Begun by the Prince of Darkness himself. Sources close to Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaign are suggesting he will reveal the name of his vice presidential selection this week while Sen. Barack Obama is getting the headlines on his foreign……

Today’s music is suggested by Peter (specifically, the bottom-of-the-deck reference). Before we get there, however, a little inside baseball. I’m laughing at the “superior intellect” of the Leftosphere as Rick Esenberg……

My thinking is Phyllis Schalfly. (spelling). Then it would be two old geezers. OK that was bad… Bad Baklava.

This is a hard one because he can’t pick somebody so young that the contrast is too great. Or can he? Maybe that would spark some much needed excitement?

Sarah Palin it is!!!!!!!!!

The McCain campaign seems to run hot and cold, meaning they have moments of sheer brilliance followed by mind-numbing stupidity. Nothing in between.

So I sez to myself: Who would be the dumbest (and I do mean the dumbest) pick for Veep? Lindsey Graham seems to fit that bill. He comes from a small state McCain will easily win, and which has only a few EC votes besides. He will alienate conservative Republicans even more, which is the only voting group likely to support McCain with any degree of enthusiasm. If Graham has to give up his Senate re-election bid in order to be McCain’s running mate, that is yet another open seat the GOP must defend in a year when they are already looking at the possibility of losing up to 10 seats in the Senate. Graham has a Barney Fife manner that will be an easy target for late-night comedians eager to avoid jokes about the Messiah. And given the absolute terror that grips the GOP at the mere thought of confronting Democrats (Nevada Senator John Ensign’s advice this year is for Republicans to “run scared” – advice which sums up the GOP’s philosophy of governing as well), nominating another Democrat-Lite Senator fits right in with the Republicans’ inexplicable Sir Robin approach to politics..

On the other hand – McCain may instead make a smart choice and pick almost anybody else. They will probably flip a coin before choosing – To Be (Stupid) or Not To Be.

McCain has to do something dramatic, in my opinion, if he is to have any chance at all. And at this point in time it ain’t looking good.

I’m also stunned that nominating Graham would be as GWR says “flipping off the base.” Without disputing that point, I’d add only that if somebody as competent and intelligent as Graham fails to excite the base, then maybe McCain ought to flip the base off.

As for Sarah Palin, she’s terrific, but too new on the scene. We’ve been pointing out Obama’s lack of experience – we lose that edge if McCain selects a VP candidate only two years removed from being mayor of a city of less than 10,000 people. But she’s doing an excellent job and has phenomenal approval ratings. Get her re-elected in 2010, and if Obama wins this year I’d love to see her on the 2012 ticket.

Same analysis goes for Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal. I’d LOVE to see a Palin-Jindal (or Jindal-Palin) ticket somewhere in the future.

A recent poll argued that Romney dragged the ticket down, and there’s no doubting that he has a “sincerity problem.” Still, he’s sharp on policy and economics (we’ll ignore the crumbling of his healthcare plan), so he’s a reasonable choice.

With energy and fuel prices being in the news, Sarah Palin of Alaska might get another look. She’s also strong on anti-corruption, which McCain will like. She also made a splash recently with a public posting arguing for increased drilling in Alaska.

On the other hand, I really have no idea who he’ll pick.

If he were smart he would pick ST.

But I think it will be Lindsey Graham instead.