In the third and final part of his look at the style quirks of the '08 presidential field, Glenn O'Brien sizes up a possible third-party ticket.

*****

It's too soon to tell, but don't be surprised if the old third-party trick is trotted out once again, but this time with a slate that looks, well, pretty sharp and sensible. These guys aren't George Wallace or Ross Perot—they're contenders.

Michael Bloomberg—former Democrat, former Republican, and current Independent—is probably the most presidential-looking of all the candidates, except for his stature. And let's face it, height isn't what it used to be. The President of France is shorter than Napoleon was. It's all about TV now, not real life.

He dresses with style and taste. His accessories are politic, with his stars and stripes not too big, and his apple advertising his city. He even wears subway-token cuff links, symbolizing how he gets to City Hall each day. Well, at least the part of the journey after his limo drops him off at the subway station.

Actually his taste is a little too good—note the excellent tie and the spread collar… not very populist. But he's smart enough to dumb down for the handshake occasion with the requisite red tie, white shirt, and gray suit. His main image problem, like many politicians, is that he seems ill-at-ease in casual togs. He looks like his sports clothes were bought for him, and he doesn't even have a wife he can blame.

Still, he generally gets it right. Most politicians would wear a one-size-too-large golf shirt, but he's right on with this one, which makes him look trim and fit.

*****

Arnold Schwarzenegger, aka The Governator, is the logical VP candidate of any Bloomberg run. It would take a constitutional amendment to make him eligible for the Presidency, as he is not a natural-born citizen of the United States. (There may be some doubt about John McCain, too, born as he was in the Panama Canal Zone.) But there's no reason he can't serve as VP. Arnold has cleaned up nicely. No more embarrassing muscles. His tailor is a genius, cutting suits that make him look quite human and not at all Terminal.

He hardly even looks like the same species as the Arnold of yore.

He must spend at least $400 on those haircuts.

He knows how to do tie-less. Like any Hollywood star worth his print on Sunset he knows how to look casually casual—trim short sleeves, flat-fronts, and just the right shades.

My only suggestion for this superstar is that Maria Shriver Schwarzenegger go through his lingerie drawer and toss any remaining bikinis, thongs, or posing straps. Those days are gone forever!

He has a nice sense of color, but he keeps it simple. Simplicity, in fact, is a big part of Arnold's appeal. He has a sort of sensible, populist manner, and quite unlike the current regime he seems very capable of learning from his mistakes.

Is there something scary about a vice president with a Dr. Strangelove accent who used to work in a posing strap? Not after Dick Cheney. I like Arnie; and now that Bloomy has taken to comparing us to the Brits in the Revolutionary War, well, I have to say the guy is smart. The Republican candidates look more and more insane, the Democrats look more and more craven.

There's something about the management styles of these new-breed Independents that's very attractive. I think they could make a good run at it, but they need a name for their party. I think maybe it's time to bring back the Whigs—which counted among its ranks Daniel Webster, John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, Winfield Scott, William Henry Harrison, Zachary Taylor, and the young Abe Lincoln. What did they stand for? Modernization, economic development, and the supremacy of Congress over the Executive. Sound refreshing? And Whig just plain sounds good. Can't you see the headlines? Whigs Win Big!

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