Every time I see or hear John McCain mislabeled as the Straight Talk Express I get seriously annoyed by the absolute absurdity of it all. This is far more reflective of McCain's version of "straight talk".
Of course it could be worse, Republicans could be nominating someone that has no experience, no specifics and no real plans other than ending a war we are now winning just for the sheer hell of it.
I'm not advocating that conservatives stay home in November and not vote for McCain, because I do believe that the war on terror and judicial appointments are more important than sticking it to the man that has stuck it to us for so long; but I do see the humor behind this cartoon. I am just searching for some levity in these dark days.
John McCain is going to be our nominee. There, I said it. But I am not happy about it. I am, however, going to dial down the vitriol towards him because it is akin to shouting into the void - it makes no difference whatsoever. He is going to be the nominee. I can't stop it. I can't change it. It is what it is.
So, what's next?
Well, I think it would be a good idea for all Republicans, anti-McCain or not, to read John Hawkins @ Right Wing News: A Double Edged Warning For The Conservative Media About John McCain. It is a few words of caution to the conservative media, but I think it will serve us all well to keep these things in mind.
Here's the honest truth: John McCain is not a conservative and he's not a candidate who is going to make conservatives particularly happy if he gets in the White House. Does that mean he's worse than Obama or Hillary? No, but it does mean he will disappoint and infuriate conservatives over and over again if he gets in the White House on a wide variety of issues -- and conservatives in the media should be honest enough to admit that.
If you sell people a bill of goods about McCain being a conservative, what are you going to do if he gets into office and people find out that you weren't honest with them? Where is your credibility going to be then? Think about it, tell the truth about McCain's record, and if GOP voters choose him, let them understand exactly what they're really getting.
It is very important for me that John McCain makes a good VP selection. It will be through this choice that John McCain can speak to me. He could give a thousand speeches at CPAC and I would not believe him because of his long record of acting contrary to Republican values and principles. From this point forward it will only be his actions that can alter my opinion of him. If he selects Lindsey Graham (SC) or Mike Huckabee (AR) or one of their ilk as VP then that would not be a good move. It would more than likely cause severe apathy to set in and I would not be motivated in any way whatsoever to go out and vote for him in November. However, if McCain selects someone who is an actual conservative then that may change my mind. Fred Thompson (TN), J.C. Watts (OK), or Jim DeMint (NC) would all be stellar choices. I would love to see my own Senator, John Cornyn (TX), be the VP pick but I don't think that is realistic given the McCain/Cornyn history.
John McCain is the nominee. John McCain is not a conservative. I am not thrilled with his qualifying to be our nominee on what can only be categorized as a technicality (winning 30% of the vote in most states is not much of a rallying point). But that is the reality of John McCain. I am trying to face that reality.
Mitt Romney has dropped out of the race for President of the United States. The announcement came in his speech today at the CPAC (Conservative Political Action Committee) meeting. In his withdrawal, he makes the case for supporting McCain despite major differences by citing the necessity for leadership in the war on terror.
Even though we face an uphill fight, I know that many in this room are fully behind my campaign.” You are with me all the way to the convention. Fight on, just like Ronald Reagan did in 1976. But there is an important difference from 1976: today… we are a nation at war.
And Barack and Hillary have made their intentions clear regarding Iraq and the war on terror. They would retreat and declare defeat. And the consequence of that would be devastating. It would mean attacks on America, launched from safe havens that make Afghanistan under the Taliban look like child’s play. About this, I have no doubt.
I disagree with Senator McCain on a number of issues, as you know. But I agree with him on doing whatever it takes to be successful in Iraq, on finding and executing Osama bin Laden, and on eliminating Al Qaeda and terror. If I fight on in my campaign, all the way to the convention, I would forestall the launch of a national campaign and make it more likely that Senator Clinton or Obama would win. And in this time of war, I simply cannot let my campaign, be a part of aiding a surrender to terror.
I must admit that Governor Romney makes excellent points here. I have never denied that John McCain would be a far better President on this one single issue than either Hillary or Obama. It is his record on the many other issues that I believe are highly important that has completely turned me off from wanting to ever support him.
So, with Mitt out of the race now, my plans for the very near term are to cast a write in vote for Fred Thompson in the Texas primary. A vote for Fred! will not hurt the party and the purpose of a primary is to vote for someone that you feel can best represent you. For me, that man is still Fred Thompson. But November is still a long way away and I have plenty of time to decide if holding my nose and voting for McCain is something I am physically capable of doing, because right now the stench of The Maverick is quite unbearable.
Well, once again it was a rough night for Conservatives. I don't have anything cheerful or optimistic to say. I need a day or two to regroup.
Curt @ Flopping Aces makes some very valid points about why we should vote for John McCain in November. And he did it without being insulting by calling anyone deranged for having real objections to McCain's record. Imagine that!
And we all know how much more different McCain would be compared to Hillary/Obama on the war in Iraq. I don’t like McCain, I think he is a very weak Republican and conservative, but with him we have a chance to get a conservative on SCOTUS. Without him we know, with one hundred percentage certainty, that a liberal justice will get on SCOTUS. Think the 70’s were bad with the Supreme Court? Roe v. Wade? Imagine what a liberal majority on that court would do to this country.
I really don't know what I am going to do in November - write in a vote for Fred! (as my heart is wanting to do) or completely swallow every principle and ideal that I have and vote for McCain.
Do I want a President Clinton II? Do I want a President Obama? The answer to both of those questions is a resounding NO!
But John McCain is not known as the Maverick for nothing. And as Bryan @ Hot Air pointed out yesterday (in a post I am far too lazy to search for now) he only reaches across the aisle to Democrats. How do I actually cast a vote FOR someone like that? It pains me to even contemplate such a move. Thankfully I don't have to decide this question today; because in today's world I am 100% against giving my vote to a man that has delighted in spitting on the party in which he only files to run for election but does not uphold many of its values and principles.
Battle For The Heart & Soul Of The Republican Party
I'm Still Voting For Fred!
(at least in the Texas primary)
Notable Links
Democrats say McCain nearly abandoned GOP
Bob Cusack @ The Hill: Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was close to leaving the Republican Party in 2001, weeks before then-Sen. Jim Jeffords (Vt.) famously announced his decision to become an Independent, according to former Democratic lawmakers who say they were involved in the discussions.
Hope!!
Dee @ Conservatism With Heart: First of all, Reaganism and Conservatism is not dead. Lets not get over dramatic and go this far. It may not win this election cycle but it will rear its head again in 2012.
Fixing the Primary System
Slublog @ Slublog: I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm tired of having my choices limited by the voters of two states. It's time to fix the process and make it more representative. Voters in later primary states should have a chance to make some impact on the entire field of candidates, not just who is chosen by a small pool of voters.
Why Should We Shut Up?
Rush @ Rush Limbaugh: Now the people on the McCain bandwagon are telling those of us who aren't on the McCain bandwagon, to shut up. Just be quiet. We are supposedly damaging the Republican Party.
I must admit that Governor Romney makes excellent points here. I have never denied that John McCain would be a far better President on this one single issue than either Hillary or Obama. It is his record on the many other issues that I believe are highly important that has completely turned me off from wanting to ever support him.
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