The McCain Ranch: Advice to a Young Man

by David Safier

Here’s where the new media has it all over the traditional press. This morning, the NY Times gives us A Glimpse of Weekend at McCain’s, filled with such intimate, first-hand accounts as:

“I thought I did pretty good for my first day as a paparazzi,” said Mr. Wadsworth, 43, who showed a photo he took for his own scrapbook of Mr. McCain riding in his sport-utility vehicle wearing sunglasses and a baseball cap.

Mr. Wadsworth snapped his photo from a makeshift dirt parking lot across from the windy, unpaved road that leads to Mr. McCain’s retreat. He joined a handful of reporters and camera crews that were staking out the gathering, trying to discern something — anything — about the activities of Mr. McCain and his high-profile houseguests.

[snip]

The comings and goings of Mr. McCain and his guests offered only a few clues. On Saturday a convoy of vehicles left the ranch heading for the nearby town of Jerome, where Mr. McCain and a group that included Mr. Jindal and Mr. Romney had lunch. At other times, Mr. Romney and his wife, Ann, were seen driving a white Ford Mustang with black racing stripes. The gathering appeared to wrap up on Sunday afternoon when Mr. McCain and his motorcade left for Phoenix.

Blog for Arizona, on the other hand, has brought you glimpses inside The Ranch, photos and snippets of dialogue no other source has been able to duplicate.

Here, for instance, is a quiet moment where McCain is advising a stablehand about possibilities for his future.