1 I found that to be a very interesting article. Something has always bugged me about McCain and I haven't been able to put my finger on it and I finally think I've got it. Its the whole electability thing. Back when the Republican primaries were heating up I thought McCain was the least compelling choice out of all the options. I didn't understand how Conservatives would want that guy as their figurehead. I mean, Romney stood for something, so did Huckabee. McCain seems to go which ever way the wind blows. The whole Palin thing spoke to the same "electability" concept (they got a black guy? Get us a woman pronto!). I think one of the reasons Obama has caught on in the public eye is that he has an agenda that is his own - you may not like it, but its refreshing to see someone put forth something you can agree or disagree with. I felt Romney and Huckabee were doing the same thing. Clinton didn't do it (she pandered like crazy) and lost because of it. I would think that McCain is struggling because he's still telling people what he thinks they want to hear. George W certainly put his own platform out there- it was polarizing and that's why it worked.

2 I have heard self-identified Conservatives and Libertarians claim they may either not vote, or actually vote for Obama, just to usher in the period of Liberal control that they feel will cause us all to turn to the right. To me, that is a poor argument to abuse your vote, and it isn't really the same situation as 'shrugging'.