No Runny Eggs

John McCain has now been quoted saying that Pres. Bush should veto the bill that restricts interrogation techniques. McCain is not saying that he has changed his position on waterboarding (a techinque that I can’t find a reason to call “torture”.) He does say that Bush should not allow Congress to restrict methods to those outlined in the army field manual.

Perhaps the most noteworthy piece of this article is:

“If a president disagrees with legislation, he should veto it, McCain said. He said he disapproves that Bush sometimes signs legislation he dislikes, then issues critical “signing statements” outlining his objections.”

If you take this at face value, McCain will actual fight the fight and make it obvious for the American People. Today, Pres. Bush signs many bills and than adds “signing statements” which will attempt to withhold legal authority on some items. This falls short in that it doesn’t always “hold water” as a rule of law. Plus, it doesn’t raise the issue so that the American people can weigh in by hitting up their Representatives and Senators.

This is one instance where John McCain’s straight forward approach may benefit conservative voters by giving them an opportunity to call their representatives to accountability.

While I haven’t had the privilege of blogging here for very long, it’s probably apparent that I have been no supporter of John McCain. I’ve been like a lot of you during this nomination process. I went from not seeing anyone I would vote for to supporting Fred Thompson because he was/is the only person I considered a conservative in the mix. When Thompson dropped out I made my one “deal with the devil” and switched to Romney. He’s not a true-blue conservative but I could find myself dreaming enough conservatism in him to pass muster. Well, Romney is out and the last man standing is McCain…what to do?

Like most of you, McCain really hacks me off! Every time he refers to us as “my friends” I feel the need to shower. On too many occassions I feel like he has gone deliberately out of his way to poke his thumb in my eye and follow it up with some sanctimonious blathering about his principles and looking out for the American people.

OK, deep breath…count to ten…one, two, ten!

Unless your name is Mike Huckabee or Hillary Clinton, it’s obvious that McCain is the Republican nominee and that his likely opponent will be Barack Obama. Are any of us really serious when we say “We want to teach the Republicans a lesson” and by extension that we’re OK risking having Obama as President rather than McCain? Really? You’re OK with that? If you are, I have to question what kind of a conservative you are. In fact, if you’re really serious about that than are you any different than McCain pouting after being shot down on immigration?   Now that I’ve riled you (If I haven’t you don’t need to read the rest of this), let’s look at why we should support McCain.

1. Supreme Court Justices – It is possible that during the next Presidential term 2 – 3 Supreme Court Justices could retire.   Do you really want Barack Obama picking up to 3 Justices?   McCain may not be fond of Alito but he is of Roberts.   Do you have a problem with 3 additional Justices with the ideology and thinking of Roberts being appointed?
2. War on Terror – Barack Obama has vowed to remove troops from Iraq by ’09.   He has stated on numerous occassions that his approach to International issues including the War on Terror is to talk to people.   Talk to people????   Isn’t that pretty much what got us into the situation we’re in today by Bill Clinton talking to people?   Do you really want another Jimmy Carter in the Whitehouse?   I’m not suggesting that we go and blow nations off the map but without a credible threat of force, talk will only result in additional talk.   Do you have any question of McCain’s resolve to keep America safe?
3. Fiscal – OK, McCain didn’t vote for the tax cuts.   I’ll even give you that I don’t believe his tap dance about not voting for them because he wanted spending cuts to go with them.   However, he has stated on numerous occasions lately that he will make the tax cuts permanent.   Also, he has been a hawk on earmark reform and budget accountability.   On the other hand, have you taken a look at Obama’s economic policies?   I believe Obama’s policies can be summed up  as “Everyone’s a victim of something.   I’m going to give you all money so you feel less like a victim and become more beholden to the Democrats.”   Is that something that you would be OK with?
4. House and Senate – If the conservatives sit out Obama will likely win in a landslide fashion.   If he does, his coattails are likely to be very long.   Conservative government begins in the House.   Remember Newt Gingrich?   Remember what that congress was able to accomplish?   Remember who was President?   Do you think McCain is more liberal than Clinton’s natural tendencies?   If Obama wins, I fear that not only will we be House minorities but with 24 Republicans retiring, we might run the risk of deteriorating to a veto proof minority.   Would you be OK with that?

I don’t know if McCain can win even if he gets the conservative support.   I know damn sure he can’t win without it.   If McCain loses we may get a momentary emotional satisfaction but we will have a long term physical reality of the negative consequences.  

It’s time for those that claim conservative  ideology to quit whining and move forward.   With McCain we  may not have a perfect situation but it gives us a chance to improve on it.   Without McCain we will be voices in  a wilderness  for a period that could make the forty years of the Hebrews a mere blink of an eye.  And yes, I include myself in that group.