me watching from Europe believes McCain doesn't want to win the election in Nov.

As an aside, it is illegal for reporters to describe the Straight Talk Express as "off the rails."

I'm not surprised. Republicans tend to prefer ideology over facts. "My party, right or wrong."

He has to split the difference on every issue because he is trying to please two masters; wingnuts and independants. He deplores what Hagee says but he is thankful for his support. He will cut everybody's taxes but he won't cut any specific benefit. He deplores Bush's tactics but he supports his war. He is against torture except when he isn't. He will deport millions of immigrants except that he won't.

Running against him will be very simple; make him choose on every issue over and over again.

I've commented multiple times previously in War Room that I'd actually held my nose in 2000, and registered as a Republican here in Ohio just so I could vote for THAT version of McCain. I hoped he really was the guy he seemed to be, and that he could beat Bush for the nomination that year.

We'll never know what sort of president he actually would have been between January 2001 and now. But his ardent embrace of standard Republican B.S. this year has made me sorry I ever had a kind thought about him.

And even if he WAS the man he claimed to be then (which is increasingly doubtful), it's clear he isn't that man now. Beating this serial flip-flopper ought to be easy -- just run a split screen of McCain's positions, then and now. If the Democratic candidate can't bury such a man, maybe they should give up trying ever again and just fade away like the Whig Party.

I'm a staunch independent, anti-Bush in every way, now hear this:

McCain was against the tax cuts when we were fighting a war we couldn't afford. He's a fiscal conservative, get it? He'd be a good president because he'd balance the budget.

Now he's for making the tax cuts permanent because the economy has had 5 years to adjust to them. Removing the tax cuts now would amount to a devestating tax increase that would hurt our fragile economy. It's fundamental economics. What's so hard to understand about that? There's nothing wrong with changing your position as years go by and the situation changes. Also, you can't have it both ways, remember JOHN KERRY! Please give this tiresome argument a rest.

"McCain was against the tax cuts when we were fighting a war we couldn't afford."

What has changed in THAT statement? Aren't we still fighting a war we can't afford? (Or is this something different -- not actually a war, but extended nation-building instead?)

The dollar is going down the toilet because our government indulges in wanton deficit spending. McCain thinks the price of oil is a big problem, but he's too stupid to see that the fiscal policy he supports is causing the problem.

We're paying for the billionaires' tax break every time we fill our gas tanks or buy food.

Good Point! And while I oppose this war completely (another topic entirely) unlike Bush, McCain will veto pork legislation in order to balance the budget and afford this war. I'd rather do without Ted Steven's wacky bill du jours than a tax cut that is vitally needed in this economic environment. It's an entirely different ball game if McCain is President as opposed to Senator. As Senator all he can do is debate against fiscal irresponsibility and cast 1 of 100 votes, as President he can actually balance the budget.

And I don't care what any candidate says, no matter whose president (excepting Ron Paul or Dennis Kucinich) this war is going to continue for a loooooooooooong time. Just watch.

Any "pork" he vetoes (How? By shutting down the government?) is penny-ante stuff compared to the money pit that is Iraq. The US's ridiculous military budget has long hobbled the economy. Now it's crippling us as it goes into an orgasmic spending spree.

The Iraq war will go on a long time? Sure...because they insist on it. It could end in months. It's not like it would hurt the country if it did. It's just going to continue because of monied interests and egos. If you want to vote for McCain because he claims (as do all Republican candidates, though they never follow through) he will spackle the windows while the house burns down, then you're obviously too far gone to understand that the real problem has situated itself right in front of your keyboard.

So tell me. What would you cut to make up $300,000,000,000? Yes, there are eleven zeroes in that.

News flash - you can't find $300 billion worth of spending cuts unless you look in that five-sided building in northern Virginia. We can't afford the damn war, period. Either stop the war, or find somebody to pay for it. That is your choice.

I'm currently undecided, I'd just rather debate substantive issues rather than playing gotcha, which we can do at any time with any candidate eg Clinton - NAFTA. The democratic nominee has not been decided, if it's Obama I'd vote for him if he can win enough debates again McCain. Presently I'm leaning McCain because my gut tells me Obama is all talk and no substance. History has proven my gut to usually be right.

You have no idea who I am or what I think.

IM AGAINST THE WAR! pull out now, yes, that would be great do it. guess what, that ship has sailed. All 3 remaining candidates will stay in Iraq for they're entire term. I'm just trying to pick the best of what's still 'round.

Everyone seems to think that these tax cuts were for the rich, but my husband and I would be losing money instead of making a small profit if it weren't for these cuts. We own a small business and with all of the payroll taxes, plus federal taxes at the 35% rate, and then the state taxes, the only withdrawals we could take were to pay the quarterly estimated payments. We don't have a lot left after we pay our taxes, but at least we are in the black now and are providing jobs several people.