[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: My place in the McCaintinuum

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
My place in the McCaintinuum
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1202690951.shtml


   Given that it's only February, there's a surprising amount of banter
   being printed, blogged, and broadcast regarding Senator John McCain.
   Facing the three-headed Ghidorah of Clinton, Clinton, and Obama, some
   have already capitulated; McCain is the best we can do this round,
   essential really given our agreed number one priority of national
   defense.
   Others believe the die of Islamic terror is cast, that the Clintons
   already know what must be done, that even a neophyte like Senator
   Obama will sober up after one briefing. Then there is McCain's openly
   stated desires to close Guantanamo and open the Mexican border, his "I
   got the message on amnesty" notwithstanding.
   The nomination all but secure, McCain is now putting on the mantle of
   Reagan. He knows he has a significant credibility problem with
   Conservatives. He knows he cannot win the General election without all
   of them. What's strangely appealing to me is that McCain's own
   unpredictability, his ability to assume the politics of the moment,
   means that his past record isn't as telling as it would be for a more
   principled candidate. Is he really willing to change, to be more like
   the Conservative he once was?
   We have time to find out, to negotiate in fact. If he wants to be more
   like Reagan, let's talk about free speech, for example. Is he willing
   defend the First Amendment by Executive Order, by veto, and by
   judicial appointments? He said he heard us on the amnesty bill, sort
   of. Will he also admit that McCain-Feingold was a mistake and seek its
   repeal? Will he turn back any attempt to bring back the Fairness
   doctrine? That would be enough for me.
   In other words: "Trust, but verify."