Andrew Sullivan acknowledges the coalition between Democrats, the media and John McCain, but nonetheless concludes:

“The truth is he is a conservative. He’s pro-life, deeply committed to low taxes and the war on terror. He has thinly veiled contempt for the European governments that opposed the invasion of Iraq, especially France; and, for good measure, he holds the Senate seat once occupied by the grandaddy of the American conservative movement, Barry Goldwater.”

Most Beltway Buzz readers responded to similar observations last week with strong disagreement. But more interesting in Sullivan’s piece is where he cites credit due for McCain’s ascension:

“Without the leadership’s errors, McCain would still be on the sidelines.”