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I’ll bet if Dole had secured the nomination in 1988 (I supported him over Bush, Sr. at the time, btw, even though I wasn’t old enough to vote, but I was already chin-deep into politics), his running mate would’ve been none other than, you guessed it, Jack Kemp. I surmise Dole would’ve won, but he wouldn’t have done the “read my lips” bit that would ultimately kill Bush, Sr.’s chances for a second term. Dole probably would’ve been a marginally better President. Jack Kemp might’ve successfully managed to succeed him in 1996, despite a few nutty positions, his pleasant personality and unquestionable earnestness on bringing Blacks & Hispanics back to the GOP would’ve probably gotten it done. Ultimately, we would’ve dodged all the Bushies (although perhaps it would’ve been Jeb that might’ve ended up a leading Presidential contender for 2004).

Unlike all you young whippersnappers, I had the highly dubious honor of actually working (yes Virginia, for money) on Bush '92. (I was ignominiously fired and fairly well paid off at the behest of Mary Matalin, et al. when I suggested rather strongly, (a) that she was 'pillow-talking' with then fiancé Snakehead, and (b) that GHWB's strange refusal to use rock-solid anti-Clinton information was tantamount to his throwing in the towel ... which I shall believe to my final day on the planet (hopefully AFTER Fidel) he did. He had enough to sink BJ in that three-way debate with Ross Perot. Why didn't he use it? What the Hell did BJ have on HIM? The greatest political mystery IMNSVHO of the 20th C.

Anyway, my children, believe what you must about Ross Perot, but our internal numbers showed him taking votes from the Republican side of the equation, NOT from Billie-Boy.

GHWB? Wimp? Who knows? Just an AWFUL STUPID LACKADAISICAL CAMPAIGN ... maybe blame Matalin and Karl Rove. Among the many things I will never forgive Bush AND Rove for is the Rodney King Debacle in LA ... an ounce of toughness there just might have won him CA! If ever the peasants needed "a whiff of grape..." that was it. (Napoleon said that, FYI)