He stated that he would VETO any bill with earmarks and then “call out the person” putting the earmark in the bill.

This is HUGE. The offending person would have to stand up in front of the world and account for the pork.

Constituents and others would see WHY the bill is being held up and a DO NOTHING Congress would have to do or get off the pot!

Psych 101–If you think you won’t get caught you will cheat.

Uh, not anyone in this stream of course

Jeb

I am not quite so old as Johnny Mac, but close enough that I know what kind of man he is. I grew up around men like him, in the hilly countryside of the Ohio River Valley. My father, who served in WW2 and Korea, my grandfathers who served in WW1, our neighbor down the road who lost his leg in the European Theater, and I could go on, but I won’t. But it wasn’t the military service that made these men; they served because they shared the same kind of character John McCain has, and has always had.

I have usually kept my mouth shut on the blogosphere when people foamed at the mouth about McCain. A few times, I spoke up, but few listened. They didn’t want to hear. I think now, people are starting to listen.

You may not always agree with him. God knows, I don’t. But men of John McCain’s caliber are sadly rare these days. No elected official deserves as much respect and admiration as McCain. Yes, he’s grumpy (I consider that a feature, not a bug), he’s stubborn and hard headed, and he’s hot tempered. He’s also courageous, honorable, honest (sometimes to a fault), plainspoken and straightforward (see that last one), and highly principled. He’s an old fashioned man who lives for God and country. He hates corruption; McCain-Feingold came directly from his disgust with himself over Keating 5.

And make no mistake. If McCain’s principles are challenged, he will stand his ground and not give an inch, even if you happen to call yourself his “base.” He never has pandered, and he never will. Remember the slobbering and howling about illegal immigration? Shockingly, these people actually expected McCain to lick their boots. Oh, ye fools.

The liberals are fond of talking about role models, and they choose domestic terrorists and street thugs. Who is a better role model for our sons than John McCain, who has given his life to serve his country? If your son said, “I want to be like John McCain when I grow up,” would your heart swell with pride, or would you try to get him to want to be more like someone else because his politics jived more closely with your own?

There were candidates whose stances I preferred, but when it was obvious that McCain would be the nominee I breathed a sigh of relief. John McCain’s sense of duty and his principles have guided him, and will continue to do so if he wins the election.

Understand that I am ecstatic about Sarah Palin. I love her. But also understand that I’m proudly voting for the ticket, and I have no desire to flip the two around. Palin is the future of the party. McCain has already ushered it in, and will continue. McCain has more than earned our trust to elect him Commander-in-Chief. John McCain will always do what he believes is the right thing, and watch out if you try to get in his way.

That goes a long way with me. There is no man I would rather have in charge of our nation’s security than John McCain.

The purpose of government is to protect life, liberty and property, with equality-before-the-law for all. That’s legitimate government intervention. With government doing that, force and fraud are not part of anyone’s normal, everyday life; they are exceptions to be punished. In such an environment, everyone can flourish. The little guy does well in the booming economy. The little guy can start a business if he wants to, and is willing to work at it. That’s the kind of pro-little-guy politics we need.

Alternatively, there is illegitimate government intervention, where government becomes a violator of life, liberty or property. That’s the various forms of tyranny, including socialism. The perpetrators always justify it in the name of the little guy, but everyone is dragged down - *especially* the little guy. That’s the kind of pro-little-guy politics we do not need.

We certainly have economic realities (and always will) that need attention and a certain amount of government management. I would suggest: illegal immigration, portable health insurance, retraining for employment, weak public schools, broken retirement (Social Security and pension fund protection) and medicare/medicaid systems, energy policy, and rethinking Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

These issues will require government intervention and a certain amount of increased police power. But, conservatism does not preclude government from basic regulation that allows the “invisible hand” at work in capitalism to be more efficient and predictable.

I am enthusiastic to the max over Sarahcudda-the-Artic-fox and her “get it fixed” dedication. I sincerely hope that McCain and Sarahcudda will confront the self-centered ways of Democrat and Republican members of Congress alike. Let the chips fall where they may.

I liked the part about Standing Up in the end, to stand up against what seems like the inevitable Obama election. It reminded me of Hillary’s later speeches when she finally adopted the fighter’s mantle and did much better with that.

With Palin perhaps the GOP 2008 campaign can forgoe the culture war on gays and gay marriage and concentrate on attracting the moderates and the seculars to the McCain-Palin ticket. No one pays attention to the Party Platform anyway.

Had it happened to Obama, the world would have noticed.

When it happens to Palin, the MSM focuses on the Obama talking point that Matthew Scully who wrote speeches for W penned the speech. Yeah, he wrote the first draft, but she added her own touches, ad-libbing the best line, you know the one about lipstick.

If a candidate’s ability to belt out a speech is your overriding criterion for earning your vote, John McCain would not be your man. Barack Obama clearly is superior. Actually, of the speeches given at the two conventions, Michelle Obama was better …

Can we discuss the fact that Cindy McCain, bless her heart, was the most boring speaker of the night? Her winding story went on and on without saying much, like Grandpa Simpson talking about the days of yore.

I don’t agree with McCain on all the issues, but he’s got the qualities of a leader who inspires people to follow through his humility, graciousness, and willingness to acknowledge the work of those around him. Now if only he can get it right on illegal immigration.