Oddly, McCain's voting record is pretty darn conservative. McCain just choses to oppose the GOP on high profile issues where he can get camera time. McCain's CFR was the biggest assult on first Amendment rights in history, but he got lots and lots of publicity for it. McCain's biggest problem is mental. He can go postal at any time. Unfortunately, if McCain plays his cards right and does not attack Christian Conservatives like he did 8 years ago, it is his election to lose. But the people McCain turns to for advisors will be 'moderates' who will try to stab conservatives in the back every chance they get, so there is a good chance McCain will once again play his winning hand wrong.
IMO, the RINO McCain has already been tapped by the Clinton machine to be the 3rd party Ross Perot of the 2008 election. Little Johnny gets his face time, gets his tummy rubs from the libs he loves, and gets to impact history (maybe even more than firing off his errant missile on the deck of the USS Forrestal).
The Evil Clintons learn their lessons well...and they know that all they need to re-capture the WH is to drain away maybe 7-8% from the real republican candidate (in all probability, less than was required for the Evil Teensy Bent One to prevail in 1992 and 1996).
Amazingly, so many Perotites and Buchananites (and other mush-meal "3rd party" voters--some sadly represented on our own forum) will fall right over the cliff for the Clintons in this manner. Just disgusts me...
(And to any and all 3rd party dopes who may be reading this, just know that I WILL NOT engage you in any discussion--this is my opinion so leave me alone! Can't stand you anyway!)