What an interesting thought!

I am tantalized by the idea of a split ticket. A Democrat and Republican on the same ticket. A friend brought the idea up over dinner a few nights ago and I just can't get it out of my head. It was looking like there might be a Kerry-McCain ticket at one point in 2004 cycle, but it was apparently not to be. Which might have been a good thing. I dunno. McCain hadn't yet fully wed himself to Bush and his administrations policies at that point and he was still pretty well liked by independents and Democrats alike.

Gone are the days.

But what about a Hillary Clinton/Ron Paul ticket? Could a centrist Democrat and a Libertarian Republican actually agree on enough to run together? I know this won't happen, but since we're using our imagination...let's give the thought a moment.

Ron Paul's stance on reproductive rights is a difficult one for any Democrat to vote for. But he wouldn't be president...he'd be V.P.

Aside from that, he's not only an attractive candidate to independents, but to civil Libertarians alike. Again, the abortion debate doesn't seem to square with this, and I am trying to understand it myself. But what could a pro-choice candidate and a pro-life candidate do on a national ticket? This appears to have the power to win a real majority in a general election, as they could clean up all the little factions out there. The fringes and mainstream alike.

This ticket will not happen for a variety of reasons, but it's a neat thought. A president and vice-president that aren't in lock-step? Would they...would they...actually debate issues facing our country? Remember those days? When our leaders actually discussed the pros and cons of issues? It would be possible, of course, that President Clinton could just pull rank and push her policies her way, but I can also see Ron Paul walking to the nearest TV camera to publicly disagree with whatever decision. You know...that almost sounds like a healthier government to me.

While I'd love to live in the Liberal dreamworld where Kucinich could be president, I remember the wisdom of Hillary's husband, former President Bill Clinton:

"If every politician you liked got elected and passed every bill that you supported and everything went the way you wanted...there'd still be a gap between the way things are and the way they ought to be."

Thoughts?

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