At Swampland, Ana Marie Cox reports that "a fellow reporter friend" made the argument to her that the worst thing about a John McCain presidency would be -- wait for it -- that he'd spend too much talking to the media. Apparently, that would mean he'd have less time to think through serious policy solutions: "Basically, it would be like a long press conference interrupted by occasional bombings of Iran."
It's a good line, but we think it reflects the media's self-absorption more than anything else. After all, we can't really picture McCain shooing away some underling bearing news of an important vote in Congress to pour David Broder another gin fizz (or a Manhattan? What do old people drink?). And anyway, McCain's attitude toward the fourth estate, which he once called his "base," seems to be more estranged than engrossed these days. Cox's friend is probably spinning more of a romantic fantasy than an actual scenario of something that could, you know, happen.
--Dana Goldstein and Sam Boyd
