Everyone in the “Professional” work place is familiar with the expression:  Don’t burn your bridges!  It’s an apt description for how conservatives in the Republican Party feel about Senator John McCain.

He steadfastly refused to acknowledge their dissatisfaction with his stance on numerous issues, let alone the legislation that he cosponsored.  Worse yet, the Senator thumbed his nose at the conservative base describing their most respected spokesmen (Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell) as “agents of intolerance.”  On the issue of illegal immigration, he treated constituents within his own party, as xenophobes and racists. 

Senator McCain believes that he knows best.  (Having been raised in the 50’s he must see himself as a modern-day Robert Young.)  He embraces the old civics lesson of the politician as “delegate” rather than representative.  The Senator revels in his role as Maverick; going against the grain of public opinion to do what is right, but unpopular.  Indeed, the mainstream media have lauded him repeatedly for his “principled” stand against the conservative base, his willingness to reach across the aisle to embrace Democrats in providing real “solutions” to problems, rather than rely on partisan ideology.

Much has been made of recent statements by Talk Radio Show Hosts Rush Limbaugh, Laura Ingraham, Hugh Hewitt, Sean Hannity, etc. in their criticism of Senator McCain.  However, the portrayal that they are leading the charge is fallacious.  In fact, they are merely reflecting, not amplifying, the sentiments of conservative Republicans across the nation.  It is not, as Party Moderates claim, these “extreme” conservatives that are tearing the Republican Party apart.  As both Zell Miller and Ronald Reagan have said, “I didn’t leave the [Democratic] [Republican] Party, the Party left me.”

Senator John McCain is the one who “burned” bridges with Reagan Conservatives in the Party, not the other way around.

Now, that Senator McCain has all but sealed his win of the Republican nomination, he is attempting to patch things up and make nice.  However, he appears to draw the line at actually saying, “I’m sorry.”  His lack of regret, let alone remorse, for his treatment of loyal conservative Republicans was audible in his speech last week before CPAC.  Nary a contrite word was spoken, merely hollow promises to live up to the very ideals he has spent the past eight years denying with every major piece of legislation he has sponsored in the Senate.

In domestic relationships, saying that you are sorry is considered a minimum starting point in order to make up.  In some cases, harsh words spoken cause so much anger, hurt, and resentment that no amount of apologies can bridge the gap to reconciliation.  Each must accept the dissolution of the marriage and go their separate ways.

Is Senator McCain truly willing to repair this bridge?  And is the olive branch he has extended to the Republican conservative base sincere, not just to win the election.

This year’s Republican Convention is in Minneapolis / St. Paul, Minnesota, the site of last year’s horrific freeway bridge collapse.  It seems there were a few fires on that bridge, as well.  A prophetic glimpse into this year’s future?  To paraphrase Shakespeare,

“Alack, our terrene moon
Is now eclipsed;
and it portends alone
The fall of John McCain.”