I am now a registered Republican
By Caiwyn Posted in Republicans — Comments (26) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
As of this morning, I am a registered Republican. I've never voted in a primary, and though I consider myself a conservative (albeit a libertarian-minded conservative), I have never actually voted for a Republican presidential candidate. But this year is different. Today, I voted in the Republican primary for John McCain.
A lot of people around these parts express their support for McCain, but it is always hedged with some form of disappointment. Let me tell you, folks, I am excited about John McCain.
The number one reason I like John McCain is his crusade against government spending. He voted against the bridge to nowhere. He voted against the biggest entitlement increase since Medicare was invented. He supports a moratorium on earmarks and has threatened to veto any bill with earmarks in it.
I would argue that excessive government spending by Bush and the Republican congress has been the biggest betrayal of conservatism in the last 8 years, bigger than any of the infractions that McCain is accused of. But McCain stood against these betrayals, and I think he should be commended for his record here.
When McCain says he'll keep my taxes low, I believe him. He may have voted against the Bush tax cuts, but at the same time, he was pushing his own tax cut plan, which included cuts in government spending in order to make them more sustainable. We wouldn't have to argue about making the Bush tax cuts permanent if we hadn't seen this explosion in government pork.
The second reason I like John McCain is that he returns the moral high ground to the war in Iraq. Right now, the war may be unpopular, but I believe that people still want to win it. They just want to win it soon. McCain's status as a war hero is an asset, but more importantly his personal understanding of how the military operates, and of how wars are waged, will help us end the war successfully.
Even I didn't believe, a year ago, that the surge in Iraq was going to work. I thought it was too little, too late. But I was wrong. It is working, and it is making a difference. I believe we must remain in Iraq for now, if for no other reason than the fact that we created the situation in that country, and we have a responsibility to help the fledgling democracy stabilize. I am appalled at the Democrats' suggestion that we shirk our responsibilities and leave the Iraqis twisting in the wind.
But McCain also protects the honor of our military in his fight to end torture. I realize there is some contention about the use of "coercive interrogation methods," but I believe our government must be completely transparent in these matters, and people must be absolutely assured that we are treating our enemies better than they would treat us, for that is what makes us better than the rank terrorists we are fighting. Not only would it protect the honor of our military, but it would help foster public support for the war effort as well.
Indeed, this ability to buck the party line, while frustrating to some, is very much why I think so highly of him. In a sense, I trust McCain more than any other politician, because he has proven time and time again that he will stand up for what he thinks is right, even if it means going against his own party. It is perhaps a great irony that I am now a registered member of that party, because I choose to support him. But that just goes to show you why he's so valuable to the Republican party this year.
Perhaps the most personal reason for supporting McCain is that I believe what he says. Maybe I'm naive, or maybe he's just that good, but when McCain tells me what he stands for, and what he intends to do about it, I believe him. He carries with him an air of honesty and integrity that no politician in my adult life has shown, and has thus far shown himself to be a man of impeccable character.
When he speaks, it is stirring. He manages to trigger an excitement in me that rivals that of the most ardent Obamaniac, only McCain does it with substance, not platitudes. How can anyone not be moved by the philosophy put forth in his South Carolina victory speech?
"In war and peace; in good times and challenging ones, we have always known that the first responsibility of government is to keep this country safe from its enemies, and the American people free of a heavy-handed government that spends too much of their money, and tries to do for them what they are better able to do for themselves...
We believe government should only do those things we can't do individually, and then get out of the way so that the most industrious, ingenious, and enterprising people of the world can do what they have always done: build an even greater country than the one that they inherited.
My friends, I know and you know we're facing challenging economic times, and we must be responsive to the concerns of Americans who feel they're being left behind in the global economy. But nothing is inevitable in our country! We are the captains of our fate! We can overcome any challenges, as long as we keep our courage, stand by the defense of the free markets, low taxes, and small government that have made America the greatest land of opportunity in the world."
That's not empty rhetoric. That's solid principle. That's what we stand for. Obama, for all his flowery speechmaking, has nothing on this.
So for the first time in my life, I am not just voting out of frustrated futility. I am excited about John McCain. And you should be, too.
He likes McCain too. Maybe between you and a few others, you guys can get us all excited.
Well done.
Thank you, ma'am. And thank your husband for his service as well; I hope my little joke yesterday didn't make you too angry -- it was meant to back you up. I apologize if it seemed otherwise.
Adam C's posts defending McCain's record were the primary reason I came to this site... I've not spoken with him but I was impressed by his articles.
Given your short tenure here, I though you were probably a Kos fool.
Apologies for thinking the worst. No worries.
I would suggest everyone on Red State to read "Faith of My Fathers" and there will be no doubt as to why we need to fully support John McCain. Rush and Levin somehow believe there was at one point the "perfect conservative" and since JM doesn't live up to that he is some liberal.
But if they used the exact same standards- Reagan would have also fallen WAY short!! McCain 2008
Obama is Jimmy Carter- only without the sweater.
I am not interested in his book, and we do not dislike him because he is not "perfect" we dislike him for some very real and valid reasons, one I can think of right off the bat is that he is differential to a fault to his political enemies, but will cuss out and insult conservatives.
Depending on his choice of running mate I will probably vote for him, but you cannot make me be enthusiastic about it. He was IMO the worse guy we could have chosen except for Huckabee.
"Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty"
Kyle
If you are really upset at that, then I think you're skin is too thin.
Part of the problem with our party, and one of the reasons I believe that Republican registration as percentage of registered voters is down, is that we are viewed as the zero sum game party.
If the other guys are winning, then we must be losing, and vice versa.
It is not far from this to a bunker mentality, where you are either with us or against us. And as soon as you start to critique us, you are not one of us.
The American people don't feel that good ideas are the exclusive domain of either party, nor bad ideas for that matter. They find it refreshing when someone is willing to say "That's wrong" to members of their own party. However, some members of our party feel threatened by that, don't want to hear about our shortcomings, and feel that we should only bring up the other party's shortcomings.
And at that point, the American people see a party in denial about its self.
If the other guys are winning, then we must be losing, and vice versa.
Next logical comment: If you can't lick 'em, join 'em. That does not compute if your concepts of governmental responsibility are different.
They find it refreshing when someone is willing to say "That's wrong" to members of their own party.
I believe the point was that McCain attacks conservative Republicans rather than liberal Democrats. It's one thing to
point out mistakes. It's another to use pejorative invective in reference to your constituents. It's especially bad when you're way in the minority.
The only thing we're in denial about is the fact that the ostensibly impartial press is actually an arm of the Democrats' PR machine. It seems that nobody is doing anything to use that to our advantage--we just sit around an wait for the NYT to make a mistake, but they don't do that often enough to help.
The "Third Worst Person in the World" and aiming higher.
McCain that is because alot of us are Jaded by politics....but your enthusiasm is wonderful and you hold on to it as long as you can....voting is priceless...it can't be bought or sold...except by college students in NY ;-)
Freedom of Religion not Freedom from Religion
I'm waiting for any signs that he will shrink non discretionary spending...
http://www.redstate.com/blogs/gamecock/2008/feb/16/no_nose_or_beak_holdi...
Mike "Gamecock" DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
http://thehinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
www.race42008.com
"One man with courage makes a majority." - Andrew Jackson
Congrats on registering and voting in the primary. I've always been shocked at how many people don't take primaries seriously and just vote in the generals.
I'm a little excited about McCain, but that's mostly because I lean Libertarian on fiscal issues and have been craving anyone who can slow down the spending nonsense going on. But I'm cautious to get too excited since we've all heard these lines about spending before. It seems once someone gets the power, they forget was fiscally conservative means.
Welcome aboard, Matey.
"I believe we must adjourn this meeting to some other place." - The last recorded words of Adam Smith.
Time to come together. Don't forget ever Dollar donated to Nader is a great poke in the eye to Obama/Hillary.
McCain's our man. The public has spoken and I wish him the best. He made the best speech tonight of all those running. He talks about specifics while the Dems only talk in general terms. That is their weakness. If McCain can get them nailed down much of their support will fall away. Right now it's iffy but he has a good chance... Yes I will vote for him. I am interested in who he chooses as a running mate. This could be the most imortant decision he makes in the campaign...
I am SO glad you posted this! This confirms what I've been saying all along--that John McCain could bring people into the tent, which is something people like Coulter should celebrate (it's certainly something she could never hope to accomplish!). It's what Reagan himself was all about.
Thank you!!!
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~ Beth ~
will always stand up for what he thinks is right no matter what his party or constituents think. So since we can't influence him, let's just hope he's right 100% or be prepared to fight and fight hard when he's blatantly wrong like he was on immigration.
I'm excited too. I've been rooting for McCain since 2000.
I retire from the military on 31 May. On 1 June I will register for the Republican Party in FL.
So how do I get involved, other than just blathering my views on the internet?
"If all men were just, there would be no need of valor."
- Agesilaus
Probably the best way to get involved is to go to johnmccain.com and sign up to help any way you can. They need people on the street to canvas for support, and they need people to make calls, etc., or even just put a sign in your yard. Or you can choose to make a donation, which is what I did earlier this year.
Don't forget about the Nader factor. If we donate enough money to him, he will make it very tuff for the Loons in Ore,WA,MN,WI,NJ, and Penn. Even without him I like our chances in these states. McCain '08.
Character is perhaps my biggest issue with McCain. I realize that Bush is often just as liberal. Its just every time theres a big fight with the liberals in congress when the smoke clears John McCain is on the other side. So my gut feeling is that McCain is not honest. He'll be a doormat for the democrats in congress and probably get more progressive legislation than any dem president could.
I will say this though. The advent of Barack Obama as the democrat candidate almost assures McCain will win in November. It makes me sick. If I turn off my tv and radio. Can I make it through four years without hearing that man's voice or seeing his image.
If he does put forth something like "Compre(repre)hensive Immigration Re(De)form" I will speak out against it; however, he's right more often than wrong in my book.
The McCain pedigree is just staggering. Both his father and grandfather were 4 star Admirals. Unlike Bush 41 who didn't pass his ability on to his son, there's a phenomenal tradition in the McCain family.
Fighter pilot = doormat? I never heard that one before.
"You're gonna need more than one lesson. And you're gonna get more than one lesson."
He is strong on defense and he is a war hero. The average voter likes him for the same reason. They also like that he is his own man. His voting record proves he won't be pressured easily. I don't agree with some of his stands but his advantage is that he will appear to be the safe vote in the general election unlike Obama. The folks aren't sure what they will get in him because he won't talk specifics on any issue. Look at last night's vote. His generalizations are beginning to wear thin. He is beginning to look like a empty suit. His only claim is his immediate withdrawl from Iraq. I think most folks are uneasy about the possibilities even if they are against the war. McCain appears to have seen the light on at least part of the immigration issue. I believe he will secure the borders. Finally, the folks will vote their pocketbook as they always have. He is for tighter fiscal policy and the other side is not. If he hammers these issues and if the economy holds up until the election he just might surprise all of us.
If Clinton manages to pull off a backroom deal to win the nomination she will appear to the voters to be business as usual and a lot of voters will be alienated to say the least. It will be hard for her to run as the person to change the system when she just received a gift from that same system. She will be weakened significantly.
It appears that the Dems have painted themselves into a corner no matter who they select. A weakened Democratic candidate could hand the victory to McCain. Anyway that's how it looks to me.
Your enthusiasm and optimism is appreciated.