WSJ Columnist: Is McCain Losing It?

Wall Street Journal columnist Daniel Henninger looks at John McCain's tax policy and concludes, "This isn't a flip-flop. It's a sex-change operation." He continues:

What I'm asking is, does John McCain have the mental focus, the intellectual discipline, to avoid being out-slicked by Barack Obama, if he isn't abandoned by his own voters?

...

Why as well shouldn't the Obama camp exploit all of this? If Sen. Obama's "inexperience" is Mr. McCain's ace in the hole, why not trump that by asking, "Does Sen. McCain know his own mind?"

...

Yes, Sen. McCain has honor and country. Another month of illogical, impolitic remarks and Sen. McCain will erase even that. Absent a coherent message for voters, he will be one-on-one with Barack Obama in the fall. He will lose.

The Chicago Tribune's Frank James comments: "More evidence that Sen. John McCain is giving fits to many conservatives, like those who comprise The Wall Street Journal's editorial board: they're asking aloud if he's stupid."

Comments

[obamanation31]

Correction: He never had it to loose it.

[DFutureIsNow]

You have to been sane at one point to loose it, McCain has aways been insane.

[reader110]

I think the media needs to acknowledge the real issue: John McCain is having "senior moments."

[athenasword]

The media should take a much more careful look at McSame's mental/cognitive abilities. There is a real story there. I see some degree of impairment and his mental status is a valid question. He is beyond having "senior moments". And MSM will only acknowledge them as "gaffes". The guy is getting a real pass.

[thegreatgiginthesky]

How is he losing something he never had to begin with?

[tipiglen6]

"they're asking aloud if he's stupid."
Gotta be pretty stupid to ask.

[repearwo]

Stupid, No. Human, yes. He comes from a long line of Military men who had exemplary service, he had breaking down - understandably - to torture. This is his time to redeem himself. Has he lost sight of any principles he has ever had? Probably, and most of us would as well.

Should he be President, No.

[jackstpaul]

His military service has nothing to do with this stuff. I'm sick of seeing people comment on it as if it has universal relevance. It doesn't. Serving in the military doesn't make one a superior person or American, or more patriotic or more important. Nor does it make one more ethical, moral, intelligent, trustworthy, or caring.

[athenasword]

Military service is relevant, and it does tell me something about one's character, perspective and training. It is not, however, something that instantly qualifies someone to be president. It should not be the free ticket in the door, as the media seems to think it is for J Mc Blame.

[edwarvir]

losing it did he ever have it??

[Dandrea]

This negative campaigning is a dodge for McCain --- he not only can try to secure the "the uninformed" with a bunch of lies but he can also dodge having to expose his thin intellectual portfolio.
And here's where McCain and his campaign people lose. We all can see that they sound so sophmoric, lame, and deceitful. That goes for you too, MSM. You aren't fooling us.
Nice try but it won't work this time.

[OldKnute]

Well yes,, and every attack add backfires. Americans are NOT idiots. They hear McCain Smear and Fear and run to their computers to check it out.

Guess what,, McCain has lied, stretched the truth, pulled the tiniest thing out of context and blown it all out of proportion. EACH and every time.

You know what negative Campaigning does,, It gets people reading MORE and MORE of what your opponent is saying.

Every time McCain pulls his Race Card, Gas Price Bull S**t,, thousands of People Log on to the Obama Websites. And guess what they see,,, the truth. That is not bad enough,, Once at the Obama Website,,, they STAY,, They read. They LEARN.

They stay their for HOURS!!!!

McCain is driving his people to Obama. To his websites, to his focus on the issues, Healthcare, The Economy, National Defense, Education even Job re-training. GREEN Alternatives. NER JOBS growth in the High Tech, CLEAN Wind and Solar industries. Small Business initiatives. Plans for rebuilding Infrastructure, Roads, Bridges, and the GRID.

Hell,,, LOOK here at Huffington Post,, the GREEN section has even outpaced the Media,, Gossip section.

McCain Gutter Trash attacks, Rovian FOX News tactics are not working. They are driving people to seek out the TRUTH.

Obama,,,Presumptive? MY ARSE!

McCain stompted all over the Press calling them his BASE,, Well,, the BASE,, HOME BASE,,, just got up and walked off the field.

All the best

Knute Neo-LIB

[Rog49Thomas]

You make a bold assertion "Americans are not stupid" in reference to elections.

How would you explain the election of the following:

(1) Sam Brownback
(2) Ted Stevens
(3) Rude E. Guiliani
(4) Geroge V. Allen
(5) Strom Thurmond
(6) Jesse Helms

Intelligent design? Evolution?

[jsinclair]

How does McCain do townhall meetings every week? I know not ALL the questions are planted.

How does he think on his feet for over an hour, standing on stage, without embarrassing himself?

Is the MSM just not showing us how "bad bad is"? Or is he actually able, somehow, to pull off a decent performance?

(In which case, the debates--like GWB's--may be a rude surprise for those of us who hope Obama will wipe the floor with him).

[harriscrl3]

Do you watch his townhalls just because the media doesnt report it doesnt mean that he can think on his feet or it goes very slowly there are a lot of Americans who would vote for McCain if he came into a town hall meeting in DIAPERS or a straight jacket. Thats why we are in the mess we are in and many of them are suffering. GOOD!

Carol

[rayr1763]

Havn't you seen any clips from these town hall meetings. Mr Mac of the straight talk express
can not seem to get through a single sentance with out checking his crib notes for the correct response. His answers are always stilted and disjointed. One would think that by this stage of the
game he would have those answers down pat!

[tsog]

This will last only till the debates. Obama I'm sure has to have exceptional debating skills to have made it so far in such a short time in politics. Further he went to Harvard Law, and was a top student there.

Obama is going to respectfully tear McCain apart. Obama just needs McCain to be put in a corner and get him cranky, which really shouldn't be all that hard!

[highlyamused]

Is he losing it? Oh hayell yeah he's losing it. This was an excellent article btw.

[kevingiampa]

Interesting post. I can't wait for John McCain's angry and disproportionate response.

[MadJeffersonian]

"Losing it?" Those marbles are long gone.

[ShamusNYC]

McB is starting to remind me of Mayor Quimby of the Simpsons:

"I know that I was initially opposed to the Bush tax cuts for the rich but, due to the unpopularity of that stance I am hereby flip-flopping! Now send me some money, rich folks! And I promise to try to not make any ads mocking your daughter*!"

* a weak apology to the Hiltons, maxed out donors to McCain, offended by the depiction of Paris in the attack ad. Hey, some times there are casualities - like in Iraq, soliders' lives for oil