[Jagdgewehr]

I admire your optimism and enthusiasm and find it very difficult to disagree with your assessment of the conservatives' conundrum at hand. However, I was struck by your use of the word "passionate." I would rather say I will not vote for McCain because I feel it's the passionate thing to do. Rather, I see as the responsible thing to do.

I do not hold to the hand-wringing pessimism displayed by a few here on FR. That being said, I feel, as many do here, we do not have a solidly conservative candidate to really get behind in this election. To be honest, I feel we have been retrogressing since Ronaldus Magnus. The conservative base is not "fired up" by the GOP candidate...it is only motivated by the fear of an Obama presidency.

[Norman Bates]

That’s a fair analysis. We have held the White House for 8 years now. I’d imagine even if Reagan were running he wouldn’t have the enthusiasm of a post-Carter presidency with post-Bush. The intelligent recognize however that the latter is just as important as it prevents the Carters and Obamas from ever getting hold.

One more reason. Hell, if no other: Don’t let those stinking DUmmies be laughing at us on election night!! They will be laughing at you, me, Eaker, all of us - they don’t care about our petty division - they are a point of derision to them. We are in this together whether we realize it or not at least through a common enemy.