When I think about politics, it is usually in terms of the rich tapestry or the grand game. When I write about politics, it is usually geared towards New or (often unapologetically) hyper-subjective. I hadn't thought of doing a comparative piece like this one from Maureen Dowd about the presidential candidates and their vices, but then again, I'm not a Pulitzer Prize winning New York Times columnist, either.

Recently, John McCain said of the ever-growing mortgage crisis that "...it is not the duty of government to bail out and reward those who act irresponsibly, whether they are big banks or small borrowers." Now he has changed his tune, and I think it may have to do with some highly-placed people letting him know that the whole "I don't care if you all suffer and end up homeless" message won't work well on a button or a yardcard.

With the Republican nomination decided, McCain has presumably had some time now to consider his running mate. He seems to be taking his time, and it's no wonder; there are plenty of prominent Republicans who might be considered, and none are without drawbacks.