Honestly, I’ve never paid that much attention to Michelle Obama. Just what little I’ve seen of her and Senator Obama, is that they’re a member of an elitist class… that thinks that they’re uppity.

– Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA)

John Rich and Gretchen Wilson are no Stevie Wonder in my book. He actually sounded a little flat to me while singing the National Anthem. But, this does remind me that, in spite of the Brooks & Dunn at the end of the Democratic Convention, the music is so different. Last week we heard from Sheryl Crow, U2, The Boss and Stevie Wonder, but this week it’s country and more country. It reminds me of that line from the Blues Brothers when they go to that country bar asking what kind of music they usually have. The reply is something like “Oh, both kinds. We have Country and Western.”

For all the talk of national unity, it really is like two different worlds at times.

Continuing with what I’d earlier written, from Reason magazine, a libertarian outlet, come two voices agreeing that McCain would essentially continue Bush’s monarchical view and use of executive power.

Hat Tip: Sullivan

From Matt Welch:

John McCain’s flip-flops on executive power to surveil U.S. citizens no matter what the law says is a timely reminder of a common misconception: That the Republican nominee would roll back the executive branch expansions of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney. With the exception of his vow to not adorn legislation with the kind of presidential signing statements made famous by his hero Teddy Roosevelt, McCain has a consistent, career-long approach to executive power − namely, that the president needs more of it.

The candidate’s books and speeches, especially those that cover the first 60 years of his life, are almost totally bereft of any interest in political philosophy or principle (an oddity, given his close friendship with Ronald Reagan and close proximity to Barry Goldwater). There is, in my judgment, one exception to this: The principle of presidential authority to wage war, conduct foreign policy, blunt congressional overreach, and act by any achievable means necessary to defend American interests.

…

if you think that any John Sidney McCain will let something like the letter of the law, or the constitutional separation of powers, prevent him from acting swiftly to defend America’s interests (however he defines it), then you probably haven’t been paying close attention.

Also Ron Bailey:

John McCain seemed to have a less expansive view of presidential authority than George W. Bush. Now the distance between them seems to be shrinking. In a recent letter to National Review Online, McCain adviser Douglas Holtz-Eakin reported that the Arizona senator believes President Bush acted within his constitutional authority when he violated the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) by approving warrantless monitoring of international communications involving people in the United States. According to Holtz-Eakin, who was responding to an NRO post by Andrew McCarthy that questioned whether McCain was sufficiently supportive of Bush’s position on this issue, the presumptive Republican presidential candidate believes “neither the Administration nor the telecoms need apologize for actions that most people, except for the ACLU and the trial lawyers, understand were  Constitutional and appropriate in the wake of the attacks on September 11, 2001.”

…

this issue is not of interest only to “the ACLU and trial lawyers”; pace McCain, it is not an excuse for pointless recriminations about long-ago actions that are irrelevant to “addressing the challenge we face today.” As we ”move forward,” there are few questions more important than whether the president is bound to obey the law even when it conflicts with his own ideas about how best to fight terrorism. If McCain cannot give a straight answer to that question and stick to it, he does not deserve the vote of anyone who believes in the rule of law and the separation of powers.

In a Globe and Mail article, the former Secretary of State hints that he may be an Obamacon.

Colin Powell, the former Republican secretary of state, says he is not ruling out a vote for Barack Obama, the presumed Democratic nominee for president.

If you would like to see John McCain on Monday, you’ll need to pony up some serious money.  He’s holding three high dollar fundraisers in Dallas and Midland, home to President Bush.  Here’s the invite to the Midland event:

John Mccain returns to Texas for a private finance luncheon in Midland on Monday, June 16th at 11:00 a.m.

This invitation is issued by the following people:

Susan and Mike Conaway
Nadine and Tom Craddick
Lt. Governor David Dewhurst
Individuals or couples who contribute or raise $28,500 qualify as Chairs for this event, and their tickets include Meeting and Photo opportunities.

Individuals or couples who contribute or raise $15,500 qualify as Co-Chairs and their tickets include a Photo opportunity.

Individuals who contribute or raise $5,000 qualify as Hosts and their ticket includes a Photo opportunity.

Tickets at the Sponsor level are $2,300.

The schedule is as follows:

11:00 a.m. Private Meeting with Senator McCain for Host
11:30 a.m. Photo Opportunity for Host
12:00 p.m. Luncheon

Business Attire Requested; Valet Parking is available.