There’s more to be said about the still-developing situation with Auditor and potential party-switcher Joe Lieberman Tom Salmon, particularly about the mythology that his conflict with the Democratic base that busted their butts to get him into office in the first place is primarily about him being too “moderate” (for one thing, it’s first and foremost about his constant attempts to sabotage his own Party’s legislative leadership – but for another, he’s not exactly “moderate” after all… seriously, where on the liberal-moderate-conservative spectrum does handing over Vermont ski areas to the most unstable and corrupt industry in the nation – casino gambling – fall? Answer: it’s so far off the spectrum, it’s in another dimension).

But that’s for another diary. This one is for entertaining musings. Here’s a scenario for you…

Imagine for a moment that Salmon does become a Republican. Imagine then that he opts not to run for Governor, but to try to play the power of incumbency and runs instead for re-election as Auditor.

Now imagine Dubie runs for the top spot and loses, while the scramble for the open Lieutenant Governor’s office also ends in a Democratic victory. But the incumbent auditor ekes by and retains his position.

And Tom Salmon Jr, as the only remaining GOP statewide officeholder, becomes the functional head of the Vermont Republican Party in 2010.

How does that mess with your head, huh? Am I saying that’s the plan, here? No way, man – I aint sayin’ nuthin. But what makes this scenario so entertaining is that it… could… actually… happen.

Likely? Nah. But still…