actually the best summary of what is going on here is from paul krugman, who wrote the following about bobby jindal, not mccain/dowd. but it think it applies just as well to them:
The intellectual incoherence is stunning. Basically, the political philosophy of the GOP right now seems to consist of snickering at stuff that they think sounds funny. The party of ideas has become the party of Beavis and Butthead.both the republican and democratic party have always had their share of morons. but in response to their recent electoral defeats the republicans seem determined to become the official party of stupid. when anti-intellectualism becomes central to your message, how can you possibly hope to win the debate over ideas?
