Least Objectionable President

Network TV created the concept of LOP (least objectionable programming) to appeal to Americans who just wanted to vege out but didn’t feel strongly about what would keep their eyes glazed during prime time.

In the long run-up to ’08, we may be heading for the LOP, least objectionable President.

If the Republican Base can’t swallow Giuliani’s family values or McCain’s gaffes or Mitt Romney’s inability to get out of his own way, who’s left--and right enough?

Newt Gingrich? Might make it through the primaries, but has a tad too much history to take it all.

Fred Thompson? In a casting crunch, he’ll pass as a road-company Reagan.

Mike Huckabee? A minister-governor might be the ticket, but two Presidents from Hope, Arkansas could be a little too Guinness Book of Records.

Sam Brownback, Duncan Hunter, Tom Tancredo, Ron Paul, Steven Colbert? Only if the country develops a taste for the theater of the ridiculous...

If the Democrats aren’t ready for Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama and Al Gore doesn't ride to the rescue in the last reel: John Edwards (ugh), Joe Biden, Bill Richardson, Denis Kucinich, Chris Dodd, and anybody who ever held public office. Or not. Wesley Clark and Al Sharpton might step up for a re-run, too.

LOP, anybody? Least Obvious Possibility? If the media keep chewing them up and spitting them out, we’ll have to start looking at small-town mayors.