George Will does not like Mike Huckabee, Newt Gingrich, or Sarah Palin, or Herman Cain.

Let us not mince words. There are at most five plausible Republican presidents on the horizon – Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, former Utah governor and departing ambassador to China Jon Huntsman, former Massachusetts governor Romney and former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty.

Throw in Ron Paul.

I wonder if in the Skull and Bones theory of political manipulation, if George Will’s supposed “Send in the Clowns” complaint matters much.  Recall that photograph of all the presidents standing about — the Bushes and Clinton and Obama — and Carter away from the lot of them.  At the time, I had a message board conversation which lead to a poster suggesting we’re acting like we’re analyzing Soviet retouched images, and I responded “So that’s it!  They removed President Smork!  Don’t remember him?  Exactly!”

The set up is in place.  Obama is running around with Jeb Bush.  Of course he is.

I will note, on the other hand, Hunter S Thompson in 1972 proferred the theory that the Democrats were in collusion with the Republicans in setting up Edward Kennedy for 1976 off of the McGovern — Agnew axis of the Democrats that year and the Republicans the next election cycle.  That moment’s version of the Will “Send in the Clowns” thesis.  The Powers that be — what should we call it?  … are nothing if not adaptable.

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