Free Republic

The search for someone to blame for John McCain's defeat was well under way yesterday. Many fingers, not surprisingly, were pointed at Sarah Palin. Actually, the Palin scapegoating began before the polls even opened, with top McCain staffers complaining that the Alaska governor was a "diva" given to straying "off message." Nonsense. True, she turned out not to be the magic bullet Republicans had hoped for. Then again, John McCain turned out not to be the asset Republicans had hoped for. Terming his performance - and that of the campaign itself - lackluster sort of understates the case.

The presidential race entered a critical three-day period in September when the economic crisis cast the candidates' differences in sharp relief. On Sept. 24, with financial markets verging on panic and the economy thudding, Democratic Sen. Barack Obama placed a call to rival John McCain. He wanted to suggest they issue a joint statement on proposed financial-bailout legislation. As hours went by without a return call, Obama aides emailed each other, asking, "Have you heard anything?" One answered: "The McCain camp is cooking up something." Later that day, Sen. McCain went before the cameras to say he was suspending his...

Did the choice of Sarah Palin show a strong, sober mind?