Mightn't we just skip McCain.

No matter how well reasoned your happy talk may be, his disdain for the 1st Amendment disqualifies him.

He will have all the massive character flaw we are told that Bush has, all with out the humility of an evangelical.

Honestly OJ, the guy is poison.

No. For three reasons:

(1) It's his turn and the GOP is a rigidly hierarchical party which hasn't ditched the next in line since Taft in '52 and never in the era of primaries.

(2) John McCain can win 60% of the vote where Jeb would get 50-51%. The difference plays out in the extra House and Senate seats--and state legislatures--such a landslide carries in.

(3) The inevitable Bush fatigue is allowed to dissipate over those four years.

oj: What makes you think McCain would be happy with a single term? (so that Bush could be the nominee in 2012)

Posted by: jd watson at May 10, 2006 10:52 PM

Health issues, but not happy about it.

It won't happen, but a 3rd Bush President would send the Left heading for the most convenient method of suicide.

jd:

He's too high strung to fare well in the presidency, especially at his age, and he seems well aware of it.

The dems are rigidly hierarchial too and look who'd be running the joint if they win.

The Kleagle, the drunk, the mortician and the RE agent.

No thanks, we need fresh blood. The torch passed for better or worse in 1992, we don't go back.

Republicans have standards. You don't need fresh blood if you cull the dross.

Sandy:

No, they aren't. Their nominees have been mostly second-rate, third-tier, rather than the next in line.

OJ,

Once again, your analysis is unfortunately robust. It's sad. I despise the idea of trusting the "Anglosphere" to a narcsissist like McCain.

The "rigid hierarchy" of both parties is evidence of civilizational rigor mortis.

As absurd as Gore is, I hope he rips Hillary a new one. The nation needs 20 more Perots and 30 more Venturas.

I'm increasingly convinced that the 2-Party system is unsustainable.

OJ,

Once again, your analysis is unfortunately robust. It's sad. I despise the idea of trusting the "Anglosphere" to a narcsissist like McCain.

The "rigid hierarchy" of both parties is evidence of civilizational rigor mortis.

As absurd as Gore is, I hope he rips Hillary a new one. The nation needs 20 more Perots and 30 more Venturas.

I'm increasingly convinced that the 2-Party system is unsustainable.

Hierarchy is a signal conservative virtue.

Bruno,

And from that "civilizational rigor mortis," we've built, sustained, and set on a high-speed treadmill a great nation.

To be frank, I'd rather have "next in line" than someone like Tom Osborne get office simply because he's a larger-than-life figure (Sorry, Matt).

All of OJ's reasons that McCain won't seek a second term explain why he won't even run for a first term.

Jeb seems serious about not running in '08, but if you were designing a Republican presidential candidate you would come up with the popular conservative governor of Florida with strong ties to Catholics and Hispanics. You wouldn't even dare suggest that he be as strong on life and vouchers as Jeb.

The GOP doesn't design candidates. It nominates the next in line.

The Democrats design candidates. They got Carter....

OJ:

So, it'd be a waste to put him on the Supreme Court, then?

Mike:

Yes, the Court needs followers, not leaders.

Aieeeeee, not the supreme court!

An election without a Nixon, Bush, or Dole somewhere on the ticket, and without an incumbent President or VP running, will be a refreshing change. Too bad it has to be Keating-McCain who's next in line, (and hopefully we won't have to add "Clinton" and/or "Gore" to that list, too.)