The Moderate Republican

I used to be a big McCain fan, but he does more and more to put me off.
Sucking up to Bush is the last straw. No one should want to be President that much. Besides, I think he is too old. And don't give me the Ronnie R. example. He was too old in his second term. He was already showing early signs of dementia. This is proven out by how soon after he left office that hi handlers quit trying to hide it.

I supported Sen. McCain in the 2000 primaries and I will support him again if he chooses to run. Which ofcourse it looks like he will.

While there is no natural successor to Bush (thank God), I think he has a personal affinity for Guiliani and McCain. Both men are bold visionaries who put principle above party loyalty. I think Bush respects that about both of them and would prefer them in the white house over a lukewarm Republican. Look for Bush to pass the torch to one of these men, quietly but just enough to let the base know he supports them.

Let us not be mistaken, John McCain is a Conservative and not a friends to Liberals. The reason why I supported McCain (and will again if he chooses to run) is because he has identical views to Reagan, on both domestic and foreign policy. The Rublican party abandoned Reaganism. Bush was (is) a protectionist before 9/11, as was most of the Republicans in both houses.

I live in Arizona, and am a Republican. I wouldn't vote for mccain if you paid me. Our senior group tried to get his help on several issues..he doesn't care about folks in Arizona, he is more interested in advancing his political career. Myself and 100 members of our group will do whatever it takes to see he gets nowhere near the presidency.

Who says the Democrats can't unite the country?
What about people like General Wesley Clark or Virginia Governor Mark Warner?

I certainly hope McCain gets the axe in any attempt to be the Republican nominee in 2008. He is a liberal masquerading as a Republican. His best hope would be to become Hilary's running mate.

I voted for McCain in 2000, and I'll welcome the opportunity to do so again in 2008. I am a fiscally conservative, socially liberal, environmentally committed Republican progressive and a big fan of Teddy Roosevelt and Arnold Schwarzenegger. The current primary election system is heavily biased against centrists; I strongly favor open blanket primaries because they would re-empower the voters and decrease the excessive influence of the two major parties, neither of which currently speaks for me. America's true Silent Majority is its Libertarian-leaning political center, and we are the very folks who CAN unite this divided nation.

Unfortunatly the primaries put out party faithful (aka more extremes). So while either a mod rep or dem would be what the country really wants the parties and the primary structure will time and again present the american people with more extreme choices. Those that believe as I do that Mccain would make a wonderful president may need to work VERY hard to create a grass roots campain to support him, getting out the moderates on both sides.

McCain gutted the First Amendment with limitations on campaign contributions in McCain-Goldberg.

Gov. Mark Sanford will support/follow/defend the Constitution. He is a strong Fiscal conservative and strong on Social Issues.

I would support McCain in an election, as I will no matter who the party ultimately nominates. However, my view is that the 2008 primary will, and should, have a number of candidates reflecting all the diverse opinions that make up the GOP. That being the case, I believe that we should go into the primary supporting the candidate whom we would most want to be the 44th President of the United States.

In my case, that person is Sen. Olympia Snowe, of Maine. I do not know if she can be convinced to seek the nomination, but I'm going to try. While I believe that Sen. Frist or Gov. Sanford could both win a Presidential election, could either or those men unite the country in the way that could be by a female pro-choice Republican, who is strong on foreign policy, who strongly opposes deficits, who is moderate on social policy, and who will put America ahead of ideology in trade policy? If Sen. Snowe can be pursuaded to seek the nomination, we can have that candidate, and the GOP can win 2008 by 70% to 30% instead of 55% to 45%, inviting millions into the GOP fold, completing the realignment of American politics which has been taking place since the Contract with America.

I have heard it said that America is not ready for a female President, and I reject this - America is ready for a female President, it is simply unwilling for that female to be Hillary Clinton. I have also heard it said that Senator Snowe could not win the GOP primary. That is exactly why I am starting four years ahead of that time to work to build support for the Senator's candidacy.

I like Senator McCain; I respectfully disagree with him on immigration policy, but I like and would support him. I respectfully disagree with Senator Snowe, in particular on abortion, but I will set that aside, because I believe, increasingly strongly, that she will absolutely flatten any Democrat running against her for the Presidency, if she is awarded the nomination. I do not see winning in 2008 as the challenge. The challenge, for me, is in getting her into the race in the first place. The rest is just details.

Regards,
~Simon
http://www.olympiasnowe2008.com

But would the right-wing let him nominate a moderate like Collins or Snowe?

I like McCain and hopes he does run but what about his age? He'll be 72 in 2008.

He may tear apart the GOP with his conservative fiscal and moderate social stands. Recall the Specter brouhaha. McCain won't lick anyone's boots for the nomination.

I'm sorry, but "Party before Country" is not something I can agree with. His support for bush has caused me to lose respect for mccain. I strongly supported him in the primaries in 2000, but will not even look at him now.

grasping for anything.