GOP Nominee
Former Candidates
Given that one man with courage makes a majority as God spews the lukewarm out of his mouth, how was this rooster so blind to his maverick kinsman standing there all along?
How could I lean to an upstart Mitt, take the late Fred train only to lean to Mitt once more (lukewarms all), when a perfectly hot war hawk/cold on spending John McCain was at all times available?
I suspect this former Democrat for 18 years, won over to the GOP in 2000 based on the conservative principles best embodied by Ronald Reagan, felt entitled to have him (or a reasonable facsimile thereof) delivered up to facilitate my repentance for lacking the courage and wisdom to embrace the real thing when he walked the Earth.
Reality intervened with a conservative epiphany after a nose-holding vote for Gore, but after the post-Super Tuesday reality check the moment Mitt Romney suspended his campaign, I will breathe freely and happily when proudly casting my vote for the senior senator from Arizona for President of the United States on Election Day 2008.
The moment Mitt resigned I was relieved as the scales fell from my eyes and I saw my man McCain in full for the first time, after only having glimpses before.
The glimpses were when the maverick would stand up to the MSM on THE issue.
The War.
After all, while I revere President George W. Bush for his character, tax cuts and judges, it is his steel spine on the war that elevates him in my mind to heroic status.
John McCain, already a hero since his POW years in Vietnam, also has a steel war spine.
You say you want CHANGE? How about a war hawk with attitude instead of the “new tone” usually of silence we have endured the past seven years.
John McCain will be anything but silent. Rather, his old tone many of us resented at times when directed at us, will very soon and for his entire presidency, be directed at the MSM sycophants that are turning on their cable and network co-star as we speak.
It is going to be sweet to watch as McCain becomes the vessel for liberal attacks on conservatism. We will bond to him as he is unjustly attacked due to his age. The man we have so often seen as a jerk will now be our jerk.
And we will love him for it.
This country desperately needs to re-learn what patriotism is.
John McCain embodies patriotism. His mere presence demands respect. Enemies of the United States that pray for a weak democrat will not be tempted to test our champion.
Yes, we have our policy differences with McCain, but McCain has been making some promises with regard to many of those issues.
And John McCain keeps his promises.
After a bitter fight with then Governor Bush in South Carolina in 2000, he campaigned tirelessly for his election and re-election. McCain promises to secure the border first. He will fight to make tax cuts he originally opposed permanent.
We should not require an “uncle” from our nominee. We already have Uncle Sam, and whenever our common uncle wanted John McCain, he answered the call.
From now till Election Day, our love for America must equal that of John’s, which will require that we not only vote with a hands free nose but also give our full-throated support before we pull that polling booth curtain.
On issues with which we disagree, we can fight him and Congress through the courts (McCain-Feingold) or via Rush Limbaugh and our conservative brigades (global warming/amnesty). But let us now and forever disabuse ourselves of the notion that there isn’t a dime’s worth of difference between McCain and either Hillary or Obama. Let us eschew the notion that we could win (for the conservative of republican cause) by losing.
Poppycock to all that!
He is ready to mop the floor with either Nurse Ratched or the Obamanation, and is ready to protect this country on Day One.
There are three kinds of change to choose from. We can become the children of a Europe-like nanny state writ large with no America to protect us from ourselves or we can embrace a change that seeks to reduce government and embrace America exceptionalism.
Just as in 1981, in Reagan’s words, we are the change.
The Rooster is crowing as he eyes a new dawn of patriotism led by a true American hero.
So get your hands off your noses and/or beaks and proudly cast your vote for a great man.
Where have you been John McCain?
Just under Gamecock’s beak. I see clearly now.
Feels right!
Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
The HinzSight Report
The Minority Report
Huck is history in the Race 4 2008
“One man with courage makes a majority.” - Andrew Jackson
February 16th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Get our hands off our noses? It’s true that the olfactory nerve only takes about 3 seconds to totally get desensitized, in the case of voting for McCain, those 3 seconds would be exceedingly long and painful.
McCain derives immense satisfaction from sucking up to the leftist media, doesn’t understand economics, has bought into the environmentalist wacko agenda, and loves currying favor with Democrats….all elements that combine to produce future damage to the country. McCain needs to offer up an atonement for his collectivist sins….patriotism, in and of itself, isn’t enough.
February 16th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
The John McCain kool aid.
John McCain is a bad candidate.
He won Florida because a big lie.
He is not a conservative at all.
Sorry but no.
February 16th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
*waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah*
February 16th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
I’ll still be holding my nose if this guy doesn’t have the brains to put Mitt on the ticket.
February 16th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
John McCain is a step in the wrong direction. Period. We are headed toward an economic disaster, and all McCain has to offer us is Jack Kemp and some “sunshine.”
We need to cut federal spending by at least 12 digits. Now. Right now. We must demand this from John McCain on penalty of voting Constitution Party in November. We have a moral obligation to fix this problem now and STOP mortgaging our childrens’ future.
John McCain can be as goddamned “patriotic” as he wants, but he can’t rewrite the economic principles that have governed the rise and fall of countless great nations throughout history. Wake up, people.
February 16th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Guys you need to think rationally about McCain. He’s a politician and he has gone against the establishment on secondary conservative issues, but on the primary issues (pro-life; hasn’t raised taxes; and voted for conservative judges) he has been a conservative. It’s a bitter pill but he passes the litmus tests.
February 16th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
UGH !!!! Did you not see the Romney endorsement ? Did you not see McCain ? UGH !!!
February 16th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Presidents come and go, senators and congressmen come and go, but supreme court judges are for life.
Democrats will place liberals on the bench, so what is your choice?
February 16th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
I’m sorry but i’m with Ann Coulter, McCain can’t be good for the war on terror. He not support strong interrogation on terrorist, what the agents have to do? send them to rehab?. He was and is wrong on taxes, he want to close Guantanamo.
Sorry but no, no, no.
February 16th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Yep, McCain gives us the best chance for the judges we want. Politics is not the art of getting 100% of what you want be it is the art of getting the most you can. In this election environment, McCain gets us alot for which conservatives can be thankful for. You going to get a lot more with McCain than you would with Hillary or Obama! Use your brains not your hurt feelings!
February 16th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
If you really hate the choice of McCain keep this in perspective. You are voting for the Supreme court when you are voting for McCain. All other choices will take you backwards. Also remember the idea of a divided government. Vote for a conservative congessman or senator and vote for McCain to get those judges. Reason people, please!
February 16th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
#8, Do you think that right now the President can choose Michael Lutting or Jannice Roger Brown and the senate is gonna aprove it?
February 16th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
How principled to see a guy like McCain stand for a pointless war, Mike.
February 16th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
I will vote for John McCain over either Hillary or Obama, but here is why I am opposed to McCain. I am not an evangelical, in fact, although I am pro life, generally, I favor stem cell embryonic research, and would not oppose abortion in the event of rape, incest, or if the life of the mother were in danger. But I have a very hard time with what McCain did concerning judicial nominations. I am very familiar with the fight that took place in the Senate at that time, and for McCain now to try to claim that he got Roberts and Alito confirmed is just baloney. Anyone who was there, or closely associated with the events during that time, knows the truth. McCain was grandstanding, and he didn’t care what his behavior would do to the President’s judicial nominations. As I said, I will still vote for McCain, even though I may have to hold my nose to do so.
February 17th, 2008 at 10:23 am
Dear “Gamecock”;
Welcome aboard! Now you know why those of us who are McCain supporters are salivating at the prospect of impending fire-works. If his recent interview with Larry King is any indication, this could be a heck of a lot of fun.
SJR
The Pink Flamingo