McCain Should Step Down

I don't know about you, but I'm still recovering and synthesizing what happened in Massachusetts last Tuesday. What does it all mean?

I was glad to see and hear most Republicans in the leadership restrained themselves from doing "end zone" dances. Scott Brown's victory was not a GOP victory by no means.

Most Democrats and still a few die hard Rockefeller Republicans still don't get it. I'm not sure even Scott Brown fully understands it, and perhaps was just as surprised by his success. Mr. Brown apparently didn't follow the sage advice of Republican strategists, who claimed after 2006 that the Party needed to move "left" to win. If anything, his victory debunks that line of thinking.

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Brown stated a clear simple conservative message, and won by 5 points in the bluest of blue States. Scott Brown was was speaking his heart, and not campaign rhetoric filled with empty slogans. His best line Tuesday I thought was this..."and let me say this, with respect to those who wish to harm us, I believe that our Constitution and laws exist to protect this nation - they do not grant rights and privileges to enemies in wartime. In dealing with terrorists, our tax dollars should pay for weapons to stop them, not lawyers to defend them". WHAT A GREAT CONCEPT!!!

As Conservatives survey the political landscape, I don't think we collectively are automatically going to pull the GOP lever. We learned the hard way that an "R" by the candidate is no guarantee you're going to get Conservative governance.

I have concerns, as we get into the 2010 campaign season, that Republican candidates like John McCain or Lindsay Graham understand that all is not forgiven. These GOP'ers were largely responsible for the downfall of the Republican Party in 2006 and 2008. Whether it was McCain-Feingold Campaign reform (recently overturned by the SCOTUS), McCain Kennedy Immigration reform, GOP legislation increasing the size of Government and entitlements, all of these things were part of that sad legacy. Compassionate conservatism was the cracked pot that lead to a substantial growth in the Federal Government and associated deficits. How can we easily forget the Bush administration's prosecution of two border agents for shooting a Mexican drug smuggler in the ass, or its failure to secure the border?

We should also mention, that John McCain's wife Cindy is finally "out of the closet", and is now actively campaigning for Gay marriage. This bunch of liberal Republicans must go.
Sarah Palin, who plans to help John McCain campaign for his Senate seat, needs to rethink that strategy. I wish John McCain himself would rethink it. What is it about power that all of these aging Senators refuse to leave office (unless carried out in a casket)? John McCain needs to move aside and make room for a younger Conservative with new ideas. John McCain should step down, and Arizona find another Scott Brown to replace him. Please John, don't run. We don't need you in the Senate.

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Likewise, Sarah Palin's plans to campaign for Rick Perry, the incumbent Governor of Texas, also is risky. Perry has problems of his own sticking to a Conservative platform. Sarah should await the outcome of the Republican primary, as a new an upcoming Conservative (Debra Medina) is getting a great deal of attention from the Texas Tea Party movement. Sarah's premature support of Perry may even damage her Conservative credentials.

In any case, much soul searching ahead.