[sittnick]

What's wrong with George Allen (VA)? Or Sam Brownback for that matter?

[NetValue]

McCain shot a big hole in his own foot.

[Gipper08]

I will try and not and be too negative. But Allen's and Brownback's fiscal policies(Medicare,NCLB for starters) will enable McCain to get to the right of them fiscally.Allen's views on life,while he is prolife, has caused life groups to look elsewhere. Brownback would divide the perry on immigration.Both of them are big government conservatives who would divide the Reagan wing.We must have a nomin ee who is a staunch Social and fiscal conservative.

[Spirited]

Bush must think that they are too conservaive. Perhaps he promised McCain help in return for his backing a la Specter.

Looks as though the fix is in we get a choice of two flaming liberals...Clinton--McCain.

[BlackElk]

Nothing wrong with Allen or Brownback (other than Brownback's lack of executive experience). IF, as suggested by Gipper08, Allen does not thrill pro-lifers and those socially conservative on other issues, I feel confident that he can take a sufficient written pledge to satisfy doubters.

If McCain (whom I am ashamed to say I favored in 2000) is nominated, he might choose Russ Feingold as his running mate. McCain-Feingold has that familiar ring. Actually McCain's real danger is that, in his Captain Queeg persona, he will run 3rd party in which case he would choose a Demonrat dweeb running mate to show America that he will end partisanship as we know it. Of course, show me the candidate who promises to take the politics out of (name yer poison) and I will show you a candidate with complete contempt for public input who wants to replace party bossism with personal bossism. Oh wait, that defines McCain, doesn't it?

gipper08: Mike Pence certainly seems to be a wonderful guy and a wonderful congressman. On the other hand, legislators who have no executive experience rarely win the White House. Since the Civil War (and probably longer) only three incumbent senators have been elected: Benjamin Harrison in 1888, Warren Gamaliel Harding in 1920 and John F. Kennedy. In terms of actual achievements, each was eminently forgettable. In 1880, the election produced the ONLY sitting Congressman to be elected in American history: James Garfield, also eminently forgettable but he was Speaker of the House not a junior member. Would it not be better by far for the relatively youthful Pence to become a cabinet secretary or governor of Indiana as a stepping stone. Executive experience and performance are not negligible items. If you really think that a legislative seat is a launching pad, maybe he should take out Evan Bayh. I am very enthusiastic for Pence as a future major leaer and even president but three terms in Congress are a very thin resume.