McCain it is...

So now that it is clear that McCain is the GOP nominee (assuming "none of the above" can't make a comeback), I am no longer asking who to support in the primary.

Now pundits like Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh are suggesting that conservatives should either stay home or support Hillary. McCain's remaining critics make two arguments that there is no difference between McCain and Hillary, which Bill Bennett thoroughly refutes, or that the GOP would be better after another Clinton presidency.

But while these critics are so concerned over McCain not voting for the Bush tax cuts, why are they pushing for letting the tax cuts expire? Remember, if you will, that in order to prevent taxes from increase, the next president has to sign legislation extending the tax cuts - to increase taxes Clinton/Obama simply need to do nothing. And while McCain supports extending the current rates (both in his campaign and invoting), there is no chance Hillary/Obama would.

The reason it is McCain, rather than a "true conservative" is the lack of a better candidate, and years of Republicans embracing Big Government. More on the subject: John Kass on the Bush-Hastert years and Romney, a roundup of the also-rans on Real Clear Politics, McCain as the "least bad choice" from Commentary, and another rundown Mitt Romney's Big Government agenda from Cato. I may be talking myself into it, but I am starting to like the idea the McCain doesn't follow the party line (on pork barrel spending, expanding Medicare, etc.) or the pundits.

Michelle Malkin, who is an anti-McCain as anyone, sums it up nicely - the reason Republicans didn't have a strong conservative candidate for president is that conservatives haven't been pushing for candidates at lower levels. She advises that rather than stay home, conservatives should get "fired up" and active for Conservative candidates for Congress, state legislatures, and local government.