Thanks for a good read.  I am no apologist for McCain, but let me play the devil's advocate here.  McCain has met lobbyists and written letters in support of friends being investigated by regulators.  He has received contributions and favours from business interests, some of which have later turned out to have been guilty of fraud.  That puts him on about on a par with many politicians worldwide who are dependent on business contributions to fund their electoral campaigns.

He has used racist terminology against a people some of whom tortured him.  He has supported the war in Iraq despite all the evidence that it has failed on almost every conceivable measure.  He is known to have a temper and a vindictive streak.  That puts him about on a par with many conservative Americans.

All of this makes him a questionable candidate for the Presidency, but how does this add up to your statement that:
European Tribune - Comments - The Book of John McCain: a Life of Thinly Veiled Opportunism

I have rarely detested someone in my life as much as I detest John McCain.

By all means oppose his politics, but did your meeting with the Barman make all of this personal?

"It's a mystery to me - the game commences, For the usual fee - plus expenses, Confidential information - it's in my diary..."

I think McCain is too deeply flawed as a person to be elected dog-catcher, let alone as a Senator. But then again, in the modern republican party e fits in just fine.

My concern is that 2008 will see a repeat of the 2000 election where the republican is a demonstrably deeply flawed person whose record is blatantly ignored by the tradmed whilst they invent slurs and innuendoes against the democrat.

Obama is gonna get buried in muslim sliming, Rev Wright smears and 1001 other lies and inventions whilst McCain's  record will receive no investigation whatsoever.

I thnk a free and fair election is impossible in such a climate, the tradmed make it impossible.

keep to the Fen Causeway