Posted by
Orville on Thursday, February 14, 2008 10:01:01 PM
Since it's been a ridiculously long time since I last posted, I re-read my previous efforts from late 2006. It occurs to me that the Guide For Moderates is timely, even today. Specifically, it provides a lens through which to view the McCain phenomenon. He is often cast as a moderate, even though he receives relatively high marks from the American Conservative Union. With a lifetime rating of 82.3, he's not perfect, but then he's no Ted Kennedy (2.5).
I will admit, I have had reservations about the man, despite sharing an alma mater with him. I'm unable to forgive him for McCain-Feingold, and the Gang of 14 escapade is difficult to justify. Another previous blog of mine blasted McCain for his positions on the treatment of detainees, but I suppose he's so biased on that point due to the horrible treatment he received that you almost have to discount that issue regardless of which stance he happened to take. It also bothers me that he admits he does not know much about economics. But on the truly big issues for conservatives, he's on the money. He's clearly the top candidate in either party on national security. Does anyone doubt that John McCain would respond strongly to threats against the U.S. as commander-in-chief? He's a strong supporter of the right to life and he's been great on earmarks and on taxes, despite all of the noise surrounding his protest vote against the 2001 Bush tax cut. By the way, there's a great piece by Kevin Stach in today's Wall Street Journal that explains that particular decision.
Maybe he gets the moderate tag because he tends to vote his conscience and doesn't toe the Republican Party line. He's certainly earned his reputation as a maverick, but that doesn't necessarily put him on the centerline of the runway. I actually like the fact that he has a set of guiding principles that informs his votes. One of the things I detested most about Bill Clinton was the way he stuck his finger in the wind to decide what to do. You would not get that from a McCain administration.
I'm starting to warm up to Captain McCain. While I think at times he's a little too chummy with Democrats, he's certainly preferable to Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama as a presidential candidate. At this point, he's probably going to get my primary vote, by default. But he would certainly get my vote in November, barring some serious third party candidate entering the race between now and then. Ann Coulter is taking her crusade a little too far. John McCain may not be Ronald Reagan, but neither is he a moderate.