Romney's Out, McCain 'appeases' the Right

So Romney's out but Huckabee is staying in, trying to jockey for VPOTUS, I'm guessing. Fat chance.

Here are John McCain's remarks at CPAC.

I have argued to make the Bush tax cuts permanent, to reduce the corporate tax rate and abolish the AMT. I have defended my position on protecting our Second Amendment rights, including my votes against waiting periods, bans on the so-called "assault weapons," and illegitimate lawsuits targeting gun manufacturers. I have proudly defended my twenty-four year pro-life record. Throughout this campaign, I have defended the President's brave decision to increase troop levels in Iraq to execute a long overdue counterinsurgency that has spared us the terrible calamity of losing that war. I held these positions because I believed they were in the best interests of my party and country."

OK, so far. Then this:

Surely, I have held other positions that have not met with widespread agreement from conservatives. I won't pretend otherwise nor would you permit me to forget it. On the issue of illegal immigration, a position which provoked the outspoken opposition of many conservatives, I stood my ground aware that my position would imperil my campaign. I respect your opposition for I know that the vast majority of critics to the bill based their opposition in a principled defense of the rule of law. And while I and other Republican supporters of the bill were genuine in our intention to restore control of our borders, we failed, for various and understandable reasons, to convince Americans that we were. I accept that, and have pledged that it would be among my highest priorities to secure our borders first, and only after we achieved widespread consensus that our borders are secure, would we address other aspects of the problem in a way that defends the rule of law and does not encourage another wave of illegal immigration.

Securing the border first, good. Not mentioning what he plans afterwards, bad. Here's the video but don't be fooled by all the cheering. It seems that the place was stocked with his supporters. Boy do I hate that smug, snide expression.

I'm still not sure he's the right guy for the job, but he's gotta be better than either Clinton or Obama, right? Please oh please let him be better.

It's all about his choice for VPOTUS, now. That will tell us everything...

And a 'must read' from Michelle Malkin.