OK, this is scary...

Suppose Al Gore uses his Nobel Peace Prize to leap into the race with a lot of positive press...

He wins the primary and choose Hillary Clinton as his running mate.

They are elected.  Twice.

Then, in 2016, Hillary Clinton runs for President again, with Barack Obama as her running mate.

They are elected.  Twice.

Then, in 2024, "elder statesman" Barack Obama becomes the second African-american President...

Hmmm... must be getting close to Halloween... this is scaring me!

BOO!

Comments

[HMIL]

That's NOT funny ... now I'll NEVER get to sleep tonight!

Nyah!

[Jim in KFalls]

2032 - Just in time for Chelsea Clinton to run as President...

The other scenario is Hillary Clinton wins the 2008 election - Jeb Bush runs in 2016 and wins - Chelsea Runs in 2024 and wins - Jenna Bush runs in 2032 and wins = 52 straight years with a Bush or Clinton in the white house...

[Right as Rain]

Unless something extraordinary happens this will be the first time since 1972 that the G.O.P. hasn't had a Bush or Dole on the national ticket.

[Gullyborg]

Nothing extraordinary. There won't be a Bush or a Dole on the ticket.

My gut is telling me Thompson wins the nomination, then goes for someone far outside the Beltway for VP. That would rule out Dole. And no way in hell he would be dumb enough to choose Jeb Bush (although Jeb could be a great cabinet member or ambassador, and could be on a ticket in 2016).

[Gullyborg]

Oh, and not Jenna. Jeb's son, George Prescott.

But maybe Jenna after that...

[Right as Rain]

If it's Thompson he'll pick someone from the Northeast or the West as his running mate. The dynamics for Republicans are different than for Democrats, so two southerners on the G.O.P. ticket is a potential problem, but not so much for Democrats, who probably need at least one Southerner on the ticket.

He may actually go with McCain. His cred with the base is strong enough that he could pick someone who would normally piss off the base, and McCain appeals to voters outside the normal G.O.P. demographic, and could make them competitive in states that have been Blue for a long time.

[Gullyborg]

Giuliani would be a better choice than McCain. If you are going to piss off the far right with your VP, may as well do it with someone who can actually add some votes to the party.

I also think a Rocky Mountain governor would be a smart choice... Bill Owen?

I'm a little sad Thommy Thompson is out endorsing Giuliani. He would have been better off in Fred's camp. Imagine a Fred/Tommy Thompson ticket... they could sell themselves as the Thompson Twins.

[Sakaki]

Their campaign theme could be "King For A Day"

Though, I'm a happy guy when it comes to Thompson/Hunter, or possibly Thompson/Pawlenty (He'd be able to probably take Minnesota).

[Gullyborg]

I don't see Hunter on the ballot.

His appeal is very limited to the far right, and geographically he is not as big a draw as you might think. He won't have any effect on California, as his House district is only a small part of a huge state.

Also, he and Fred may be right on for most issues, but they have a HUGE difference of opinion on foreign policy, and that is a HUGE problem - much more so than a hypothetical ticket where one is pro-life and one is pro-choice (foreign policy is something the President actually does, as opposed to abortion laws which, frankly, have little to no bearing on the White House).

Another good person would be Tom Ridge. He would probably carry Pennsylvania, and that by itself would make him a HUGE asset on the ticket.

[Right as Rain]

I don't see Fred taking on Rudy Julie Annie on the ticket--he's not going to run with a New York Rino, and I don't see Rudy being happy as a second banana (frankly, I'm not sure that McCain would do well as a Veep, either).

My hunch is that Fred would choose someone young--perhaps Condi.

I do hope that Fred starts looking more alive on the campaign trail. He's my first choice, but, so far, he's not doing a great job of selling himself--he had a natural momentum as he entered the race, and that seems to be dissipating way too quickly.

[Gullyborg]

Condi would be my dream pick. I just don't see her trying to do anything to stay in DC after 2009.

[Right as Rain]

I don't know...I think Condi likes having real power, and Cheney has changed the role of the Veep, at least in G.O.P. admins, so they have real power. That'll be hard for her to give up.

Maybe he'll choose Emma Thompson as his running mate.

[Gullyborg]

As long as she doesn't do it as Sybil Trelawney. We already have a problem with our divinations in the NSA and CIA.

[Right as Rain]

I'll be an enthusiastic supporter of the G.O.P. ticket if Fred's the nominee, and I can accept McCain or Romney, though I won't be totally happy with either one, but they've been basically on board with the Republican philosophy (yes, with a few glaring exceptions) for a long time.

I just don't trust Giuliani, and he seems to have the same womanizing issues as Bill Clinton.

[Gullyborg]

the guy who is just right on your issues 80% of time isn't your 20% enemy. no candidate is perfect, and trying to achieve perfection always leads to disappointment.

Giuliani has his flaws, and some of them are serious, but I believe he would be FAR better for America than Hillary would ever be.

Of course, I want a better candidate. But I work with what's there.

And if we do have Giuliani as our nominee, he can do a lot to keep the conservative message going, and build for the future, by choosing a solid running mate.