ANALYSIS/OPINION:

John Kasich, of former presidential hopeful fame, may be taking another stab at the high office in 2020.

Only this time, the Ohio Republican may be joining forces with a Democrat — Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper — to face off against President Donald Trump as a “unity” ticket.

Oh, Kasich. We always knew you were a Democrat.

So why not just jump the GOP party and buy the Democratic Party pin? And feel free to bring Sen. John McCain for the ride as well.

Apparently, the unity ticket’s more than talk. Hickenlooper and Kasich have been buddy-buddy on several joint appearances in recent times, to discuss state solutions to health care. As Axios reports, the two have been in contact with various media outlets to build a joint brand.

CNN, citing a source, tells more: “The idea of a joint ticket has been discussed, but not at an organizational or planning level. What they are trying to show the country is that honorable people can disagree, but you can still problem-solve together. It happens in businesses and it happens in families. Why can’t it happen in Washington?”

Good question. So here’s the easy answer: It can’t happen in Washington because Democrats, party of resistance, won’t agree to work with Republicans unless Republicans adopt the Democratic agenda.

Those who don’t, are treated to the Democrat Special — the slinging of their names through every mud puddle that forms, the affixing of labels and slurs that range from racist and misogynist to low intelligence and deplorable.

But for those Republicans who speak the Democratic language — who adopt the left-leaning platforms, policies and agendas? It’s a love fest.

Think about it.

Campaign 2016 Kasich waffled on immigration and defended amnesty. He waffled on Obamacare and, as Forbes noted, was “for an Obamacare exchange before he was against it.” He believed in human-induced climate change; accepted the whole gay marriage issue.

His liberal leanings have been so obvious The Associated Press even blasted this headline way back in April 2016: “Steve Malzberg on CNN: Kasich is a Liberal.”

Other headlines sang similarly.

From Slate in February 2016: “Is John Kasich Really a Republican Who Liberals Can Love?”

From National Review, that same month: “John Kasich: Liberals’ Favorite Christian Theocrat.”

From Quora, again from February 2016: “Are John Kasich’s Liberal Social Policies a Political Liability?”

And from the Federalist, in August 2015: “John Kasich is the Liberal Media’s Darling.”

But set all that aside, and there’s still this: Kasich hates, absolutely hates, Trump. And that automatically makes him the darling of the Dems.

In June 2016, he told Joe Scarborough of MSNBC “Morning Joe” fame that when it came to voting for Trump, “I just can’t do it.” In May, he crowed to CNN that “I told you so,” the drama “swirling” about the White House proved Trump was unfit to lead. In August, post-Charlottesville, he blasted on “Today” the president’s initial response was “terrible.”

Go, John Kasich, go. The White House beckons.

And truly, with media appearance like that — with media observations like the ones that have showcased his moderate, RINO roots — it’s no wonder Kasich would join with a Democrat to counter Trump in a primary. He is a Democrat.

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