The American Spectator

p> LONG DISTANCE RELATIONSHIP br> Re: Lisa Fabrizio’s Dearest John : /p> p>While I appreciate Ms. Fabrizio’s civil attempt to prompt some form of dialogue with Senator McCain on issues of importance, the effort seems quixotic, if not a complete waste of time. Ms. Fabrizio doesn’t seem to know the man who is John McCain. This “straight talker” owes his current front runner status to years of fawning media coverage stemming from his embrace of “maverick” (i.e., liberal) policies. Does Ms. Fabrizio believe that McCain will somehow have a conversion on the road to Damascus and embrace conservative positions - the repudiation of which put him in the limelight in the first place? I suppose one could hope that McCain will reject the half-baked McCain-Lieberman carbon regulation bill, the McCain-Feingold free speech strangulation act, the McCain-Kennedy open borders bill, his open disdain of tax cuts “for the rich” in 2001 and 2003, his support of broad federal funding of stem cell research, etc., etc., etc. The audacity of such hope seems a tad breathtaking. McCain can’t effectively reach out to conservatives without appearing to pander. The Catch 22 for the old boy is that he has zero chance of winning without a lot of help from committed conservatives. Committed conservatives, for their part, are certainly not going to shill out for McCain, just because he’s opposed to Obama. Quite a conundrum for the good Senator, it would appear. Having observed this preening media marionette him over the years, however, I doubt that he truly grasps the depth of his problem, and will do little to address it. br> — Peter R. McGrath br> Winter Park, Florida /p>

A couple of more things Lisa. Perhaps a postscript to John.

Don’t close Gitmo John and bring that scum to Leavenworth, KS for trials and defense attorneys provided by the ACLU. It is a security risk, and exactly what Clinton would have done. You claim to be strong on defense, act like it.

Listen, the amnesty bill failed. Do not bring it up again, no matter how much you want to legalize illegal aliens. Instead promise to introduce legislation that mimics that just enacted in Oklahoma which has resulted in illegals fleeing the state in dramatic numbers. And John secure the borders.

Senator, please enact legislation that allows our forces to interrogate outside the requirements of a field manual. I know you and “Amnesty Graham” were enthralled with it, but the kids in harm’s way could use a little flexibility in questioning the enemy.