I've been asked why I'm voting for McCain, and I'll sum it up for you:

In a world where Putin (make no mistake, he still controls Russia) feels like he can invade other nations at will, and really there are no reprisals....

In a world where other nations develop nuclear weapons because they can...

In a world full of Kim Jong Il's, Robert Mugabe's, borderless and landless terrorist cell networks....

In a world where fortunes rise and evaporate at the click of a button....

In a world where some idiot can unleash a bio weapon on some kids at a mall just because he can...

I want someone who has been in the darkest places known to man and is not afraid of the consequences of his actions. I want someone who is not afraid to give the executive order to send planes scrambling if a plane full of explosives or people dreaming of however many sacrificial virgins is flying towards a specified target. I want someone who is not afraid to use force to do the right thing; I want someone who is also not afraid to stand there and say "it's not right for me to leave my friends, so I am going to stay put". McCain understands both force and diplomacy. Obama only understands talking; he's only ever had to whip out his mastercard to defend himself.

And honestly, I think McCain is the guy. Yeah, he's old. And it was a savvy move of Obama to pick Biden. He sure does have some smart advisors. No, I don't think Obama is a Muslim. I don't care about his church (although his minister/ex minister is, I suppose, the black version of a holy roller). I don't care about his wife, or his kids. Are they running for president?

So...my short list?

Foreign experience? (foreign policy, participation in the U.N., relationship with other governments, Security Council, NATO, engagements in military expeditions abroad, etc)

Fiscal experience? (see below)

Domestic policy? (economy, taxation, social security, medicare)

Constitutional Rights (2nd amendment, free speech, states rights)