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Dear John McCain,

Congratulations John McCain on your victory in Florida.

I want to talk about Change, with a capital “C”.

I am a conservative Republican who wants to vote for Change.

And that is why I am voting for Mitt Romney in the California Republican Primary.

To me, Mr. McCain, while I respect you very much, and certainly if my fellow Republicans choose you as their nominee then you certainly have my vote to be President of the United States - still and with all due respect you do not represent Change to me.

To me, there are many aspects of your candidacy of which does not represent Change, but represents Establishment, the same “as is and go along to get along” politics. I know you don’t like President Bush, but in many ways you remind me a lot of him.

And, that doesn’t represent change. Not to me. You are too well established, too well liked, among the “old guard”, be they from the Republican wing or the Democratic wing. You remind me a lot of Bush, and that is somewhat of a concern of mine in regards to defeating the Democratic nominee, which likely will be Hillary Clinton.

The funny thing about it, though, is I don’t think Hillary Clinton really comes about as a candidate of Change, either. I would imagine that she will be seen by many Americans as “established guard”, just like you. Old school. Bush, Clinton, Clinton, Bush, … Clinton? That’s Change?

No, it isn’t.

Now, Change in itself can be a change for the better or a change for the worse. But I don’t think you would bring Change either for the better, nor for the worse. I don’t think you are the answer for a bad economy, perhaps you will bring tax cuts which would be great, but I’m not sure. I think you might try to legalize millions of illegal aliens, and that has me very worried. Now, I do appreciate how you are now talking about securing the borders, and how you “got the message” and understand what the American people really want in this regard. But, if indeed you are going to be our nominee, coming from the point of view of not only a Republican voter, but from one who represents an opinion of a very large constituency of Americans, here is what I would advise you to do:

* You show strong leadership qualities, but I would really, honestly, appreciate if you would be more clear in elaborating your ideas on the subjects of interest to the American people, which is the economy, the War on Terrorism, and illegal immigration (in that order). Yes, we all understand that you will be confronted by conservatives on some of your earlier pronouncements and stances on issues. You seem to be shifting your stances, and this shift very much seems to be in the right direction, and because I now believe you have a way better than average chance that you are going to be our nominee, I really appreciate your change in opinion regarding some of these matters, in particular your change in question of illegal immigration. Thank you very much for valuing our commitment to stronger borders – and again, just to remind you, I do not support an amnesty, there are more than a few who seem to agree, and we do not need to debate what the word amnesty means since I believe you understand exactly what many conservatives mean by the word and our feelings on this matter. The good news is, it is obviously you are seeking our vote, and I hope you do not let us down on this because it would be a very big mistake.

I am told that conservatives have a big problem with you. Since I call myself a conservative, and now that your victory in Florida certainly has given you the lead in the race for the nomination, I would say I really don’t have “big” problems with you. In the glare of ruthless publicity in which you live, in which every one of your gestures and words, you arm motions even, are public property, still I greatly love and respect how you are truly willing to share with us, Americans such as myself, your true and honest feelings about our role in the world, our future, the War, and so many things. You have a developed and passionate regard for the truth, even if too many conservatives say that you are not truthful. You are. That is why we salute John McCain.

You are not a “maverick” because the old media likes you, or flip around on issues, of hang around the old school politicians who just want to remain in office. Do not let the liberals in the media, who in the end are NOT your friend, trick you.

You are not a maverick because of any of these things. You are a maverick because you have a passionate regard for what you believe is true. And, even if voters such as myself will not agree with you, still I love that quality in you. I would advise, if you are going to win the election for the President of United States, that this is how you are going to defeat Hillary Clinton. You will not be able to run on a campaign of Change. That is the truth. What you will need to do, is run on a campaign of your passionate regard for truth. It was this passionate regard for truth which made you turn against Bush at some critical junctures regarding the need for a surge – in many ways it turned out you were correct, yes I know many conservatives will try to argue that actually you really weren’t on the message of a need for a surge, but I think you were nevertheless. I believe you when you say you saw this need very early, and I believe in your passion for the truth.

If you run on this message, you will win the election and become the next President of the United States. It sounds very simple, but sometimes the answer is very simple.

I also believe something else about you. I believe you can, given the moment and the need, always, and will always, continually outgrow your own doctrines. If you honestly communicate this to Americans, then in it’s own way you are telling them that Change comes from those who can outgrow their own doctrines. You see, I do not think Americans can or will believe that this is a quality of Hillary Clinton.

But they will believe this is a quality of yourself. You get on this message, and you will win.

Your failures are public. I do not focus on these. What I really like about you is that your struggles, even though in so many ways you communicate them indirectly, such as your experiences in Vietnam, that your struggles are still private. And amazingly, your greatest triumphs are private.

You would make a wonderful President of the United States. Because I believe you are a lover of men and not a slave of ideas. This has nothing to do with politics, left or right. You have certain qualities that go beyond that. You communicate this to us, and you will win.

I understand President Bush’s feelings about the humanity of the Hispanic people of our Nation. It is really part of Texas, in a way. And I understand your same feelings in this regard, for the American Indian and the Hispanic people. I too, love both of these people.

I hope your love for the people of the United States can be communicated in this election. If you communicate this, you will win.

I believe I once heard that you said, you cannot reduce all problems to moral algebra. You are correct. So, just my advice, I hope you are not thinking of choosing Huckabee for example as your running mate. As angry as this will make my friends who are conservatives, I would recommend to you, if he is willing to take on the partnership, that if you win the nomination that you select Rudy Giuliani as your running mate.

If you do this you will win the election for the United States of America.

But what do I know? I am a nobody. But actually, in this time, you can beat the odds, as you are already doing, simply – it will be a contest of personality. You can win this contest, because so many Americans love you, and many more, including conservatives, will find in your message the truth that in today’s world, a dangerous world, an uncertain world, our real enemies are our own fears, our own vices and greeds, and immorality, and laziness, that is in danger of weakening our stand in the world. You have a way to be a figure of one who does not have fear, and you bring us calm and determination. You do not seem to be one of vice or greed. Even if we disagree with you on a political position, you do not seem to take a side because you think it will benefit your interests. You certainly are not lazy, you inspire us to serve. If you communicate this message, you will win.

Good luck on your candidacy. I am still voting for Mitt Romney in the California primary. And I know you will never read this. But, just some thoughts.