>>>1. Lied about his letters to the FCC regarding Lowell Paxson.
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>>OK, let's elect him if that's the only thing against him (one eye rolling madly).
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>>My concerns about McCain are as follows. Obviously my personal political preferences enter into this.
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>>2. He is a conservative Republican.
>>3. With minimal changes, he is essentially running for a third Bush term -- aggressive foreign policy, push on to "victory" in Iraq, tax cuts in the face of a growing deficit, stick social programs in a warehouse somewhere.
>>4. Out of touch in the 21st century. His defining experiences were 40 and 50 years ago. He is a good man, I keep saying that, but he is no visionary in the year 2008.
>>5. Signal to other countries that we continue to embrace the bellicosity of the Bush years.
>>6. Never met a conglomerate he didn't like. He's called Exxon John for a reason. I for one am tired of welfare for the rich.
>>7. Temperament. He had the reputation of being a hothead long before running for the presidency. Senator Hothead, he was called. Are you seriously OK with him calling his wife the C word in front of witnesses? And saying no more about it than it had been a long day? It is impossible to imagine Barack Obama calling Michelle that.
>>8. Terrible choice of VP, which I take as a preview of his decision making process as president. I thought Joe Biden was a bad choice but that was nothing compared to plucking this neophyte from obscurity. Is he really so egotistical and heedless that he would offer her as a prospective president of the U.S., a not far fetched possibility? I don't care how much bounce her pretty face gives his campaign. It was an irresponsible choice.
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>>Is that enough to start with?
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>That's more like it! :o) I disagree with 2, 3, and 8.

OK, let's start with 2. In what ways would you describe him as not conservative? His voting record is almost straight line conservative. 11th most conservative out of 100 senators, something like that. Some, like me, were temporarily fooled by the maverick image. He has backed off his positions on immigration reform and campaign finance reform.