Veep-ing with the enemy: Doug Powers considers rumors of McCain as Kerry's running mate

John Kerry's choice of a vice presidential candidate could be a "make or break" for his campaign. Kerry knows he needs somebody more to his political right, which doesn't narrow it down much, since he could consider every single American and only end up eliminating Michael Moore and Ed Asner from the list of potentials.

The latest buzz has been over the possibility of Arizona Sen. John McCain switching parties and becoming Kerry's running mate. Will it happen? At first thought, this may seem plausible, but it won't occur.

Recently, McCain further stoked the coals of the rumor furnace after telling a reporter "I'd entertain the idea ..." when asked about the possibility of running with Kerry. Making this appear more likely is the fact that, over the years, John McCain has been in bed with more Democrats than Marilyn Monroe.

The "McCain-Feingold bill", the "McCain-Kerrey bill" (Bob Kerrey, Nebraska Democrat), the "McCain-Feinstein bill," the "McCain-Lieberman bill," the "McCain-Leahy bill," the "McCain-Edwards-Kennedy bill" and even the "McCain-Kerry" bill – the list goes on. If McCain sucks up to one more Democrat, he'll be qualified to win a dream date with Maureen Dowd.

In addition, Kerry and McCain describe each other as "good friends." Senators from different sides of the aisle being "good friends" make me nervous. It's the same feeling I'd get if I were on trial, and, during a break, saw the jury foreman and prosecuting attorney yucking it up over beers.

John McCain's preoccupation with bipartisanship, evident in his Campaign Finance Reform bills that attempt, in part, to discourage negative ads, may also lead people to believe he'd be happy to run with Kerry. McCain's CFR dream of everyone in Congress holding hands and singing "Kum ba ya" as a single blob of tax-collecting, red-tape creating harmonic convergence is an attractive quality to some, further fueling the VP rumors.

From McCain's perspective, however, he wouldn't end up agreeing to be Kerry's running mate simply for what he would stand to lose. A long time senator with the experience of McCain isn't about to drop all he's worked for, quit the senate, and switch parties, to run on a presidential ticket that could end up as "Dukakis-Bentsen II: Bigger and more embarrassing."

From the Democrats' perspective, there is no way that Bill and Hillary, Terry McAuliffe, Ted Kennedy and the rest of the people who run the party are going to admit that, in order to defeat President Bush, they need to steal away a Republican in order to do so – not with the tremendous pool of likable talent they already have from which to choose (pause for laughter).

Some Democrats are excited about the prospect of a "Kerry-McCain" ticket. Columnist Bill Press said the hypothetical race would be known as "the two war heroes vs. the two draft dodgers." Other historically anti-war types have agreed, and have hopped on the Kerry bandwagon. It's amazing to witness many of those who spent the better part of their lives being doves turning into "Sergeant Rock" before our very eyes.

The metamorphosis of the anti-Bush from pacifism to embracing and touting Vietnam service just to get rid of a president they can't stand is quite stunning. These last few months, we've seen even the staunchest of peaceniks get so "ten hut!" and "forward harch!" that they make even Patton look like a total pansy.

This behavior is merely a sellout mentality of desperation to oust Bush, and it shouldn't be misread as actual support for the military. It's not as if they've seen the light or anything. If Bush's opponent were Popeye, they'd start eating spinach like there's no tomorrow, and cringing all the way. Such is the sudden embrace of military service.

Kerry's highly liberal leanings will be attractive at the polls to ... well ... liberals, but he'll need a tremendous offset if he's to have any chance. Couple that with occasional off-the-cuff impressions of Andrew Dice Clay, and the man who the AFL-CIO now knows as "the course whisperer" will need a steady running mate and a continuous intravenous drip of Xanax to not implode during the next eight months.

We'll keep hearing a buzz about McCain for a while, but he won't end up running with Kerry. Will it be Bill Richardson of New Mexico? John Edwards?

Florida's Bob Graham would appear to have the upper hand at the moment, since he's already got a place in Florida ... which means that Kerry's staff will have a free place in which to crash during the inevitable recount.

1 posted on 03/15/2004 3:55:34 PM PST by RightWingReader

Dukakis-Bentsen - the famous Boston-Austin Axis! Ha!

I found Dukakis' inability to either help control or care enough about his wife's propensity to drink cleaning fluid to be dispositive on his potential effectiveness in the war on Drugs.

BTW - is Lloyd Bentsen still alive?

2 posted on 03/15/2004 4:18:51 PM PST by Wally_Kalbacken (Seldom right, never in doubt!)

Kerry's choice will be Spain's Socialist Party prime minister-elect Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

3 posted on 03/15/2004 4:22:34 PM PST by jigsaw (God Bless Our Troops.)

I'll never forget a Massachusetts resident telling me during that election that beer cans discarded by the road were known as Kitty Litter.

4 posted on 03/15/2004 4:25:25 PM PST by jigsaw (God Bless Our Troops.)

Graham is too busy documenting his last bowel movement!

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