Submitted by Jonathan W from Canada, Feb 13, 2008 15:47

There is really only one good model of government. The U.S. has a good system in many respects. I love it's democratic institutions and the diversity of it's media. If Canada had either we would be more conservative. But you guys need to relax about whether McCain is sufficiently 'conservative' or not. Compared to who? You talk a lot about conservative issues but in the end you have the same problems as Canada and the rest of the industrialized world (and your solutions aren't that different). What issues are you really worried about? Abortion? (was there a significant change under Regan, Clinton, Bush? - Don't girls get these in every western country basically?). Immigration? (Do you really think that any President who likes to win would tell the largest minority group in America that their kin are illegal and have to get out? Is that really going to happen?). How about campaign finance reform. Maybe McCain will like all that money once it's feuling his re-election (don't you think so?).

The only real issue that matters is where McCain stands on combatting radical Islam. How does a nuclear bomb detonating in Chicago or L.A. not seem more important to all of you than what to do about the Mexicans or how many girls get abortions? You know that Obama is a classic Liberal who thinks if America could only appologize enough the radicals they will embrace you as friends and end the jihad. He will stop the CIA from waterboarding the dirty little secrets out of Al Quida. You may as well post a target on your back if Obama is elected (being a skeptic I don't think 'talking' will work). The Islamists bombed Spain to scare the electorate into voting for a pacifist (a defacto waiving of the white flag and plea for mercy from our enemies) Obama is the U.S. version of that logic. People are voting for him because they want the terrorists to leave us alone (just go and nail those Israeli's, leave us out of it). I can hear them now.

You are in a cycle where a lot of middle of the road voters were leaning away from the Republicans and towards the Democrats (for lots of reasons). The country is deep in debt and Bush ain't popular. The only way to cobble together any kind of winning coalition on the Republican side is to run someone who is 'liberal enough' to get just enough swing voters to come back to the fold. I guarantee that none of theother bible thumping Republican candidates could have pulled it off (and the polls say so too).

But stop being hysterical. Life under McCain will be no more or less conservative than it would have been under Huckabee (or Regan if we could find a way to clone him from preserved tissue). Judges would still say abortion is legal. You'd still have loads of illegals running accross the boarder. And there will always be money in politics.

McCain may save the free world and preserve the Wilsonian transformation you have started. No one will ever remember anything else about this era. Foreign policy is the only important issue (and for the sake of those of us who live under your continued protection..please don't forget that). I think McCain's would be a more "distinguished" presidency than you have had in a loooong time. Obama is just a handsome lawyer (aren't they all). McCain has positioned himself in the centre (a great place to be to win a general election) but the office changes the holder...don't kid yourself. He'll be making the right decisions where it counts. But I guess if all you conservatives really imagine you are hard done by...I guess you could throw a tantrum and put Obama in office for the next 8 years.

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