Every Obama solution calls for centralized government power, while McCain demonstrated a pragmatic understanding of the limits of government.
It is always a surreal experience to watch the political commentary about the debates and the election in general.
No matter what happens, the so-called Republicans lament that McCain and Palin aren't perfect and the Democrats exude over their candidates, no matter how nonsensible their answers or positions.
Obama is smooth and he is glib but he is invisible. He talks a great deal, takes what he knows is politically not viable, and does a fairly good job of making it seem viable.
McCain underscored this on the issue of abortion. The simple truth is that Obama is totally pro-abortion, supports national abortion rights, and won't do anything to limit them. McCain made this clear in his own way and Obama simply stared without honestly acknowledging his support for tax-supported abortions or his support of nationwide abortion rights.
So let us contrast the two men and why McCain ought to be president.
Character: Obama is a decent guy and a bright guy, I believe, but his associations raise legitimate questions about his true view of this country. What do we tell our children — you are who you associate with and Senator Obama has chosen to associate with the most radical left and liberal elements of his community and party. Senator McCain has served his nation nobly in war and in peace. He has been independent, tough on big government, and the kind of guy who will stand tough in hard places. McCain wins and Joe the plummer agreed, for what it's worth.
Delivery: Obama wins. He is another Clinton, but in my view too smooth to be totally trusted. He parses his words, finds the perfect way to offend as few people as possible, and says substantively not a whole lot. Still, he is a good speaker and he is bright and his command presence is the main reason he is leading, while McCain, while certainly a competent debater, can seem a bit rough on the edges and unfocused.
Substance: For any conservative, this is an easy one — McCain wins hands down. He might not be Ronald Reagan, but he also is not a liberal Democrat who sees in the federal government the solution to every problem. Blaming Bush is popular, but the fact is he and McCain tried to address the housing market issues that created much of the financial mess — Democrats stonewalled, among them Obama and the leaders of the House, the very people who are about to be empowered to invade every sinew of your life.
That at a time of crisis Bush chose to utilize the federal government is simply a reflection of the serious economic issues we confront and the need to address them in some strong and decisive way. But McCain, once things calm down, will be determined to reempower the private markets and private sector, while the Democrats will expand government power and do everything they can to sustain it. This is history that cannot be denied.
McCain was right on the surge, has better foreign policy credentials, and is actually a centrist on issues like the environment and immigration. Every Obama solution calls for centralized government power, while McCain has demonstrated a pragmatic understanding of the limits of government.
All of this acknowledged, it is nevertheless troubling to hear conservatives and Republicans overreacting to Obama. If we learned anything in 1994 and in 2006, it is that the American electorate learns quickly. If the Left wins and then governs from the Left, a great opportunity will present itself in two years for conservatives to retake the government.
One need not demonize Obama — he will not long govern from the Left unless the public lets him. And if the public lets him, well, you get the government you deserve.
I wonder if Obama was watching Letterman last night when John McCain gave the answer that Obama can, and should, use regarding his associations with bad guys. Just simply "I screwed up"
Re: "…the American electorate learns quickly."
The problem is that it forgets even more quickly.
Yes, the American electorate has learned quickly in the past. However, the Republican party has not, as they keep handing us awful, non-conservative at best, liberal at worst candidates for President. Always with the mantra of: who else are you going to vote for? "If the Left wins…"?? It's not if, it's just a matter of slim degrees between the two candidates.
The conservative vote is taken for absolute granted, one reason McCain feels comfortable chasing the left, while tossing a bone to the conservatives by picking Palin, then not letting her get a solid conservative message out. Now I'd be quite happy with a Palin/McCain ticket, but have zero belief that "…McCain, once things calm down, will be determined to reempower the private markets and private sector, while the Democrats will expand government power and do everything they can to sustain it. This is history that cannot be denied." Stating it can't be denied and proving it are not one and the same thing. Somehow we're to trust that someone who has spent his entire post-vietnam life creating and working in this expanded government will suddenly decide to shrink it???
Worse is this: "..while McCain has demonstrated a pragmatic understanding of the limits of government." What limits? You may recall that this is the guy who with his pal Feingold turned the 1st Amendment into nothing more than toilet paper with pretty scripting with McCain/Feingold, AKA the Incumbents Protection Act. So we can chose from one guy who demonstrated his contempt for the Constitution by limiting free political speech which is the core of the 1st (as well as the 10th, and likely others), or the other guy who has demonstrated his contempt for the 2nd, 10th, and likely others. It is a sad state of affairs for the country.
Look, I understand your frustration.
And poor Palin — the list of conservatives who are dissing her is growing — Buckley, Noonan, Brooks, the Chicago Tribune, and even inconoclast Christopher Hitchens, who, given his support of the Iraq war should be solidly in her camp. Let's not even get into Gergen, Rollins, and other token Republicans who slice up their own for pay. She will have the last laugh, I suspect, even if not this time around.
But, back to McCain, the fact is he is the best choice in this election. (I supported thompson). We don't have perfect choices and many conservatives found even Reagan flawed on critical issues. You should vote for the most conservative available choice, provided it is responsible. And that is mccain.