has the author even PAID ATTENTION to politics?
AMNESTY?
Tax Hikes?
Voting AGAINST the federal marriage amendment? (especially important since the NY state appeals court has now endorsed homosexual marriage in NY state this week)
Simple. McCain was a junior Senator who was caught in a huge scandal. He was toast unless he could build a new image. If he were a strong conservative, the press would butcher him. He realized he could coddle the media by becoming the "Republican who was Anti-Republican and Pro-Democrat."
He became a national treasure to the media, and they rebuilt his name under a new mantle--independent, strong, principled, blah, blah.
Of couse, once it's him agaist the dim, it will be a new story. His friends in the media will dredge it all up and the ignorant dummies who ar now voting for McCain won't be able to recognize him in this new and very negative light.
Finally, when the inevitable spit and sputter melt down of McCain occurs, that will be an enduring image for Republicns who made him their nominee.