While party affiliations should not be a sole source for choosing a candidate, a candidate who openly states he wants to continue the path of an administration that has been nothing but bad news is not worthy of endorsement. John McCain is just such a candidate.

This war we're involved in in Iraq is a miserable failure. We first got there based on a lie. Actually, it was a pack of lies. Shortly after getting there, Bush openly declared victory in Iraq. Really? So, why are we still there five years later? And now, John McCain says he'll stay there another 100 years if necessary. Why did we go to begin with? If we ousted Saddam and declared victory, why are we still there? And, why do we need to be there for another 100 years? All of these are legitimate questions and McCain's answers lack satisfaction. "Stay the course," is all he says. For what?

Then, this past weekend, McCain gave a speech about energy, saying he'd promote a progressive plan to reduce dependence on foreign oil. He followed that up by saying we'd never have to go to war over oil again. So, he openly admits that we invaded Iraq for the sake of oil? Later, he tried to back-pedal and said he meant the Gulf War of the early 90's. So, George the first's war was about oil, but not this one? Come on, McCain, which is it? We'll almost certainly never get a straight answer out of him.

Okay, McCain on foreign policy? One strike against. Maybe he'll fare better when we talk of domestic issues. Or maybe not.

Now, let's look at the economy. Again, we have a candidate who agrees with the current administration and the way things are going. Really? We have layoffs happening on a daily basis. The cost of energy is so high, it is driving up inflation beyond the increases in our paychecks. (I love it when economists tell us one figure and then tell us another "factoring out costs of energy and food." I don't know anyone who doesn't have to eat or heat their homes.) The housing market is in the dumper. I could go on and on, but the fact is, the economy is in horrible shape, right now. In fact, it's in the worst shape it's been in since the first George Bush. And we want to maintain these ridiculous policies?

Bad foreign policy. Bad domestic/economic policy. What is it about John McCain that we're supposed to like? I can't figure it out. John McCain for president? Not my choice.

Learn more about this author, Paul Schingle.
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