No, seriously. This column by Joseph Ben-Ami highlights the mismanagement of the McCain campaign (which had nothing to do with Sarah Palin).

How about the inconsistent, and at times, incoherent messaging of the McCain team throughout the campaign? Did it really take Joe the Plumber to point out that the Obama tax plan was blatantly redistributionist? And when that issue was working to Senator McCain’s advantage, why did the campaign release new ads in the final week on – wait for it – the environment? Did McCain strategists really believe that winning over Sierra Club or Greenpeace members at the last minute would put them over the top?

The leaks–Sarah Palin went out herself to expensive stores and purchased all those clothes, for example–they sound like lies to me. Post losing the election, if the McCain camp is better prepared to whinge, rather than grapple with the issues they failed to address–well then. Obama deserves the presidency–he won it fair and square.

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Rebecca adds: If the McCain campaign had directed half of the energy they’ve expended throwing Sarah Palin under the bus toward actually attacking Obama (you know, their opponent, as compared to their teammate, a subtle distinction to be sure) they might have won. So, asking Obama why the profoundly racist and hatemongering Rev. Wright enjoyed his support for two decades is off limits, but sniping that Palin answered her hotel room door once wearing a bathrobe is exactly how the campaign should be conducting itself?