The American Spectator

br> Fair Lawn, New Jersey /p>

After W frustrated Al Gore’s coup in 2000 Democrats and their media allies believed it was inevitable that they would win big in 2002. They were wrong. In 2004 the media, polls and pundits expected a John Kerry Presidency. George W. Bush not only beat Kerry, but he had coattails that increased the Republican majority in Congress — something Ronald Regan failed to do in his landslide reelection. If it hadn’t been for the conservative crackup that has detrimentally hurt the GOP Democrats would still be in the political wilderness.

Unfortunately, punishing Republicans, “throwing away an election or two” or “taking one for the team” seems to be the motivating philosophy of self-described “principled” conservatives, “liberalterians” and paranoid paleocons. Thanks to them the country has been saddled with the Reid/Pelosi Democrat Congress whose one accomplishment is increasing earmarks (this year by 122% or $177 billion). Obviously, pork is back in style with the “principled” crowd, because there’s been nary a peep from them about irresponsible Democrat spending.

As for being intellectually exhausted “liberalterians” may be, but conservatives have more than enough ideas to combat the 1970’s liberalism that Barack Obama. In fact, McCain’s economic plan is far more conservative than the ideas of big government Obamacons characterized by odious Bruce Bartlett.

While Robert Stacy McCain may think there is no civic virtue in electing a Republican I would argue there is a patriotic one when faced with the radicalism of Barack Obama. Obama and the Democrats plan to negate the Reagan legacy and pick up where Jimmy Carter left off.

Sadly, those using similar magical thinking hoping for a Republican/conservative backlash in 2012 are just as deluded. Democrats and their radical base have learned the hard lessons of being out of power and they plan with Obama in the White House to cement their grip on the Federal government. With the help of paleocons and “liberalterians” eager to destroy the election winning Reagan/Bush coalition its possible Democrats will surpass even their haughty dreams and dominate US politics for this century.

p>If the prospects of an Obama Presidency weren’t so frightening I’d wish those who’ve done so much on the right to undermine the GOP and this country got what they’d deserved — Barack Hussein Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America. Fortunately, I’m not that stupid and will do what I can with contributions and my vote to forestall liberal dominance in the US, but you could hardly expect less from someone who wants to keep the nation sailing on the course Ronald Reagan charted over a quarter century ago. br> — Michael Tomlinson br> Jacksonville, North Carolina /p>

Robert Stacy McCain hit the nail on the head today when he penned:

“Some conservatives (not all of them young intellectuals) actually dread a John McCain victory as an unmerited ratification of the GOP’s abandonment of principle. They believe Republicans “deserve to get their [rear ends] kicked,” as the veteran communications operative told me last week.”

Therein lies the rub for conservatives; a McCain victory has the potential of finishing the job which began back in 1989 when Bush 41 was inaugurated. No one wishes for defeat; political defeat gains conservatives nothing. Yet, the GOP is represented at the top by a Senator who spent darn near a decade battling conservatives and or conservative-libertarians. As one conservative put it, “If I’m going to have a liberal as President, it might as well be a Democrat.