Redstate

Old wounds are healing. I was mad at McCain for a long time, now he's ahead in my internal poll. Because no one is perfect. But he's pretty darn good.

It's got to be John or Fred in my opinion. I like the others, nothing against them, but for me, it has to be John or Fred.

absentee

I think McCain and Fred are the two candidates that could potentially be the real consensus builders for the coalition.

If McCain could just "see the light" a little more on CFR and immigration, isn't he the kind of guy that gives everybody a lot (not necessarily all) or what they want? He's been strong on taxes, is usually one of the few making the statement votes against out of control spending, is good on life issues and other concerns of social conservatives, and would certainly be appointing the right kind of judges (the gang is a much discussed issue - some here do see it as the means by which we got a lot of good judges through - so I don't think he should be totally nailed for it). At the very least, you always know where McCain stands - even if you hate his position with a white hot fury.

That said, I'm not on his bandwagon. I'm a Fred guy at the moment. And assuming he stays in the race, will remain a Fred guy through my primary (I am likely to be voting in NY this time around). But McCain has managed to climb back into it and is my number 2 choice.

... my second choice (yeah, I'm still on the Mitt, erm, band-wagon? station wagon? uh, wagon-wheel??)

Which is rather remarkable considering that I am on record no less than 4-months ago as stating that I would crawl naked across broken glass to vote against the guy.

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Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock.

He's been strong on taxes

Except for voting against the tax cuts and working with Daschle to help sabotage them.

is good on life issues

Except for the time, during the last race, when he said Roe should not be overturned because it would result in women dying in back alley abortions.

other concerns of social conservatives

Like his non-support of the FMA? That seems to be pretty important to a lot of SoCons.

usually one of the few making the statement votes against out of control spending

On pork... and then only when his own pork isn't involved (I seem to remember a new University building in Arizona we all got to pay for not so long ago). Pork is a pretty tiny issue, frankly. Even if you could somehow eliminate all pork from the budget (an impossible feat), it wouldn't make much of a difference. Entitlements are where the meat is.

certainly be appointing the right kind of judges

Except for the fact that he isn't about to appoint justices who will let someone's "so-called free speech rights" interfere with his beloved CFR.
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Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. - Milton Friedman

Voldemort actually got 3 percent. Tancredo and Hunter should take note, if they can't even out-poll him, what are they doing still in the race?

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(Formerly known as bee) / Internet member since 1987
Member of the Surreality-Based Community

next debate if the three imaginary ones are invited.