The Unknown Prophet

I still can't make myself believe that "Sailor" will actually go all the way to Minneapolis next August.  Ditto Huckles.  No matter how strenuously the Enemy Media tries to shove that diabolical duo of deceit down our trunks, there are primaries up-coming that are firewalled against Donk/"Independent" interference, where the true voice of the GOP electorate can be heard.  The question is whether that GOP electorate will have been convinced that Thompson, Romney, and even Giuliani are "finished" and their only choice is between Elmer Gantry and Darth Queeg.

The EM tried that eight years ago, but George W. Bush had a much stronger frontrunner perception in the public mind, and McCain self-destructed right after his New Hampshire upset.  This time Huckles is running away with South Carolina, McCain is running away with Michigan, and there is no default conservative alternative.  It's difficult to think either of them will blitz through the February 5th "national primary," but if no dominant counterpoint emerges against them....

Could we really be looking at a McCain-Huckabee ticket?

-Me, seven months and thirteen days ago

But wouldn’t Huckabee make a lot of sense given the things we’ve learned the last two weeks? 1) McCain might have a “wealth problem,” and certainly Democrats are going to try to hit his wealth for all its worth in their play for working-class voters; Huckabee doesn’t have a problem on this front, and has lots of working-class cred. 2) The pro-choice trial balloon hasn’t been well received, and it’s clear that a pro-choice nominee would create a major disruption; Huckabee is pro-life. 3) Obama picked Biden who is going to a vivid presence (for better or worse) on the stump and could be formidable in debate; Huckabee is a great campaigner and might be just the guy to puncture Biden in a debate. 4) (This is a less important point.) The McCain folks have made a huge deal about differences between Obama and Biden during the primaries; McCain and Huckabee didn’t have much in the way of differences and went out of their way to praise each other.

-National Review editor Rich Lowry, today

No, it doesn't make me a prophet - yet.  But I'd be astonished if McCain wasn't pondering all of the above points.  And, as I've said more recently, if Darth Queeg wants to indulge his "maverickiness" (more than he wants to win) and still choose a pro-lifer, what other choice is there but Huckles?

It'd be a disaster, of course.  There's no such thing as a "wealth problem" because there's nothing wrong with being rich unless your fortune was gotten illegally.  There are more wealthy Democrats in government than there are wealthy Republicans, after all; good heavens, the Kennedys have had silver spoons in their mouths from Patriarch Joe's hootch fortune for three-quarters of a century, and they ran a billionaire for president four years ago, but that didn't prevent Uncle Teddy and Lurch from being added to the convention speaking roster this week.  When libs attack "wealth," they're not attacking being rich, but NOT being liberal.  "Wealth" is no different from "war" or "sexism" or "racism" or "homophobia" or any of the other ideological strawmen left-wingnuts demagogue as avatars of conservatism.  As soon as a Republican nominee starts apologizing for his wealth, he's as good as done.

Besides, since when has Darth Queeg ever been known for his wealth?  And how would adding Governor Biscuits & Gravy deflect a classist line of attack once Sailor had begun retreating from it?

As for a need to counter Biden, since when was he chosen to be Barack Obama's secret weapon?  The fact that BO opted for a mediocre running mate means that McCain DOESN'T have to gimmick his veep selection.  And Lowry's factor #4 is much more an argument against picking Mitt Romney than it is for going with Huckles, especially given that McCain hates Romney with a passion anyway.

Since Maverick is under no specific pressure to swing for the veep fences, he would be well advised to heed the conventional wisdom and select the latest rumored frontrunner, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty.  Safely conservative, from a flippable "blue" state, no primary-season sound bite baggage, and the fact that he's not an unbearable windbag would be a significant gold star in his favor, to the degree that the veep debate matters.

But "safe" and "conservative" are not John Sith McCain descriptors.  Things are going too well for him right now.  85% of the GOP base supposedly is backing him.  That just will not do.  It goes against his grain not to go against our grain.

He'll choose Huck.  His base support will collapse.  And all the Dems' "buyers' remorse" will evaporate as the Chosen One pulls away to the blowout victory everybody expected.

But at least I'll be a prophet once again.