Buchanan's opposition to McCain makes me more likely to vote for McCain rather than keep up my (since 1972)unbroken Libertarian presidential voting record. I
will only vote "the lesser of two evils" if it is a close election both nationally and in my state; this is the first time I've thought that could be the case so early in the cycle. I'm an "old-timer" re the LP but more Cato oriented and neolibertarian, so I haven't been campaigning for LP presidential candidates since 1980 - the Rothbard faction seized power in 1983, IMO.

Actually, I think the US has been remarkably "lucky": the only time since 1972 the "lesser evil" did not win, IMO and not (only) in hindsight, was in 1976. It is pretty clear to me which is which this time around, at this point. But if McCain picks Huckabee as his running mate, I most likely will not support him; that would be just too much.

Thanks for your coverage so far: you (and often your commenters) have really helped me think it through this year while keeping a perspective that allows one to be offended without panic, to understand what is really most important at stake.

Get behind McCain?

I don't have to. I voted for him 9 or 13 times Tuesday.

Hey, it's Illinois.

My mate voted for him too. Lots of times.

I'm a Republican, but I'll be voting for Hillary or Obama this November.

We need a little time in the wilderness...

What is striking about McCain is his passion. His military background including his family's has made him a fiercely honorable man for the defense of his country. You may disagree with him on some domestic issues, but there is nobody in the country better suited to protect this country and deal with the terrorists.

Hillary as President would be frightening to me because of the lack of respect or fear the radical Islamists would have of her. First of all they don't respect women at all and would perceive America as weak and her talk of running out of Iraq in 60 days is unrealistic and she knows it but that won't help her win the primary. After the primary she will find a reason to tell the country why we have to stay past the 60 days (it will involve something about conditions changing).

Conservatives need to consider the more conservative choice as I have had to always consider the more center conservative candidate. I have had to hold my nose the last 5 elections. Now the conservatives can deal with that feeling. At least McCain can say he wasn't a part of the spend-a-holic Congress that lost both houses to the Democrats.

It is a tribute to McCain that anyone even gives the GOP a chance of winning the election after the mess Bush and the GOP legislature have left.

Eric: Saying that you don't agree with McCain on the major issues that are important to you, and that you intend to vote for him because he is "inspirational" sounds like a good example of "damning with faint praise."

Am I the only one that believes that McCain will revert to form after he's in power, and spend 4 years sticking his thumb in our collective eyes? McCain is not conservative. He takes great delight in snubbing conservatives. He has sided not just with Democrats, but with the most liberal democrats, to so real damage to the nation.

The only hope conservatism has at this point is to let whatever Democrat comes along take the presidency, while we work to take back the Senate. So long as we control one of the three levers of power (House, Senate, President), we can have gridlock. But with the Democrats controlling the entire Congress, any of the remaining candidates is guaranteed a free pass for any liberalism they wish to enact.

Huckabee is my man. His conservative, common sense approach to governing with strong moral values attracts me. Please don't mention him on your site or your blog, because every time you ignore or downplay him, he wins more states. He has had no money, no media attention or marginalization by major media as the preacher or "regional" candidate. He's been put in a CNN debate at the far end of the table on the other side of Ron Paul and laughed at for his Fair Tax ideas by Tim Russert on air. But, he blew out Romney on Super Tues. with five state wins and two narrow losses. The media has made McCain the Republican choice, but Huckabee has shown strength despite the media's efforts. I like Huckabee's resolve, sensible approach to governing, moral bent and tax ideas. If you are for the current IRS, which is a colossal joke, and all the energy and resources it takes to adhere to thousands of pages of arcane, loophole-filled tax code, PLEASE VOTE FOR CLINTON OR MCCAIN. THEY WILL KEEP THE STATUS QUO for the corporations. They will keep the tax lawyers and lobbyists fully employed to subvert the average citizen's interest.

Huckabee is my man. His conservative, common sense approach to governing with strong moral values attracts me. Please don't mention him on your site or your blog, because every time you ignore or downplay him, he wins more states. He has had no money, no media attention or marginalization by major media as the preacher or "regional" candidate. He's been put in a CNN debate at the far end of the table on the other side of Ron Paul and laughed at for his Fair Tax ideas by Tim Russert on air. But, he blew out Romney on Super Tues. with five state wins and two narrow losses. The media has made McCain the Republican choice, but Huckabee has shown strength despite the media's efforts. I like Huckabee's resolve, sensible approach to governing, moral bent and tax ideas. If you are for the current IRS, which is a colossal joke, and all the energy and resources it takes to adhere to thousands of pages of arcane, loophole-filled tax code, PLEASE VOTE FOR CLINTON OR MCCAIN. THEY WILL KEEP THE STATUS QUO for the corporations. They will keep the tax lawyers and lobbyists fully employed to subvert the average citizen's interest.

Randy, said like a true dittohead or Romney supporter. Which Romney did you support, the real moderate or the two year old conservative, or the Michigan populist liberal? His ego got the best of him when he ran away from South Carolina to avoid a defeat. He could possibly have stopped McCain there with a modest showing, but he wanted those big 6 Nevada delegates (I think that's how many more delegates he won than McCain. In Massachusetts last time I looked, He only took 4 more delegates than McCain.

In other words he lost the old fashioned way. Now he makes it look like he is a statesman when he had no chance at all of winning the nomination. Romney number 15 actually seemed compelling.... for a moment. Now he's gone.

The sore loser mentality of Romney is really pathetic coming from someone of his wealth and fame. Are we supposed to feel sorry for him? I feel sorry for the dog he tied to the roof of his car going to Canada. Other than that, the family looks like a happy family and I wish him the best.

With at least four years to go, maybe he'll morph into a woman. Keep your eyes on the polls and be assured Romney will be only a step or two behind them.

One of my co-workers is very much a Hillary supporter - to the point where he literally will not listen to any disagreement with any of her proposals. He keeps saying if we want 'Change' we should vote for Hillary.

I keep telling him that 'Change' is going to cost him a hell of a lot more than he's expecting. But he figures the 'rich' will be paying for all the goodies she's promising - and doesn't believe me when I tell him the Democrats consider above $90k/year to be 'rich'.

His big talking point? Universal health care. He can't persuade me that it's an economically feasible thing to let the government handle health care - I've watched things for too many years to be taken in by THAT arguement.

Well, if Hillary gets in, he'll get his 'change' all right. He won't have any dollars to go with it - but he'll have 'change'.