Posted by
Wayfinder on Tuesday, February 05, 2008 9:00:31 PM
The first post of this blog I've been meaning to do for sometime has to do with John McCain and the anger many conservatives, like myself, have for the man. It's not that we hate him, as some pundits believe. It's just that the man comes with a lot of problems.
We can't object to John McCain's service in the military. Indeed, his service could be construed as exemplary.
It is his service as a GOP senator that we have problems with.
In a word, it's about Loyalty.
If a person who's supposed to be on your side has little loyalty to it, then his talent and effort serve only your enemies.
We currently live in a time when the opposition party has behaved deplorably and treasonous. Not a month goes by when the Democrats say or do something that vents their opposition to American success in not just the war, but to the private sector as well. They are so fixated on getting power that they are willing to see the country ruined if it'll propel them into the White House.
So when John McCain joins with some of the biggest reprobates in Congress in the drafting of legislation, it's rather puzzling? Has he ignored what these people said and did over the past 20 years? Why is he legitimizing their behavior by joining with them in the name of bipartisanship? By working with these people he has created the impression among the media that the rest of the GOP are stubborn, obtuse, and unreasonable.
On any particular issue, even if he votes GOP, he will offer something sympathetic to the liberal cause. We're in a mortal fight for our republic, and McCain routinely sides with a side committed to defeat in the War on Terror, economic recession, and the abrogation of fundamental liberty.
So anything this man says now is dubious. He will say anything that is expedient at the time, and such a man, like the Clintons, is not to be trusted. Nor is it conservative of him.
A conservative is a conservative to the marrow of his bones. He doesn't prioritize anything; he is not a social conservative over a fiscal conservative. He is both. And he espouses those principles in every speech he gives and in every interview. When has McCain really done that without sounding like he was coached?
Conservatism is grounded in the principles of Freedom, as outlined in the Declaration of Independence. A compromise with tyranny is an abrogation of freedom, and anyone who does this does not further the cause of freedom.
A conservative is not out for self-aggrandizement. He knows there are things out there greater than his own success and fame. He is not looking for a quick sound bite or accolades from the press. He is not seeking to please every audience he comes across, tailoring his words to satisfy some aspect of his listeners.
A conservative knows that the sun does not rise or set at the behest of the capitol. It is normal Americans who make the country succeed and prosper, not government. Government often gets in the way, especially when it strays from the specific functions and powers as indicated in Article 1, Section 8.
To those who believe that John McCain is the only electable choice, and that those of us who adhere to our principles will never find someone that'll satisfy us, I say look at things from our perspective, if you will. You're ignoring the problems that McCain has, paying no mind to his inherent disloyalty. You may believe he will get tough on the border, but why do you believe him? You may believe he will cut taxes, but why do you believe him? He may cut spending, but why do you believe him? A man who will compromise on his principles will compromise on anything if he feels he can get some sort of personal advantage from it.
John McCain is a beltway insider who has become too enamored with power. Indeed, many in Washington believe they're more important than others that live in other parts of the country. McCain, like many others in America, has an entitlement issue. He feels entitled to respect by virtue of the fact that he's a senator and a war hero.
Respect must always be earned, and disrespecting those whom you intend to lead is not a quality of a good leader. This is why we don't want McCain as the GOP candidate. And this is why, should he get the nomination of the GOP, many of us will likely sit this one out and let a Democrat, like Hillary, win the election.
Better to see the nation burn under the administration of a Democrat than of a Republican. Then afterward, we'll rebuild.