John McCain having a Coke & a smile (GG file photo)
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Do we really want either of these two for the next 4 years? (GG file photos)
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I know that Skip (along with some of my favorite political pundits) is beside himself with John McCain’s association with open-borders rumpswab Juan Hernandez. I must admit, taken on its face, it doesn’t please me, as a person supporting the Arizona Senator for the GOP nomination, either. However, if you are like me and believe that because the world war with Islamo-fascism trumps everything, then you must agree that we have to stop the Democratic nominee or else we could very well lose the whole thing. As I look across the remaining field of candidates, consider the overall "feel" of where the US is at present, and look over a variety of opinion polls, it is still my belief that John McCain is the Republicans’ best hope.
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Now I would be lying if I were to say that I HAVEN’T taken a fair amount of heat from some of my conservative friends (including Skip) over my continued endorsement of McCain. Yes, it is unfortunate that the reincarnation of Ronald Reagan hasn’t showed up on his white horse to save the day, but that’s reality. And reality is the arena in which the game is played. Fred Thompson was a properly credentialed conservative, but, unfortunately, couldn’t cut the mustard when it came to attracting votes. If he can’t get GOP support, how on earth could he gain a majority of people at-large? You can be the best conservative on the planet, but if you can’t get elected, then what difference does it make?
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Whether we like it or not, Americans are "tired" of George W. Bush, and are seeking some sort of "change." My fear is that they want it so much, they will elect whoever the Democrat nominee is come November. The only way to prevent that from happening is to offer up a Republican that brings a credible degree of distance from the present administration– One that can attract voters from outside conventional GOP circles. I just don’t see Mitt Romney as the guy that can get the job done for us. (Neither does our buddy John Hawkins at RWN) For a time, I thought that perhaps Rudy Giuliani was up for the task, but, unfortunately, rightly or wrongly, the flap surrounding possible budget manipulations to cover up an extramarital affair (later determined to be untrue) caused me and many others to leave his bandwagon. Who wants to risk such potential "skeletons" being unearthed during a general campaign against determined Democrats willing to use anything for political gain? As for Mike Huckabee, well, I have always felt his appeal was limited. America is not ready for a preacher-man as its President. Maybe if it were pre-sixties America, but not now.
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That leaves us with John McCain. Is he the perfect conservative… or Republican, for that matter? Of course not. Why, Rush Limbaugh says if he’s the nominee, he might not even cast a vote for president. And he’s not alone. But, given an electorate coming into November with a fair amount of anti-Republican sentiment, this might work to McCain’s advantage. I can’t believe I’m saying this, and wish it weren’t true, but again, I deal in reality.
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Thanks to the feckless Republicans in the House and Senate, seemingly caring ONLY about protecting their pet pork projects, and the absence of any leadership and understandable explanations on the part of President Bush and his administration defending their positions and actions, we are left to pick up the pieces and work with the cards as they have been dealt for the next election. McCain has long stood against pork and waste in Washington. He can plausibly claim he is able to work in a bipartisan fashion. He brings his successful support and promotion of the "surge" strategy as evidence of readiness to be Commander-In-Chief, along with his military experience. And he is a genuine American hero from an era that undoubtedly caused many people to question whether we had any heroism left. Do I agree with his "against torture" position? No. But a good deal of people do. And he is pro-life. And he rails in favor of smaller government and less waste. Indeed– there’s a lot to like about Senator McCain, and some things, naturally, not to like about him. At the end of the day, it appears he’s got the best shot at defeating the Democrat. That, I REALLY like!
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