The American Spectator

RATIONALIZING br> Re: Craig Sarver’s letter (under “More Like a Lower Bound”) in Reader Mail’s Credit Where It’s Due : /p>

Craig Sarver noted that blanking the Presidential line on the ballot is the equivalent of voting for the Obamamessiah. This is not precisely true, in that refraining from involvement in a lesser of two evils situation is not the same as endorsing by positive action one of those evils. However, he is certainly correct that if conservatives and libertarians do not vote for John McCain, then John McCain will not be elected. So blanking in his opinion “is not worth the risk.” While I understand Mr. Sarver’s point, I don’t think he understands mine. Unlike the idiots on the left, I believe conservatives and libertarians do consider long-term effects of actions they take. My point was that I believe for all the reasons I stated John McCain would have a very unsuccessful Presidency, and that this would yield bad policy (unopposed by his party), further damage the Republican brand, and undermine the future of a rising star in the party. I balance that against an Obama Presidency that would have to maneuver in an environment of Republican opposition and the unmasking of what he is really about.

p>There could actually be less bad policy in such a context (two years of the more moderate Clinton ushered in a Republican Congress), and in any event I doubt he would survive the next election. If you believe that it is not likely that John McCain will fail in his administration, then, yes, by all means, pull the lever for him. However, since I think it is very unlikely that McCain will succeed, then the long run damage he will do far outweighs the negative consequences of what the empty suit will be able to actually accomplish. America has survived bad Presidents before, and will do so in the future. But can the Republican Party survive someone who could be the next Herbert Hoover? br> — Stephen Zierak br> Kansas City, Missouri /p> p> PEARLS BEFORE SWINE br> Re: Diane Smith’s letter (under “Sally’s Cronies”) in Reader Mail’s Credit Where It’s Due