I think that there's a distinct lack of perspective developing in the conservative community over John McCain. I say this, not being a McCain fan, agreeing with much of the criticisms that have been leveled at him. But I think it's time for a reality check here, a toning down of the rhetoric, and a realistic comparison of a McCain presidency with a Clinton/Obama presidency.

I feel it's absurd and dangerous to be talking about it being better for Hillary to be elected than John McCain. Let's look at just a few issues here. Iraq is still important to all of us. Who would you rather have overseeing the Iraq war, McCain or Hillary? Do you think there's a difference in how the two would prosecute the war? Even if all else were equal between the two, I'd vote for McCain.

How about judges? We are one vote short of overturning Roe-v-Wade. Yes, McCain might waiver on this, might not give us the judge we want. But it is a flat-out, led-pipe cinch that Hillary will appoint stridently pro-abortion judges to the bench. Even if there's a chance of averting that, of overturning Roe-v-Wade, I'll take a chance with McCain, rather than throw in the towel with Hillary.

Yes, McCain is awful of campaign finance reform. But with Hillary, there's a high likelihood of a "fairness in broadcasting act," or something to that effect, which just might legislate Rush off the air. Do we want to risk that too, just to vent our spleens over McCain's apostasies?

As far as McCain destroying the Republican party? I'm with Peggy Noonan on that one. President Bush has already taken care of that job. I'd rather regroup under a McCain administration, where some things will go our way, than under a Clinton administration, where nothing will go our way.

As far as declaring that McCain will lose, how do we know right now that will happen? It seems dangerous to declare him a lost cause already. He leads in many polls over Hillary. He has, through effective pandering over the years, acquired a reputation in the eyes of the casually informed as the one "good" Republican out there. Even if the media turns their guns on him, as they surely will, it takes time to turn public opinion around, and that "good guy" halo he has will take time for the media to completely destroy. He's a much better politician than President Bush, has a much stronger survival instinct than the President has, and I see no reason to say already that he can't win.

I also find some of this hostility to McCain's pandering to the left, given the leeway President Bush has been given on the subject, very strange. What was "new tone" but pandering? What was "compassionate conservatism" but pandering? What was signing the campaign finance bill into law, when the President opposed it, but pandering? What was letting Sandy Berger off the hook for stealing and destroying classified documents but pandering? What was the President's refusal to defend himself, his policies and members of his administration when under attack from Democrats but pandering? I wish that the President had been held to the same high standards John McCain is being held to right now.

Also, I think it is highly premature and very foolish to say McCain should lose because both he and Hillary would make such a mess of things that we'd want the blame pinned on the Democrat. I think Bill Clinton was a disaster, but he left office with high approval and two full terms under his belt. To bet on public perceptions, especially with the compliant media a Democrat would receive, is highly problematic. And to risk the disaster that could befall us with a second Clinton administration, based on such a premise, seems very poor reasoning to me..

There's my two cents. I wanted Thompson, now I want Romney. I'll be very disappointed if McCain wins the nomination. But I'll run to the polls to vote for him over Hillary or Obama.