffered grave torture at the Hilton, and he bravely saw that through--I suppose campaigning with weewee could not have been too much worse, and it had a 'knowable' time limit on it. Perhaps having to kowtow to weecowboy on the campaign trail was a "quid pro quo" for this eventuality.

And it would position McCain for 08--the bottom line is, if McCain is not well positioned, he may as well give it up--he's getting too old to have to fight his way through a pack of pretenders, but if he is the putative leader of the party, there won't be too many challengers (at least amongst those who want to continue to get cash from the RNC coffers).

THAT SAID, we need someone to tell us what the rules are vis a vis the replacement of a Senator in both AZ and TN--special elections, or gubernatorial appointment? Or a combination thereof????