maverick for whom

PRIMARIES

All right, All right - McCain is not ideal. He buys the global warming bonanza, incumbent campaign protection, thinks bloody non-state murderers deserve Geneva rights, and has voted against tax cuts. He is a Teddy Roosevelt progressive. OK. But on the defining issues of the day and into the early 21st century he is correct (global warming will hopefully fizzle away within the next decade or two). He is correct in fighting IslamoFascism (water-boarding aside) and correct on entitlement reform. Who is better qualified to deal with foes Iran and North Korea not to mention pseudo friends Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Ok, his gang of 14 participation was humbling to the GOP but also a Machiavellian move. He proved to be a soothsayer in early opposition to Rumsfield. He has called for a troop increase in Iraq from the getgo, so on foreign issues he will be solid. Domestically, presidents lasting impact is mostly budgetary and judicial. On budget he is a deficit hawk as opposed to an anti-tax stalwart. Both have their merits. On judicial there may be his one wild card - we need more of Clarence Thomas and less of Steven Breyer. But who among all those claiming they will not vote or worse, those claiming to vote Dem, will not be affected if the nominees are the Clintons? In the fall debates with Hilary waxing on about universal (coercion) coverage, and McCain's response - who will leave our Senator from Goldwater's seat alone in his defenses? Of course if its Barrack all bets are off.