Reply #19: I don't think so, but let's keep an open mind

[Jack Rabbit]

If the convention were to be held today, it is almost certain that Kerry would choose a fellow Democrat as his running mate.

The convention is being held in July.

The Bush junta is full of surprises, almost all unpleasant ones aimed at undermining American democracy. Let's consider a fantastic, extremely unlikely scenario that would be ludicrous from any other administration in American history except this one.

Let's say we catch Bush plotting to circumvent the election and remaining in power in spite of being rejected by voters. Support for Bush would then become untenable, regardless of one's personal ideology. Among the pundits, only the disreputable ones would stand by him. Coulter would support him, maybe Limbaugh and Hannity, but not Will and probably not Novak and definitely not Safire. Among Congressmen, he will get support from DeLay and Inhofe, but moderate Republicans like Chaffee, Snowe, Collins and Christopher Shea and sober conservatives like Hagel and McCain would drop him like a bad habit and openly support Kerry.

Under those circumstances, a national unity ticket with Kerry for President and a sober conservative Republican like Hagel or McCain for Vice President would be an excellent idea. It would do what is really necessary in American politics: restore the balance that yuppie fascists and neo-conservatives have upset. It would make it clear that there is a difference between a conservative, with whom we can have a dialog, and a fascist, who wants to put anybody who disagrees with him behind barbed wire at Gitmo. It would marginalize the fascists once and all.

It would not last. It would not be intended to last. However, it just might heal the wounds that the Bushies have inflicted.