The American Spectator

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Massive Resistance

2.11.08 @ 12:01AM

HE'S NOT FOR ME
Re: Theodora Blanchfield's Mitt Calls it Quits:

Putting up with McCain will be short lived. He's certainly anathema to conservatives, having betrayed them repeatedly in recent years. McCain's love affair with the media will end the very moment Democrats select their nominee. His bewilderment will be manifest as the media turns against him, casting him as a malevolent dotard in the foreground, with an angry mushroom cloud in the background. When he looks to his base (mushy headed moderates) for support, they'll already have abandoned him for the media darling candidate of the left (probably Obama). Turnout for this insipid hack will be somewhere between nonexistent and light. If he collects more than fifty electoral votes it'll be a minor miracle. By the way, anyone running with him as V.P. will be committing political suicide (see Jack Kemp). If Romney had half a brain, he'd let Huckabee assume the (ahem) position. In short, conservatives don't need to sweat it. Throw your tepid allegiance at McCain, or not. In the end, it won't make a whit's worth of difference.
-- Peter R. McGrath
Winter Park, Florida

Mitt Romney made it official, the conservatives of the United States of America have lost the Presidency for the next four years. No matter who runs on the Republican or Democratic ticket, there will be a Liberal in the White House next year. Of course the same would have been true if Romney had stayed in the race.

Maybe there are still some conservatives running for House and Senate seats somewhere. Perhaps they will be elected, or not. If not, the liberals of this nation will look back on the last four years in Iraq with fond memories. They will look upon their dwindling 401K's with remorse. And they will not be happy when they have to take Spanish language courses to get a job here. Nor will they be thrilled with the reduced take-home pay that they now enjoy after paying for increased entitlements. So I hope that most people in the nation are happy. Some of us are not.
-- Michael Tobias
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

While the events of the Conservative Political Action Conference indicate that the ineluctable destiny of the Republican Party is to nominate a candidate who will, unquestionably, split and sunder the GOP (see my letter of January 28), there is solid evidence that also points to groups of existing dissidents within the Party who are adamant in their opposition to John McCain. Theodora Blanchfield witnessed not only the anguish and frustration of Romney supporters, but also their open and visible anger toward the heir-apparent, despite his attempt to "reach out" to GOP conservatives, hitherto considered an alien and wearisome gaggle by the Senator from Arizona.

When Signorina Blanchfield returned from her midday repast, she writes, she noticed signs in the Shoreham Hotel lobby that read, "Republicans Against McCain." Obviously, she was not paying too much attention, for there was also a professionally created sign that read, "Stop McCain's Amnesty" alongside, which, obviously, escaped her attention. Pity, that, for at different times during the afternoon and evening, I, personally and proudly, held both banners high. As to the "makeshift" sign, that was the inspiration of one of our group, who carries the eponymous name of Ray Pickles, and who, like many, believes the GOP should be made aware that many conservatives are not willing to accept the McCain steamroller, and will oppose him up to next November, as will I.

From the moment the signs were held aloft, we were surrounded by Romney supporters and those faithful observers who attend the CPAC each year. It was as if five Pied Pipers had shown up simultaneously, and the throng that gathered was intent on knowing how they could help spread the word about McCain's faux conservative credentials. One Arizona resident could barely contain her rage to me and my colleagues. Some of this took place while Sen. McCain was attempting -- once again -- to reassure the GOP base that, deep down, he's really a conservative, but afterwards McCain supporters assiduously avoided debating their candidate's conservatism. If they showed up at all, it was to ask, "...if we wanted Senators Clinton or Obama to win?"

I need not repeat the reporter's noticing that, during his speech, when the immigration issue was raised by McCain, the booing of McCain began in earnest. Senator McCain's smile does not mask that he is aware of the pulse of the Party and the nation on this issue; yet, like the incumbent in the White House, he will brush off this rancor as the actions of extremists within the Party. Of the GOP candidates currently standing, McCain is the only one who has steadfastly refused to sign a statement that he will not offer amnesty to the hordes of illegal aliens in this country. Oh! I forgot: John McCain came to CPAC to tell us how conservative he is!

This presidential election will test if conservatives are "pragmatic" or "principled." After 12 years of Bush presidencies, the conservative movement in the GOP is dying, and, as a result, the party is moving leftward. That is why John McCain must not be supported, even if the election is lost, because we must begin again to rebuild the party similar to the one that Reagan left. When one of McCain supporters ventured over to ask me, if "McCain was not better than Clinton or Obama," my response was: What's the difference?

Pax tecum.
-- Vincent Chiarello
Reston, Virginia

If McCain wants my vote he'll have to prove he deserves it.

He spoke about American liberty at CPAC. Well, McCain-Feingold isn't what I would call free speech. Or liberty.

When I hear him publicly repudiate McCain-Feingold and promise to get rid of it I'll consider voting for him.

When I hear him apologize for lying about having supported tax cuts I'll consider voting for him.

When I hear him publicly change his attitude on illegals and special visas I'll consider voting for him.

Letter to the Editor

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