Whether most journalists have been willing to see it or not, John McCain is not a statesman, nor has he ever been. He's a petulant bomb thrower. He's Simon Cowell in a suit.

According to one of the actual police reports documenting the charade's unraveling, Ashley Todd says she can't remember whether she mutilated her own face, or had someone else do it.

In the wake of McCain-Palin visits to North Carolina, a string of election season crimes have occurred around the state involving violence, vandalism, and harassment.

Not for nothing did McCain carry the moniker "McNasty" during his prep school years. McCain's struggle with a volcanic and unstable temper has apparently been life-long.

Palin is in the driver's seat and plans to stay there. Her take-no-prisoners nasty streak and extreme right wing views have found kindred spirits now that she's fully staffed up with veterans of Bush.