Southerners favor automotrons

Dixie Republicans, at least. Staw votes are meaningless, especially when they're held 32 months before the next presidential election, but the Southern Republican Leadership Conference showed once again they prefer the safe and bland over the bold and appealing.

John McCain lost out to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (who did have a sizable advantage, since the poll was taken in his home state), Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Virginia Sen. George Allen (who referred to the audience as his "teammates") in the poll taken among party activists.

If you're a Democrat, you're happy. If you're an independent like me, you prepare for yet another unsavory choice. Ready for Allen vs. Clinton in '08?!?

Suddenly, I'm nostalgic for Ross Perot ...