Over the past week or so I've seen posts around the blogosphere that have angrily demanded that conservatives line up behind John McCain if he secures the nomination - because we MUST defeat whoever the Democrats select.

The writers all seem to insist that voters abandon their conservative principles based purely on the party in which McCain has filed.

I will have to take a pass on that.

I cannot vote for John McCain.

I will not vote for John McCain.

If these bloggers are so intent on denying all of the ways in which John McCain has lined up with Democrats over the years then that is their choice. If they choose to ignore the times in which John McCain has spit on the Republican party that is their choice. If the Maverick tickles their fancy because of where he offices in Washington D.C. then I am not going to criticize them for making that choice.

But my choice is not to make the mistake of assuming that President McCain would act in any way that is different than how Senator McCain has acted. Senator McCain has given us suppression of free speech via McCain-Feingold. Senator McCain has given us a rejection of our nation's sovereignty and an attempt to force amnesty for illegal aliens via McCain-Kennedy. Senator McCain fought to keep the appointment of conservative judges off the bench by his bullying through the Gang of 14. Senator McCain insulted and offended evangelical Christians in the 2000 race for President. I cannot recall a time when Senator McCain has made a real stand for the protection of the unborn. His actions speak volumes. In nearly every opportunity he has been presented with in which to act contrary to the values of the Republican party he has taken it. He is the true definition of a RINO.

I don't trust or respect John McCain one bit more than I like or trust Hillary Clinton. I think I might like and respect Barack Obama significantly more than I like or respect John McCain, but we part ways on the issues.

So, I reject the insistence that I have to vote for John McCain simply because he files as a Republican. He has not acted as a Republican during his time in the U.S. Senate. I have no faith that he would act as one as President of the United States.

If John McCain is on the ticket in November, I will be casting a write in vote for Fred Dalton Thompson. I want my vote to matter. I want my vote to represent me. I cannot, in all good conscience, say that any vote for John McCain is in keeping with my values or my principles.

If a liberal is going to be in charge for the next four years, then I want the Democrats to get the credit for it. Maybe then Republican voters will learn the lesson that you don't send a RINO to do a Republican's job.

Update: Michelle Malkin rips John McCain a new one

In quoting Michael Medved, Sister Toldjah has written a very compelling argument about why Republicans should vote for John McCain should he be the nominee. And I have to admit that this is the one issue that could make me do the unthinkable when the chips are down.

Who would you rather be at the helm of the ship in the middle of the war on terror? The guy who has been unwaveringly supportive on the issue of winning in Iraq and who understands that it is critical to the future success of the war on terror that we are victorious there, or the guy or gal who would let all the progress that has been made in Iraq go to waste, and allow our troops sacrifices be in vain by pulling the US out of Iraq before the mission has been completed? If we support the troops, doesn’t it stand to reason that we would support the candidate who understands what the cost of losing in Iraq would be, and who understands that our troops have fought so strongly, so bravely, and so proudly, and deserve to come home with honor and a sense of accomplishment?

Personally I am going to hope and pray that Mitt Romney is the guy that can get the job done and not force any of us to have to make the difficult choice to vote for someone as repugnant to conservatives as John McCain.