The effects of aging on John McCain's brain may be the least of his mental problems. In a interview even Time calls "prickly," there is evidence that much of his personality and memory have simply disappeared overnight. Kevin Drum thinks McCain is the Manchurian Candidate. Or was McCain lobotomized like the tragically feisty Frances Farmer?

There's a theme that recurs in your books and your speeches, both about putting country first but also about honor. I wonder if you could define honor for us?
Read it in my books.

I've read your books.
No, I'm not going to define it.

But honor in politics?
I defined it in five books. Read my books.

[snip]

Do you miss the old way of doing it?
I don't know what you're talking about.

Really? Come on, Senator.
I'll provide as much access as possible ...

In 2000, after the primaries, you went back to South Carolina to talk about what you felt was a mistake you had made on the Confederate flag. Is there anything so far about this campaign that you wish you could take back or you might revisit when it's over?
[Does not answer.]

Do I know you? [Says with a laugh.]
[Long pause.] I'm very happy with the way our campaign has been conducted, and I am very pleased and humbled to have the nomination of the Republican Party.

You do acknowledge there was a change in the campaign, in the way you had run the campaign?
[Shakes his head.]

This interview coincides with new reports that John McCain desperately wanted to pick Joe Lieberman as his VP, forcing Karl Rove to launch a covert operation (involving his ailing crony Robert Novak!) to stop it. Did Rove have to literally get inside McCain's head to stop him?

One more reason McCain should release a brain scan to the American people...