[Vigilanteman]

Just a simplistic thought.

1. Rudy, Pataki are needed worse in New York.
   
2. Ridge has military experience, not FBI experience like the Oklahoma governor.
   
3. This is closer to a military than an FBI operation.
   
4. There is just a remote possibility that GWB and his advisors know what they're doing.

[Tanniker Smith]

Also, taking Pataki out of the mix virtually assures that the next gov of NY will be either Andy Cuomo or Carl McCall (both Dems).