Moderates take center stage

 

I'll start by saying that it still makes me sad that Rudy is not the Republican nominee. What a positive step that would have been - a normal guy who has good managerial experience, good leadership and is not a bigot. This was a guy who has lived like normal people. But I digress...

The good news is that Rudy takes center stage as the keynote speaker at this years Republican convention. For me, this is like 2000 when Arnold gave the speech - perhaps one of the best summaries of what a true Republican is all about. Rudy is an interesting choice because he literally flies in the face of the Republican nutbags. The hate him except for his war on terror credentials. I can still remember those idiots saying "I am sure he is a nice man but he couldn't keep a promise to his wife and he is a liberal when it comes to life and marriage" - he was doomed from the beginning.

So what does Rudy and his key placement say about what John McCain thinks of the Republican party? If this a hint that he is going to be the "2000 John McCain" and is going to talk about a true big tent?  Will this be coupled with a choice like Tom Ridge or Joe Lieberman? Will it be a demonstration of the whole party rather than a bible rally?  God I hope so.

Of course, this could be an early sign that the VP nominee is going to be the worst of conservative choices - a cold, family values demagogue who will placate the right and make the rest of the country go "Oh Lord - they are just never going to change." This could be the signal.

I recently heard an interview with Cal Thomas and Bob Beckel (Common Ground) who suggested that McCain could score huge points and a victory by standing up and doing one or all of the following:

1. Saying he is only going 1 term and thus would be beholden to no special interests.
2. Picking a pro-choice VP candidate and calling out the far right. Looking right at them and saying that no one person or party is 100% right and we need to not only respect, but consider the opinions and ideas of all Americans. This poke in the eye would say to Americans - "McCain is about fixing the country not progressing a single minded set of rules."
3. Picking a Democrat and point blankly saying that this person would be a power player. Letting it be made clear that all ideas are on the table and everything must be considered - the idea that you are an American first and then a republican or Democrat.

Wouldn't that be something? Do you think it could really happen?

I am totally perplexed and the Rudy speech worries me. I initially got very happy and thought "Oh this means a shift." But if this ends up being the scrap being thrown to moderates and independents while a social conservative runs in to be the Veep, I am going to be so turned off.