I know this story has been posted elsewhere, but I don't think we can overestimate how much this says about McCain as a person - and what we might expect from him as a world leader.

Publicly hoping for the death of another person is disgusting to me, and would appear to run counter to the values of voters on the Christian Right who McCain is so desperately trying to attract. That said, I suppose there's a few Americans out there who are not at all disturbed by such talk. So that's not the point.

The story here for me is how, once again, McCain is so incredibly irresponsible with what he just thinks is witty banter. What sort of message does it send to Cuba - to the world - that a man who could very well be the next president of the United States wants another world leader dead?

The media loves McCain because he's apparently a straight-shooter.... that he says what he thinks. Well, that's only a good thing when what's being shot from the hip is well-thought and responsible. Heck, if this is is "straight talk," I'd rather have lame, poll-tested, base-targeting Bushspeak.

That McCain actually hopes Castro will die soon is very unfortunate. That he thinks it's funny is sad. That he would say so publicly is just plain irresponsible.

In the end, I hope it is this very type of crap that will show voters that the guy is just too instable to have his proverbial finger on the button.