Matt Lewis suggests conservatives can “manage” John McCain with a good cop/bad cop routine.  He believes that well placed conservative advisers mixed with a little blunt conservative criticism can win the day.  But is this sustainable over the long-term?

I liken this situation to the interview process.  McCain is “interviewing” and making his best sales pitch to conservative “employers”.  As employers, conservatives have the most bargaining power right now.  But once Election Day comes and the “job offer” gets made, the negotiating power shifts to the employee.  And given recent history, McCain doesn’t have a problem selling himself as a conservative while campaigning and then reaching across the aisle to Ted Kennedy once elected. 

This, my friends, is the high-water mark of conservative influence with John McCain.  It only gets worse if he wins.