On the California Dems blog, Party Line, a talented writer, Kevin Smith, takes on the myth, In Depth: When a Maverick is Just an Elephant:

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During McCain’s acceptance speech he said, “And let me offer an advance warning to the old, big-spending, do-nothing, me-first, country-second Washington crowd: Change is coming.”

Excuse me Senator, that “old, big-spending, do-nothing, me-first, country-second Washington crowd” is YOU. YOU have been in Congress for 25 YEARS, 17 of which were led by YOUR party. You’ve had ample time to quit your party in protest of its “old, big-spending, do-nothing, me-first, country-second Washington crowd” ways. But you didn’t. You sought out its nomination for President not once, but twice. And your party selected you. How different can you be?
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I encourage you to read the entire article.