Wow. Just freaking wow.
There are moments in life, particularly political life, when the universe burps, when gravity decides it likes walls more than floors, when paradigms, if you'll pardon the cliche, shift.
I'm sitting at the kitchen table, insufficiently caffeinated to properly dig the most stunning political news the Sportsman's Paradise has seen in quite a while.
There is no arguing with the anonymous "very senior Republican"--if he runs, he wins. Ignore his race (he is a self-described "Creole"). Lt. Gen. Honore, if he steps foot in the ring, will be the junior senator from Louisiana. The new Republican senator from Louisiana.
Come on. You really think the man whose freaking name means "honor," the "John Wayne dude" the First Guy Who Made Sense to step into New Orleans and told his men to stand down and lower the weapons they had trained on starving, desperate citizens at the Convention Center is going to lose to a guy who paid hookers to spank him? Meet the new boss, Davey.
Honore will wipe the floor with a very used diaper. And he will then dispatch Melancon with the same efficiency.
And we will enter a new era of political life.
Not because he will be the first African-American senator from the South since Reconstruction. And not because he will be the second serious African-American contender for the nation's highest office (Great Black Hope, anyone?).
But because he will be the first serious non-crazy Republican to capture the country's attention since Jim Jeffords went indy. How non-crazy? Well, check out his Times-Picayune op-ed Poor Health Care a Threat to U.S. Security. Consider his most famous quote ever: "Don't get stuck on stupid." Contemplate the idea of a Republican who, despite his ideology and his faith, puts pragmatism over partisanship. Meditate, for a brief, shining moment, on the thought of a Republican who might just vote our way sometimes.
And not because, like certain ladies from Maine, re-election depends on it, but because it seems like the best idea for the country.
Contemplate, if you will, the possibility of a Red Dog.
Will he be one of us? No, he will be a foe.
But he will be a strong and honorable foe, and any master can tell you, there is no greater gift. A strong foe will challenge your skill, but an honorable foe will challenge your own honor, your intentions and your principles. No greater gift.
I am a Democrat, and I will work for my party's nominee.
But thank god I live in America and don't have to reveal for whom I will pull the lever behind the curtain.