John McCain insists it's just a Memorial Day Social Retreat, but it's just too much to be believable.  The guest list of this social retreat names around two dozen people.  However, 3 prominent Republicans are also on his list of possible VP choices.

These are Mitt Romney, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal.  Could it be that McCains short list has been reduced to 3?

It's no suprising that Huckabee isn't on it.  The weather balloon launched to test that idea barely left the ground before the storm blew it right back down.  McCain is a dividing force, so he needs to name a uniter as a running mate, and Huckabee isn't that.

I could get behind Mitt Romney as a VP (and the heir apparent for the next republican nominee), but he would be just as divisive as Huckabee.  Brother Mitt's time may come, but it it's now.  Sure, the physcal conservatives would love him, but the evangelicals would go on a rampage... basically the equal but opposite reaction of a Huckabee nomination.

Gov. Charlie Crist & Bobby Jindal might be good choices.  They records show they are strong on fighting crime.  They both advocate a federal death penalty (which I think should be a state issue).  They are a little too federal in their law enforcement ideas for my taste, but most Conservatives would love it.   They both advocacy of parental choice in education, school vouchers and school prayer sound good  (ok, I'm still mixed on the school prayer thing).

They oppose NAFTA... nuff said there.  They are pro 2nd Amendment rights and concealled carry.  I don't like their ideas about mandatory sentencing or teacher led prayer though.

They seem to be pretty similar, but Jindal is further to the right than Crist.

So, either of these three would give me cause to consider voting Republican in Nov.  It will be interesting to see how this plays out.  While I think a McCain/Romney ticket would further nail the coffin of the GOP, the other two could do wonders in healing and strengthening.