[Bigg Red]

But, McCain is free to run to the middle. He won’t get my vote regardless if he runs to Mars.

&&&
Ditto.

And for those who want to claim that my failure to vote for McCain will bring us President Obama, I say, “Hogwash!” The country will get President Obama because the GOP refused to give the base a true conservative candidate; they gave the nomination to McCain because it’s “his turn”, apparently.

[LS]

I don't know about that, either, that the country would elect a "true conservative." Maybe, maybe not. I don't sense the timing is right yet. Bluntly, we aren't in bad enough straits that people are willing to do without some of their freebies and otherwise do what is necessary to make the country sound.

I strongly disagree with your take on Pres. Bush. I've met the man, followed him closely, and he is in it for ANYTHING but "himself." You may not agree with his ideas, but he definitely has done what he thought was right.

One main reason I don't buy the "true conservative" will win is 2006. There were simply too many VERY conservative senators and congressmen who lose, and it can't be blamed on "macaca" or Tom Foley. Talent, Burns, Santorum were very conservative as was J.D. Hayworth. DeWine, although he had problems with conservatives on some issues, still had a lifetime ACU rating of 86. Conservatives just lost in Mississippi and Louisiana.

Sometimes, we conservatives need to ditch the notion that the country is "always with us." It ain't. Churchill had to be a voice in the wilderness for 10 years against Hitlerism before he was accepted. The Brits had to sink into real depths before they elected conservatives and Margaret Thatcher. Our own Declaration stated that people will put up with evil or corrupt government much longer than they should, because, Jefferson said, it's the nature of people.