Two great speeches were delivered today at CPAC — one by Mitt Romney and another by John McCain. Romney’s concession was Reaganesque in places, gracious, instructive and inspiring. He set the stage well for McCain and for his own future in politics. I would have preferred to see him stay in the race. However, I was not willing to bankroll his campaign. The financial risk being mostly Romney’s, I’m not in a position to argue with his decision. Certainly, it was strategic and could pay political dividends down the road. Now, as to McCain. . . (Youtube videos below)
I know I’m going to catch heat for this in some quarters. I’m even happy to be called a flip-flopper but — and it’s a big BUT, peeps — only by those conservatives who have watched both speeches and can still sincerely say that they would rather have Hillary or Obama in the White House than John McCain. Otherwise, save the trash-talk. I’m not ready to endorse McCain, but his speech today was impressive in substance and delivery. At times it was moving. It went a long way toward satisfying my concerns about him as a person.
Most importantly, McCain exceeded expectations (mine at least) in terms of humility, graciousness toward Romney, and efforts at conciliation toward conservatives generally. He admitted to many mistakes and, in essence, asked forgiveness. He also justifiably pointed to his unblemished 24-year pro-life record in politics. Not even Romney could offer us that.
Further, McCain committed in the most solemn terms to finish honorably the Iraq War (no shock there), make the Bush tax cuts permanent, abolish the AMT, lower corporate taxes, shrink government, veto every bill containing an earmark, and nominate judges of the “quality” of Alito and Roberts.
Yes, questions remain in my mind about his behavior in Vietnam and after Vietnam in relation to those lovey-dovey Vietnamese antagonists. Those questions may yet sink his presidential bid one way or another. That remains to be seen. Yes, he still has a grating laugh. And, yes, he still has one helluva temper, I am sure. But as both Romney and McCain noted, this election is about huge issues that would be addressed very differently by the Democrats.
I will watch the remainder of the campaign with interest to see to what extent McCain remains true to the promises he made today at CPAC. He’s a long way from perfect, but so is Romney. McCain may still get my vote in November.
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As a boy I once was sent to find a potato from the root cellar. I found three (that was all we had). The first one was totally rotten. The second one was also rotten. The third one had some blemishes and even some beginning stages of rot. So I cut off the bad stuff and we made do with what was left. Obama and Clinton represent the first two potatoes. The third, of course, is McCain.
Part of a potatoe is better than no potato at all.
Having heard Romney’s great statesmanlike speech and toiled through watching McCain making nice to CPAC, only because he needs them, I mourn the loss of Romney.
It was like watching Snoopy greet Charlie Brown arriving with his dinner dish. Lucy stands by, telling Charlie, “He only likes you because you feed him.” McCain is hungry, and CPAC controls the dog dish, so he is enthusiastically licking their feet.
McCain may be the best of what is left in the game, but it is a sorry lot. He may stand behind his promises today, but I have no reason to believe that. Not based on his Senate voting history.
One other important item: watch who he chooses as a running mate. That is more than usually important, as McCain has had three bouts with melanoma, and he is 71 –if elected, he will be 72, the oldest president to be inaugurated.