Given the pathetic show he's been making of himself, I have to say that it's about time he acknowledged reality and moved on.

While it's somewhat sad to watch someone so badly out of touch with reality, I have to confess that I'm relieved we don't have to put up with more blather about his "maverick" status and his "straight talk," reputations that were wholly unwarranted when you actually examined his record.

Hey, why doesn't McCain just order a surge? It's worked so well for us in Iraq....

Now we just have to put up with Giuliani's "America's mayor," Romney's "broad shoulders," and Thompson's "manly odor." Sigh... So much for political discourse.

McCain knows how to appeal to Wall Street money: "See, see! I'm cutting payroll." Somehow, I don't think his stock is going up.

About six months ago I predicted the pro-war candidates would be ignored by the electorate of either major party. McCain's only hope now is that something bad happens to him in Iraq this week. I hope the other people he takes into harm's way will not suffer the consequences.

While I have lost a lot of respect for McCain in the way he has sucked up to the worst elements of his party, he is the only Republican canidate I have any respect for. McCain is the only major Republican candidate who has any respect for habeas corpus and is anti torture - in fact, eloquent on that. Maybe one of the others will be more easily defeated (maybe), the discourse is lessened by McCain's decline.

While I have lost a lot of respect for McCain in the way he has sucked up to the worst elements of his party, he is the only Republican canidate I have any respect for. McCain is the only major Republican candidate who has any respect for habeas corpus and is anti torture - in fact, eloquent on that. Maybe one of the others will be more easily defeated (maybe), the discourse is lessened by McCain's decline.

McCain >"Why in the world would I want to do that?"

Hmmm, maybe to show you aren`t totally disconnected from reality ?

“You would label it cynicism-as if that proved it wrong.� - Robert A. Heinlein

It's not over until McCain quotes Mark Twain: "Reports of my death are greatly exagerated." Once he says that, it's over.

John McCain cavorted with the anti-Christ (GW) as did Colin Powell; and not unlike Colin Powell his career is destroyed. Cheney (Satan) gets rich, feeds the anti-Christ his marching orders and drags all around him, including the entire country, down the deep abyss to Hell.

The good ol' USA is truly going to Hell :-(

Interesting that you mention McCain and Powell in this way, Brian. Not too long ago, Chris Matthews wondered aloud whether there is anyone whose reputation has been enhanced by working in the Bush administration or supporting the Bush administration. He couldn't think of anyone, and neither can I.

The geriatric leper needs to go home to Arizona and tell his grandchildren war stories.

"About six months ago, John McCain was not only the presumptive favorite to win the Republican presidential nomination..."

Oh gosh, only at sites like this and in the press was this hackneyed response uttered. I don't have ANY Republican friends who would even consider this cat worthy of their vote, politically speaking. I'd go to combat with this man by my side but I sure wouldn't vote him.

What about Ron Paul?

A couple weeks ago all the RonBots were boasting how he was going to out raise McCain in Q2 and replace him as a first tier candidate.

So howda he do? Surely the Libernuttians didn't exaggerate their claim, did they?

Small chance--small, but not a trivial one--that McCain is hoping to die bravely in Iraq and put himself of the misery his selling out of his original supporters and principles has put him in. Slightly better chance, but still small, that going to Iraq and mysteriously having an epiphany of some sort about the failure of the war will allow him to reverse course, quit his failed presidential campaign and try to save the soldiers trapped in Iraq.

Or, most likely he will continue to slip stupidly into the stinking morass of oblivion and humiliation he created for himself. There is no one else to blame.

John, what happened?

You were the man. You were independent and we praised you. Dubya screwed you in S. Carolina with the whole black bastard baby smear and we stood by you. Then, WTF, you stood by Dubya. You disowned us. You went to Regent. You made a pact with the devil. My god!? Did I ever even know you?

Berken,

You raise a possibility I had never considered. John McCain has a death wish. He'll just keep going to Iraq and walking through danger zones until he's finally blown up.

Wake up John. You'll never be considreed a mayrter. (However you spell it). You just don't have the Jesus mojo. If you blew, we'd all go, "Wow. What the hell was he thinking?" If you think that your wreckless behaviour will result in any outcry of American opinion over the middle-east, please, bring Joe Lieberman with you.

Disputo,

Our wager (which you never took me up on) was that Paul would have more cash on hand at the end of Q2 than McCain.

McCain has just announced $2 million. Paul has not announced yet but it looks like you were smart not to take my bet. Paul will announce $4-5 million and surprise a lot of folks...numbers must be announced by July 15.

As one who has longed believed that McCain would be the nominee, I must now admit that he is toast. The war in Iraq had damaged him but not beyond repair, but the immigration fiasco was not only the final nail in his coffin, but basically a spike through the heart.

McCain never had a shot too begin with....he's too old. Reagan was the oldest man ever elected and he was only 68.