Posted on 08/26/2008 7:29:23 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
There has been plenty of whining from conservatives concerning whether John McCain would select a pro-choice vice president. I just hope whining is all it is. As my colleague Dan Calabrese pointed out on August 21, the political leanings of the VP concerning abortion are largely irrelevant. The only way to meaningfully decrease the number of abortions is to convince people that abortion is a bad idea, not to legislate.
But this conservative whining must be starting to concern McCain and his political strategists at least a little. Maybe these people who keep complaining that McCain isn´t conservative enough are actually considering the possibility of not voting.
On one hand, Barack Obama simply isn´t popular enough to be truly threatening. He´s inexperienced, doesn´t understand the issues very well, doesn´t exude patriotism and has some horrendous relationship baggage. When you tally it up, it amounts to a major risk. And as past elections have shown, it´s been risks like these that have ultimately pushed people past the summer excitement and back into the autumn safety of conservative candidates who, if nothing else, seem more or less transparent.
But on the other hand, the support of the conservative base is an important element of this seasonal routine. So even if the swing voters play their role perfectly, as I suspect they will, it probably won´t be enough if a significant portion of the conservative base doesn´t vote.
So I must pose a question to the whining conservatives who are threatening to stay home on November 4, sitting in their La-Z-Boys with arms crossed, puffed up blood-tinted cheeks, and brows furrowed like a toddler who doesn´t want to take a nap. Are you prepared to deal with the consequences of an Obama presidency?
Realize that the average age on the U.S. Supreme Court is currently 68. John Paul Stevens is 88 and Ruth Bader Ginsburg is 75. Obama would select at least one, probably two new justices.
Bills that put crushing new requirements and taxes on businesses would almost certainly pass a Democratic Congress, and be signed by a president who has never run a lemonade stand in his life, much less a business. Don´t expect him to start vetoing bills just because they would drive our country´s deficit beyond anything prior.
Realize that Obama would not be aggressive on terrorism, that Islamofascists are probably licking their lips at the prospect of a passive American president who would be content to play defense, and would even take seriously the lip-service of radicals like the Iranian president. With an appeaser as our commander in chief, terrorist networks would inevitably regain strength, and more innocent people will die. Call it a scare tactic or anything you like. It´s completely logical.
Realize that 3 percent of Americans pay about half of America´s taxes. If we elect Obama, those numbers will be even more lopsided. Obama has pledged to increase taxes on the wealthy, who would, in turn, hide their money. That´s a brilliant plan if your goal is to completely stifle an economy.
Realize that Obama probably won´t allow America to drill for its own oil. Have you enjoyed watching our Congress take a vacation when we need them the most? With Obama at the helm, there will be even less pressure on them to do their jobs and get Americans the oil they desperately need. Expect more of the same naïve lip service that describes local oil-drilling as the problem, and not as the obvious solution it is.
Realize that when Obama talks about creating jobs, he means he will be building even more government agencies. He is not talking about letting the economy naturally flourish and creating jobs by getting the government out of the way. If you are ready for an even bigger government than our current one, Obama is your man.
Of course, Obama would not be without an upside. The evening news would be much more upbeat when the media´s biggest crush becomes the most powerful man in the world for four years. There would be no more of the incessantly grim ramblings to which we´ve become so accustomed.
Finally, realize that Obama has good intentions. I respect that he is an idealist, even if I disagree with his ideals. And if we do elect him, I don´t think America will crumble. I just think he would leave it in even worse condition than the one in which he found it.
So to conservative boneheads out there, standing in the corner, pouting because your first choice isn´t the Republican nominee, it´s time you got over it.
Well said. To put our Country in extreme jeopardy for foolish self-annointed reasons is very childish. BTW Thompson speaks on Tuesday at the RNC.
Country-club liberal Rockefeller RINOs always have this attitude. This is one of th reasons why conservatives despise the country-clubbers. As long as we go along with it, country-club liberal Rockefeller RINOs are what we'll continue to get.
I have the benefit of living in California and can withhold my vote for McCain without it causing any difference. I will vote for conservatives and only conservatives in the upcoming election.
Fortunately, in California, you have a genuine conservative on your ballot, on the AIP line, in Ambassador Alan Keyes. He's comprehensively conservative, across the board, on everything.
Yep and same-old "all or nothing" demands from extremist conservatives who didn't support McCain before or after the primaries. I hope you enjoy your "nothing." McCain is currently kissing PUMA pro-abort rump. I expect he will name a woman VP and it is hard to find a uncompassionate conservative woman.
Yeah, like when he told the San Frnacisco Chrnicle that he opposes overturning Roe v. Wade -- or when he votes time and time again for embryonic stem-cell research.
Yes, his position on abortion is better than Obama's, but so is Hillary Clinton's.
Yet another dime-a-dozen Party drone tries to lecture me.
Yawn.
Yeah, in bright blue Illinois, in the midst of Republican scandal... go figure.
There is no better candidate on the field than Keyes. There is no better representative of Conservatism, or Reaganism. Either one must sell one's soul to the socialist Republicans, the socialist Democrats, or the pacifists in the Libertarian and Constitution parties, or one may vote one's (Reagan Conservative) conscience, and vote for Keyes.
Imagine trying to sell McCain as the Pro-Life candidate with Keyes on the field... It's a riot.
The same for every single issue- the charlatan McCain supports the Globalist vision and pays lip service to Conservatism, while Keyes has ever been the same- Reagan Conservatism all the way.
I suggest these are just troll moles to hurt the up AND DOWN TICKET.
If you care to help the ticket, support the house that Reagan built. That is Keyes. That brings the 3 pillars of Conservatism together.
The House of Baker controls the Republicans, and forces votes down our throats. That is what hurts the ticket- Especially McCain, who was the most hated man among Republicans mere months ago- Amazing what people will do to win. Simply amazing.
Huh? Is questioning the global-warming cultists a "pious" argument? Stating the truth about the economically destructive nature of McCain's policies is a "pious" argument? Not wanting to see taxpayer money thrown at non-viable technologies in the interest of creating "green jobs" (when the free market should be capable of this nonsense on their own) is a "pious" argument?
Please explain cuz I just don't see it.
Below was my post and I stand by it.
The author should look at each point he makes and insert McCain's policies. His Cap-and-Trade scheme will destroy the economy. His Amnesty policy will do the same. His call for creating "green jobs" is a liberal dream come true. Etc, etc, etc.The GOP has offered up a flawed product. There is time to fix it. Instead of these pseudo 'journalists' complaining that the consumer won't buy the product, demanding they do so or else we'll all die, they should focus on trying to repair the product. There is still time--but they seem to like to whine more than anything.Instead of these pseudo-journalists threatening conservatives and whining about people who will vote their conscience, perhaps they should focus their time on encouraging John McCain to quit acting like a Democrat so voters actually want to vote for the man.
Not to mention the crippling "global warming" regulations that he and his new best friend Lieberman are co-sponsoring.
The article is condescending BS. He trots out the same old arguments conservatives have heard a million times as if they are something new. He regards his insights as startlingly fresh. Anyone who disagrees is a whiner. Rubbish.
I have decided to vote for McCain, despite the damage he will do to our Republic and to conservatism. There is almost nothing good about McCain except that he is not Obama. I feel like I need a bath every time I think about it. Most conservatives I know feel about the same way and have made the same decision.
Frankly, articles like this one make me want to reconsider my decision just to spite jerks like the author. I won’t. But that’s the nasty taste condescending RINO’s leave in my mouth. If I were a democrat trying to get conservatives to stay home, I would write a bunch of articles like this.
What is interesting is that, at least here in Colorado, folks who write articles like this would be the first R’s to endorse a democrat if a conservative were nominated. I’ve seen it happen over and over. Party unity only works one way for them. I cannot stand them and what they are doing to our Republic and to the Republican party. I cannot stand that I am being forced to vote for a bad candidate like McCain.
Eventually the Republicans are going to have to come up with a better platform than “Vote for us. We don’t suck as much as democrats!” That the democrats are not a serious party lets them off the hook over and over.
I ask you to remember that God works through us. Recall the man trapped on his roof by the flood who refused the boats and even the helicopter because ‘God was going to save him’ and thus drowned, having totally missed the help that God had in fact sent.
You do not know God’s purposes nor the fullness of His wisdom and providence. You cannot be sure that He is unable to work through John McCain to effect His will. I cannot be sure He cannot do so through Barack Obama.
Now, I am clear about the ethics of embryonic cell research. It is callously using the remains of children already killed in abortion. This is truly unconscionable. So we never stop saying so (and we hope people like Hannity, who have every reason to take this postion, start saying so). We work to sway the man who has the real chance to defeat the far inferior and far more dangerous competitor. How is this not a proactive, pro-life strategy? Do we supinely assume that what John McCain says today is his permanent belief and will permanently anchor his policy decisions? I will not do so.
I will do what I can to protect every innocent life and to convince others to do the same, especially those who can act to end the current murderous legal standard in the cases.
You're looking for the PERFECT CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE, and there isn't one right now. If you don't vote for McCain, you might be infuriated with Pres. Obama's decisions over the next eight years. We lived through eight years of the clintons, and I didn't like it one bit.
I have in the past voted for Keyes. This time I am leaning towards Chuck Baldwin.
If it's the case that we should just "get over it" and vote for literally ANYONE that is on the ticket, then the entire conservative philosophical system of values is a sham and worthless in the end.
By voting for the easy choice, conservatives are showing exactly where the spinelessness of the Republican leadership comes from.
i've gotten about half a dozen calls from the RNC and it's minions this year and they all start out with, "Thank you for your support of John McCain ..." then theyh go on to tell me how horrible the world will be under Obama (or read any Dem here as evidenced by the same argument having been used since the time of Reagan to win elections.)
It's at that point that I stop the talker and tell them point blank: "I do not support John McCain. I will not vote for John McCain. I will not provide any material or financial support to elect John McCain. And further, on the day that John McCain is nominated as the the Republican nominee for President, i will leave the Republican Party. Further, I want to be removed from any database of any organ of the Republican Party and never be contacted by them again."
If John McCain is the best that the Republican Party can do, and the "conservative" base is willing to belly up and vote for this clown, then I want nothing to do with either Republicans or "conservatives".
Obviously neither have the backbone to vote anyone honorable into office, let alone conservative.
I WILL NOT BE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO AN AMNESTY BILL ALLOWING 40 MILLION MORE CRIMINALS INTO THIS COUNTRY TO RAPE , PLUNDER AND MURDER!
And I don't care how many times people tell me that I'll be electing Obama.
If Obama is elected, then maybe the GOP will figure they have a serious problem and take a good hard look at their nominees, but I doubt it.
And it's not all the GOP'S fault either.
It's you, the backers of Paul McRombeeiani, backing all of those stalwarts of the conservative mold who have put us into this fix. NNONE OF THEM ARE EVEN CLOSE TO CONSERVATIVE! Rudy Guliani and Mitt Romney are conservatives???
Puuuuulease!
Pastor Baldwin is a good man. However, he’s not going to be on the ballot in California and a number of other states and he’s a bug-out Charlie like Obama when it comes to the War on Terror.
That is what is called "having no impact on the outcome".
Well, I know that with Obama, I get amnesty and cap and trade global warming baloney, which together will kill my nation.
Gee, I get that with McCain, too.
McCain knows what he has to do to get my vote. He ain’t budging and neither am I.
I’d like to know. Is there ONE person on this site reading this “vote for McCain or else” crap who has had their mind changed?
Thank you for your service, Vet, but perhaps there is a more constructive way to go about persuading people.
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