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More Things In Politics Happen By Accident Or Exhaustion Than Happen By Conspiracy.

As A General Proposition, Campaigns Do Not Linger On The Vice Presidential Nominee. When They Have, It's Always Meant Very Bad News For The Ticket. Think Of Spiro Agnew's Foot-in-mouth Disease; Tom Eagleton's Medical History; The Real Estate Holdings Of Geraldine Ferraro's Husband; The Unbearable Lightness Of Dan Quayle; Sarah Palin's Reading List.

It Strikes Me As A Sound, Honest Statement For A Prospective Voter To Say: 'look, I Haven't Given This Election A Minute's Thought, And It's Just Not Fair For Me To Cancel Out The Vote Of Someone Who Actually Gives A Damn.' Indeed, It's Not Just Sound And Honest - It's The Ethically Responsible Thing To Do.

Protestations Of Indifference To Higher Office Are Hard To Take Seriously When The 'non-candidate' Is Busily Engaged In Testing The Waters.

Somebody Is Going To Have To Do Fancy Footwork To Make Sure Elizabeth And John Edwards Get Their Prime-time Shot .