[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/11/05/art.mccain.nov.gi.jpg caption="What was the likable 'maverick's' biggest mistake?"]
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
What happened to John McCain? The likable "maverick" who beat some pretty strong competition to capture his party's nomination had morphed into something else by yesterday.
After promising to run an "honorable" campaign, McCain quickly became another symbol of the divisive politics of past Republican presidential campaigns. Name calling, insults, pettiness, and empty gestures replaced the once likable McCain we all look to to challenge the status quo. His campaign got nasty, and his lack of judgment was on display for all to see a couple of times late in the race.
Sarah Palin was an act of desperation. With little vetting McCain named an unknown from Alaska to energize the Republican base. But she came with too much baggage and quickly went from an asset to a liability. Openly ignorant of the issues in press interviews, Palin began to offend women and anger McCain's campaign managers who sniped that she was a "rogue" who frequently went off the reservation in pursuit of her own interests instead of McCain's.
When the financial crisis exploded, McCain made a huge empty gesture. He suspended his campaign, threatened to cancel the first presidential debate-he was the one who wanted all those town meetings, remember? - and rushed back to Washington where he accomplished absolutely nothing. In the end, he looked silly.
He might not have been able to overcome the damage to the Republican brand anyway, but he quickly became his own worst enemy who gave away any chance to win.
Here’s my question to you: What was John McCain's biggest mistake?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
With the election of Barack Obama, President Bush is now a certified lame duck who will quickly disappear in the rear view mirror.
In 2000, we elected a guy we'd like to have a beer with. Huge mistake.
Bush soared when the Twin Towers came down. On September 14, 2001, he gave a rousing speech to rescue workers at Ground Zero. It was arguably his finest hour with 90 percent approval ratings and the entire world ready to step in and help the United States in any way they could.
But Bush blew it. The next seven years were pretty much a steady downward spiral. The invasion of Iraq, torture, Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, domestic spying, secrecy, lost White House emails, zero accountability and the economy in ruins.
Watch: Cafferty: Miss most about Bush?
President Bush will leave office as arguably one of the worst presidents this country ever had. His approval ratings are at an all-time low. He is so unpopular he dared not show his face on the campaign trail.
The ultimate irony is without the utter disaster that was the Bush Presidency, an African-American would probably not have been elected president. Funny how things work out. George W. Bush, a conservative Republican, did as much to get Barack Obama elected as the primary voters in Iowa did on a cold January night earlier this year.
Historians will render the final verdict, but you can have your say right now.
Here’s my question to you: What will you miss most about President Bush?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
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