JOHN MCCAIN-SAM BROWNBACK: A darling of the Religious Right, the Republican senator from Kansas bowed out before the presidential race got interesting. He has since endorsed McCain and defended him against other Double Rs as being authentic.

With Brownback, author of "From Power to Purpose: A Remarkable Journey of Faith and Compassion," McCain could energize conservatives. Even with two white guys on the ticket, they would seriously threaten a Democratic ticket with Hillary either Clinton or Barack Obama, or both.

Brownback is younger than McCain. He's like Mike Huckabee without the mischief, and Mitt Romney without the pretense.

McCain and Brownback have crossed party lines to build consensus in the Senate. Brownback has worked with Barack Obama on solving crises in Africa, including Darfur.

McCain should send Romney a "Dear John" letter and go with Brownback.

JOHN MCCAIN AND JEB BUSH: If there's going to be a third Bush term, it may as well be made official. McCain's age may mean a single term. That would set up his Veep for the next election and the top slot. Since voters in presidential elections can't escape controversy involving Florida, that state may as well have a horse in this race.

Furthermore, the Bush dynasty's enablers, including James Baker III, have already lined up behind McCain. So has President Bush. It might be good for voters to see what a smart Bush could do for this country for a change.

JOHN MCCAIN-RON PAUL: McCain says we may be in Iraq for the next century. Libertarian Paul wants us out of there yesterday. Think of it as a PushMe-PullYou ticket. Fun to watch, but not very effective or likely.

JOHN MCCAIN-CHUCK HAGEL: Too moderate a team for conservatives, but a balanced choice because it doesn't turn the country over to the theocrats who would overthrow it. McCain indicates he may continue Bush II policies.

Hagel has challenged some of those policies as possible abuses of power. The Nebraska senator wouldn't be a yes man. His policies mostly show compassion. He wouldn't claim executive privilege to keep secrets from the public, or characterize the invasion of a sovereign nation as "a slam dunk."

These men may disagree, but they would be ready for day one.

JOHN MCCAIN-JOE LIEBERMAN: Baghdad Joe has been stalking Baghdad John for sometime. It's tough to tell who are more conjoined: McCain and Lieberman, or Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and martial arts pal Chuck Norris.

In a previous life, Connecticut Sen. Lieberman was a Democrat, the yang to Al Gore's yin. Now an Independent (read: Republican), Lieberman stumps for McCain mostly over Iraq, and for the Jewish vote.

Would McCain take Gore's sloppy seconds? If so, he wouldn't mind. It might just allow him to complete his trans-party operation, and help him try to make history yet again. This would be two hawks soaring almost as one. Both men have been tested in previous presidential contests, so they would know what to expect.

JOHN MCCAIN-CONDOLEEZA RICE: This is the real deal, a true dream ticket. Conservatives love Condi. This pick would confound voters, especially independents and Democrats given the choice between either the first woman or first African-American front-runner. The GOP gets to pull the dual diversity card for a change.

This ticket is a compass point for what the Decider calls "the way forward." As secretary of state and a competent Sovietologist, Rice brings international heft and discipline to the ticket.

A proven conservative, she would satisfy McCain's far-right critics who favor the Bush Doctrine. She would no sooner whine or play gender victim (see Hillary) than she would become a card-carrying Marxist.

Would she accept an entreaty from McCain? Yes, but only if the Decider, who has endorsed him, asks her to. Her judgment may be questionable, but her loyalty is indisputable.

Rhonda Chriss Lokeman (lokeman@kcstar.com) is a columnist for The Kansas City Star. To find out more about Rhonda Chriss Lokeman and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

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