The country could do a lot worse than Dan Quayle (arguably, it did). Or we could've had Liddy Dole (another entry-level wannabe).
After the '96 fiasco, it was demonstrated that it was going to take more than a good philosopy to keep Gore from screwing the country. We needed a name-brand.
It's remarkably easy for the Bandows of the world to sit back and shoot at a Bush. They had no plan to get the 'Craps out of the White House.