From Rich Lowry at National Review:

McCain earned his chops as the media’s favorite Republican senator by being a maverick, or in a less exalted formulation, a gadfly. He pursued pet causes inimical to his party, such as campaign-finance reform, and made it his role to tell fellow Republicans what he considered hard truths.

None of this endeared him to Republican primary voters. He won the nomination anyway on the basis of his admirable support for the surge (adopted when he was in typical gadfly mode) and a few stock lines. He became the Republican nominee by default, without an organization or fundraising operation to speak of, and soon enough lost the press, too.

McCain’s rapport with the media depended on snarky banter about his own party and about himself. That couldn’t continue in the general election, so McCain’s campaign cut him off. His lifeline to his former admirers denied to him, McCain became a demonstrably unhappy warrior.

Rich like Chris Muir’s political cartoon above is absolutely RIGHT. McCain was never the favorite of conservatives or even the GOP base for the Republican Party Presidential nomination. Rudy Giuliani’s personal baggage sunk his candidacy while Mitt Romney’s flip-flops did him in. Mike Huckabee was never a serious contender but a spoiler for the Mormon Romney. Fred Thompson did not have the energy to mount a strong campaign.

McCain became the easy default candidate.

McCain’s selection of Sarah Palin has energized the vast right-wing conspiracy base and is a portent for the coming renewal of the Republican Party. New, accomplished and younger GOP candidates will burst upon the scene in the next few years while the “old soldier” candidates fade away.

A new generation of candidates who will support the Republican Party and not be gadflies will lead the party from the wilderness of 2006 and 2008.

John McCain made his name in national politics by being the “MAVERICK” to his own Republican party. However, McCain is being hoisted up by his own petard in this Presidential race.

It is much easier being a “MAVERICK” than to actually work with your party and stand for something. Hence, Obama’s lead in the polls – among other things.

Flap reflects that should of , could of, would of Rudy Giuliani come clean about his personal baggage and had the economy been more of an issue, Giuliani would have won the New Hampshire primary and gone on to be the GOP nominee. Rudy would have been a far more credible candidate on the economy and domestic policy.

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