As I said, having an Obama presidency will force conservatives to scrutinize everything he does and speak out when he does something they think is wrong and if need be, take the fight to Washington, just like we did during the Clinton administration.
Having McCain in office will encourage conservatives to let down their guard, just as they did during Bush's first term because they, like you, believe that McCain is less harmful than Obama.
You may remember me telling conservatives here on FR to hold Bush's feet to the fire over his signing of the Social Security Totalization Agreement with Mexico (signed June 2004) during the run-up to the 2004 election.
All I heard in response was, "What and vote for John Kerry?"
Note that I wasn't telling conservatives to vote for Kerry, only to hold Bush accountable for his actions before voting for him so that he would not use their votes as a mandate to proceed with his brand of immigration reform.
Well, guess what? After re-electing Bush, he used it as a mandate to proceed with his Mexico-first policies. But, by then, the damage had already been done.
The reason why Bush was able to do things like signing the Partnership for Prosperity agreement (with Mexico), New Alliance Task Force, which relaxed banking regulations to allow Mexican illegal aliens to obtain US home, business and auto loans, sign the SS Totalization Agreement with Mexico, which gives Mexican illegal aliens access to US SS benefits was because conservatives like you let down your guard.
I expect Obama will do the exact same thing, but the difference is that conservatives will be watching him like a hawk for any usurption.
All I heard in response was, "What and vote for John Kerry?"
Note that I wasn't telling conservatives to vote for Kerry, only to hold Bush accountable for his actions before voting for him so that he would not use their votes as a mandate to proceed with his brand of immigration reform.
Well, guess what? After re-electing Bush, he used it as a mandate to proceed with his Mexico-first policies. But, by then, the damage had already been done."
I thought conservatives held Bushes feet to the fire pretty much throughout his presidency, probably better in the second term than the first, primarily because of the focus on the WOT.
And candidates, including President Bush have to understand that our votes for them, doesn't mean we're in agreement with all their stands on issues of policy. I doubt president Bush thought his successful bid for a second term, meant we agreed with him on the immigration issue. He has been stubborn about his liberal support of Mexico and immigration since day one. It is more likely he believed the U.S voter returning him to the office of the presidency, was a validation of the War in Iraq more than anything else.
A great many of us supported and opposed president Bush when we thought we should. I don't agree that conservatives fell down on that job for any reason other than the WOT, if in fact they did fall down on the job.
And if there is a president McCain, conservatives will be watching him almost as closely as Obama, given most of our perception that we have many areas of disagreement with McCain.
Your post was filled with some excellent information. Thank you.