Repressing free speech isn’t limited to third world dictatorships and Canada. To exorcise the ghosts of the Keating Five, John McCain has ensured most Americans are unable to broadcast their views of presidential candidates 30 days before a primary and 60 days before an election.

However, it’s not our access to the airwaves that concerns me most about McCain and the McCain Feingold law. It’s his sincere belief he is right. The corollary is he will be driven to appoint judges who share his belief. He will find them; but a judge who agrees the First Amendment can indeed be abridged by Congress isn’t going to come from the conservative world. With Congress most likely to remain in the hands of Democrats, he would certainly have no problem getting such judges approved.

A McCain presidency would be a disaster setback* for conservatives.

UPDATE:

Patrick Ruffini sees similarities to the 2000 campaign and predicts another McCain New Hampshire victory; along the way he opines:

In stark contrast to rest of the nation, it is very difficult for a candidate running as a conservative to win a Republican primary in the Northeast. McCain won every New England state except Maine against Bush in 2000, even Bush’s ancestral Connecticut.

* Modified 2 Jan 2008. Disaster is too strong of a word; while not my prefered Republican nominee, McCain is certainly head and shoulders above any Democrat contender.