Ramesh,

You ask where I’m coming from on this talk about the McCain candidacy as a return of the Republican Party of TR, Nixon, and Ford. Well, I meant to identify him with the kinds of politics these presidents represented, not to equate a McCain administration with any of these predecessors. Presumably he won’t go as far as Roosevelt did to advance progressive/fascist economics (hi, Jonah), he won’t get in bed with dirty tricksters, and he won’t impose clumsy wage and price controls.

But, sure, I think there is reason to suspect that a McCain administration would bash big business as much if not more than big government, adopt some pretty bad 1970s-era ideas on fiscal matters, and impose clumsy and destructive regulations on energy, drug companies, and freedom of speech. And, yes, I fear there is also a David Souter-type judicial wimp waiting in the wings somewhere for a McCain appointment.

He’ll fight the War, though. That’ll be no small accomplishment, admittedly.