I completely agree with Thers (on Atrios) on this one, 'Pander Bear' as a nickname for McCain has some real legs. Although New Englanders with their crazy accent may not get the joke, I feel that this is to McCain as Flip Flop is to Kerry.
McCain from Vanity Fair via Atrios, on the topic of gay marriage:
But then, out of nowhere, he adds, "Could I just mention one other thing? On the issue of the gay marriage, I believe if people want to have private ceremonies, that's fine. I do not believe that gay marriages should be legal." There: he said it, the right words for his right flank. It might seem that this audience, the sons and daughters of a socially conservative and culturally traditional bellwether state, would accept, if not approve of, what McCain has just declared. But they are the Wi-Fi wave of the future, and they can smell a pander bear as surely as they can a hog lot. They erupt in a chorus of deafening boos. "Obviously some disagreement with that last comment," McCain says tightly. "Thank you. It's nice to see you."
Link to the actual VF article. Pretty interesting stuff!
Pander Bear
The closer it gets to 08, the more convinced I become that McCain is not he shoo-in that he was once thought to be. It will be easier to take him down than I ever imagined, with the biggest player being McCain himself. Edwards' McCain Doctrine was a stroke of brilliance, and I really think a label as simple and cute as Pander Bear has tremendous potential to frame this man's character early and often.
Let's all get on board and push this nickname as often as possible. I would like to see it part of the vernacular sooner rather than later.