Worldview Item of the Day for 30 January 2008
Obviously, I have recently come out strongly in support of John McCain for president. In a certain way, that support begs the question of why I would support McCain over someone like Romney, who seems like the far more palatable conservative choice.
I have to be honest here and say that the first thing that made me look at McCain over Romney was the fact that none of the shouting voices on conservative talk radio likes him as a candidate. When did talk radio personalities become the arbiters of conservatism in the United States? The last time I checked, they are information sources and entertainment, not guides for our political lives. The fact that McCain upsets them inclines me to like him that much more.
But, we’re talking about “why not Romney”. Well let’s look at Romney through conservative eyes. The last time I checked, Mitt Romney was the governor of Taxachusettes two of whose great claims to fame were mandatory health insurance on the threat of direct government garnishment of an individual’s income (through tax refund withholding) and the violation of the sanctity of marriage through the judicial fiat of same-sex unions. He can try to hide by blaming the legislature and the courts, but these things happened on his watch.
Worse, let’s look at his actual campaign platform: “strengthening the economy”, “saving American jobs”, “strengthening families”, “making education accessible”, and other socio-moral issues that are not now and have never been federal concerns. Where’s the strong stance against the advance of fundamentalist Islam? The promise to shrink the size of the federal government? Since when are those conservative ideals? As a friend of mine recently put it, “Romney (and Huckabee) are one and the same “repeal the 10th Amendment” governors.”
Finally, let’s consider what Romney seems to think is his greatest attribute, the fact that he has experience as the CEO of a corporation. The last time I checked, I am electing a president, not a boss. I have no desire to be Romney’s employee. In fact, as a free citizen of a libertarian republic, I resent his insinuation that the citizens of the United States are somehow beholden to their elected government. The last time I checked, the Constitution has it the other way around.
Which brings me back to Taxachusettes: if you want to know what the United States will look like after two potential terms under Romney, look at the state he ran before running for president–among the highest taxes and the most government intrusion into individual lives in the nation. Is that the best conservatives have to offer?
Frankly, this election, I’m not voting for conservatism anyway, I’m voting for a commander-in-chief who will lead us strongly in the war against fundamentalist Islam that has been declared against us. Conservatism is the people’s business, and I choose not to grant the upcoming president that business.
I predict this race will be between Clinton and McCain. Conservatives, moderates, radicals and every kind of responsible voter will turn out in victorious triumph to keep Mrs. Clinton from having the chance to ruin our great nation any futher. Why would we want to put former President Bill Clinton, back in the White House as “first husband”. What antics would he spin? We never want to know.
I suggest you honorable voters go back and review a now hushed memory of: WHITEWATER. What ever became of Whitewater’s publicity? Perhaps the voters of New York Sate might have done better to have researched this bleak stain on Arkansas history. God bless, New Yorkers, don’t get me wrong but they kept Daniel Patrick Moynihan in office for so long. How could they vote for Hillary Clinton of Arkansas?
Another Query DL: “What about Huckabee?” The Bott Radio Network loves this guy. Alot of others too. They say he stands strong on Christian and family issues. This may well be but he scares me on one environmental subject. When they asked if he’d support the Alaska pipeline construction extending into area #2002 in Alaska, where caribou are protected. He said and I’m paraphrasing of course, everyone ought to have a caribou on their plate and in their freezer. So he’s a Christian, family guy who doesn’t think protected wildlife should get in the way of delivering black fuel? We already have tons of capped off reserves. This so typical.
What concerns me about Huckabee is his record in Arkansas, moslty that he raised taxes in that state by something like $900 million in eight years.
Further, he seems to sincerely believe in the power of the government over the governed. One of his early–and in my mind enduring–campaign slogans was about making government work. Work for what, I wonder.
As I have been debating about over at A Host of Contributing Factors , my ultimate believe is in limiting government to the greatest extent possible. From that perspective, Huckabee seems to be straight out.
Of course, the problem is that McCain is no saint either on that account, but what seperates him from Huckabee is his stance on Iraq specifically. Huckabee has made it very clear that he is in favor of a quick withdrawal and a subjugation of US foreign policy to international will. By itself, that idea should disqualify Huckabee from being president, as it does disqualify Clinton and Obama in my judgement.
In the end, what I wish for is a candidate who shares Huckabee’s Christian values, McCain’s clear position on the fight against fundamentalist Islam, and Thompson’s idealistic Reagan conservatism. What history will record is that we had such a candidate available, but because of the intrigues of modern American politics, he did not run.
-=DLH=-