The Black Republican

Peter Robinson, blogging at The Corner, mused the other day about how John McCain, now the presumptive Republican nominee, could begin winning over disaffected conservatives.

This reminds me of an idea Clark Judge and I once had as we were musing about George H. W. Bush's second inauguration (which turned out to be Bill Clinton's first inauguration instead). After delivering his inaugural address, we decided, the president could turn, mount the steps to the Capitol, enter the President's Room, seat himself at a desk, and, as cameras flashed, sign half a dozen or so executive orders, delivering on as many campaign promises within an hour of his swearing in. The idea, of course, was to back words with action, and to do so at once.

As I recall, President Bush's son did exactly what you suggest on his first day in office, reversing many Clinton policies. That went a long way toward engendering my respect and support, despite my not being firmly convinced he had been the best conservative to install in the job. It took many years for him to squander that respect, but I suspect a President McCain would rise to the occasion and duplicate the effort.

On the other hand, such a commitment might keep keep me from drowning in my own bile at the ballot box - depending largely on which promises he'd decide to make. Unlike most offended conservatives, it is McCain-Feingold that sticks most deeply in my craw. It really affects my impression of his sincerity on all other issues, that he thinks it his right to preach his opinion because he is elected, while he denies that same right to those who elect him. It's not the relative liberalism of his positions, but the sanctimony with which he delivers those edicts.

PS: On the other hand... maybe I've drowned already.

Perhaps. And here comes another kick.

If you haven't already watched this, take a few moments. You'll need to have a perspective about it in the coming months, and it just doesn't count if you take other people's word for it.

In my opinion, McCain's stilted, monotone speech - especially after Mitt Romney's powerful, eloquent and heartwarming concession before CPAC - will do little if any good with conservatives. Barack Obama's vapid cheerleading for defeat and class warfare will roll over him and leave nothing but a dark stain where the Republican Party had once proudly stood.