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Granted, McCain's views are closer to mine than Obama's. But I've learned over this Bush era to value competence along with ideology. Otherwise, our ideology gets discredited, as it has so disastrously over the past eight years.Keep in mind that this is coming from a supporter of the Project for the New American Century (PNAC), Bill Kristol's "National Greatness" outfit that pushed for the invasion of Iraq. It's one thing not to support McCain (I've said since February I would vote Libertarian this year), but to endorse Obama? Not conservative. And definitely not "staunch."
McCain's temperament -- leading him to bizarre behavior during the week the economic crisis broke -- and his judgment -- leading him to Wasilla -- depressed me into thinking that "our guy" would be a(nother) lousy conservative president. Been there, done that.
UPDATE: Matt Lewis observes:
[I]f Adelman values conservative philosophy above all else, shouldn't he consider a "competent" liberal be the worst possible combination? After all, an incompetent liberal might not be able to pass liberal legislation -- but a competent liberal would use his intellect and ability to pass tax hikes, create more departments, nationalize more industries, etc.Very good point. And it's remarkable the extent to which a supposedly minor patronage appointment -- GOP lawyer Mike Brown at FEMA -- helped destroy the Bush administration. Heckuva job.
In 2000, the thing to value was character and integrity, because it was perceived that Clinton lacked that. In 2008, the thing to value is competence, because it is perceived that Bush lacked that.
