Carolyn McCarthy is an admirable advocate for gun control and has created much good out of a family tragedy that would have immoblized most others in the same position.

A progressive though? Not so much. . .

She ran on the Democratic line in 1996 but only after the New York GOP rebuffed her when she announced her intentions to challenge then-Rep. Dan Frisa in a primary. The Democrats wisely recruited her and she flipped the seat in the 1996 election. That didn't stop her from having conversations with the GOP about returning to her roots in 1998. Furthermore, though she was caucusing with the Democrats in Congress, she didn't officially change her voter registration from "R" to "D" until 2002. Six years after she was elected.

Just posted moments ago under the banner "HOOSIER VALUES"

http://thepage.time.com

This would definitely be a surprise and, if it happens (which I think is unlikely) would likely prod McCain into choosing Lieberman or a moderate Republican like Ridge who supports abortion rights.

A dark horse in the Obama veepstakes could be former Mississippi governor and Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ray Mabus. He's relatively young (60, compared to McCain he's a young-in) but has gravitas, is a moderate Southerner with executive experience as Governor and significant foreign policy cred, in the Middle East no less.

I realize he hasn't been in office for almost twenty years, but he could be a very appealing choice for all of the reasons stated above. Thoughts?