"Had any of the prominent Democrats you mentioned endorsed McCain over Obama one would have heard the Mudcat screams from Hawaii to Washisngton, D. C.."

What about Lieberman? I realize that his abdication from the Democratic mainstream is old news, but he IS an example of a "prominent Democrat" endoring McCain.

"Maybe if Powell hadn't attacked Sarah Palin the reality of his endorsement having been actually his, instead of a political talking point, would have been more believable."

Wow! Is it really so hard to believe that an intelligent guy like Powell might have concluded on his own that the choice of Palin was a remarkably cynical and irresponsible move? I mean, you might think she's perfectly OK, which is your right, but an awful lot of people take the oppostie position, and you can hardly assert that every one of us is following some kind of party-line script!