Playing Dirty, but Inconsistently So

Bush’s greatest asset was his ability to stay on-message and follow the lead of disciplined campaign staff: it swept him to victory at least one and a half times, and allowed his message to dominate the airwaves for eight years.  Blissfully, McCain lacks both abilities.  This inconsistency – the New York Times reports – flows as much from conflict in the upper ranks about the importance of negativity as it does from McCain’s lack of discipline.  Focusing on that last point, shouldn’t that matter, and go to McCain’s ability to lead?  It might work for air squadrons, but I doubt it works for a country.