It's Thursday 28th August, 2008 and John McCain wants a Diversion.

[denem]

He got it. Duh. And he needs another today, tomorrow, day in, day out, till Tuesday 4th November 2008. "What do you talk about when you have nothing to say?" as Senator Biden put it. Indeed.

What I am struck by is not McCain's last pick, but his first, his very good friend: Joe Lieberman who would have created an equal, if not bigger sensation on Friday the 29th. A fully vetted sensation for that matter. I can see the play: Post Partisan, Strong on Defense, Experienced, brings in Florida etc. etc.

What I find amazing is that this was Plan A - McCain's plan A, for months. Remodel the American political landscape with Joe Lieberman. McCain only gave up when threatened with a huge open revolt on the conference floor. But before that, our friend would have been bombarded with comprehensive intelligence that Lieberman would be a catastrophe for the GOP, faced down red faced advisers, blizzards of calls, emails, polls, you name it.

John McCain only backed off when the delegate gun was placed straight between his eyes. And that is why John McCain must not hold the office of President of the United States: He wants to hold all the guns, and he's lost it.

[Wetzelbill]

1. awesome analysis nt

[denem]

2. Thank you. I'm hoping I've made a fundamental error somewhere.

[Boz]

3. Sort of Palin was plan Q and Joe was plan R

She was an earlier Plan to combat Hillary, she got kicked to the back when she lost the primary, but was resurrected in July by the same Oil concerns that had John McCain change his stance publicly in Las Vegas in late July.

It as good analysis but more info is now leaking out that show it was a different plan for a number of weeks, before he named her.

Still didn't vet her, none the less

[denem]

4. ??? Lieberman WAS Plan A

I've never seen a single report that indicates anything else. After giving up on Joe, he played around for a week before settling on Palin.

[Boz]

5. Palin was originally planned as far back as February on a limited basis

But that was to combat a Hillary opponent. When she lost the primary and Obama became the opponent Palin was dropped to way back plan and Joe rose hence the Foreign relations angle that started to take hold, but Palin returned to a possibility in late July with pressure from the guy that bought the plane that was on ebay but didnt sell on ebay.

McCain immediately shifted to his drilling rhetoric that day and attacking Obama as a celebrity and all foreign relations and experience dropped off of his campaign.

That was July 26-30th

[denem]

6. She was on the list - lots of people were, but Joe was on the top..

I've seen nothing to the contrary.

[denem]

7. The point am making stands. McCain had to be dragged kicking and screaming

away from a suicidal choice for the GOP. Lieberman. Anyone with all their marbles would have taken Lieberman off the list long long ago.

[opihimoimoi]

8. McAnus is a LIAR and a CAD

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBq1UYA--pA&feature=related

Blind Ambition is a bad sign

[opihimoimoi]

10. dupe

[denem]

12. ...

[Honeycombe8]

9. He proved that he will do not what he thinks is best, but what his party tells him to do....

He'll do what his party tells him to do for political reasons.

Sound familiar? It's Bush all over again, doing what Cheney tells him to do (and sometimes just getting out of the way so Cheney can do it).

Eight is enough.

[denem]

11. Lieberman was suicide - but that's what he thought was best

Yes he caved in: he was forced away from lunacy. In the oval office he would be unfettered. He was convinced the surge would work - cut him some slack. He was convinced Lieberman was the best VP - nuts.