Jump on the McCain train!

I didn't intend for my blog to be focused on politics, but politics has dominated the media recently.

After last evening's Florida primary win, McCain's nomination is inevitable. AGAIN, I'M NOT PERFECTLY IDEALOGICALLY MATCHED WITH MCCAIN, BUT HE HAS THE BEST SHOT AT DEFEATING SHRILLARY OR BARACK HUSSEIN OBOMBA. ROMNEY WOULD HAVE A HARD TIME HOLDING OHIO, FLORIDA, COLORADO AND EVEN VIRGINIA. MCCAIN PUTS PENNSYLVANIA, MICHIGAN, WISCONSIN, AND MINNESOTA INTO PLAY; HE WOULD EVEN FORCE THE MARXISTCRATS TO DEFEND CALIFORNIA.
http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/john_mccain_match_ups/election_2008_mccain_vs_clinton_and_obama


There have been numerous articles written about why McCain isn't a true conservative and there have articles written defending McCain's conservatism. Excluding electability (which I think is equally as important as ideology), I plan on voting for him for the following reasons:

1) He is his own man. I generally dislike all politicians, they are mostly lemmings that get in line and follow their own parties directed dogma. Not McCain, while he has supported some positions that I disagree with, he doesn't care what anyone thinks- and I find that attitude kind-of-cool.

2)Foreign policy. I won't rehash his military record. His foreign policy and military experience is greater than all of the remaining candidates (Republican and Democratic) combined. He is one of the few polititians that called for a change in Iraq policy, including the removal of Rumsfeld and the "Surge". He doesn't deserve total credit for this view and I don't think he expects it; however, in hindsight it appears this strategy is working.

3)Conservatives keep running around like lemmings screaming cut taxes, cut taxes, cut taxes! I am for tax cuts, if the tax cuts will definitively increase tax revenue, while tax cuts frequently increase revenue that is not always the case. If cutting tax rates does not bring additional revenue, then spending cuts become of equal importance. Frankly, spending cuts are important regardless of tax revenues. McCain is unquestionably a fiscal conservative when it comes to spending. I don't think conservatives fully understand how badly spending has gotten out of control: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/927ed960-ced5-11dc-877a-000077b07658.html. This article leads me to my next point:

4)Non-descretionary spending (Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid for any democrats reading this blog). I think, given McCain's maverick and independent nature, he has the political capital and capability to permanantly fix non-descretionary spending.

5)McCain has a very respectable conservative voting record- a lifetime American Conservative Rating of 82.3. Rick Santorum, who is the second coming of the messiah according to Rush Limbaugh and other arbiters of conservative thought, has a rating of 88.

7)Gang of 14. I was not planning on any links, but I'm lazy and I don't want to plagarize:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/01/the_base_is_wrong_about_the_ga.html

I'll add to this as I feel moved.