IgnoRants

McCain is his own Reverend Wright – the more he opens his mouth, the deeper he digs his hole with conservatives like me. Everyone but McCain agrees that he needs the conservative vote to win in November. McCain himself appears to believe he can siphon off enough moderate Democrat votes to prevail, so he snubs us and plows ahead.

The more he says, the more I realize that there’s little reason to go out and vote for McCain in November. Yes, the alternative is depressing, but let’s look at the scorecard and see what will net the most conservative outcome for us.

These issues are lost to us whomever is elected:

Defense of Marriage – ain’t gonna happen with any of them. There will be no will to stop any pro-homosexual judge, mayor, governor, etc from declaring that homosexual marriage is heretofore legal in his or her state. It’s already started in California in direct opposition to the will of the people. 

Amnesty for illegal aliens – It’s comin’, folks. Any of the 3 will see to it. McCain says he will secure the border first (no doubt with those “virtual” fences that only stop virtual illegals).

Close Guantanamo – not so bad perhaps, but part two of that action is giving the detainees there access to our courts instead of a military tribunal. How much do you think that will cost and how do you think that will turn out given our domestic courts track record with violent criminals?

Environmental regulations – All of McCain’s hoohah about market-driven environmentalism is just that. If there were any payoff whatsoever, the market would be driving it now. People drive hybrids to save money and fit in with their crowd. Companies are happy to provide that service. Signing on to the Kyoto Protocols or some other green weenie agreement will cost American businesses and consumers far more than anyone else in the world. Why impose strident regulations based on a science that is far from conclusive?

Homeland security – McCain opposes “torture”, so no more panties on the head for those guys. He also opposes domestic wiretapping of terror suspects. All in all we’ll have fewer and less productive resources for the protection of our citizens.

Higher taxes – The Democrat candidates aren’t shy about it. McCain’s environmental policies and amnesty plan will cost us much more than simply letting the Bush tax cuts expire.

Here are some issues where we have some hope, but don’t count on it. McCain is a follower. He doesn’t cast a vision and ask people to join him, he’s the guy that signs on with others against his own party. By virtue of being a high profile turncoat, he looks like a leader to some people:

Judges – He says he will appoint conservative judges. He also says that he himself is a conservative. He will appoint people like himself like most presidents do. His appointments may be marginally conservative, but unlike politicians who influence policy, a Supreme Court Justice is just a vote. Is Breyer more conservative than Ginsburg? Maybe, but if they vote the same, what difference does it make?

Abortion – McCain doesn’t oppose abortion on moral grounds. After all, he supports stem cell research. At best he will be a neutral influence in this area. However, given his penchant to appease, he could go south on this issue in the interest of “reaching across the aisle” Don’t count on him.

The war – McCain is running now as a moderate Republican. He is vying for the same votes Barak or Hillary will be after. If he wins, he will owe his election to those people (he believes we conservatives must vote for him). I know I’m in the minority here, but I don’t think McCain is a pricipled man - I think he is a purely political man. What has he stood up for against the odds? What issue has he lead the conservative fight on? I think McCain is more likely to pull out of Iraq prematurely than either Barak or Hillary.

Democrats do NOT want to be hung with pulling out of Iraq and have it fall to terrorists resulting in massive purges like Vietnam. They will stay until it is stabilized even if it is stabilized under a repressive Shia regime controlled by Iran.

McCain does not have the gonads to take the abuse that Bush took for his convictions - no, he will pull them out at the first opening. Democratic government in the mideast be damned!

Maybe I’m being too Machiavellian about this, but it seems to me as I look at the future and take clues from the past that as conservatives (not Republicans) we will be, at best, only marginally worse off socially and no worse off economically with the Democrats in control.

But what makes the case for me is that 4 years of liberals in charge of this country may shake up the party enough to realize that Republicans without conservatives are just another brand of looser. Republicans need to start purging the party in a major way starting at the local level until someone comes through the fire to lead a new conservative movement.

I don’t think Obama is intellectually vacuous and vapid in the same sense that Brittany Spears is. However, in the context of cognizance at the level one must have for the job he wants…he is Curly. Unfortunately, John McCain would be Moe, so we’re only slightly less screwed under that scenario. That leaves Hillary as…well, you catch my drift, right?

I’m getting the impression that the "smart money" thinks so too. Actually ALL money is smart….eventually. It leaves dumb people and goes to live with smart people. That’s why rappers use "money" as an adjective.

I hate using anecdotal evidence for any argument, but I’ll try one on you anyway. My brother just lost his job. That’s not unusual, it happens all the time and that is no more evidence of an economic downturn than a soldier being killed or injured in Iraq is evidence of the surge not working. No, what is significant about this is that my brother builds hot rods. These are not flip flop paint jobs and spinner hubcaps on a lowered hoopdi. He builds serious, show quality cars. He’s good.

Now, we live in the south and although, contrary to the stereotype, not everyone here is a car nut, there are plenty of them. We have great wide spaces to drive and explore - places a subway or a bus doesn’t or can’t go. Gas powered vehicles in the south are more than transportation, they are freedom, rebellion, lust and ambition. I’m not a car guy myself, but even I know the smell of a gas engine running too rich (and frankly I like it).

My point is that there are certain things that people in different cultures, even different societies aspire to, not just desire. Hot rods here in the south are such items. I’ve seen hotrods in his shop waiting on more money that took years to comlete. People don’t give up this dream easily.

So why has the hot rod money dried up all of a sudden? My point is that "smart money" wants to stay with smart people, so they (the smart people) are preparing for the hit. I got this same "vibe" nearing the end of Clinton’s presidency - like no one was in charge, no one was paying attention. Then Bush came along and we said "thank God - an adult !" - the market bounced back and we went back to playing golf, boating and building hot rods. There are no adults coming to the rescue this time and we all know it.

I hope I’m wrong, but I’m not. You can say McCain is a fiscal conservative all you want, but giving 20 million illegal immigrants amnesty and instant access to everything America offers is going to cost this country PLENTY. So will giving the terrorists at Guantanamo access to our courts, so will buying oil from the mideast instead of drilling in ANWAR, so will signing onto Kyoto or something like it, so will all the other capitulations to liberals that he is famous for.

Except for McCain’s military service, the most responsibility any of these candidates has had is for 1/100th of a decision in the Senate. They’ve never even run a gas station, much less a city, state, or country!

Yeah, yeah, yeah - I hear your argument for the lesser of 2 evils vote. But, I feel like a guy setting a pick on a basketball court - notice where the hands go - I’m going to take the hit, but for the smart folks, it’s all about protecting the money; and it’s never too early for that.