In the context of Mitt Romney’s suspension of his campaign John McCain addressed CPAC today in exactly the manner he had to do it.  Those who have made the vocal arguments about McCain being unacceptable will remain unmoved, to expect otherwise is naïve and ignores the colossal egos at play. 

However, McCain was not speaking to them!  McCain was speaking to the vast population of self identified mainstream conservatives and moderates.  McCain addressed them with a decidedly effective combination of humility, good humor and a relaxed but aggressive defense of his record as a whole.  McCain addressed them as a leader; this was a leadership speech and a good one.  

Since 1980, according to surveys by Harris Interactive, the combination of self identified Conservatives and Moderates has hovered between 75% and 80% of the respondents.  To ignore this consistent trend of self-identification is to insure electoral defeat.  To promote mainstream conservative ideas on the large stage offered by the Presidency demands that one is actually elevated to the Presidency. It’s an immovable fact.  The idea that losing is good and that after four years of Democratic failures Conservatives will rise again is a dangerous game that depends of such a vast array of assumptions and intangibles as to be questionable on the face of it.

McCain’s address to CPAC may not have been a Home Run but there is no doubt it went for extra bases.  His points were the ones he needed to make: I share the vast majority of your values and positions, I will continue to do so, I know we’ve disagreed but I’ll take your counsel and where we may continue to have a disagreement I hope you’ll offer me the respect of honest conviction that I will offer you.  He also made the point that he has been as aggressive on issues were they agreed as he was, on occasion, when they disagreed.

McCain asked for their acknowledgment or, and respect for the fact that in the early primaries he argued against regional priorities based on principals: farm subsidiaries in Iowa, government entitled health care in New Hampshire and national catastrophic insurance in Florida.

McCain effectively drew the distinctions and consequences of a Republican defeat in November: Government intrusions, the War, terrorism, entitlements, health care, the Supreme Court, 2^nd amendment, abortion and tax policy.  McCain drew attention to the fact that the upcoming election would not be an election fought over small differences.

Perhaps most importantly he offered his mea culpa for misjudgments of the past.  He referred to himself as an “imperfect servant” who has made mistakes.

There will be much commentary on issues he did not address, that is fair and to be expected.  For Conservatives to “sit it out” with John McCain as the nominee ignores the most important aspect of the man.  Proven courage under circumstances most of us can only imagine vaguely.