So far as I have been able to determine, the national debt would grow at an even faster rate under McCain than it has under Bush II...which would take some doing.

The argument in favor of Obama picking someone like Hagel is twofold: (1) it would show that he is serious about overcoming the blue state/red state divide, and uniting America; and (2) it would overcome, in an instant, a lot of the national security misgivings about Obama, as Hagel is a respected Vietnam vet.

But like I said, I don't think it's going to happen. Very fun to speculate, though, on who Obama's running mate will be!