Lefty Kinda Still Likes This Guy

“What can I say?” writes left-leaning Jonathan Chait in revealing his continued affection for John McCain. “Bush has lowered my standards.” Remember, McCain was once “the country’s foremost progressive champion”—battling the religious right and tax cuts while pushing immigration and anti-global warming advances. And while the old McCain is gone—having tacked hard to the right—Chait clings to an “affinity for the old codger.”

Maybe a President McCain would revert to his more liberal self—so while the 43rd administration “is like being married to a sociopath,” the 44th will be “like being married to a drug addict—however badly he behaves, he could always sober up.” So while Chait isn't pushing for a McCain victory, he won’t flee to Canada if it’s the onetime maverick who moves to Pennsylvania Avenue.