Wow. There are a lot of disgruntled conservative Republicans out there. I am one of them. Here’s where I, and many other folks are:
1) I would go to Mike Huckabee’s church (but don’t want his Populist ideas anywhere near 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue).
2) I want John McCain to make good on his promise to “follow Bin Laden to the gates of hell.” (but want him to do that in a context other than Chief Executive of the USA).
3) I would greatly prefer that people who call themselves conservative held true to their conservative principles of limited government, cutting taxes, personal freedom and responsibility, and believing that rugged individualism is the fabric of the American way of life. Had people done this, Mitt Romney would be in a distinctly different position, as would the Republican Party.
To echo the great Maha Rushie (that’s Rush Limbaugh folks), this is like watching a time warp of 1976. In 1976 the Republican Party clamored to the center and nominated Gerald Ford as their presidential candidate. The guy was a great golfer, but not so much a great president or presidential candidate. Ronald Reagan lost the nomination in 1976 to Ford, which is largely why our country suffered through 4 years of hell with Jimmy Carter at the helm. However, Reagan did not back down in his defeat, re-brand himself as a moderate or centrist, or try to redefine conservatism. He simply knew that 1976 was not his time and conservatism was going to be the answer in 1980 and beyond
How does this apply today? John McCain is no conservative. My biggest beefs with McCain are primarily his named legislation and show why he is not a conservative, despite the rebranding:
-McCain-Feingold: basically prevents private groups (Swift Boat Vets and religious organizations) from advertising in campaigns. A gross violation of the 1st Amendment that I suspect will be litigated after this election cycle.
-McCain-Kennedy: Amnesty legislation. The worst part is that if you go to McCain’s campaign website, he has done a total flip-flop on illegal immigration and it is now one of his key issues. He was the one calling those of us in favor of a secure/safe border backward redneck bigots (paraphrased).
-McCain-Lieberman: This proposes a cap on carbon emissions for individuals. This should be called the “Grind America’s Economy to a Screeching Halt and Send Her Back to the Stone Age Act.” In all seriousness, last I understood, it creates a government permitting agency that issues permits at a ridiculous cost so businesses can emit carbon above what the Feds say is acceptable.
-He opposed the tax cuts, voted against them, but is now for them. Sounds like the inverse of John F. Kerry (in McCain sceevy old man voice), “My friends, I was against the Bush tax cuts for the rich before I voted for them, my friends.”
-He’s said himself he’s clueless on the economy. Great timing for a candidate with no economic knowledge in light of the housing market correction and sub-prime debacle.
-In general, he’s known for his hot temper and inability to be civil. You know Clinton and Obama are holding this trump card. There are apparently all sorts of recordings of McCain dropping F-bombs and cursing people out in Senate committee meetings.
-Bill Bennett said yesterday morning that McCain is for same-sex marriage. I do not know if this is true, but I will look into it.
On the plus:
-He is pro-life.
-I want him to make good on his promise to follow Bin Laden to the gates of hell.
-If you screw with America on his watch, I am quite confident that McCain will bomb you faster than Dick Cheney can pepper one of his huntin’ buddies.
Other than that, that’s where I am on McCain. BLUF (Bottom Line Up-Front): I will vote for him 8 days a week and twice on Sunday over Hillary or Obama, but won’t be out waving the flag for him. This being said, there was nothing super about Tuesday for conservatives.
