Pinned Down

Clearly the best determiner when picking a presidential candidate

Just when you thought a candidate could avoid jingo-pandering, the flag pin makes its less-than-triumphant return.

Coming from a smooth operator like the jedi, "sweetie" doesn't sound like such a derogatory term.

Flag pins. Sweetiegate. Dodging bullets from a former candidate. Any good news for the jedi? Well, Hillary won't be an obstacle much longer. Forecasting her campaign's death for weeks, the media offers an assessment of why she failed.

With an SNL appearance and a solid week of laying down some concrete ideas, the GOP is falling in love, er, make that tolerating his presence in order to win what was once an unwinnable election and rebrand (May 2008 political buzzword) their party, with JMac. As the Dems gain seats in Mississippi and other solidly red regions, the GOP clearly has the blues, but JMac's maverick status has suddenly become more appealing to the figureheads and blowhards who once cast him off as a RINO. John McCain: makeover artist.

Could Democrats actually benefit from a McCain victory in November? Brommel thinks so. He may be onto something. Dems will have a much wider majority as the nation turns its eyes to the party but away from its potential presidential candidate. Note to Obama: get Tony Stewart and Carrie Underwood to campaign for you, and your problems will be solved. Also, drape yourself in flags. Lots of flags.

Edwards solidifies future cabinet appointment: Secretary of Great Hair and My Dad Worked in a Textile Mill Department.

Go ahead, Barack. You can run your fingers through it.

North Carolina's favorite populist (sorry, Jesse Helms) finally made his endorsement clear. No, he didn't pick Mike Gravel.

In the meantime, Hillary scores another meaningless victory, but it's enough to keep her in the news for another five weeks. The news cycle continues as follows: she's holding on for dear life, voters second guess Obama's commitment to working class values, Hillary wins another primary, superdelegates undecided, Obama looks to wrap up nomination, blah, blah, blah. Tell WVPC those won't be the stories until July. Go ahead, tell Angus.

If Barack does get the nod, he'll need to get angry quickly. Not sure I would heed that advice, but I guess you play dirty when you fight the GOP in the general.

While the W takes potshots at a certain unnamed future Democratic nominee, others have advice for JMac: avoid Bush like the plague.

Edwards endorsement makes WVPC nostalgic for the 08 candidates of yore. Which of the former '08 candidates will we see again? Here's some presumptive percentages based on nothing even remotely scientific (Angus helped with these forecasts).

GOP
Romney: 90%. Varmint hunting can really take you far in politics. Yes, with just one hastily purchased NRA membership, you too can go from a moderate governor of the most liberal state in the U.S. to a Barry Goldwater-loving, no new taxes, big military budget con in a matter of days. In an off year when they can't find a new Reagan in the flock, the GOP has a sudden infatuation with Romney. Can you say Secretary of Commerce?

Huckabee: 75%. The real compassionate conservative won the hearts of some caucus voters in that now ancient month of January. JMac seems warm to Huck, so I don't know why he wouldn't give him a phone call for the Office of Faith Based Initiatives. Well, unless he calls John Hagee first.

Paul: 0%. JMac scorned Paul's isolationism and Dr. No faces some challenges from within the GOP attack machine.

Democrats
Edwards: 99%. Yesterday's endorsement was an unofficial invitation, or plea, to join a future cabinet. Put your money on Secretary of Health and Human Services or Labor.

Biden: 75%. Hey, he already said that Obama was clean and articulate. Compliments like that can land you a Secretary of State position if you're lucky.

Richardson: 70%. Prediction: Barack Obama will have more clout than James Carville come November. Just to piss off the Dem establishment, Richardson could accept a cabinet position. He's another secretary of state candidate.

Dodd: 50%. The venerable senator may be looking for a new gig to augment his already nice resume. A cabinet position would be a good way to go out.

Come back this weekend when WVPC looks at the best lookers in politics. You won't want to miss this!