This is McCain on Drugs

McCain was on MTP this morning. He seemed to be trying to hard to appear to calm--perhaps to somehow evade upcoming charges related to "anger?"- but also seemed so lifeless and numbed that, as compared to the McCain of 2000, he almost seemed medicated.

Now: I am not a supporter of his policy positions, but I have also never bought into the "McCain rages" and related imprecations about mental instability that have been bandied about in the past--this seemed to me to be typical Swift-Boat- style nonsense.

I'm sure that he wears the scars of his imprisonment, and that he likely can be demanding and sometimes intemperate, but its easy to distort those qualities--common in politicians--into more vivid and politically useful ones. He seems aware of the effects of his past, and, moreover, they previously have appeared to be reflected in his resilience and clear-sightedness, a sense of what is important, and his genuine sense of humor.

That's why this markedly underwhelming appearance is really shocking. He seems tired, slightly slower on the uptake. Is it intent or age?

Also, incidentally: if Russert said "Dr. Dobson" one more time, my head was going to explode.