I have been listening to recent John McCain speeches, and he has been sounding increasingly grumpy and bitter. Indeed, it has rubbed off on his surrgogates who have become increasingly hysterial with comparisons of Obama to Hitler. McCain's speeches with his thin lipped smiles often seem like he is on the verge of blowing up. Of course, hardly a day goes by without a gaffe that is explained away as a senior moment.
The question is, and continues to be, why the free pass. Five years ago, Howard Dean was the angry man who was inclined to say what was on his mind at any given moment. Yet, rather than welcome such impulsiveness as Howard Dean being a maverick, Big Media jumped down Howard Dean's throat as a caricature of an angry man. Indeed, the angry man references were specifically raised with respect to Howard Dean's fitness to be President. Yet, no such criticism is being leveled against John McCain. Instead, the press continues to focus on whether Obama is fit to be president, and when Obama actually does act presidential, the MSM jumps on his case for being presumptuous.
Time Article on Howard Dean in 2003:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1005236,00.html