I didn't write this letter, but I think it's excellent and articulates what I am hearing from people around me. Link.

"Early McCain supporter says straight talk is gone

I supported John McCain in 2000 because of his generous spirit, willingness to reach across the aisle to Democrats to get things done and as then the most qualified to react to the various coming world crises, in supporting much needed reforms of the political system and the money driving it, and above all his straight talk and common sense. Then in 2004 I supported him for his calling a halt to the barbs traded between Sen. John Kerry and President Bush over their respective military history, or the lack of it, as well as his criticism on both sides on the race for the White House.

However, what we are seeing now is a man who has sold his soul to the devil, so to speak, to get elected. He has become mean-spirited, venal and unfair, has listened to bad advice, has become the very person in the very system he once decried, has become erratic in the positions he is taking especially on the economy, made an extremely poor judgment of Palin for his veep, and has otherwise lost the persona he once was.

What is worse is that when he returns to the Senate after losing the election, as seems evident now, he will never again be received in the same spirit of good faith and fair-dealing, as was his hallmark, accorded to him by his fellow senators on both sides of the aisle. As bad as this is, he will undoubtedly be treated by history with ignominy.

An American tragedy unfolds."

I've almost never agreed with McCain's politics and positions as I'm further left in the political spectrum, but I did have great respect for the man. He had his ideals, believed in his positions, knew what was wrong at what was right, and really did talk pretty straight about things (as straight as any politician can talk about anything). He was above the political games and dirty tricks and called out others for taking part. He cautioned about extremism, even in his own party. He was a maverick and I was sad to see him get torn down by Bush in 2000.

But somewhere along the line I believe McCain gave up on all of that, taking bad advice, abandoning his ideals and falling in with those he warned aout. He became a pitch man for Bush in 2004, seemingly forgiving him for his behavior 4 years earlier (see South Carolina). Party loyalty is one thing, but going to bat for a guy who embodies much of what you decry in politics made me question how strongly McCain was holding to his ideals. Then came the courtship of the fringe religious right - how was a guy warning about the dangers of Jerry Fallwell suddenly speaking at Bob Jones University? Again, abandonment of ideals.

Forward to today and I see a guy willing to do whatever it takes to win, character and ideals be damned - look at many of the fact check organizations and you'll see much of what he is saying over and over again is either outright false or completely misleading (not to mention that they're generally non-issues). Stunts like suspending his campaign to work on the financial crisis. Trying to get milage out of the Bill Ayers thing and whipping up rabid red state crowds with dubious claims of guilt by association (note to McCain - these peopple are going to vote for you anyway, and the tactic actually hurts you with the undecideds you need). McCain knows better than that, but he rufuses to distance himself from it. He's embraced the tactics of the people who worked him over in 2000. It is sad to see.

I had put McCain in the same class of leader as Colin Powell - both knew their beliefs and stuck to them. It is obvious to me that Powell got used by Bush and when he stepped back and looked at things he knew he had to leave so he's gone. McCain made the opposite decision - if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

I'd feel much better about this campaign if I knew that even if the candidate I support didn't win I'd still have a a man of character I respected in the White House, but that's not the case. I honestly feel that McCain has abandoned everything to win and I can't respect that.

I am in 100% agreement with you.

If it makes you feel any better, Obama has also changed since I started supporting him. Its sucks and I hate it. At the moment I still plan to vote for him though. But man it just pisses me off. And I'm not sure if I should be mad at him or the democratic process.

I think it is the process. In an ideal world you can stick to principles and ideals, be a maverick, shake things up and still win, but hat doesn't seem to be the case. You need to have the backing of your party, hence McCain's support of Bush in 2004. You need to have the support of your base, hence McCain's willingness to speak at Bob Jones, say things social conservatives like and pick Palin as a running mate. You can't always play nice, hence McCain's tactic of trying to question Obama's character while the financal system is burning to the ground. I get these things - this is the political reality, but it doesn't mean I like it at all.

Like I said earlier, I'd much prefer the race today if the candidates could actually stick to their ideals, but that's simply a pipe dream - its not the way things work.

I would say it's the process. To be elected, it seems candidates try to make all of the people happy all of the time. The only way they can do that is to lie through their teeth and support ideas that they fundamentally don't agree with. If they don't they'll never win, because you can bet the other guy (or gal) will promise everything to everyone. So he'll sway voters his way with false promises.

In many ways, I would say this is why the 3rd party candidates will never do well. They're too honest and don't try and make everyone happy. So what happens? They become marginalized.

Perhaps it's a necessary evil. Perhaps its the problem with this country. But, like it or not, no one is getting elected unless they pander, adopt both more moderate and extremist views, and lie.

I understand and blame the process. It's a sad state of affairs that the media and the voters seem to get caught up in the bull sh-- such as "THEY PUT AN UGLY PHOTO OF OUR CANDIDATE ON THE COVER" to "HE HIDES UNDER YOUR KIDS' BEDS AND BITES THEIR ANKLES IN THE MORNING". Crap. Meanwhile, Rome burns. Good candidates in this country never get a fair shake because they're homely, or they don't speak well, or they don't dignify mudslinging with a response and people therefore believe the lies.

Consider what Obama's doing: he's a black man, product of a "broken home", and a Democrat, running for President. The mere fact that he has so far been able to walk such a fine line and manage his campaign without falling into the same cesspool that McCain has? Pretty incredible given that he is on paper a longshot.

Anyway, I have a lot more trust and faith in him than McCain.

You forgot to mention running against the least popular administration in memory, and vs a less than stellar candidate. If this was Hilary, she'd be up by 15%. Let's not kid ourselves - if Obama was down by 5%, he'd be in the cesspool too.

You don't know that any more than I do. Obama is smart enough to know that Americans are sick of the cesspool. He's also smart enough to know that any lead is never enough - the only one that matters is the one that delivers the election.

I cannot imagine Hillary being up by 15% against any Republican, even McPalin with his very bad campaign. Of course if Hillary was the nominee then we would probably have been spared the Palin debacle - McCain would have picked Huckabee or some other evangelical poster boy.

I'm not sold on Obama as president...but it's hard to dispute what his campaign means for the country, win or lose.

Hell, if either one's elected, it's precedent-setting. We either get a black man as president, or a woman as VP. And really, despite all the BS about "racist" and "sexist" comments...I have yet to see anyone really make this election about race or gender. It's rather refreshing.

Give it time. Still 25 days left.

And BTW, come join LA and I on the Obama express. CHOO CHOO!! ALL ABOARD!!! for the change we deserve!! (deer in headlights look ) I'm a believer!!

To paraphrase:

"I liked McCain before, because he was willing to sell out the conservative base of the party in order to 'get things done' the way the opposition would like them done. Because he won't do that now (or says he won't), I don't like him any more."

Don't be so small. Please do send it. I'm sure he's waiting with bated breath to hear YOUR views on anything.

What a dumbass you are - the letter was already published. Nice knee-jerk reaction. Maybe next time you ought to be more thorough.

Pot - meet kettle: "Thoughts on McCain, The letter I'd wanted to write". You've a great command of English by the way.

Maybe you should write him a position paper and advocate he espouse more of your dumb-ass liberal ideas so he'd be more to your liking. What a presumptive ass you are giving advice to the nominee of the party you despise. There's one socialist running for President and that's one too many for me.