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Real Change, defined by John McCain, unlike the floating oratories rife with simple transcendental platitudes as spouted by the Obamessiah. John McCain knows why we are in Iraq, he understands that we can't simply pull out quickly and leave that country a breeding ground for al Qaeda. From his extraordinary April 2007 VMI graduation speech...

"The war on terror, the war for the future of the Middle East, and the struggle for the soul of Islam - of which the war in Iraq constitutes a key element - are bound together. Progress in one requires progress in all. The many complex challenges we face require more than a military response. This is a contest of ideas and values as much as it is one of bullets and bombs. We must gain the active support of modernizers across the Muslim world, who want to share in the benefits of the global system and its economic success, and who aspire to the political freedom that is, I truly believe, the natural desire of the human heart. No matter how much attention their ruthless tactics receive, terrorists are not the true face of Islam. Devout Muslims in Lebanon, Indonesia, Pakistan and Egypt, Morocco, Bahrain, and in Iraq, aspire to progress for their societies in which basic human needs are met for more than the privileged few and basic human rights are respected.

"The United States needs stronger alliances, coalitions, and partnerships worldwide to engage this long and multidimensional struggle. We need to pay careful attention to America's image and moral credibility. And in this broad effort, the outcome of the war in Iraq will play a pivotal role.

We've made great progress in Iraq since April 2007, despite the negative and biased media's coverage (those network and print medias that always seem sympathetic to the worst of the Leftist Proggs that have overwhelmed the Democratic party) and the continuous, nonstop whiny BDS from those same idealistic pipe-dreamers. Step aside, childe Obama, and see what future a real, grown man sees after four years of his Presidency. Mr. McCain...

"The Iraq war has been won. Iraq is a functioning democracy, although still suffering from the lingering effects of decades of tyranny and centuries of sectarian tension. Violence still occurs, but it is spasmodic and much reduced."

Exactly in line with his reasoned speech last year at VMI. We see here the wisdom of a true patriotic American who served his country and has no qualms about defending our armed forces and their mission. None of the left's "cut and run" policies here.

Mr. McCain's vision for his first term includes...

- The Taliban threat in Afghanistan has been greatly reduced.

- "The increase in actionable intelligence that the counterinsurgency produced led to the capture or death of Osama bin Laden, and his chief lieutenants," McCain said. "There still has not been a major terrorist attack in the United States since Sept. 11, 2001."

- A "League of Democracies" has supplanted a failed United Nations to apply sanctions to the Sudanese government and halt genocide in Darfur.

- The United States has had "several years of robust growth," appropriations bills free of lawmakers' pet projects known as "earmarks," public education improved by charter schools, health care improved by expansion of the private market and an energy crisis stemmed through the start of construction on 20 new nuclear reactors.

- Democrats are asked to serve in his administration, he holds weekly news conferences and, like the British prime minister, answers questions publicly from lawmakers.

Indeed, a major theme of Mr. McCain's speech includes suggestions for bringing the country together, and eliminating the mindless partisanship that's clouded our discourse for the past 7 years...

"I'm not interested in partisanship that serves no other purpose than to gain a temporary advantage over our opponents. This mindless, paralyzing rancor must come to an end. We belong to different parties, not different countries,"
...

"There is a time to campaign, and a time to govern. If I'm elected president, the era of the permanent campaign will end; the era of problem solving will begin."

A great goal, but Good Luck with that. The Leftist wing of the Democratic party, led by "The Scream" Dean won't be satisfied until they've taken complete control of every facet of governance, bringing on the complete Ruination of the Country. We've seen John McCain's outreaching to the Democrats, much of that to the chagrin of conservatives. We can expect him to continue to embrace the Democrats. What we won't tolerate is embrace of the worst of the leftists. There is a difference, still, in degree of Democrat: Travis Childer, recently elected in Mississippi’s 1st District, is a Conservative Democrat who is pro-life and pro-gun. More of those, and the Democrats might become a worthy party, again.

But, yeah, sure, Conservatives will give Mr. McCain a chance to bring us back to the fold, and sit with Democrats at the same table.

These next few months before November are going to be interesting. I can't wait for Obama to finally stop mouthing platitudes (hopeyness, changyness) and put something more substantial on the table, as Mr. McCain is doing today. If Obama has anything except platitudes and insipidity.

Partisanship as expressed in a strong debate is still the root of our democracy. What's stifling to debate is the sheer volume and tone of the past seven years, the mindless BDS that's served no purpose except to alienate fellow Americans and divide the country. If we can pull back from that, then I think everyone would be better off.

But if not, then so be it.

We have seven years of BDS as example of how to treat a leftist Democratic President. Fun times, indeed.