Another e-mail:

I am sorry, but I think that the Corner truly is getting a little out there on McCain/Romney. I really question where a lot of the posters, you included, are coming from. For the last seven years, the Corner has been a proponent that the “number one issue” is defense. Day in, day out, that was the deal, the overarching theme, the issue that trumped all else. In fact, I am sure you were probably accused of being a fear mongerer (I certainly remember the liberals in my office talking about how the Orange alerts were just there to scare people into voting for Bush in 2004). I believed then that security was the issue, and still do. In fact, despite the recent economic issues, I still believe that it is the most important issue. Democrats don’t believe it and most “conservatives” know that a democrat in the Oval Office at this point in history is frightening. I think that most people haven’t forgotten this. Talk about all the other issues you want, but the reality is that Romney was a successful businessman, the Governor of Massachusetts, and did something with the Olympics. That is what most average, non-pundits perceive of him and, I think, is the reality. I know what he says he will do on national security, but saying what you will do is a lot different than doing. McCain has actually done those things on national security and frankly, at this point in history, I don’t feel like experimenting with what someone says they will do. Tough for Romney. So where do we go? Bottom line is that most people don’t think Romney stands a chance in hell against Obama/Clinton but McCain does. What are you really suggesting conservative/defense voters do? Stand up as proud conservatives and vote Romney even if we think that will result in a Democrat in the White House? That might have worked in the 90′s, but not now. I have a child and want him to grow up in a safe country. That comes first. Nobody faults NRO for endorsing Romney, but I think that facing the facts regarding the likely outcome of a Romney nomination is something that you also owe to your readers.