Pardon me as I cry my eyes out for poor, conflicted, soul-selling John McCain.

But apparently that guilt doesn't actually stop him from doing it. No brownie points allowed.

Thanks to Chait for the link, if not the comments. In my view, this interview is a triumph for McCain over an attempted hatchet-job by an expert.

Really and truly, fuck the media. They, and I mean most but not all of them, are cosmopolitan exploiters of popular passions and foibles. Clearly no psychiatrist, Chait at least provides another excuse to ask, "where is the military at the Democratic Convention?"

Biden shouldn't be expected to bring up the fact that his son is being deployed to Iraq, and we shouldn't be put in the position of having to organize a missing persons investigation for Jim Webb.

I followed the link and tried to figure out why McCain was in such a surly mood.  Imagine my surprise at learning that the reporters were actually invited to speak with McCain, and then treated to this cold, uncooperative, grouchiness.  

I thought Robert Powell had left a comment here criticizing the reporters for an attempted hatchet job - as I suppose an excuse for McCain's attitude.  But nothing in the piece suggests that the reporters did anything provocative, beyond asking interesting questions.  McCain just comes across very badly for someone who should be in a better mood judging by recent polls.  I think Mr Chait has a point - McCain must hate the fact that he has sold his soul to win.

Neil

If John McCain feels so bad about selling his soul to win, he should say so. It would be so "maverick," so, "straight-talk" of him to do so.

I'm not going to give him the benefit of pop-psychology that redeems him.  He can redeem himself by doing any number of things, probably starting by stopping his pathetic, undignified attacks on the patriotism of his opponent and his opponent's wife. John McCain feels bad that if he loses he'll be remembered as the guy who sold out every principle and race-baited. And if he wins, he won't care. That attitude is not worthy of redemption.

Bob:  If you hate the media so much, why are you reading this stuff?  

Those questions weren't part of a hatchet job - they were almost softballs. "Define 'honor'"? McCain should have been all over that. He could easily have answered each question with something anodyne and everyone would have been happy. Instead, he looks guilty (to Jon Chait) or just downright crabby (to me).

I suspect that's not guilt. He simply refuses to acknowledge the obvious: He's resorted to a brainless, cornball campaign that's long on notions of "honor" and "victory" but short on details or substance. I'd hate having to admit as much, too.

But hey, did you guys know McCain was a POW?

ooo oooo touchy touchy from the self proclaimed Last Honorable Man -

What a phony.

Ooooh, barnacle.  I LOVE the suggestion that McCain talk about his guilt for turning into a lying, convictionless vote whore.  Very meta.

Where's the guilt?  He just comes across as an asshole.  "What's your name?" "Read the book."  Wtf?

"My friends, it's time for a little straight talk: I've sold out every conviction I have in order to win the presidency. I've embraced principles and people I previously despised and, my friends, I've exploited my time as a POW that I once described as personal because you and the media lap it up. I'm a whore for power and, will do everything, including subtle race-baiting, to become president because I feel it is owed to me."

Not going to happen, drdannyu.