The Beginning of the End

... of the McCain campaign, that is. Hopefully not the financial infrastructure. I happen to disagree with McCain's critics that claim he wanted to avoid debating Obama. McCain in fact had called for more debates than Obama would agree to. So I don't think he's running scared. But I think he is definitely trying to cut a dramatic image of a reformer who would put Country-Above-Politics®. By rushing off to Washington, he wants to burnish his image as someone who is in fact profoundly aware of the significance of the current crisis and try to undo some of the damage from his infamous statement last week that the fundamentals of the economy "are strong."

But I think McCain's histrionic performance probably marks the beginning of the end for his campaign. The wheels are coming off. And he continues to demonstrate he doesn't think that Palin is up to the job of assuming a more prominent role in his campaign: she is to be seen and not heard. I have a funny feeling that right about now senator McCain is regretting passing up a vice-presidential running mate with real economic chops (farewell, Mitt, we hardly knew ye...) in favor of Ms. Moose-Kill-Eye-Candy.