Who?

I am entirely disappointed with the current state of affairs in this presidential race. If trends continue, we are about to introduced to a whole slew of individuals few of us (at least of my generation) have ever heard of. We've already heard of William Ayers and now Charles Keating.

Here's a list of potentials we may here more about (some of whom have already been brought up):
Jeremiah Wright
John Hagee
Rod Parsley
G. Gordon Liddy
Antoin Rezko
Phil Gramm

It is sad that it has come to this. Politically, it is clear that McCain needed to do something to change the trends. Politically, it is also clear that the Democrats will not allow what happened to Dukakis and Kerry happen again - they will fight back hard and fast. I don't think either side can argue that this kind of trash is helpful for the country, in fact they argued against it just a few months ago. Whatever one's political persuasion, I also think it's hard to deny that McCain is responsible for heading down this road (a move which I think is likely to backfire as it does not support his "character" argument). While political necessity can never justify these attacks, it does offer an explanation, however disappointing.

Mathew Yglesias, in an article entitled, Obama, Ayers, and Guilt by Association, does a great job highlighting the perils of such attacks along with the faulty logic of guilt by association. I also think he makes a great point about those who were active during the Vietnam Era,

The truth is that the Vietnam era was a time of political extremism in the United States. And part of the way that era was brought to a close was by turning away from efforts to banish the extremists from public life. Segregationist politicians went on chairing their congressional committees. Black Panthers ran for congress and won. Liddy got a radio show and Ayers became a professor.

If the blast from the past continues, many will once again feel the Presidential election is a choice between the lesser of two evils. Lets hope tomorrow's debate will return to the issues and that Americans might actually have a chance of choosing the "better of two goods."

For McCain's sake, I hope he chooses to take the high road. The recent Rolling Stone article, Make-Believe Maverick, does not paint a pretty picture of John Sidney McCain III. I don't expect perfection in a Presidential candidate and I for one wouldn't hold his past flaws against him. However, there is always a choice to put your best foot forward or your worst. It would seem McCain is choosing the latter as his decision to start these attacks is far too similar to the worst parts of his character and history.

Whatever the case, it will be very interesting to see how tomorrow night's debate plays out.