August 25, 2017 10:11 AM UTC

Kasich/Hickenlooper Trump Trolling Continues

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• by: Colorado Pols

CNN files a report stirring lots of Friday-morning discussion:

Gov. John Hickenlooper and Ohio Gov. John Kasich have entertained the idea of forming a unity presidential ticket to run for the White House in 2020, a source involved the discussions said Friday.

Under this scenario, Hickenlooper, a Democrat, and Kasich, a Republican, would run as independents, with Kasich at the top of the ticket, said the source, who cautioned it has only been casually talked about.

“The idea of a joint ticket has been discussed, but not at an organizational or planning level,” said the source, who spoke only on the condition of anonymity.

“What they are trying to show the country is that honorable people can disagree, but you can still problem solve together. It happens in businesses and it happens in families. Why can’t it happen in Washington?”

Now first of all, folks, the chances of something like this actually happening are somewhere in the neighborhood of 0%. The logistical hurdles of getting on the ballot in all 50 states as an independent candidate are daunting to say the least, and this arrangement would be more likely to draw votes away from the Democratic candidate running against Donald Trump (or his successor) than it would be to itself succeed. Gov. John Kasich of Ohio may be a “moderate” by today’s GOP standards, but his record on issues like reproductive choice remains anathema to most mainstream Democrats.

To be honest, we don’t think this talk is about reality–it’s about keeping Gov. Kasich front and center as a Republican Trump opponent, while allowing Colorado’s Gov. John Hickenlooper to burnish his bipartisan credentials–for any of several choices of higher office in the future. To that end this is fruitful activity for both men.

As long as we all keep it in perspective.