“Won’t someone, somewhere, please say something nice about John McCain?” - sideways

I actually think he has no chance regardless of whether his opposition is Clinton, Obama, or Clintoma. But since you asked - His interview on 60 Minutes last night was great. In particular he did not equivocate while describing waterboarding as torture and called out the Bush administration as flat wrong on the issue. He needs to do more of this.

Speaking for myself as a blogger - I don’t see any real point in weighing in on McCain until the Dem contest is settled. My biggest problem with McCain is his stance on the war in Iraq, past present and future. I would support him strongly if I could get over this issue, but he was so wrong about the decision going in, that it is going to be tough. The only way I can get there, is to ignore what he said in 2002 and just look forward.

To that end - this is an argument I could make as we get closer to the general election - consider it a preview of coming attractions -

In the context of this election, what is happening in Iraq now, is more important than what was said in 2002/3. Despite what they say on the campaign trail - the difference in what actually transpires in Iraq will not be that different over the next two years regardless of which of the three are elected President. Pinning a “precipitous withdrawal” tag on Obama is just as inaccurate as pinning a “100 year war” tag on McCain. All three remaining candidates clearly understand that getting out will have to be done carefully and without jeopardizing our security. The practical differences between them are one of degree and not of kind. The fact is, we must and will significantly reduce our footprint there, because we can’t afford it and it is damaging our armed force readiness in general. The rhetoric of the candidates on both sides are pandering to the extremes of both parties. Regardless of who is elected, two years from the time a new president takes office our military presence in Iraq will be down 75% from where it is now - plus or minus 15%. That is the sum total difference between them on the Iraq war.

McCain is gaining ground and I really like his chances against Obama. Hey, wasn’t Capone a “community organizer” in Chicago?

Why? Did you see a lot of posts about the Yankees in the week before the Super Bowl?

The Dems are making comic history with their Mutual Assured Destruction primary campaign - who could sit that out?

The amount of attacks you’re seeing is because they’re scared out of their minds at the idea of running against Obama. The really smart right-wing bloggers know that this guy could be the Democrat’s Reagan, and so they’re trying one meme after another in hopes something will stick. And a few have. We’ll see if the electorate gives a shit come November, because it’s McCain v. Obama.