I braved the crowds to join the fun at the Republican caucus tonight at the Elks. It was far too crowded to take many pictures, and I spent all my time talking to people besides. Here are a few random thoughts:
– Turnout was GREAT. I haven’t waited in a line like this since Sammy Hagar tickets went on sale at the Civic Center.
– I’m not funny. I was walking to the building with a woman who was going to pick up her son, and she told me she’s a Democrat. We were talking about why the Democrat caucus hours were 2 to 8 and the Republican hours were 6:30 to 8. My response: “Our guys are employed.” Judging by her reaction, I’m not funny…although I think the look on my face illustrated that I was just funnin’ around. We continued to joke a little until we got to the line a few seconds later.
– There are a lot of Ron Paul supporters here. That doesn’t surprise me, since we have a lot of libertarian types in our state. I agree with Ron Paul on a LOT of issues, but there are some key issues in which I don’t. Besides, he stands no chance in the long run. I predict he’s going to make a pretty remarkable showing in North Dakota, at least in certain precincts.
– Our country is polarized. It’s not George Bush’s fault, either. Look at the forces aligning on either side of the ideological divide. Consider how the states were moving their caucuses ahead on the calendar. Note the reports of unusually high turnouts.
I voted for Romney. I originally said I’d never vote for a Mormon, because I object to their cult (I’m not into identity-based voting, but Christianity trumps any other principles.) I wanted to vote for Fred Thompson, but sadly that’s no longer possible. The most important issue at this point has become tanking John McCain.
McCain isn’t just a liberal. He’s got his name on bills designed to limit free political speech (McCain-Feingold); to grant amnesty to illegal immigrants (McCain-Kennedy); and legitimize the hoax of man-made global warming (McCain-Lieberman). These bills are sponsored by this joker, folks…they aren’t just simple votes on issues. This man is responsible for, among other things, a law to stifle political discourse, in direct violation of the First Amendment. He is not a conservative, and I’m ashamed he’s a Republican.
Added 2/6/08:
The big thing with McCain is that he’s a liberal, and pretty much a Democrat. Don’t forget, he was in negotiations to switch parties and run as John Kerry’s VP in 2004! Remember the infamous “Gang of 14” that stalled the President’s conservative judicial nominations? That was McCain, too.
Even if you can ignore the other policy nightmares, consider this: we conservatives cling to the hope of the governmental Holy Grail of getting conservative justices on the benches of our government’s courts, to stop liberal activism on the part of current justices. Well, we had that chance…and who sabotaged it? John McCain.
My goal with my vote is to assist in stopping a McCain nomination. If we’re unsuccessful in that, I’ll write in Fred Thompson on election day. But if given the choice in November to vote for two liberals for President, I’m going to vote Neither.
