Compromise

I had a few big conditions for actually coming back to the Republican camp this year.

One is the vice-presidential selection - which will get more buzz later.

A second involves immigration and so-called amnesty plans by the McCain camp.

A third (going back to 2006 for any candidate) was supporting the removal of UIGEA language.

Well, they met condition #3 today.

Last night, the Democrats' keynote speaker was Rep. Jim Leach, who was one of the main House sponsors in getting the UIGEA passed.

One of the main opponents to the UIGEA has been former NY Senator Al D'Amato, advising the McCain candidacy. Perhaps, as a result of that tie as well as gaming proponents' vocalization of their opinions, it was decided to strip language urging a prohibition of Internet gambling from the draft GOP platform - language which had been in place in the last two elections.

It's a big change, and it does meet one of my requirements for supporting them this year.

I'm still waiting on that VP pick, though. If it's Bobby Jindal, Sarah Palin, Haley Barbour, or Mark Sanford, then I'm back on board.

If it's Mitt Romney, Kay Bailey Hutchinson, Rob Portman, or Tim Pawlenty, I'm not too sure about it.

If it's Joe Lieberman, Lindsey Graham, Mike Huckabee, Tom Ridge, or Charlie Crist, then they can go shove it and you will e seeing a lot more posts for Bob Barr.

Yikes, that's a pretty big number of possibilities, and I'm sure I'm missing some.