6/13/00 5:10 p.m.
Keating the One?
All Bush can do is keep looking.

By NR's Ramesh Ponnuru, John J. Miller & Ben Domenech

klahoma Gov. Frank Keating has been contacted by Dick Cheney to supply background materials for the Bush campaign's vice-presidential vetting process, NR has learned.

Bush-Danforth, R.I.P.
With former Missouri Sen. John Danforth pulling his name from Bush's list of potential running mates, the GOP loses the one moderate in contention for the job who would have appealed to conservatives. There remain several conservatives who would appeal to moderates — Keating, for instance — but not the reverse.

During his career in the Senate, Danforth amassed a record of moderate-to-conservative votes, while winning the support of social conservatives for his outspoken pro-life views, fervent defense of Clarence Thomas's nomination to the Supreme Court, and Episcopalian ministry. He also made geographic sense; Missouri is a bellwether state. Moreover, putting Danforth on the ticket would have boosted the prospects Sen. John Ashcroft's reelection bid and Rep. Jim Talent's gubernatorial campaign — two candidacies of more than idle interest to conservatives thinking about their bench strength.

But now all Bush can do is keep looking, and wonder what might've been.

Eighteen Is Enough
John McCain, whose third term in the Senate runs out in 2004, in the July issue of Esquire: "I can see myself believing that eighteen years in the Senate is enough. If you can't accomplish what you want to accomplish in eighteen years, then you probably are not going to in six more years after that."

Extremes Blend
Ralph Nader, in the American Prospect: "I don't think it's very interesting just to have me and Buchanan debate." The subtext: We agree on so much!

Hillary's Views on Trade
The Chicago Cubs may trade star slugger Sammy Sosa to the New York Yankees, according to press reports. Somebody should ask Hillary Clinton where she'd rather see Slammin' Sammy play: Chicago or New York.

On the Site
Melissa Seckora on Al Gore, graphic artist.

Etc.
NR editor Richard Lowry is looking for an executive assistant to handle correspondence, scheduling, and the like. Applicants should be organized, conservative, and enjoy life in New York City — including the opportunity to vote against Hillary. Send resumes to Dorothy McCartney…