Thirteen names on McCain's running mate list...

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour - Being a tobacco lobbyist will be a factor, as would the fact that he's from Mississippi (if McCain wants moderate northern independents he needs to stay away from Mississippi.) Of course there's no chance of him losing Utah obviously.

North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr - A boring and unimportant senator as experienced as Obama thus negating the experience talking point?

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist - Someone with less experience than Obama and maybe gay.

Former Arkansas Gov. and former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee - No. Just no. But if McCain wants to, go ahead.

Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. - What's the point?

Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison - Another what's the point? A bit more experienced and high profile but what does she add?

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty - Well Republicans do appear to have gotten over the delusion of him flipping Minnesota. I suppose now he's seen as "safe", won't turn off too many moderates, won't turn off conservatives, and not super gaffe-prone. But hardly inspiring as John Ford has pointed out.

Former Ohio Rep. and former Director of the Office of Management and Budget Rob Portman - Oh yeah, that's the perfect candidate for someone who wants to run as a fiscal conservative, Bush's former budget director. Give me a break.

Former Massachusetts Gov. and former presidential candidate Mitt Romney - I see little point. The Mormons aren't going to jump ship or anything.

Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan - Why?

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford - Another "safe" choice. Nothing spectacular though.

FedEx CEO Frederick Smith - Against Obama you want someone with political experience.

GOPAC Chair Michael Steele - LOL. Get over this guy Republicans, he's not your magic ticket to the black vote.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

I wonder who the other seven are on that list.

The question is meaningless since there's no reason to believe these 13 names are actually on some hypothetical "20 person shortlist".

And if this is real and Steele is actually on it then McCain is even dumber than originally thought.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

I think this is just to get the Conservatives of his back until the convention:

The fact that Lieberman, Rice & Giuliani don't even get a mention proves that this is not the real list.

The only one of those I can see having even a remote chance of being on the list is Giuliani, and emphasis on remote.