Crossing Party Lines, or Why John McCain Should Run as an Independent

"Senator John McCain used to be good for an honest slap at the White House every now and then. But ever since he made up his mind to do whatever is necessary to win the Republican nomination in 2008, he's been a pussycat," writes Francis Wilkinson in her column on cbsnews.com. As a Democrat (and feeling more and more like I should not support a bipartisan government), I would vote for John McCain. I would vote for John McCain because I think he's honest, I think he has good ideas, and I think that (at least before he was looking for that red nomination in 2008) he does what he thinks is right regardless of what the elephant in the room is trying to tell him.

In his bid for the 2008 presidential nomination, McCain has truly taken the "candid" out of candidate. Political analyts have been all over his personality shift. At least for me, his very appeal is the fact that he does not fit in with the traditional Republican profile. Why, then, is it important for him to be on the ballot as a Republican? I'm sure the Republican National Committee has connections to deep pockets, but should McCain exchange what could be a truly candid run for office for thirty pieces of silver? I think he would do himself and this country a disservice.

Furthermore, who's the competition? Bill Frist? Mitt Romney? Honestly! John McCain has name recognition, he's a Vietnam veteran, and he has the sympathy of many liberal voters in this country. If John McCain ran as an independent in the next election, he wouldn't have to cozy up to the Republican base. He could continue calling out the Bush administration on the mess they have created in Iraq, the chaos that will certainly erupt in Iran (did I hear "regime change?"), and the slew of domestic issues, such as the illegal spying President Bush will not apologize for, and for which, it seems, he will not be punished.