7/20/00 5:15 p.m.
Men and Marriage
Governors Bush and Keating would make a good match.

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

n an interview with the Associated Press, George W. Bush definitively ruled out senator Connie Mack of Florida as a running mate. From the moment the veep speculation began, Mack had insisted that he didn't want the job — which didn't stop many conservatives from hoping he'd change his mind.

All eyes are now on Oklahoma governor Frank Keating, as evidenced by the bevy of reporters who attended his talk today at the Heritage Foundation on the "marriage movement." ("Little did we know how much interest there would be today," said Heritage veep Phil Trulock by way of introduction.) This unsought attention may be hurting Keating's chances. Each passing day makes it more likely that the media's reaction to his being picked would be a yawn, and Bush probably wants to wow them. If the campaign wants to pick Keating next week, therefore, it should create a diversion over the weekend — maybe a rumor about Richard Lugar?

As it happens, Keating did a fine job at Heritage. He was a model of what a social-conservative politician should be. He tackled an important issue others are afraid to touch, rather than the unimportant symbolic issues so many social conservatives talk about. He was aware of the limits of what the state can or should do to discourage divorce and illegitimacy. But he also insisted that marriage has a public character, and that its collapse has public consequences both in the individual case (e.g., judges often step in to decide custody) and in aggregate (marital instability leads to higher levels of crime, welfare dependency, etc.). "So my agenda [is] strictly secular," he said. "My agenda [is] utterly nonsectarian." He was careful to make it clear that he did not see himself as leading a crusade of the good people against the bad people. And he also understood that an effort of the sort he has in mind has to begin with public discussion.

It's an approach to social and moral issues not unlike Bush's: lowering the volume of the debate without retreating. Bush could use someone by his side capable of addressing these issues intelligently. Keating also touched on another recommendation for himself. He explained his technique for dealing with marital squabbles: "I compromise and do as I'm told." That's probably what he'd do in a political marriage, too.

Georgia on Our Mind
Senator Paul Coverdell's death on Tuesday has given Democrats another chance to pick up a Senate seat. Georgia governor Roy Barnes, a Democrat, is currently deciding on an appointee to fill Coverdell's seat until the November special election.

Perhaps the most Machiavellian move Barnes could make would be to name — Newt Gingrich. No other political figure has sustained so many wounds, some of them self-inflicted. It would be easy for a Democrat to beat him in November. Meanwhile, the entire Democratic party would rejoice at Newt's return. Democrats have been casting about for a new demon since he left Congress, and Tom DeLay just hasn't filled the role. Yet Barnes, having named a Republican, could avoid the charge of capitalizing on tragedy. (He could also avoid that charge by naming a Democrat who would clearly be a caretaker, such as former senator Sam Nunn.)

The governor has a broad field of other possible candidates. Former congressman George "Buddy" Darden, businessman Michael Coles, congressman John Lewis, attorney general Thurbert Baker and secretary of state Cathy Cox have all been mentioned. Two stronger strongest picks may be unavailable: Former governor Zell Miller has recused himself (he's 68, and has no interest in going to Washington) and the GOP would snatch up Sanford Bishop's House seat in a trice if the black moderate left for the Senate.

It's likely that one of Georgia's eight Republican congressmen will run for the seat in the fall. Jack Kingston of Savannah or Saxby Chambliss of Macon would be strong candidates. Guy Millner, millionaire and frequent also-ran, or Clint Day (of the Days Inn family) might also get into the race.

All of these candidates, on both sides of the aisle, have something in common: They wouldn't fill Paul Coverdell's shoes.