I'll admit it: better than I thought...

I admit it: John McCain did far better in last night's debate than I gave him credit for in a recent post.

It's obvious he has had a long career (never denied this).

It's obvious he understands the complexities of the world (never denied this either).

But it's also obvious he's cranky, sarcastic, dismissive, and completely wrong for the role of POTUS. He wouldn't even look Obama in the eyes. What's that about?

For the last eight years we've had a stuffed shirt in the job: a clueless, fumbling, bumbling, dufuss who seems more content with correctly pronouncing the name of a head of state than with saying anything with any substance. His one "moment" was immediately after 9/11, and he had my respect and admiration, but he then just kept opening his mouth and inserting not just his feet, but the feet of all those around him who had anything to do with the policy BS he was spouting. It's completely clear we need someone in this position who has gravitas, heft, and substance. We don't need a weenie, and the new John McCain is a weenie.

No, I'm not resorting to ad hominems. Look back at my previous posts: I've liked and respected the guy for a long time. But I have to clearly state the problem with the new John McCain.

The old John McCain, the one who stood up to --- but was ultimately savaged and ruined by --- the Rovian Machine in the 2000 campaign was a good man, a straight-talker, and a consistent, steady person for whom I could have voted. But now, he's a pandering, grumpy, rude, mean-spirited, disrespectful, angry curmudgeon who wears his lack of congeniality like a tie, who makes irascibility a point of pride.

He's perfect as senator and, as such, is where he should remain, and you've only to look at the quality of his recent decisions to see he lacks the temperament needed to accede to higher office. His ready-fire-aim style is not the level-headed strategy we need. He should not be given the job of representing the US to the rest of the world.

This isn't the wild west. We've had a clueless cowboy for eight years and look where it got us; therefore, we don't need a maniac maverick (a wanna-be cowboy) for even another eight hours.

This isn't an international pissing contest, John, so put it back in your pants.