Well, things have changed in the week or so since our last Veep list, so we’re going to give it a revision — I can see the ads now… “Veep Version 2.0, now with Republicans!”

Let’s narrow it down to 5 for each side, and provide less commentary.

Starting with the Elephants.

5. Sarah Palin – Still an intriguing choice (former Miss, now Gov. of, Alaska, mother of 5, virulently anti-abortion), but I just don’t see it happening.

4. Mike Huckabee – Definitely gets the religious right to the polls, and has executive experience, but his knowledge of economic issues (did you see his tax plan??) is even worse than McCain’s.

3. Rob Portman – Economic savvy, definitely smart, and from Ohio.  But he’s a Bush official!!!

2. Mitt Romney – Plusses for almost every category — Michigan, religious conservatives (they seem to have gotten over the whole formerly-pro-choice and currently Mormon thing), executive, business, hair, hair, hair.  One big minus, and likely the killer – McCain can’t stand him, from all accounts we’ve seen.

1. Tim Pawlenty – Good grief, I can hardly believe I’ve put him here.  The guy is young, and the whole “Sam’s Club, not country club” vision of Republicanism is good for the GOP, but really?  He might make Minnesota close, but probably wouldn’t swing it.  Some executive experience, and younger, but a rather uninspiring choice.

Off the radar — Gov. Bobby Jindal (honestly, he would have been the best pick — McCain’s and Obama’s respective ages could have deflected the youth question away, and the guy is definitely smart.  He’d add diversity to the GOP image, and plays well with the religious right.  Dems dodged a bullet); Carly Fiorini (when people stopped to look at this female business executive, they realized, “hey, HP went into the tank under her!”); Charlie Crist (too tan); Joe Lieberman (apparently too liberal, though that is crap)…

And now for the Donkeys.

5. Jack Reed – Newcomer to the list, but the guy is very well-respected, has extensive military experience, great story (father was a school custodian), etc etc.  Not as exciting as one might hope, and from New England, but unimpeachable credentials and seems to get along with Obama.

4. Kathleen Sebelius – Moved up, and bumped off Hillary.  Obama could bring her in to double up on the “outside Washington” thing.  But I still don’t see it happening.

3. Joe Biden – Slips a few spots, as people realize that he often just flies off message.  Still my personal choice for Obama.

2. Tim Kaine – Moves up over his recent admission of “serious talks” with the Obama campaign.  Again, outside the beltway, and Obama might just try to go “All In” with the change message.  I like his approach in Virginia, but apparently many don’t.  RealClearPolitics recently posted (you think I give links?  ha!) to a piece by Larry Sabato breaking down Kaine’s tenure as governor, and the picture is not terribly flattering.  Who knows…

1. Evan Bayh – The smart pick, all things considered.  Early Clinton supporter, actually popular enough to perhaps swing Indiana, telegenic, older without being ancient, etc.  Do he and Barack get along?  If so, I’d pick him up quick.

Off the radar — Sam Nunn (too old, too conservative on a few issues, but expect a cabinet post); Hillary Clinton (she’ll be a speaker at the Convention, all but assuring that she won’t be on the ticket — and let’s face it, the two just don’t get along all that well); Chuck Hagel (change is good, but a unity ticket would stretch the credulity for many liberals — though I like Hagel myself); Chris Dodd (he might get back in the picture, so keep watching…)

A friend of mine was just featured in the New Yorker magazine, July 28th issue.

Crazy kid.

Tribe fans, alert!  Big trades this past weekend, with Casey Blake being sent to the Dodgers for Jon Meloan (AAA, RHP, high Ks, potential closer-in-waiting?) and Carlos Santana (A+, C, great plate discipline, nice arm, great guitar licks), and minor league reliever Luis Perdomo (who I saw in Kinston and was quite good) for Anthony Reyes (former top prospect in St. Louis, great stuff, needs some work, but potential starter).

Go look at real sites to find out the details.

Which is good for the Democrats, because Jindal is very Obama-like – meteoric rise.

Jindal is a wise man – he is looking at the polls and thinks, “I’m not getting on that ship.”  He’s got chances in the future and very well might run for President someday.  But he’s got plenty of time – and plenty of time during which he’ll still be young.

It is also good news for Obama, because Jindal is an appealing figure to many in the Republican party and to the religious element.

As our readers certainly know, the history of Bachmannalia is long and proud.  It has been years (literally) since Bachmannalia gave birth to the now-famous “Railin’ on Dead Americans” series.  That series was started with Warren G. Harding.

Now has come the time to update that movement and spring into the new age of internet sensations – the viral video.

Unfortunately, Bachmannalia is not very tech-savvy.  So we need the assistance of our scores of readers in creating a video of Warren G’s “Regulators” set to new lyrics encompassing the life and era of Warren G. Harding.

So get on it.

The editorial staff of Bachmannalia enthusiastically supports Al Gore’s challenge to the next president of the United States to make the country’s electricity generation carbon-free within 10 years.

Thankfully, both Obama and (to a lesser extent) McCain have responded positively to the suggestion.  That doesn’t mean it is likely to happen, however.  Lots of impediments (namely, big business and current infrastructure, not to mention habits) stand in the way.

But the challenge is important.  And, in fact, it can be done.  Quite easily, if one has the willpower.  And our leaders should.  This blog has noted several times the essential nature of protecting the environment and simultaneously leading towards energy independence.  Between solar, wind, tidal, geothermal, and hydropower technologies, the US has the know-how and the resources, both technical and natural, to achieve Gore’s goal.  It can be done.  And it SHOULD be done.

Mr. Obama, when you are elected, make Mr. Gore a special leader on an environmental-energy task force, and give him the power to really push for this concept.  Our nation, and our planet, depend on making the changes now.

So who will Obama choose as his VP nominee?  The list has been shrinking almost daily, as several figures took their names out of the running either willingly (see Warner and Webb) or through bumbling (see Clark).  That still leaves several, none of whom this blog would possibly presume to rank, even though it now will.  In order of least- to most-likely, Bachmannalia’s top 10 potential Democratic VP choices:

10. Chuck Hagel – Fascinating figure who has broken with McCain and the Republican party over the war in Iraq.  Military credentials, business acumen, and gravitas, as well as a combative spirit great for a VP are all here.  So what’s not to like?  Well, he’s a Republican, and is conservative on a number of issues that the base might just rebel against.  Sure, he’d show that cross-party unity thing, but he can do that in a Cabinet position too.  Still, he’s one of this blog’s faves, simply on personality (and not too often on the politics).

9. Bill Richardson – Great guy, very knowledgeable, served in every possible branch of gov’t – state, federal, national, legislative, executive, international, etc. (no judiciary yet though…).  He’s Hispanic to boot, which would play well in several competitive states.  However, while he should certainly be considered for the Cabinet, he’s just not a terribly inspiring figure, and might not serve the Veep’s greatest role – attack dog.

8. Ed Rendell – Popular governor of a very important state who would lock Penn’s votes up for Barack.  However, he’s likely to get them anyway, and while Rendell is a great politician, he’s also a frequent foot-in-mouth guy and one who doesn’t quite exude presidential authority.  Shore up the Clinton supporters in a different way.

7. Chris Dodd – His name has surfaced recently, which is somewhat surprising.  Solid senator, definitely a fighter on the campaign trail, and one who would relish the role.  But he’s from New England (same reason Jack Reed, who’s gravitas is excellent, is unneeded), and has recently gotten himself caught up in the housing issues.  Would rather see him continue to fight for Obama from the Senate floor.

6. Kathleen Sebelius – Insanely popular governor from a solidly Republican state (that she would not put in play), and a woman with executive experience in crossing the aisle and pushing great programs (lots of green energy sprouting up in Kansas).  While I hate the CW, it is true that any woman other than Hillary might be seen as a slap in the face to Clinton supporters.

5. Sam Nunn – Sure, he’d bring experience and might put Georgia in play, but this guy is old (more so than is necessary to counterbalance Obama’s youth) and has been out of the scene for a while.  He’s pretty conservative for a Dem, which isn’t necessarily a problem, but he’s more of a pet-issue (nukes) kind of guy now, right?  National Security Advisor, anyone?

4. Hillary Clinton – Why so high?  Wasn’t the so-called “Dream Team” more of a “Scream Team” just a month ago?  Yes, but that was a month ago – might as well have been 10 years ago in politics.  Hillary would, sans baggage (see below), be an ideal choice – brilliant, great fighter, savvy, etc, and certainly would bring her supporters in droves to the polls.  It also seems that Barack and her could work together, as they have been doing so recently.  However, three things still hold Clinton back from the #1 (or rather, #2) spot.  1) Bill Clinton – he’s a wildcard, both on the trail and potentially in the executive offices.  2) While Clinton would rally the Dems, would she also rally the Republicans?  3) Has it been long enough that it wouldn’t seem like Obama was bending to Clinton’s maneuvers for the Veep spot towards the end of the primaries?  It has to at least look like it was his decision, afterall.

3. Tim Kaine – Personal fave, as I’ve met the guy (sorta).  Also a personal fave of Obama’s, and I’d guess would be his #1 choice if based purely on “who would I like to work with each day?”  While that is of course one of the most important factors, Obama is in the special situation of needing more experience on the ticket to quell the fears of some less-spirited Dems.  Kaine, while a popular governor of Virginia and another fantastic example of someone who works across the aisle, just doesn’t have that experience yet.  I really like the guy, especially for his stance against the death penalty (YOU COULD LEARN SOMETHING HERE, BARACK!), but I’m just not sure it would happen.  Of course, if Barack chose Nunn with the idea of a one-term VP…

2. Evan Bayh – Much more exposure recently, and a big Clinton supporter.  Much better pick, IMO, than Rendell on those grounds.  Again, somewhat CW, but simply LOOKS like a president.  Might be enough to swing Indiana, which would be nice, but I’m not sure of that.  Lots of experience, as a senator and governor, so that would certainly be a plus.  Biggest question is whether the two get along.  Because if they do, Bayh is a strong choice.

1. Joe Biden – Crazy that he’s up here, but really the guy only has one weakness in this process (though it may prove essential).  For the plusses – he’s a natural attack dog and would absolutely relish the campaign.  He’s an incredibly respected politician and one of the foreign policy gurus of the party (and the nation).  He doesn’t bring any region into play, but that is a much overrated point.  Most importantly, he and Obama are apparently great friends, and he’d certainly defer to the President as he seems to know what his position would be.  So what’s not to like?  Well, there is this little thing about him being potentially antithetical to the whole “Change” message, as he’s been in DC for decades.  But his other strengths, plus his relationship with Obama, make him the head of my list.

So many others could have been here, including Al Gore (create a new cabinet post for the guy and let him get all Inconvenient on the country) and other less notable figures (all the generals seem so boring…).  But I got other things to do, so there you go.

I was speaking with an anonymous family member recently, who floated an idea I had never considered, but which makes great sense, in almost every way.

Rather than lay out who is going to be your VP, lay out a whole cabinet!  Or rather, the positions people care about – State, Defense, Treasury, AG.  Throw in a few key advisors – National Security, Environment (hint hint Mr. Gore).

That way, you don’t have to feel like the result depends on one perfect pick, when in reality there may be several good candidates.  More importantly, it is an opportunity to play to many constituencies at once.

The only downside that I see is that it opens up several political spots on the election radar immediately.  The other party would get to see not just one vacant job, but many.

Go to a state’s death chamber.

Well, now don’t go and do anything that would get you SENT there, that’s for sure.  But see if you can arrange a tour with a warden.  I guess you’d have to have a good reason to go, so go get a criminal justice or a journalism degree first.

Ok, done yet?  No?  I’ll wait a few more years.

… twiddling thumbs…

Ok, now go see it.

Back yet?  Good.  Pretty messed up place, huh?  So sterile.  So antiseptic.

Oddly, Virginia’s has a pair of flip-flops underneath the gurney.  Guess you don’t want the guy’s feet to get dirty before he dies.

That’s what we need.  Really.

Energy independence – through alternative energy sources, as much as possible.

And why do we need this?

For the environment.

For our health.

For national security.

What?  What’s that last one?  Well, if we can make our own CLEAN energy, we don’t need to invade other countries to control those sources.