As much as I might respect Bob Barr, I can't believe conservatives are actually planning to put our nation in the hands of a socialist who doesn't have a clue about the threat of Islamic jihadists, capitalism, or freedom--that's the result if conservatives break from the GOP this year. You may say that when it comes to principle there is no better time than NOW to stand firm--so, 1943-44 would have been the right time to take a stand on principle even if it meant ensuring the election of a president ready to immediately negotiate peace with Hitler and Hirohito?
Take a stand at the local and state level; there is plenty of work to do to get real conservatives lined up in offices which will feed into national leadership roles. Keep sending letters, faxes, phone calls to stop the most egregious liberal agendas in congress. Keep doing what you do so well--making strong arguments to others in support of conservative ideas.
Yes, that is a long hard way to make a difference, but important issues are worth the effort. There is NO abortion Obama doesn't support as a legal option. How many infants are you willing to sacrifice for your choice to sit out the 2008 election or split the vote against someone who will certainly appoint liberal Supreme Court judges? Embryonic stem cell research will fade with new technology demonstrating that it is not the best option for stem cell treatments regardless of one's position on Right to Life; help get that message out instead of attacking McCain and thereby letting strongly pro-choice liberals off the hook.
Have you listened to Obama? He says that only "people who deserve them" should get tax cuts, otherwise raise those taxes! Of course he and his liberal friends decide who is deserving. They also decide who gets to own a gun and under what conditions--he almost never saw a law restricting the 2nd Amendment that he didn't like. Analyze the positions point by point--do you truly believe President Obama is the best option we have? That will be the result if we don't work really hard for McCain despite his flaws.
I am frustrated, too.
For several years I have not sent money to the GOP but have supported true conservative causes like Right to Life, Heritage Foundation, CAGW, and anything to help our military.
I write critiques all over the fundraising letters and mail them back. I tell the poor souls calling for money to tell their bosses they'll get some when they vote "Constitutionally".
However, from now until November, I have concluded that the stakes are just too high for my continued protest in this manner. I will work hard for McCain and pray for his victory. Then I will go back to my efforts to promote liberty and influence the direction of the GOP and my fellow citizens. Do not sacrifice the well-being of our nation in order to "make a statement" (At best you'll only be talking to a few Republicans, and the Democrats will be laughing all the way to the White House while the USA will be lucky to suffer something not worse than Jimmy Carter's stagflation and capitulation to Islamic extremists .) We can make statements through patient perseverence and hard work. Actions taken due to frustration are often harmful and long regretted.