What a surprise. Mitt Romney - a multi-millionaire who for years has been balls deep in the establishment heirarchy mounts a "surprise" run for the GOP nomination. The only problem was that he was a waffling turd in an otherwise empty suit. All during the campaign he and McCain slung caca at each other like monkeys at the zoo. His endorsement of McCain proves that he was nothing but a pawn in this pre-determined chess game. Meanwhile the other bit players in this WWE-style script all played their role to a T:

Mike Huckabee: A pastor/governor whose Jesus-populist message alarms neo-cons and Darwin-Conservatives alike - who nevertheless remains in this race because of his down-to-earth style, populist rhetoric and the religious "War of Civilizations" underpinnings of his campaign.

Freddie Thompson: the smooth-talking actor/politician who did nothing more than take potshots at McCain's opponents and run interference for him like Jerry Kramer clearing a lane for the Golden Boy Paul Horning on the old Packer sweep.

Rudy "Benito" Giuliani: the fascist former mayor of NYC who rode his "I was Mayor during 9-11" to an early lead in the polls. Only to have his hopes dashed when it became known that he was tooling - literally and figuratively - around Gotham City on the public dime with his mistress-come-wife.

Duncan Hunter and Tom Tancredo: the sky is falling, not-so-dynamic duo, who rode a wave of anti-immigrant fear mongering into a bit part in this pre-determined farce.

Finally, we come to a guy who, IMO, could really make a difference or end up dead trying:

Ron Paul: the Texas congressman who took shots from McCain, Romney, Giuliani and Thompson, as well as most of the main stream media and bootlicking Washington punditry. Yet nevertheless managed to lead the greatest grassroots Presidential campaign since Ross Perot in 1992. Paul, when all is said and done, could prove to be the sage of this year's campaign. As his message of non-intervention abroad and sound economic policy and personal freedom at home becomes more and more popular - his 2008 White House run could be the bellweather moment of change in American politics. For now however it appears that the once great American Republic will allow a Big Government Socialist (Obama and/or Clinton) or an Authoritarian Fascist (McCain) to drive us all further into economic, military and moral bankruptcy.

Sadly, unless Paul stays in - this will be the first presidential election I give a big "up yours" to and stay home.