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I think McCain actually believed he would get better treatment from the gatekeepers in the MSM if he were to demonstrate his independent bona fidas as he has over the past few years. Kinda like the kid who stands by while a friend gets pummeled, hoping the pummelers will remember that he once shared his lunch money with them.

Well, the left doesn't operate that way - they are in this to win as big as they can possibly manage.

I can't imagine why McCain wouldn't have seen it coming. I guess too many parties in the Senate cloak room with uncle Teddy has clouded his perspective.

That’s exactly what the feeling I have is Skeeter. First, what in the hell was that statement he made about Teddy in his opening debate remark?! Who’s he trying to please? A liberal? I do admire a lot of what McCain has done to reach across the aisle, but he’s left his seat entirely, he sitting in the middle of the aisle and the right is pissed, I don’t blame them one bit. This Ifill deal is huge, they have to pull out of the debate IMO, reschedule it or something, Palin needs a fair platform to either sink or swim. Not fair what she’ll face tonight.

I guess too many parties in the Senate cloak room with uncle Teddy has clouded his perspective.

Since you mentioned his name...

I'm hoping that some of this hyper-partisanship goes away with the passing of Kennedy.

If I recall correctly, it was Kennedy who first thought up the strategy of filibustering judicial appointments.

I think Kennedy was a strong factor in flipping Jim Jeffords (Kennedy regained control of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, moving Jeffords to another committee -- health care being Kenned's passion), which threw the Senate into chaos and forced a power-sharing arrangement.

I remember back in 2001 watching the late-night debate over power-sharing, especially with the Senate Intelligence Committee and Democrat demands to have their own staff and budget for the first time. I remember Hatch making speeches, Kennedy making speeches, Daschle making speeches.

I just have this feeling that Ted Kennedy was a catalyst for much of the Democrat hardball that emerged in the late 1990s until now, and I hope some of that passes with Kennedy.

-PJ