Thomas Sowell makes a similar argument to Peter Brown’s, but from a more conservative point of view. Sowell argues McCain sold out conservative principles, but nonetheless, “pulled the rug out from under Majority Leader William Frist, his probable chief rival for the 2008 Republican Presidential nomination.”

Sowell says, “Senator McCain has lost nothing. If Hillary Clinton is the Democrats' candidate in 2008, what alternative would the Republican base have? Vote for Hillary?”