From the best I can tell, Alan Simpson is a 'John McCain' Republican. That, or the only time the media ever pays attention to him is when he doesn't tow the party line. Hell, what IS the 'party line' anymore? If someone asked me what a "Republican" is, I honestly wouldn't know what to tell them or have a good answer.
Had Simpson been pro-life, he, not Dan Quayle, was GHWB’s supposed choice for VP in 1988.