John McCain probably would never have gotten out of VietNam alive if his father had not been CINCPAC during the time of his captivity. That is not intended to diminish the hardship he did endure as a POW, which was extreme, but to suggest that ever since he came back and got into politics, he has parlayed his experience into a position of power that he otherwise never would have acquired. And he has at times--and now recently again--showed flashes of coming unglued--flashes that reasonable people could blow off as residual effects of his abuse in captivity. But the man wants to be President. He will not make it--he ought to know that--and he ought to bow out now before he loses his whole cache under the pressure of the 2008 campaign.

Latest episode: McCain calls Senator John Cornyn of Texas "chicken [bleep]" for pointing out problems of excessive judicial appeal rights in the Immigration Bill now under consideration, claims to "know more about it than anybody" and hurls a "F___ You!" across a Senate conference room at Cornyn.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/capitol-briefing/

Perhaps a McCain vs. Hillary race would have some interesting moments. Hillary is the one on the Dem side who is thoroughly capable of similar behaviour. Anybody debating her needs to be ready to duck thrown ashtrays or whatever else she finds within reach. But I don't want the country to have to view such a spectacle. McCain needs to bugger off into retirement. He's no Ronald Reagan. If it suits their calculated aganda, the media will promote him up to the point of capturing the nomination (highly unlikely that he will, even if they go all out for him), then turn on him, exposing his dark side. He ought to realize that. So should the GOP--now--and usher him out of the limelight.

/s/ S.T.