Dear Mr. McCain

Dear Mr. McCain,

I would like to take a moment to let you know why I will not be voting Republican this year. To introduce myself, I am a registered Republican who has not liked the direction the party has strayed since, well, since Reagan. I have to admit that I am not, nor have I ever been a Reaganite. I have never felt that Reagan was God, great, or even a good president. And, although, I am deeply religious, I cannot abide the, what did you call it, "agents of intolerance" which exemplifies our religions - Oh wait, that was before you became one! But I digress.... I was telling you why I won't be voting for you - or Ms. Palin this November.

Let me see, where to begin. I briefly flirted with voting for you in the 2000 Presidential primary. I could foresee, even then, that George W Bush would be a disastrous choice for president. I looked into his record as Governor of Texas and was less than impressed. However, when Bush won the nomination, I decided to vote for Gore.

At first, you retained my respect as you stood firm against the excesses of Bush & co. However, all to soon, you began to feel it was more important to appeal to the far right than to the middle... to the extent that when you initially proposed a "sweeping" immigration bill, I wasn't at all surprised when you turned against your own legislation when the religious right moaned, I was not surprised.

By the time you decided to run for President in 2008, I was thoroughly disenchanted with you - and your wishy washy far right propaganda. I have no patience with the Karl Rove or his playbook, which you seem to have swallowed. In every instance, you have voted against women 's issues, and you have major lobbyists on your campaign. Tell me, Mr. McCain, how can you call yourself a "reformer" or "maverick" without bursting into flames for blasphemy?

And now Sarah Palin? Do you really think that I will forget all my concerns about you and your judgement just because she is a woman? I listened to her speech last night and was appalled at how vicious and unkind she appeared. I realize that she has been coached by Rove & his cronies, and I cannot expect much else. But come on - who thought up the pit bull joke?? Does she think we are going to suddenly warm up to the dogs who routinely maul children and the helpless? According to my dog trainer, it depends on how the dog is socialized - but I a fairly certain, based on her talk that in normal conditions, she would be euthanized in any city in the United states.

To sum up, Mr. McCain, I will not be voting for you this year. And though I live in Utah, which may likely go Republican, I intend to speak to everyone I meet at the gym, the dog park, work etc and encourage them to look at you & Ms. Palin a little deeper. And if I can, move my area, at least, toward Obama, who actually is a maverick and a reformer.

I do wish you well Mr. McCain, but I don't wish you president!