Tonight I listened again to Ann Richard's famous speech at the 1988 Democratic National Convention, and I had a great idea for John Kerry. He should choose "Ma" Richards for his running mate in 2004. It has all the political intrigue he needs. She was an immensely popular govenor (though defeated, incidentally by George W. Bush in 1994); she's brassy compared to Kerry's intellectual droning and policy wonking. She's got layman, trailer trash appeal and can win some major points for the Democratic ticket among Southerners and the lowest tax brackets. Like her or not, she's a success story of Lone Star proportion. She'd pick up the pieces of Geraldine Ferraro's failed vice-presidential 1984 candidacy and run like hell. Plus, she's a bare-knuckled, gritty mud-slinger that would give Dick Cheney a worthwhile opponent when the debates roll around.

If you remember, the last time a Massachusetts senator had a shot at the presidency, he chose a popular Texas politician to seal the deal for the Democrats. Do the names John Fitzgerald Kennedy and Lyndon Baines Johnson ring a bell? Does the year 1960 sound familiar.

Not only that, but in 1988, Michael Dukakis' knew his only shot at beating George H.W. Bush was choosing larger-than-life Texas Senator Lloyd Bentson. Another Massachusetts/Texas partnership (of course, with horrible results....but think how much worse it would have been without Bentson!)

It would be the "rematch" of the century: Richards on one ticket and Bush on the other. My how that would charge the race with all kinds of electoral excitement. So if somebody in the Kerry camp is reading this........pass the word along. A Kerry/Richards Democratic ticket in 2004 is the best shot they've got at winning.