A "not so" Straight Talk Express

In 2000 John McCain's "Straight Talk Express" was received well by voters and the Senators tendency for bucking party lines and marching to the beat of his own drum worked for his maverick persona. http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/02/17/mccain.bus/
Bush clearly brought the straight talk express to a halt. Then, McCain decided to resurrect the bus for the 2008 campaign but left out the straight talk.

As a former McCain supporter in 2000 I admired him for following his instincts and principals weather I agreed with him or not, but in the frenzy of this election season I have only caught glimpses of the former "Maverick" at work. John McCain has effectively broken my heart by becoming a vote courting machine like the rest of the candidates. In the last eight years his advisers must have told him that to be elected he would need to play by party rules and make sure that the base Republicans were happy.

Over last summer his alienation of his former self contributed to the near death of his campaign. The country watched as he went almost bankrupt and lost a few key advisers. He came back to win New Hampshire and seems to be getting back to speaking his mind and remembering his guiding principals.

I can only hope as I search for a politician who exhibits backbone that the coming months will bring back the Straight Talk Express in full force.