After watching the Saddlebrook forum and reading Frank Rich's column in th NY Times this past Sunday (URL below) my thoughts have clarified a bit more about the issue of John McCain's so called "readiness" for office - namely that he's not up to it, in terms of approach to problems (shoot from the hip and let the chips fall where they may), and temperament (anger & impulsiveness). The MSM are not going to emphasize these points so Sen. Obama and the campaign must. The VP candidate must be picked ASAP, must have foreign policy experience, and must be an intelligent "attack dog". Joe Biden or Wesley Clark fit the bill. McCain has to be held to account. The message should be that John McCain doesn't have the right temperament to be president. McCain must be called out on his campaign of slogans by making him and his supporters cite details. Obama and his supporters  must, from here to Nov. 4th, expose the emptiness of the McCain message in a very specific manner. McCain is wide open on Social Security, the economy & health care, as well as a lack of a viable conservation strategy within the energy issue. His impulsive anger is dangerous. Even his Republican colleagues are concerned about this. He can't just be allowed to say " I know how to "fix" this, or "I know how to win that...." Tell us how John, not just stories and anecdotes. We're not electing a great uncle, we're electing a President. My bet is that his answers will be lacking.
 
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/17/opinion/17rich.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&ref=opinion&adxnnlx=1219032771-fr5DAMqB8MslZO952LWJGQ 
 
Another article from no less than the Wall Street Journal Online Network - MarketWatch recently written by their Washington Bureau Chief.
 
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/story.aspx?guid=%7B4914192B-12AF-4623-AB18-5EFE91204B04%7D&print=true&dist=printMidSection