The Popping of a Myth

John McCain has destroyed his personal image whether he wins the 2008 election for presidency or not. I have linked on occasion to Andrew Sullivan and Joe Klien, both of whom used to revere the man, but can no longer stomach him. Perhaps they didn't really know him, perhaps they were blinded by what they only wanted to see, perhaps McCain has really changed as much as we have seen these past few months in his craven desire to win an election, or maybe it is a little bit of all these and something things that I have missed.

Today for whatever reason seems to a watershed day for The Atlantic as James Fallows has had enough,* and Marc Ambinder mocks McCain's speech today.

Joe Klein now reads like a woman who is far enough away from a suddenly abusive spouse to really see and understand who her abuser for the first time. Today he goes after the McCain campaign with the precision black and white photographer. There is no longer any gray areas left for McCain (and Palin) to hide from Klein's camera. The first tackles the new tact of the campaign and Palin, and the second on McCain's speech is short and sweet.

And not to outdone, Rolling Stone dedicates a large chunk of their current issue to McCain entitled "Make-Believe Maverick." The online version includes additional web only features.


_John

*Sullivan on Fallows today: "I'm afraid that Jim is dealing with what we're all dealing with: the fact that the myth we had of McCain is, in fact, a lie. The real McCain - dishonest, dishonorable and despicable - is now in plain sight. To say I'm disillusioned would be an understatement. The last six weeks have shown us all something we'd rather never have found out. But we can't ignore it now, can we?"

image: "Pop cloud 1" from AMagill