Almost all of us here on FR dislike McCain intensely. That's a given.
But when this nation faces perhaps its greatest threat since the Civil War, I think it's completely irresponsible to say you'd prefer to have Hillary, Obama or Edwards as Commander-in-Chief.
(On the other hand, there will never be a McCain administration, because he will at some point have an uncontrolled explosion of temper that will doom his candidacy. Let's just hope it's before he's nominated rather than after.)
There is no way in the world McCain would ever beat Obama in the general. An Old DC centrist-liberal lacking strong conservative base support against the first Black Candidate with strong liberal base support running on a Change platform. The Iraq Police Action would be a non-issue by then, which is a good thing. There is no way McCain could beat Hillary in the general. Dole could not beat Bill even after the 1994 revolution. Now we have a Dole retread running up against the First Woman President in our History. Hillary would not have strong liberal base support and McCain would not have strong conservative base support. Hillary has large negatives, but so does McCain. The race would break on the 'First Woman President' issue. So to nominate McCain is to elect either Obama or Hillary. The Republican nominee has to have strong conservative base support if winning is the goal. IMHO.