What happened to the old McCain?

Has the stress of the campaign revealed some essential truths, and a different picture of McCain that is far from reuring? To p his party's tax-cut litmus test, he jettisoned his commitment to balanced budgets. He hasn't come up with a coherent agenda, and at times he has seemed rash and impulsive. And there is no way to validate his professed pion for America's national security with his choice of a running mate who, no matter what her other strengths, is completely unprepared to be commander in chief, should the situation call for it. What are your thoughts about the new McCain?