Piyush is out

Bobby Jindal takes himself out of the running for the GOP VP nomination...I can only imagine how badly he was polling.

On the other hand Tom Ridge sounds weirdly confidentdespite a week devoted to unsubtle hints from the usual sky-grifters that nominating a pro-choice veep (like Ridge) will have consequences.
This quote seems to have the seed of future lackey-dom in it (a KEY Vice Presidential quality after eight years of Cheney Uber Alles):
Yesterday, Ridge tried to soothe conservatives by stating that McCain's view on the issue would prevail in a McCain administration.

"The last time I checked, the vice president is not an independent voice. He echoes the position of the president of the United States," Ridge said. "I think it's the responsibility of the vice president. If you're unwilling or unable to do that, then I think you should defer to someone else."

Sounds like McCain has already handed Ridge his acceptance speech.
Now the only question is, are the book-worshippers and sky-grifters just trying to bid up their agenda or are they serious about a revolt if Tom is nominated?
Moreover will the Cardinals and Bishops give Ridge (an alleged catholic) as much grief as they gave John Kerry in 2004?
My guess is no...but then Humble Elias assumes perhaps wrongly that the catholic heirarchy in the US is corrupted by conservatism in general and not necessarily abortion politics in particular.
On the other hand Ridge may eb forced into a humiliating Eagleton style climb-down which might have weird anti-catholic overtones if it goes to smash the right way.

Meanwhile...Romney and Lieberman both seem to have gone strangely silent, either man would approach the gallows on a murder beef to get the nod, but Mitt's religion and political contortions offendeth the faithful and Joe's status as a democrat (HAW!!) is still sound enough to bar him from office. Besides there is just something politically queer about nominating the 2000 democratic Veep candidate for Vice President on the GOP ticket in 2008. It may appeal to radio talk show hosts and Fox News demogogues but you have to think there must be literally thousands of hours of videotape depicting Joe Lieberman's democratic bona fides. If nominated I predict Joe will be down on his knees screaming for mercy by the first of October.

Sort of ironic, if'n yuh asked me.