Don't be too hard on McCain. His campaign is forced by political necessity to use the nasty, divisive, and derisive approach they've used. It's not like they can run on his record (which is mediocre) or his policy stands (most of which changed for the campaign).

Of course, even if he had a good record and consistent stands, he's handicapped by his campaign staff, Rove-wannabees who simply wouldn't have a clue about how to run a campaign that's not nasty, divisive, and derisive.

I have never had any intention of voting Republican one way or the other. After eight dark years of GOP fascism, that would be simply irresponsible.

However, I have always been sympathetic to Mr. McCain and felt he was, at the very least, a decent and honorable man. Which is why I find it so painful to see what he has allowed himself to become. He has truly sold his soul for a chance at the Presidency. Whatever respect I may have had for the man has been decisively obliterated.

Has he become so blind with brazen, grotesque ambition that he simply doesn't care that he's defecating upon every principle in which he used to claim to believe?

Has McCain no sense of shame left, whatsoever?

I could respect McCain (respect, not agree with) if he had picked Lieberman as his VP candidate. But this election has turned into the biggest farce in my 54-year life. If McCain has two faces, it's a psychotic break. Is this the lesson he learned in South Carolina? What, exactly, can we expect if these two are elected? We have no way of knowing, but my expectations are very low indeed.

Why does this story not surprise me? He has only been honorable and noble when being so directly contradicts those around him. He has always had a nasty streak and bad temper. He can't be honorable and noble now because that spot is already taken by both Obama and Biden.

I'm confused about where this admiration for the "honorable" McCain comes from. As far as I can tell, it's a product of the treatment McCain has received by the same media who now waxes disillusioned by his dishonest campaign. But what justified this treatment in the first place? Great barbecue?

Yes, with the help of democrats McCain introduced some decent campaign finance legislation. The long-standing determination of his platform by lobbyists--including, terrifyingly enough, those with ties to Blackwater--amply demonstrates that he never intended to live up to the spirit of this law. And, yes, George Bush was mean to him once. Why does this somehow confer "honor" on McCain forever after?

I'm as educated as I am about John McCain's actual behavior thanks largely to Joe Conason's reporting. What is going on?

So now we know that there are not really two McCains, one good and one bad. There is only one McCain, and he has two faces.

And you're just NOW figuring this out? Jeez, Joe, I thought you were smarter than that.

As their numbers start trailin'...

Well...

maybe if the US Press had done its job in the first place and not turned into an extension of the Obama Campaign he would not have had to resort to these extremes.

But people like you, Joe Conason, turned the US Press into nothing more than Obama's cheerleaders. So, guess what? I applaud McCain's new tactics. For our democratic system to work the the way it was designed the Press needs to be an impartial and honest broker. But that "sacred trust" was betrayed a long time ago. And, believe me, 90% of Americans agree.

And so here we stand. You reap what you sow. I know that most of what is said in these ads are false or stretch the truth. Do I care? No. Whatever it takes, baby. Whatever it takes. Obama will lose in November. And Obama Nation deserves it.

From reading John McCain's biography, I always got the picture of a spoiled brat with a Napolean-complex who would do whatever it took to get what he wanted.

Apparently, my earlier view of McCain has not changed, as Gramps has shown himself to be divisive, mean-spirited, and dishonorable.

It'll take a lot more than what you've got in your born insecure ass, you can believe that.

I'll see you here after election day and we'll see who eats crow. I know that I won't hide. You, on the other hand...

Karl Rove is single-handedly responsible for plotting some of the lowest points in this country's trajectory of the last few decades. That covers everything from 2004 vote manipulation, to politicizing Katrina's struggling recovery, to the vile personal lies he circulated about McCain in 2000. Rove (and Cheney) are as close to pure devildom as we have in our midst.

The fact that Rove is now on McCain's payroll is the only thing you have to know - McCain is a lost soul, a two-faced liar and a walking tragedy. And he will carry the devils right back into the White House with him, should we be that unfortunate.

The fact that Palin is tacitly acceptable to Rove is all you need to know about her.

But it's ok with you that the Obama campaign used all of Rove's patented methods (and the helping hand of Limbaugh) to win the primary, isn't it? As long as it benefits you, it's ok. Hypocrites.

In our very strange and wacky world, comprehensive sex education for six year olds might be a really, really good idea.

In many places and many cultures around the world, mommy and daddy don't have the luxury of having their own room to do the baby making - in those places and those cultures sex education is not anymore necessary than learning how to drink water or eat food. This is something they don't worry about. It's getting food and clean water that they worry about.

"Western Culture" is soooooo decadent.

As everybody likes to say now: Just sayin'.

Now that's just silly - you know you don't believe that. But don't let that stop you from posting more nonsense, if that's your job. Man's gotta make a living.