With Mitt Romney now out of the race for the Republican nomination for president, there are no conservatives left in the race. So what do we conservatives do? Do we “fall in line” and support McCain as people like Lindsay Graham, Bill Kristol, Fred Barnes and even President Bush are telling us to do? I say, “Not just yet.” John McCain, the man who falls for the global warming hoax, wants amnesty for law-breakers who have illegally entered our country, voted against both Bush tax cuts, and takes glee in sticking his finger in the eye of conservatives, will need to earn my vote. I’m giving him the chance. One speech before a group of conservatives (CPAC–Conservative Political Action Conference) ain’t enough. Unfortunately, his actions have spoken so loudly over the past ten years, I can’t hear his words.

So am I despondent now that we know we won’t have a conservative in The White House? Nope. I’m fighting mad, and I mean to turn that anger to a positive use. We don’t give up, we don’t lie down, and we don’t “fall in line.” This we know: There will not be a conservative in The White House for at least the next four years. That race is now lost for conservatives and we must deal with the reality. While a McCain presidency would be better than a Clinton or Obama presidency, it would only be marginally better (my opinion). What we need to do now is focus on the House and Senate, and on our local races, where we CAN make a difference.

It’s vital that we keep the Democrat margins very slim in both the House and Senate. Right now the Democrats don’t have enough of a majority in the Senate to block filibusters by the Republicans. Let’s keep it that way. (Side note: If I lived in South Carolina as some of my very good friends do, I would do everything in my power to toss Lindsay Graham over the side this year. He’s betrayed you, plain and simple.)

We also need to think about local races. The disease of socialism is not confined to the national political scene. Local politicians, in both Albany and Broome County, think your money does not belong to you and they are happy to spend it to gain and retain political power. The socialists must be defeated. In Broome County, anyone who runs on the Working Families line (which is really the Citizen Action line) is a socialist and should be defeated.

Perhaps the biggest good we can do in the Broome County area would be to find and support someone who can defeat the Useful Idiot Maurice Hinchey (Congressman, 22nd District). He not only is a big-spending liberal, he wants to end free speech on the radio by bringing back the so-called “Fairness Doctrine” which forces radio stations to air equal amounts of opposing political viewpoints. It would spell the end of talk radio–the one place conservatives still have a voice. He’s also trying to impeach Bush & Cheney. He stays in power by bringing home the bacon. That is, he gets Congress to send money in our congressional district, mostly money that goes to large corporations, so those large corporations will turn around and contribute to his campaign. It’s incestuous and rotten to the core–but it’s politics. Let’s toss him out this election. We came close a few years ago with Bob Moppert. Can a really good candidate please rise to the occasion and challenge this guy?

So what about the presidential race? What do we do? That story is already written. I believe McCain has no chance against the lightweight Obama. He may have a sliver of a chance against Hillary because she’s so hated by so many. Will I vote for McCain? In the end I’ll probably hold my nose and throw the lever for him–but let’s see if he earns my vote first. I’ll be watching to see who he chooses as a running mate. And whether or not he gets rid of people like Juan Hernandez, the radical open borders guy (from Mexico) who is a part of his campaign and who compares our fence along the border with Mexico to the Berlin Wall. I want to see evidence that McCain’s actions match his rhetoric.

Just remember this: If McCain loses come November, it’s HIS fault–not conservatives. He’s the one with a liberal record. He’s the one who’s stuck his finger in our eye all these years. He’s the one who has something to prove. Conservatives are behaving as we always have–with the best interests of our country at heart–and without compromise on the important issues. Some conservatives will not vote for McCain based on principle (he’s too liberal). Some will vote for him based on principle (anyone but Hillary or Obama). You can make a solid argument either way. McCain has to earn our votes if he wants them–we won’t be taken for granted.

It’s interesting the McCainiacs demand we “fall in line” when over the past ten years McCain has done nothing of the sort himself. On important conservative issues he crossed the isle, sat down with the libs, and stayed there. I’ll tell you one thing…if I do vote for him, I’ll have to get out the nose plugs.

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