Field of GOP White House Hopefuls Grows Surreal

As Newt Gingrich drops his adultery bomb to survey just how much the conservative establishment is willing to tolerate, the GOP ’08 field is no longer just “different” this year -- it is surreal. We are definitely not in Kansas anymore.

There are many who believe that the socially conservative base of the party -- now flirting with Rudy Giuliani the social liberal, Mitt Romney the flip-flopper (read fake) and John McCain the insulter -- has evolved, or devolved and is willing to settle for one of them.

But this week reminds us to keep doubting. We now await an announcement from Sen. Chuck Hagel (Neb.) who some hope will enter the presidential contest. In this space Armstrong Williams blogged about the prospect (buzzed about among Republicans) of Vice President Cheney resigning and being replaced by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice who could become a candidate as well. And today Alexander Bolton reports in our newspaper that GOP elder statesman Howard Baker is beating the bushes for a critical mass of interest in an ex-Sen. Fred Thompson (Tenn.) candidacy.

Giuliani, Romney, McCain and yes, Gingrich -- get ready for a few more surprises.

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