Where To From Here?

Some observations:

1. Why John McCain?

First, I believe we all need to realize up front that, though we'd care to think we are, we are not representative of the general population or even the bulk of the Republican party, if that is your association. And by "we," who do I mean?

I mean you, me, any of my dedicated readers or anyone just dropping by. I mean those who listen to Conservative talk radio, who hit the internet for news stories, who will choose something for a particular political reason, who purposely choose certain venues of communication and media.

I believe it is we who are out of the mainstream -- of the bulk of people comprising the Republican Party.

To us, the things wrong with this country are readily apparent. We can identify the problems, we see them, they possess a hot, reflective glare and we have any number of solutions which, we believe, are consistent with our vision of Conservatism. My vision is mine; yours is yours. But despite, there are some consistent running threads.

We need be cognizant of this one massively important thing, applicable not just to the bulk of Republicans but to bulk of America: most couldn't care less about politics. They don't have the time, the inclination or the caring. They give perhaps ten minutes' thought, or less, about the votes they make prior to stepping into their voting booth or marking their absentee. I'll wager they've chosen their party on much of an original whim -- because it was what their parents were, their friends were, or how they were "moved" by whatever emotions existed for a given candidate when they cast their very first ballot in their very first big election.

I believe this is how and why the bulk of Republicans seem to be walking behind John McCain -- for these simple, simple reasons:

• 1. He's a Vietnam vet,
• 2. A former prisoner of war;
• 3. He's older, looks kindly, looks genuine;
• 4. He has the (R) behind his name,
• 5. Therefore he must be a good man;
• 6. Something resonates on the emotive trust factor;
  

It is not because these people have read his Senate voting records or identified his liberal tendencies. They haven't seen the photos of he and Hillary darned near embracing. McCain-Feingold could be the name of his former law practice. Most Republicans, I submit, are going with their Emotive Trust Gut and not by knowledge. They don't know and further, I submit, they do not care. Where do you suppose, when they acquire any media input as it happens to randomly pass directly in front of their face, what media is it? TV or the occasional newspaper. Another note in passing: why did McCain take Florida? Hello? Cubans? Amnesty? Anyone connecting dots?

Those are the common threads to the trend that we are seeing, I believe.

Given the two GOP choices, now McCain and Romney, what are people thinking by way of their ETG about Romney? Some of the things already expressed here and in other blogs: he's too slick for his own good and he's a Mormon. Oh yes, yes, not me, not me, I don't disparage religions, that doesn't even factor for me. But for the bulk of America? Bullshit. It factors.

So who's left (literally: Left)? McCain. And in my opinion, that is why.

McCain has a potential 300 delegates wrapped up. Romney has to completely take Illinois and California. And yes, Romney did win the Simi Valley GOP debate. McCain is broke. McCain cannot bring Conservatives together. And McCain cannot beat Obama because (you can lay thousands of dollars on this): it will not be Clinton; it will be Obama. It simply gets down to ETG: Obama is more likeable. And even if it is McCain, John McCain will be a "lame duck" from the second he crosses into the White House.

Between the two, though, to whom should your vote go? Romney! And if you think that staying home or voting for Mickey Mouse in November expresses your anger, then you are simply daft. Demorats will simply bankrupt this country and give it away. The writing is on the wall to see -- but only if you can read English.

2. First Remedial Steps?

For me, it's a thing I've been doing since May of last year, a response to my insistence that President Bush protect this country by sealing our borders, building a complete 854+ mile fence and no amnesty for lawbreakers: no more checks to the RNC. The only thing that seems to acquire anyone's political attention is money -- or the lack of it.

I suggest to you: no more checks to the RNC. All support begins at home. We need to completely throttle the neck of the RNC. Pass the word. Let the money well simply dry up.

3. No One Is Perfect!

All the GOP candidates seem to be falling over themselves with an attempt to be "Reaganesque." Newsflash: no one is "Reaganesque" but Ronald Wilson Reagan. And there will never be another RWR.

Knowing that, knowing that Reagan, of course, wasn't perfect (Lebanon, immigration, to name a few items), one has to triage one's priorities. There are any number of different Conservatives with any number of priorities. None of us will ever find a candidate espousing all of our individual button issues in precise lockstep. Never. Therefore, knowing that:

4. Question For You:

-- and the answer of which you should already know if you've given any consideration to this campaign:

If you had to triage your issues, which one would you "give up" first?

BZ

P.S.

I can already hear the complaints formulating. "How can you do that?" etc, etc. But we'd best, again, wrap our minds around this known: there exists NO such thing as ANY perfect candidate because there is NO "universal concept" of what comprises the Perfect Conservative.