Cautiously pessimistic

is how I'd describe my opinion on politics and the state of the world this evening, which is probably why I haven't been blogging much in that subject area (it could also have to do with the fact that I've been commenting on political matters elsewhere in the blogosphere, but I think I'm learning that while getting involved in another blogger's comments might be just as time-consuming as posting here, it's not nearly as personally edifying). It's not that I don't think fighting the good fight is important, but I wonder sometimes if there is such a thing as the "good fight" in the sphere of politics.

What provoked this sudden burst of melancholy? There's been a lot of buzz this weekend about the possibility of Kerry asking John McCain to be his running mate - a possibility that although dismissed by both McCain and Kerry has elicited all sorts of reactions from the leftward-leaning blogs. While some of the dialogue about the pros and cons of such a move has been civil - particularly at Big Media Matt's personal blog - by and large the mere thought of allowing a Republican (however well-respected, independent, and privately loathing of the Bush Administration he may be) onto the ticket has sent my fellow online liberals into a collective apoplectic rage that quite frankly has sickened me. I thought blind hatred was what our opposition did.

Oh, well. A Kerry/McCain ticket will almost assuredly not come to pass anyway, though I have to say it's instructive to see but it's interesting to see mere McCain speculation test the limits of the "Anyone But Bush" meme. I didn't think it meant "any liberal Democratic candidate with an equally liberal Democractic candidate (or even more so) as his/her/its running mate", but I guess I was wrong.

Part of the anti-McCain animus that has erupted all over the blogosphere of late stems from the basic liberal problem of distinguishing friend from foe in the political arena. Painting the whole Republican establishment as our enemy is foolish. When Pat Buchanan and his ilk are actually making sense re: international politics and bleating loudly about Bush's betrayal of conservatism, you have to acknowledge the fact that the GOP has left its flank dangerously unguarded.

A smart Kerry campaign would find a way to win those moderate Republicans, lest their votes go elsewhere. I'm not saying adding McCain to the ticket is the way to do that - but it would make one hell of a political narrative for the Kerry folk. A lawnmower would be ahead of Bush right now in the polls - the question is, will letting the Bushies hang themselves be enough to win all the marbles in November? Don't bet on it, especially if Osama's corpse is wheeled out of a undisclosed location in Pakistan come this Halloween...