First we have Maureen Dowd’s indecision over whether it’s permissible to revert to gender stereotypes (yes when you’re talking about Clinton, no when you’re talking about Dowd).  Now we have Michael Gerson making an otherwise excellent point:

On the evidence of the Virginia speech, McCain’s worst temptation is not anger but moral arrogance. Opponents are not merely wrong; they are venal, self-interested and corrupt. In a righteous cause, McCain can be self-righteous.

Which is unfortunately made less insightful by the fact that Gerson is afflicted with the same flaw: anyone who disagrees with his pet projects must be a “shriveled soul” and an “anti-government extremist.”

So the real question is, if we put McCain and Gerson in a moral arrogance cage match, who would emerge the victor?  It’s a real toss-up.