en-us http://www.intensedebate.com/users/222593 Comments by Chris_Deaton http://www.allamericanblogger.com/3873/the-mavericks-campaign-absent-a-pulse/#IDComment8189753 I sense indifference from many conservative citizens this election cycle; not indifference in that they don't think much is at stake, but indifference in that a McCain White House isn't even worth the light of day. The House Republicans combated that indifference for a time during the bailout saga. And the huge kicker as it relates to McCain's campaign is that poll after poll showed a vast majority of Americans were opposed to the bill. McCain taking the people's side would've accomplished two things: 1) it would've shored up the most pertinent conservative credential he had in this election, and 2) that conservative credential happened to be enormously popular with the electorate. His opposition to the bill wouldn't have swung the Senate vote. And whether the bill was designed to mollify the market woes in the short-term or not, it has done nothing of the sort. Thus why McCain could've come back and said: "Look at me, in the vast political minority in the Senate, standing on the side of the average American, and being vindicated as this bill has done nothing to absolve the crisis." Thu, 9 Oct 2008 22:59:28 +0000 http://www.allamericanblogger.com/3873/the-mavericks-campaign-absent-a-pulse/#IDComment8189753 http://www.allamericanblogger.com/3873/the-mavericks-campaign-absent-a-pulse/#IDComment8189433 It's hard to disagree with your second paragraph. You seem to be in the same boat as many center-right or further voters in this and past elections: Bush/McCain represented/represents the lesser of two evils posed by Kerry/Obama. Given the choice, of course I throw my support behind the Republicans, but I do so gingerly. I think the bigger fear than a would-be Republican voter casting a ballot for Obama is that would-be Republican voter not casting a ballot for anyone. The sentiment: "If McCain isn't going to offer anything different from what Obama has set forth ... why vote for him?" reflects that problem. Thu, 9 Oct 2008 22:51:58 +0000 http://www.allamericanblogger.com/3873/the-mavericks-campaign-absent-a-pulse/#IDComment8189433