McCain's Temperament

I have paid almost zero attention to questions of McCain's character because I don't think how people behave on a personal level tells you much about their approach to policy and governing. By most accounts Bush is a nice guy, but that hasn't stopped him from being a disastrous president. Plus I know that most of what people perceive about a politician's character--both positive and negative--is just the product of spin and journalists' whims. I recall vividly how the press tagged Howard Dean as "angry" during the 2003-04 primary campaign, while in person he was gracious and subdued.

All that said, when you take this encounter with Obama yesterday, the video below with clips from his recent interview with the Des Moines Register, and the anecdotes in this profile--many drawn from McCain's own accounts--it's hard not to worry that McCain's temperament would be a major factor in how he would function as president. I learned from the profile that "McNasty" is not a slur dreamed up by political opponents in recent years (as I imagined) but rather his nickname since high school. Here's also a list on a conservative blog with his top ten temper tantrums.