Clarity is critical. Matter of fact you can argue the single most important thing in politics is clarity.

So let's see what all of us - left and right - can agree too. Not everything is 100% (nothing is unless you toss in the line of clarity that "you will eventually lose all of your money in casino's if you stay in them long enough")

I will state a few things as clearly as possible. This is not intended for 'balance' - balance is secondary.. clarity is priority.

So let's be as clear as possible.

** The Times piece today on McCain has achieved its goal regardless of the truth about the charges. The story was intended to harm McCain more than it was to be 'defender of the public good' journalism.

** The left isn't alone in frothing at the mouth over these, so far, unfounded charges. Alot of people on the right are giddy too. Those people on the right are praying that it is, in fact, true.

** The right that wants an issue to force McCain out of the race and replace him with someone more palatable to them needs actionable truth in the story to obliterate the good name of an American hero. The left does not need the story to be any more true than it currently is, they are actionable on this on the charge alone - whether it's true or not.

** Many conservative pundits are actually thankful the Times broke journalistic standards by placing this editorial as news and printing unfounded allegations. They won't admit it, they will back McCain - but they are privately thinking "hmmmmm, well wouldn't this be interesting, since we will run people out of Washington for affairs - as opposed to the other side - it's a weapon we might just could use to throw the convention open". Those on that right still want Romney as the candidate.

** Those on the right wishing for this to be true to be able to force McCain out are more interested in the 'truth' over the affair as a weapon than they 'truth' over favoring a lobbyist. An affair is an easier sell as a reason to action on their side of the aisle.

** That an affair is, ever, more damning than a felony is something this country needs to get past.

** Some liberals are privately concerned they have done too much to prop up Obama at the expense of Hillary. A realization that, after the halo effect around Barack wears off, in a 1 on 1 duel with McCain where national security is the primary issue - Obama might just get taken to the cleaners. That supporting McCain (which many did for his 'maverick' status) and not thinking it through that Romney would have been much easier to marginalize, they have put this election into serious doubt for the Democrats.

** The GOP is strongly concerned that McCain will come across as an even older codger up against Obama in a 1 on 1 debate. It is that contrast of old guard vs. new order that had them wishing for the more telegenic Romney in that regard. That Obama, even on substance attacks, is such a tsunami that the GOP will get swept out of Washington.

** Hillary, like Gore before, is paying for the sins of Bill. That she would have won the nomination and possibly the general election by increasing her positive numbers. Which could have tripled if she had done one simple thing. Filed for divorce.

** McCain is stuck in a tough spot. Under pressure to cave to strong conservatives against his own beliefs, if he sells those out he would lose credibility. He knows the best rout to the White House is to, oddly, defy his own party. And yes, he would like to - at least - consider a blue dog Democrat as a running mate to make history.

** McCain buckles to the right and JC Watts could go from one-time Oklahoma QB to a heartbeat from POTUS. This would be considered gross pandering even if Watts is a legit choice for Veep.

** Obama has not brought the "disenfranchised" to the election table. This is simply not true. The people that are voting for him who have never voted before are either a) voting age for the first time - so they have never been 'enfranchised' before or b) too lazy or uninterested to have voted before. Lazy and uninterested is... lazy and uninterested. It is not "disenfranchisement".

** Some in the GOP are willing to fall on their swords - work against McCain because they believe Obama will crash and burn as POTUS and, like Carter, throw all the power back to them in 4 years.

** The MSM will begin to assault McCain from all angles. They will attack him for his age alone - they would never attack Hillary for her gender, Obama for his race, but in this instance McCain's age is fair game for bias. ANd onl;y because he has an "R" immediately after his name.

** Both sides now plan to take advantage of bad news. Neither is openly rooting for it, but if bad news happens then they will gleefully take it. This is a truly sad truth of politics. A terrorist hit and the GOP sweeps back into power.. the economy tanks and the Democrats ride en masse to the rescue.

That is the one fundemental sad truth. Politics is about taking advantage of bad news, rather than promoting positive vision.