Maybe you should read up on what the process actually is. As a matter of fact, some of these critical primaries were "open" primaries, meaning that liberals got to choose our candidates for us. That should never have happened. Moreover, the die was cast after just a few small, but liberal-leaning states held their primaries. The vast majority of us--the other 44 or so states--didn't have a say in who the candidate was going to be until well after most had been eliminated in those early primaries.
As for deciding what to do with what's left--I already have. I won't vote for a DemocRAT, even if he's wearing Republican clothing. I'll vote for good local people, but the President box will have to remain empty this year. And it's the FIRST year, EVER, that I've even considered doing such a thing.
But my conscience won't allow me to vote for someone I fully believe is unqualified for the office of President, even if he does claim to be a Republican. (But note: Republican is not the same as conservative, and lately, Republicans aren't very conservative.) Voting for McCain now just encourages the RNC to put forth more liberals just like him. No thanks.
Thank you, dear, I've lived through a few Presidential primaries. Sometimes we have a lot of good candidates, sometimes, only one or two, and the process is much easier for the average primary voter.
We had an unusual primary this time around, in that there was neither an incumbent President, nor an incumbent Veep. Everyone had been around a while, and had his own supporters and detractors, and there was carp flying from the get-go. It was a nasty, brutish process, made worse by voters from outside the party who tried to disrupt it. Yes, McCain did get independent voters, as he always had, and some Democrats. But he got quite a few solid Republican votes, as well, and conservatives saw their votes split among several fine candidates.
It was just the luck of the draw this year, and McCain came out on top. He wasn't chosen by the RNC, or in some smoky back room. If you don't like him, that's fine, many didn't vote for him in the primaries, including myself; I'm a FredHead. But in the interest of this country, I'm sucking it up, and voting for the candidate I believe will do a better job for this country than either of the Democrats would ever do. I'm not looking for pie in the sky, or desirous of making some sort of statement of principle. I'm dealing with what IS.
WOW! That’s what I’ve been trying to say on this thread!
I need more speech skills!
“Moreover, the die was cast after just a few small, but liberal-leaning states held their primaries. The vast majority of us—the other 44 or so states—didn’t have a say in who the candidate was going to be until well after most had been eliminated in those early primaries.”
I still haven’t had the opportunity to vote in a primary. Won’t for another month.