The Garnet Spy

Now that the Republican Party has nothing to keep it occupied (not that anything could compare to the circus the Democrats are providing), the latest buzz is about John McCain’s running mate. I’m not sure where to put this on the Scale Of Excitement. Maybe somewhere between American Idol auditions and one of those Top 100 Heavy Metal Love Songs of All Time.

This much seems to be agreed upon:

• McCain needs someone younger than him to chronologically balance the ticket.
  It’s the political version of cleansing the palate. In this case, it’s lemon gelato after a turd burger.

• McCain needs a running mate that will help counter either the woman or the black man on the other side.
  This should be good. Condi Rice would be perfect. Reminds me of the old “Laugh In” piece when someone held up a sign that said “Sammy Davis, Jr. has two ethics.” But why would she want to be Veep? So who does that leave him with to fill this criteria? Mo’nique? If he could sign up a Hispanic, they could do a revival of Chico and the Man.

Two prominent – nationally prominent, even – politicians from South Carolina are beginning to show up on pundits lists. Senator Lindsey Graham and Governor Mark Sanford.

Graham (53) accompanied McCain on his recent trip overseas. The Senator said this had nothing to do with a possible Vice Presidential slot

“This will be the 19th (foreign) trip I’ve taken with Senator McCain since (2003),” said Graham, who has represented S.C. in the U.S. Senate since 2002. “He’s one of my closest friends in the Senate. I think I am someone who is a sounding board for him.”

Graham is far too “moderate” to assuage conservatives concerned about McCain’s bona fides. Graham’s moderation has lost him popularity in South Carolina. After filling Strom Thurmond’s seat in the Senate, his positions on immigration and his participation in the Senate Gang of 14 (along with McCain) made him what many consider to be a less-than-representative-representative of South Carolina than those in the Palmetto State like. Further, the blogosphere is rife with ugly and unfortunate rumors and questions about his personal life. That stuff will spread like kudzu if he is on a national ticket.

He might, however, be more suited as President McCain’s front man in Congress. There are a couple of alternatives, though. Graham is a Colonel in the Air Force reserves and was actually called up for duty as a Judge Advocate (attorney) during the Gulf War. It would, then, not be a stretch for McCain to appoint him Attorney General. However, the most likely non-Senate position for Lindsey Graham in a McCain administration is White House Chief of Staff. It’s an appointment that does not require Congressional confirmation. That’s particularly good given Graham’s prominence in the Clinton impeachment.

Governor Mark Sanford is a man with pretty impressive credentials. The man “brought live pigs into the House chamber as a visual protest against “pork projects.”

How can you not like that?

In addition to being mentioned as a VP candidate, at one time, Sanford was discussed as a possible presidential nominee in 2008. He’s young (48), good looking (see right) and has the conservative credentials that sets the right to drooling. He has said his last campaign for governor was his last campaign. There is just something about this guy that makes you want to believe him – maybe it’s his record. Still, we all know that can change and it might behoove Sandford to wait until 2012. His second term as governor will end in 2010 and he will not be able to run for a third consecutive term. Somewhere in all that, either before his tenure as Governor is over or immediately after, there may well be a place for Sanford in a McCain administration.

A bet that may not be too long is that Graham would, indeed go to either the White House or the Justice Department and the Governor would appoint himself as Graham’s successor. Graham is up for re-election this year. That means Sanford could, effectively serve as complete 6-year term as United States Senator. Pretty sweet!

Besides, McCain doesn’t need either of these guys on the ticket. He’s already got the South – his military credentials alone will do that for him. So he’ll need to pull from a demographic other than the Palmetto State.