As many conservatives like myself move into this election uninspired by Senator McCain I think it is important that before we abandon the Republican Party for third party candidates we look back at one of the most devastating elections in our country's history. In many ways it's 1976 all over again. Our country is weary from fighting a war that, while morally beyond reproach, has been under constant attack from fellow citizens inside the walls of our shinning city on a hill (fortunately we're winning this time). The economy has hit a rough patch. We are not in a recession...yet, but our economy is under significant pressure. Democrats are poised to capture the Whitehouse and maintain control of Congress. Gas prices are out of control. Islamofacism is waiting to explode in Iran. Environmentalist wackos are constantly berating us with end of the world tomfoolery and to top it all off our hard earned dollars are worth less and less every day. These headlines can be found daily in our newspapers and evening news programs, but the situation is so similar to the precipice that was 1976 reporters could just recycle 32 year old news stories and no one would be the wiser. However, it is today's election that bares the most striking similarity to our nation's bicentennial. Ronald Reagan energized the conservative base in a way not seen since Teddy Roosevelt. Reagan was poised to alter the balance of power in the party and change the entire tone of American politics. Republicans all over the nation were inspired by his message of smaller government and free market solutions, but after a bitter primary season the establishment prevailed and Gerald Ford was narrowly nominated. The timing couldn't be worse for a major rift in the Grand Old Party, because the Democrats were running the most liberal, dare I say socialist candidate ever. And that is saying a lot with a party that can boast FDR and Johnson as members. Jimmy Carter was a disaster waiting to happen. His solution to these major problems was to prostrate America on the world stage in hopes that being liked would garner favor. He advocated more taxes, stricter government regulations and such insane policies as abdicating control of the Panama Canal, eliminating vital military programs and turning a blind eye to the Shah's quandary. Do these policies sound familiar? If you've been following this election at all they should. They are strikingly similar to the policies of Barrack Hussein Obama. He has been very clear that he wants to raise our taxes at a time when the economy needs more, not less capital. He wants to negotiate with terrorist enemies who "W" has on the ropes and he wants to decrease the supply of fossil fuels through tougher regulation at a time when only more supply will ease our pain at the pump. Without a doubt, however, the scariest thing is that in 1976 Carter won handily. America elected the architect of the "misery index" and prophet of the great malaise, because the conservative base of the Republican Party was bitter and unenthused with the party's candidate. It is not my intention to belittle Gerald Ford. He was a good man and in my estimation an undervalued president. But he was no Ronald Reagan. Few people are or ever will be and we have to except that in most elections we will have to make compromises. John McCain drives me nuts when he says he would sooner drill in the Grand Canyon than in ANWAR. His efforts towards illegal immigration leave much to be desired and his cavorting with liberals borders on treason with respect to Republican politics, but we must consider the alternative. With President Obama America loses on all accounts. The economy, the war, traditional values, Supreme Court Justices, taxes, gas prices, terrorism; the list goes on and on. With McCain we will no doubt lose on some key issues but does anyone doubt he will prosecute the war to the best of his abilities? Do we envision our troops returning victorious with him or with Obama? He won't advocate raising taxes and with McCain we at least have a shot at another Scalia or Thomas on the Supreme Court. He's no Ronald Reagan, but the choice is a no brainer. The stage is set, with the candidacy of John McCain, for a tragic repeat of the election of 1976 unless the conservative base in this party turns out in November. It is imperative that we understand no one ever gets their way all the time in our system. If we wish to stave off a second Carter term we must realize that all or nothing politics always results in getting nothing.