Fired Up About McCain! - As Soon as I Finish My Nap

The Rice county convention for the Republican Party was a remarkable sight! If you are not familiar with these events, they are where the local leadership and party faithful meet to plan the next few months of strategy leading up to the general election. Although presumed, the announcement that John McCain was now officially the Presidential candidate for the Republican Party was obviously a motivator to all those involved. The air was electric with a renewed hope. Instead of a convention, it felt more like a party...

That was an utter fabrication. A party? I believe it was more of a wake. Understand that of the entire Republican stable this election season, John McCain is likely the most electable. He is likable, a war hero, and very centrist in many of his views. Therein lays the problem. At these conventions, we are not centrist. We tend to lean quite a bit to the right. This was not our Candidate. So now what shall we do?

In truth, I was not overly fond of any of the potential nominees. I do have great respect for Senator McCain; he is a true hero and a man of honor that stands up for what he believes. The problem is my beliefs differ greatly from his in many ways. Moreover, I suspect I am speaking for a majority of the conservative base. This was supposed to be the year in which the Republicans might actually have a chance to win in Minnesota as the Republican national Convention would be held in Minneapolis. Think of the excitement this is bringing to the Party...Yawn.

I looked around the room at my fellow conservatives going about the minutes of the meeting. Most seemed they would much rather be elsewhere. It is our own fault. We were afraid to speak the message of our conservative beliefs. Many thought we must move to the center to pick up the support of the Great Undecided. Of course this demographic exists in only small numbers, but tell that to the majority of the Party whose mantra has become "Group Think".

As electable as McCain is likely to be, I would like to offer the Democrats a great hope. I know in my heart of harts that a Democrat will win the White House. How do I know? Because we just nominated one. I would be hard pressed to distinguish more than a handful of differences between John McCain and Hillary Clinton. If I admitted the entirety of my feelings, I am quite possibly leaning toward Senator Clinton. Had I admitted that to myself six months ago, I would have been forced to immediately commit myself to the nearest mental health facility.

As the meeting mercifully drew to a close, some of us moved to what the local talk show host, Joe Soucheray, would call "the smoke-free-filled back room. In our case, we retired to a local pub. There was not much imbibing, and what there was of it was not particularly joyous. Discussions ranged from remembering McCain's earlier and more conservative past, to how it might affect the election in Minnesota if the current Governor, Tim Pawlenty was chosen as his running mate. I believe the most telling remark from one of my colleagues was; "What in the hell are we doing. Sitting here and discussing what we can do to influence the possible Presidency of McCain, and how we can possibly win. We never needed these conversations with Regan. He swept 49 states and there were no worries about his conservative credentials!" I did not have the heart to tell him that I have not seen anyone of Regan's stature within spitting distance or the Republican Party in twelve years. I think all those people died with him.

Normally this political season is an exciting time for me. This year however I will be forced to drag myself to the polls. In past years, only a family emergency would keep me from voting. This year it might only require a good rerun of The Simpsons.