Redstate

I think in the end, everyone here will vote for him come November. I think what they won't do, is donate money. Which is a shame really, because McCain can't get out his message as easily if he had their support.

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BigGator5.net

Presumably during his time in the U.S. Senate, Sen. McCain has recommended judges for appointment to the U.S. District Court in Arizona and the the U.S. Court of Appeals for the (gulp) Ninth Circuit.

Anybody got info on the record of these judicial nominees?

BRASSBAND77

One reason why you're seeing so many Republicans claiming that McCain is a traitor to the cause, is that the "cause" has been left undefined.

In the post-Bush era, what is the GOP vision for America? What is the conservative vision for America? So far, there hasn't been one.

And with that lack, all kinds of activists have come forward to insist that their favorite issue is the real litmus test; and if you fail their litmus test, you're out.

In my experience, in the last few years, more and more such litmus tests are being proposed:

If you don't support a Federal Marriage Amendment, then you're not a "true conservative";

If you don't believe global warming is a hoax, then you're not a "true conservative";

If you don't believe the war in Iraq was a good idea, then you're not a "true conservative";

On and on and on. (Note that the more tests you put on conservatives, the fewer of them will pass all your tests, shrinking the pool of conservatives. But that's another story for another day.)

For the post-Bush era, we need to get back to basics here: What is the essence of conservatism, the true kernel that you have to believe in, in order to be a conservative? And which issues are only ancillary, the pet peeves of one faction of the conservative coalition?

I used to think that the essence of conservatism was maximum individual freedom under a limited government, whose main purpose was to ensure those freedoms, not abrogate them. If so, then McCain is definitely a conservative. No one has fought harder to eliminate pork and earmarks from the Federal budget. McCain has made it clear that his judicial philosophy tends toward originalism.

But I guess if you think that conservatism has a lot to do with global warming or sucking up to James Dobson, then you won't like McCain. And if you think that (thanks to Bush) conservatism should now embrace nation-building in Third World countries, then I guess I'm no longer a "true conservative" either.

This is the single most important issue for any conservative. Even if McCain is 50/50 in his appointments, like George H.W. Bush, that is better than Obama will be. Acts of Congress can be undone but the next President's appointments will matter for the next thirty years and it could take forty years to undo.

This isn't just about abortion and other social policy. It is about basic principles of democracy and a republican form of government, federalism, separation of power, international law and how it impacts our domestic law, etc.

This is huge people, get on board!

form to insult the guests you've invited into the house. And your strawman argument is one of the worst insults you can level at me.

I do not object to McCain being called a conservative because he is in favor of amnesty for illegal aliens under whatever euphamism is in vogue today.

I do not object to McCain being called a conservative because he teamed up with Teddy "the drink" Kennedy to foist NCLB on us.

I do not object to McCain being called a conservative because he teamed up with Feinstein to choke off our right to free speech in the most important forum in which we can express it.

I do not object to McCain being called a conservative because he has signed off on the biggest government boondoggle and transfer of power from the people to an unlected elite since time began under the guise of preserving our planet.

I do not object to McCain being called a conservative because he thwarted attempts to get conservative justices confirmed by threatening the nuclear option for confirming them.

I do not object to McCain being called a conservative because he spat on conservatives after he lost to Bush in the primaries.

I do not object to McCain being called a conservative because he doesn't support a constitutional amendment to protect marriage.

I do not object to McCain being called a conservative because he was the sacrificial lamb to get the other members of the Keating 5 convicted.

I don't even object to him because he is at variance with me on ALL of these issues.

To call him a conservative, I do not find it sufficient that he supports the GWoT.

To call him a conservative, I do not find it sufficient that he claims he will nominate non-activist judges.

To call him a conservative, I do not find it sufficient that he is in favor of reducing federal spending.

To be called a conservative, I believe one must be a student of history, philosophy, religion, science, mathematics, art, culture (I'm weakest on these two) and the human condition. I believe that after one has absorbed that knowledge, one must integrate it an understanding of the things around us form a theoretical basis for understanding the world. And having formed that theoretical basis, one cannot make the mistake of believing that basis is more important than observed facts. I don't believe McCain has done these things. There is no coherency in the positions he takes. They are a smorgasbord of positions that might mark him as populist, but not conservative. They are certainly within the realm of Republican positions prior to Reagan. But McCain is no conservative.

That being said, if you live in a swing state (or even a Red State), I will ask you to carefully consider the implications of your vote before not voting in the Presidential race, voting Libertarian (something I've done occasionally here in the People's Republic of MD for the same reasons that folks like Erick are urging a vote for McCain here - half a loaf is better than none), or voting for the Dem in order to send a message to the GOP. The next four years are going to be the most dangerous in the history of our country, and having someone who is dangerously naive at the helm may spell disaster. And under no circumstances should you not vote at all, there will be downstream candidates who deserve and need your vote even if you decide the top of the ticket does not. Even here in the People's Republic I will be going to the booth to vote for downstream candidates, even if ultimately I choose not to vote for McCain.

Your quote

McCain matters on judges. You may not like him on a number of issues, but he has not disappointed us on supporting conservative judges.

I guess the 'Gang of 14' deal where he sold us out on confirming conservative judges to gain himself media praise must have just been a bad dream I had.

Sorry, I'm not buying. Actions speak louder than words.

McCain was maybe #3 on my list of people I would have wanted to win the nod i'm still not going to vote for Barr or Obama or anyone else really.

People not voting for McCain hold true to the statement "Cutting off your nose to spite your face"

While your showing McCain you don't like some of his issues, your giving Obama the highest job in the land, all set up for him to destory.

I most likely won't donate money to his campaign I still am going to do my part by trying to create videos to pass along online and see if I can get any High Quality footage to cut together into videos they can use for the campaign, I might as well use my talents to where they best point.

on judges?

And what is your secret plan to have those judges confirmed with a super majority of Democrat Senators and, while not a super majority of democrats in the House of Representatives, certainly enough that most, if not all his vetos will be overridden.

If you want to see what the base of conservatives think go to this link.

http://www.johnmccain.com/Blog/Read.aspx?guid=2fb5d4ca-732c-4d9a-bd65-d6...

This is an amazing distraction that continues to be used to encourage people to vote for a candidate, they normally would not. The President will not select a judge that will change Roe v Wade. 35 years ago, most of those under Republican Presidents and it did not change. This is not a reason to select a President. Better to select them based upon their record of direct support for our freedoms.

some of the paleocons and Ron Paulestinians are so crazy to the right that they really become part of the left.

there is NO WAY any sane Republican could ever believe that Obama is more conservative on ANY issue than McCain. McCain is more conservative than BUSH on the war, on spending restraint, earmarks, and smaller federal government.

Some people are just miserable human beings who want to be able to say "see I told you so" as the country goes down the toilet. Generally those are called "liberals"..

"Small town folks get bitter after which they cling to guns or religion, or antipathy to people who aren't like them, or anti-immigrant sentiment, or anti-trade sentiment."