I did a considerable amount of research on Governor Romney and decided that I didn’t trust him. When running for Governor of Massachusetts he was the most liberal Republican I’ve ever seen. When running for President, suddenly he became a staunch conservative. This is confirmed by watching Romney speak in his own words and can be found on www.trueromney.com .

     As for Governor Huckabee, in my research I found he was honest, extremely conservative, and an excellent speaker and motivator. However, his lack of experience in military leadership/war and desire to amend the Constitution are strong weaknesses in my opinion. As a veteran myself, formerly living in a terrorist threatened environment, this struggle that we are having with Muslim extremists will continue and we must win. As for amending the Constitution, although I agree with Governor Huckabee’s views on pro-life and gay issues, amending the Constitution would put this country and what we stand for on a slippery slope. For a video of his statement on the Constitution, you can see his comments at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yG_8CigCCc

2. If you can’t add, subtract, multiply or divide, seek help before you criticize an article containing numbers……

3. Don’t make a fool of yourself by repeating rhetoric, regardless of who it came from. Research the facts from multiple sources before you comment……

     Give us a break……  Our friend Alan Colmes from FNC’s ‘Hannity and Colmes’, accused McCain of flip flopping on ethanol subsidies.  Colmes claimed McCain did not campaign against ethanol subsidies in Iowa after saying he did in his February 7^th, CPAC address.  Come on Alan, who does your research, Ann Coulter?

      John McCain made the following comment while testifying to the fact that he is open and honest about his beliefs, otherwise known to the world as McCain’s “Straight Talk”:

 “Those are my beliefs, and you need not examine only my past votes and speeches to assure yourselves that they are my genuine convictions. You can take added confidence from the positions I have defended during this campaign. I campaigned in Iowa in opposition to agriculture subsidies.”

      One must simply perform an internet search on ‘McCain & Iowa & Ethanol’ to display a myriad of articles testifying to McCain’s truth.  For example, Tony Leys, staff writer for the Des Moines Register, wrote a column entitled “McCain: Ethanol subsidy unneeded” on November 6, 2007.  An excerpt from that column is as follows:

 “Ames, Ia. - Presidential candidate John McCain told biofuel proponents here Monday night that he opposes government subsidies on ethanol the same way he opposes subsidies on other products, including oil.

The Arizona senator was the only Republican among four candidates who spoke to a few hundred participants at a renewable-energy conference at Iowa State University's Hilton Coliseum. He said he knows his position on ethanol might not be popular in Iowa, adding that it's what he believes.

McCain said that he believes American farmers can compete with anyone in the world and that they do not need the subsidies and regulations that come with big federal programs. "I trust Americans. I trust the markets. And I oppose subsidies," McCain said”.

      Back in 1999, prior to the 2000 election, Kari Linder with the CyberCaucus 2000 News Service wrote on December 14, 1999, “McCain, Bush clash over ethanol during first debate in Iowa”.  Excerpts from that article follow:

 “DES MOINES, IOWA--Arizona Sen. John McCain and Texas Gov. George W. Bush clashed over the issue of ethanol tax breaks during Monday night's Republican debate--the first in Iowa.

 Through his lack of support for ethanol, a fuel made from corn that benefits Iowa's farm economy, McCain, who has not campaigned in Iowa, made it clear he would take a stand for his issues. This was true whether or not the issues favored Iowa--making him look as if he was trying to appeal to his New Hampshire supporters more than gain the support of Iowans.

 "I'm here to tell you that I'm going to tell you the things that you don't want to hear, as well as the things you want to hear, and one of those is ethanol," McCain said. "Ethanol is not worth it. It does not help the consumer."

 "Those ethanol subsidies should be phased out, and everybody here on this stage, if it wasn't for the fact that Iowa is the first caucus state, would share my view that we don't need ethanol subsidies. It doesn't help anybody," McCain said.”

     Flip flopping Alan says?   Mister Geppetto must be rolling over in his grave…..

     The following excerpts from his speech, including quotes alluded to above, are highly relevant to the struggle that Right Wing Conservatives have with supporting McCain.

     “All I ask of any American, conservative, moderate, independent, or enlightened Democrat, is to judge my record as a whole, and accept that I am not in the habit of making promises to my country that I do not intend to keep. I hope I have proven that in my life even to my critics. Then vote for or against me based on that record, my qualifications for the office, and the direction where I plainly state I intend to lead our country. If I am so fortunate as to be the Republican nominee for President, I will offer Americans, in what will be a very challenging and spirited contest, a clearly conservative approach to governing. I will make my case to voters, no matter what state they reside in, in the same way. I will not obscure my positions from voters who I fear might not share them. I will stand on my convictions, my conservative convictions, and trust in the good sense of the voters, and in my confidence that conservative pr inciples still appeal to a majority of Americans, Republicans, Independents and Reagan Democrats.

 You have heard me say before that for all my reputation as a maverick, I have only found true happiness in serving a cause greater than my self-interest. For me, that cause has always been our country, and the ideals that have made us great. I have been her imperfect servant for many years, and I have made many mistakes. You can attest to that, but need not. For I know them well myself. But I love her deeply and I will never, never tire of the honor of serving her. I cannot do that without your counsel and support. And I am grateful, very grateful, that you have given me this opportunity to ask for it.

 Thank you and God bless you.”

 “Surely, I have held other positions that have not met with widespread agreement from conservatives. I won't pretend otherwise nor would you permit me to forget it. On the issue of illegal immigration, a position which provoked the outspoken opposition of many conservatives, I stood my ground aware that my position would imperil my campaign. I respect your opposition for I know that the vast majority of critics to the bill based their opposition in a principled defense of the rule of law.  And while I and other Republican supporters of the bill were genuine in our intention to restore control of our borders, we failed, for various and understandable reasons, to convince Americans that we were.  I accept that, and have pledged that it would be among my highest priorities to secure our borders first, and only after we achieved widespread consensus that our borders are secure, would we address other aspects of the problem in a way that defends the rule of law and does not encourage another wave of illegal immigration.”

      A true Republican will embrace conservative values and principles.  A non-vote in November or a vote for the Democratic candidate is a betrayal of those conservative values and principles.  Case in point, the following are the most recent ACU (American Conservative Union) lifetime ratings indicating conservative votes by the three top contenders in the race for president:

Barrack Obama      8%

Hillary Clinton         9%

John McCain        82.3%

     This country is facing the likelihood of changes to the Supreme Court within the next four years, a war in two countries against Muslim extremists, a growing deficit, an economy on the rocks, liberal judges misinterpreting the constitution and legislating from the bench, Christianity under attack under the guise of the “Separation of Church and State”, etc. etc.  Are these people making a statement by not supporting the Republican candidate?  They are making more than a statement.  By allowing one of the two most liberal candidates win the Presidency, these people are abandoning conservative principles and values which will cause irreparable damage to our country for many years to come.

     To those I speak of, please move beyond the rhetoric and anger.  Take a close look at the facts behind John McCain’s voting record and vote in November to save the Conservative Movement.  I will begin a series of articles in the following days meant to document the facts and background on the McCain voting record.  Believe me, John McCain does embrace conservative principles and values, although he is a maverick, he is definitely not a liberal….

     With anger and political rhetoric they are attempting to derail the McCain Campaign by calling him a liberal, refusing to admit that in the fourteen years as a Senator from Arizona his conservative voting record and his principles are unmistakably Conservative.  In the current congress, John McCain’s overall voting record indicates that he voted 87.7% of the time with his Republican counterparts.  Trent Lott, one of the country’s most respected conservatives, the former Republican Majority leader, Minority Leader, and Party Whip voted 88.4% of the time with his Republican counterparts.  (Courtesy of washingtonpost.com)

     Media “conservative” ranting such as this, is reminiscent of James Carville, Paul Begala, George Stephanopoulos and Al Franken during the Clinton era.  As a conservative that used to glean important factual information from the conservative media, I have stopped listening and I know many more conservatives are doing the same.  My advice is to either darn your ski masks or wake up and support the only Republican that has the support nationwide to defeat the Democrats in the upcoming Presidential election.

     “When the chips are down and the decisions are made as to who the candidates will be, then the 11th commandment prevails and everybody goes to work, and that is: Thou shalt not speak ill of another Republican.”  Ronald Reagan, 1982