McCain's First career was the Navy. His courage under fire was legendary. He led squadrons of jet fighters  perilously off aircraft carriers and into enemy fire. He was shot down and then survived a five year ordeal as a POW , an ordeal that most of us can hardly imagine much less endure. Once retired from the Navy, John McCain began a second career in service in to America, membership the United States Senate. For over 25 years he has been a proven leader in times of crises, even when it meant opposing the conventional wisdom of his own party.

When Senator Obama put his finger  to the political winds  and then called for the sounding of the bugle of retreat in Iraq, John McCain’s answer was a resounding," No!" Instead of surrender, he urged the President to double our efforts and create a "surge" of military force against the enemy. Contrary to the dishonor to which Obama would have subjected our country, John McCain will bring our troops home with high honor. Indeed, in the month of October 2008, when not a single military life was lost in Baghdad, our duty fulfilled and our honor preserved, America has John McCain to thank.

These are not times for a timid man whose whole life has been shrouded in a cloud of doubt about his judgment, knowledge, experience, fortitude and furtive acquaintances. The sum total of the experience of Barrack Obama, the man from the Chicago machine, is a few years in the Illinois legislature, a few years as a community organizer and two years campaigning for the Presidency of the United States.

America does not need a novice one term senator who has the audacity to peddle empty bromides in fanciful rhetorical flourishes while masquerading as an indispensable agent of change. Obama does not offer new ideas, he offers a return to the days of President Lyndon Johnson and the Great Society. He offers the staggering growth of the government bureaucracy, further intrusion into the individuals’ daily lives, and a tax burden that will reach deep into the middle class.Together with Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Harry Reid, a President Obama would press down upon the heart of American entrepreneurs a galaxy of taxes and regulations. He would redistribute your hard earned money to those that he felt deserving of the fruits of your labor. Obama would "spread the wealth," as he told Joe the plumber.

As you think about your vote, please consider: do you want a known and trusted leader of long standing or do you want a man with a murky past who , as his running mate, Joe Biden, has noted will be "tested" within months of inaguration. If he passes, America survives. But, if he fails, our troops and perhaps we ourselves will die. Rest assured, John McCain will not be so tested. The world knows how he reacts to crises. He has taken this test before and passed with the highest honor.

John McCain has done his duty. He has done it with honor. For the sake of our future, we must honor him with our vote.