I, for one, am becoming one of those “hand sitters.”
Here’s the thing, if Romney or McCain are the nominee we have effectively eliminated a conservative agenda from being a necessary aspect of the nominee for the GOP. McCain is more like a real conservative in his voting record than Romney, of course, but his obvious lack of interest in the Constitution, his so-called “maverick” streak, his unbalanced desire to be loved by the media... all those things will lead him down the road to center left policies. His open borders stance and his mostly muddled record on the war on terror (his “torture” positions) is also quite a strike against the conservative agenda. As to Romney, well he is just a plain liar that he is conservative. The man simply cannot be believed. And if you don’t like what he’s saying today, why he’ll change it tomorrow to suit you better. His record is of an anti-Reagan, abortion supporting, big government loving, center-left politician. There is no reason to expect he’ll be any different in the future than his record proves... quite despite what he says today or how he changes and spins it tomorrow.
Of course, the main argument for voting for them anyway is the judge question. Some say that the judges that McCain and Romney might put on the bench would surely be better than what a Hillary might put there. But, the difference would be so marginal, in my opinion, that destroying our principles to vote for either of these men isn’t worth it.
We have to remember that Hillary would not have a blank check and if she might become president, her negatives among the country might easily prevent her from being as bad as we all fear. Plus, her in office would spur the conservatives to oppose her. On the other hand, McCain or Romney would have little impediment to put their bad choices on the bench or their liberal policies in place.
A McCain or Romney presidency will materially weaken the GOP in general and the conservative movement in particular.
So, I cannot see my way to vote for either of these two men. I cannot be responsible for putting them in office. Let the left be responsible for the new Carter era. Not us. Let conservatives come in to save the country and strengthen our movement in 2010 and 2012.
Four years of hillary would be a huge setback for our country. Four years of Obama would probably be even worse.
But I WILL NOT vote for Giuliani, Huckabee, or McCain under any circumstances. Romney? Possibly. I haven’t decided.
If it’s hillary against one of these losers, I certainly won’t vote for hillary, but I cannot in good conscience vote for the others, either. And I am convinced that many, many Republican voters will feel the same way. It would make the 2006 election fiasco look like a picnic.
But better to be set back for four horrible years than to see the conservative alternative completely destroyed.
After all the progress we have made, this is very disappointing. Let’s hope the Republican party comes to its senses.