Mac Will Be Right Back

I was pleased to read today that John McCain woke up yesterday and walked to Starbucks to buy his morning coffee without Secret Service protection or a chauffeur. According to the account, it made him happy, and I was happy for him.

Though people like to say of losers that they ran a good campaign, it is hard to say that of McCain. He did, however, work hard to leave race out of his campaign against Barack Obama. And he ended his campaign on the highest possible note, with a great concession. It was generous, uplifting and healing. It was also grown-up and patriotic, the way McCain is when he is at his best.

This is part of McCain’s legacy, along with his celebration of the historic nature of Obama’s victory. In my column this week, I predicted no matter his plans for the remainder of his political career, the old McCain will soon be back. That funny, self-deprecating, bipartisan guy — you will be hearing from him shortly.

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