As you've seen in my recent comments, MEM, I'm very conflicted on McCain.

I support McCain for his criticism of Bush on the Iraq war over the last 4 years, along with Republican senators Hagel and Lugar, and Democrats Levin, Biden, and Lieberman, among others. Constructively critical, without exploiting the issue in a divisive fashion, as most of the Democrats and quite a few republicans have done.

McCain also has taken a stance throughout his career on deficit reduction. But I want a candidate who will not only end the deficit, but also reduce the now 9.2 trillion dollar debt.

But...

More importantly, I strongly oppose what McCain proposes for amnesty to illegals.

And also oppose the mess he's made with the McCain/Feingold bill for campaign finance reform.

There is so much that McCain supports that is in complete opposition to what Republican conservatism has been that I don't want to support him. If I was going to support the lesser of two evils as I did in 2004, I'd vote McCain. But that's a compromise I'm not willing to make, with an immigration policy that will change this country more negatively than costly foreign wars, and trillions in national debt.

I may vote Ralph Nader this year, as I did in 2000, in support of an alternative to the Republican and Democrat offerings.

I really lost enthusiasm for this election when Romney dropped out of the race, because I see him as the only candidate with the proven leadership to really move this country in a productive and truly conservative direction.

Romney's campaign took a while to clarify its message, and I think what he should have campaigned on from the beginning is his proven management skill toward long-term objectives --as a corporate executive in the private sector, as manager of an Olympics committee in Utah, and as governor of Masachussetts-- putting that state on a path away from deficit and toward long-term growth. As he has proven he could in all those positions, he would do with the nation.
And with a 250-million-dollar personal fortune, Romney's a candidate who can pay for his own campaign, and doesn't have to make backroom deals to stay in the race.
I see Romney as a leading contender in 2012 or 2016, now that he's made bridges in the Republican party by conceding early to McCain, and developing name recognition, along with political lessons learned. He will emerge in 4 years as a far stronger candidate.

McCain is worlds apart from Bush and the Neo-cons, but with immigration, campaign finance reform and other concessions, he still isn't a Republican I can wholeheartedly support.

Between McCain, Obama, and Hillary, I don't know which could do the most damage to the nation. I sincerely hope whichever wins the election, they pleasantly surprises us with unexpected vision and genius.
This is a breaking point, and the country needs a true leader, not another G.H.W Bush, Bill Clinton, or George W. Bush.