John McCain for President

Often it is the time that calls for a leader, not the other way around.  You can see examples of this throughout our nation's rich history... when courageous leaders seized moments that perfectly suited their political assets and capabilities.  

This moment calls out clearly and loudly for John Sidney McCain.

As we face the continued threat of islamo-fascism and have a softening coalition of nations throughout the world who are willing to join us in this struggle- more than anything else we need a leader who has experience on the world stage and the credibility to rebuild tenuous alliances.  John McCain alone has that skill set.

As we continue to be embroiled in a long battle in Iraq, it is only John McCain that has enunciated a clear path for victory.  And just as Senator McCain's early criticisms of Secretary Rumsfeld were proven accurate, so it seems has his call for a surge in troop levels.  While many of his opponents suffice it to give broad platitudes when it comes to Iraq, McCain's vision is clear and it gives America and opportunity to succeed.

At home, Republicans have lost their way in the area of fiscal responsibility.  On top of that, the government is handcuffed by large entitlement mandates that take up an overwhelming portion of our budget.  John McCain has been a clear voice throughout his career for cutting wasteful spending.  And now that this has become a popular talking point, many of his opponents have taken up the call as well.  But we trust only John McCain to reject the big government temptations that tickle every man who has sat in the oval office.  And we trust John McCain to do as he has done so many times- reach his hand across the aisle to Democrats, demand that they reach their hand across to him- and find a compromise that begins to fix these behemoth entitlement programs.

Lastly, our party at this moment faces an identity crisis.  We are looking at an election that could possibly place us in a semi-permanent minority.  Reasonable observers give the Democrats a fair shot at 56-57 Senate seats and a large house majority.  The solution to this problem is NOT nominating someone who is a religious extremist or a similar wingnut.  While some in Iowa will have you believe that "commitment to our principles" will return us to a majority, the reality is that our party needs to adapt to modern times.

John McCain is a mainstream conservative.  He unites the social, fiscal, and foreign policy conservative in a way Rudy Giuliani and Mike Huckabee cannot.  But he also is ELECTABLE.   His history of compromise, willingness to acknowledge that climate change is real, and opposition to barbaric torture policies appeal to a wide swath of Americans.  His credibility and knowledge of foreign policy comforts those who have become suspect of President Bush.  Poll after poll has shown that John McCain gives the Republicans their brightest hope at holding the White House.

Lastly, we would be remiss if we did not include a Nashua Telegraph style anti-endorsement in this missive.  While John McCain gives our party its best hope, Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani, and Fred Thompson all would serve as acceptable nominees.  Mike Huckabee on the other hand, would not.  The GOP is at a crossroads.  If we choose a path where being Christian is more important than being conservative we are sure to place ourselves in permanent minority status.  If our party abides a self-described redistributionist, who supports nanny-state policies from food taxes to federally mandated school programs, we are in a grave state.  If our party abides someone with no foreign policy experience at this momentous moment in the world's history, just because the man believes in Jesus, we are in a grave state.  And if our party chooses a man who throughout the past decade has shown a provincial, backwards attitude to women, gays, and those who don't share our christian beliefs, we will have lost the suburban/urban vote and our party's soul for good.

So if for whatever reason, you don't share our passionate support for Senator McCain, we ask that you think long and hard before you caucus for Governor Huckabee.   We can do better. The future of our party is at stake.

-CC