McCain is trying to present himself as a pragmatic moderate, but his record shows differently. He has stood with Bush on just about every issue.

The narrative pushed by the media, the GOP and others that McCain has strong foreign policy credentials is basically false. Actually he is weak. Granted McCain served honourably as a navy fighter pilot. He has sat on the foreign affairs committee for years. Nevertheless that does not translate into experience. When it comes to foreign policy McCain is a Bush clone, only on steroids. His solution is to use military force, not diplomacy.

Furthermore McCain has been an advocate for attacking Iraq for the past ten years. He is anti-Russia, anti-China, anti-No Korea & anti-Iran and would use the military over diplomacy. He has stated on his campaign, and I quote, "My friends, there will be more wars." Frankly McCain's preference of using military force combined with his infamous temper unnerves me.

McCain talks about victory, claims the surge is working, but ignores the lack of political reconciliation progress. Militarily the US soldiers have done everything required of them. There is no military solution. Accordingly his myopic focus on maneuvers rather than an overall strategy will undoubtedly have serious consequences.

Speaking of Supreme Court justices if McCain is elected I shudder to think of another Justice like Alito or Roberts. Why? Well because they have been ruling as "activist" judges overturning laws that have protected the people that now favour big corporations and expanded police powers.

I do not mind conservative judges, however, I do mind when the Supreme Court changes laws based on ideology rather than Justice.

The image of McCain -- sometimes referred to as McBush -- as president unsettles me especially considering his infamous bursts of anger. Imagine a scenario with his finger on the "trigger."

The type of presidency we can expect from McCain .... just imagine a third term with Bush only on steroids:

"Reflecting the neo-conservative programme of spreading democracy by force, Mr McCain declared in 2000: "I'd institute a policy that I call 'rogue state rollback'. I would arm, train, equip, both from without and from within, forces that would eventually overthrow the governments and install free and democratically elected governments." Mr McCain advocates attacking Iran if necessary in order to prevent it developing nuclear weapons, and last year was filmed singing "Bomb, bomb Iran" to the tune of the Beach Boys' "Barbara Ann"."

McCain is right now mulling through the resumes of two dozen potential running mates, with the goal of finding the one who best balances his own age, geography and ideology. In the general, he'll be the more conservative candidate, but he does want to win. Against Obama (or Clinton), how would it benefit him to veer all the way to the right? Here's a good thread on the next step of his campaign:
http://digits.hrblock.com/ssDigits/digits.php?rType=1&sPath=1140&sNode=1140&uId=198

I, like most conservatives, have doubts about John McCain as the party standard bearer. Even though I was only a child during the Reagan years, I have learned of the greatest and effectiveness of his administration and brilliance as a leader. Over the years, McCain has done little to gain the confidence of conservatives. His legislation and political maneuverings such as the McCain-Fiengold bill, the Gang of 14, and most recently McCain-Kennedy along with many other actions on McCain's part further my misgivings. I have a very difficult time supporting John McCain, who seems to me only a less dangerous version of Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. That is where I came to the question, "What can I do to be more enthusiastic about my candidate?" I was not very surprised when Andres told me, "I have a three-word answer for you: Supreme Court justice." I had already come to this conclusion but hoped that there could possible be another reason. I hope and believe that McCain will appoint those that who have a proven record of strict interpretation of the Constitution. My only hope is that we will be faithful to campaign promises and appoint justices in the mold of Scalia, Thomas, Roberts, and Alito. Although it pains me, I have the feeling that I will do as the former English Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli once stated, "Damn your principles! Stick to your party." I will be supporting John McCain in the fall but like I said before I am not very excited about it in the least.

"When I see the waste and corruption in Washington, I get angry," McCain told host Chris Wallace.

Since Keating Five?

McCain is careless making those remarks that immediately bring the scandal. Hypocrisy or Cynicism.

The tremendous success of the Huckabee campaign shows that social conservatives, the bulk of GOP votes, the ones whose maximum effort saved Bush in 2004, are fed up with being used as the foot soldiers of the GOP and fed up with free trade policies that impoverish them. And the way GOP elites ganged up on Huckabee sure did send the message home that "snake handler fundie yahoos" were never considered true equals. The entire Giuliani campaign was a direct attack upon social conservatives.

So they are going to sit this one out and Obama will win in a 40+ state landslide.

To the one taking as a pseudonym , the last Emperor of the Pax Romana and author of one of the greatest stoic philosophic treatises MEDITATIONs, I say sir, you have given me hope. I am adverse to Mr. McCain because of his collusion and co-operation with the one-world socialist in the Democratic Party. I had considered Senator McCain as anti-thetical to conservative principles and one willing to compromise with the anti-Christian, anti-Constitution, anti capitalist, and anti Caucasian straight, borgeoise , middle-class male comrades of the Left. It is my belief the liberals ( aka progressives, socialist and communist) have made the Christian, Caucasian, Middle-class, free enterprise capitalist, straight white male the new Jew in the liberal Fourth Reich. (i.e disciples of Barak Obama's pastor.) But considering the railings from the Left I may have to endorse that collaborator with Ted Kennedy and Russ Feingold. Actually though after Senator "Free Trade" endorsement I can only conclude he is either interested in an international plutocracy, or supports free trade because it helps Communist China or that Senator McCain wants to accomplish Aaron Burr's dream of a North American Empire in which we common proletariat and bourgeoisie will be reduced to serfs on a neo-Confederate plantation or Mexican hacienda system in which wealthy socialist bureaucrats and plutocratic businessmen with government-chartered, Mercantilistic, monopolies rule as feudal lords. Like socialist politburo party members at their dachas. But considering the ire of Marcus Aurelius, I may have to reluctantly support the Senator after all. Te Moritoribus salutemus! For anyone who loves the Constitution it is either proletariat poverty or the gulags if Barak or Hillary or any other Democrat obtains power. It is the company store and reduction to serfdom of the plutocratic "free Trade" Republicans gain power. I wish we had a real Tenth Amendment in which both Marcus Aurelius and I could segregate ourselves to separate states that reflect our beliefs yet still be free Americans.

Good luck with that Supreme Court stuff. As much as it's become a science, both teams are studying it closely. If the Democrats retain the Senate (as many expect them to, in fact they may add a seat or two) then McCain may not get the justice that the conservatives want. It's all well and good to say what you intend to do now, what reality lets you do when you have the job is often different.

Fareed - explain how cussing in public hurt Dick Cheney, before you say it will hurt John McCain.

Dear STumped:

Please tell me where "executive privilege" is defined in the Constitution.
Oh, its not there?
Hmm, guess those Bushies won't have much of a leg to stand on in front of those "strict constructionist" judges , will they?

"most erstwhile"??
Is that even English? Who proofs this stuff?

"most erstwhile"??
What kind of English is that? Does anybody proof this stuff?

You could always tell Chris Glover to vote 3rd party instead of goose-stepping with the Republican party. If they give you a garbage candidate then stay home or vote Libertarian or something. Find someone who does excite you and vote accordingly.

Yep, we need to make sure to get all the nazis and religious nuts we can on the supreme court so that we can eliminate the bill of rights (except for the second amendment) and put all the wise guys in federal pen.
Posted by: nazcalito | April 8, 2008 2:38 AM
------------------

Do you really expect anyone to take you seriously when you throw out the Nazi card? While you may not like their jurisprudence, do you understand how absurd it is to compare Scalia, Thomas, or Alito to Hitler or Eichmann?

As far as religious nuts, are you familiar with Muqtada al Sadr?

Comments like yours create polarization and prevent real, intelligent debate on important issues.

What is the definition of a "most erstwhile South American ally"?

FOUR MORE FEARS! FOUR MORE FEARS! FOUR MORE FEARS! FOUR MORE FEARS! FOUR MORE FEARS!

Chris Glover, you have a hill to climb in having McCain appear to be more acceptable. The first step for McCain is to use his mouth that got him into so much trouble to explain to us why he is qualified to be President. Especially being on record for cussing out everyone from his wife to fellow congressmen (in Public). This is my biggest problem with McCain, his caviler disrespect of those who disagree with him. I believe he would agree with me. He has some apologizing to do, I pray he can find the words to undo what he has done.

Yep, we need to make sure to get all the nazis and religious nuts we can on the supreme court so that we can eliminate the bill of rights (except for the second amendment) and put all the wise guys in federal pen.

It seems though that the real problem GOPs have is one way or the other they must keep the war going-- with McCain eventually forced to become a Richard Nixon type leader. That seems to also be Hillary's (eventual) more tormented position. The GOPs only hope is to revitalize the god, gays, and guns triad-- but it seems so tired and worn out and McCain is not a good choice there either.

It looks like Obama will be get in, sadly, without much of a fight.

Mark Penn reminds me of the old line:
"Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others."

It's not about free trade or lack thereof, but that the Chief Strategist couldn't care less.

One expects a lawyer to represent ANY case as well as possible, regardless of any moral issues involved, but one expects something different from a Chief Strategist. But then, Hillary was a corporate lawyer for a lot of years....