here has been one final desperate gasp of McCain-for-veep sentiment in the media, as die-hard McCainiacs argue that the Arizona senator would have been a stronger pick than Dick Cheney. Maybe he would have been — McCain's political attractions are certainly considerable. But one thing should be clear — the fault for McCain not being selected, such as it is, is more the Arizona senator's than Bush's.

The biggest obstacle was McCain's well-earned reputation for not being a team player. Perhaps this could have been overcome. But McCain did almost nothing to make it happen. In the immediate wake of the primaries, he made categorical statements about how he wasn't interested in the job. This was entirely consistent with McCain's m.o., since it would have been so "un-maverick-like" to say something like: "Sure, the primaries were bruising, but I'd be willing to at least consider anything to help my party in the fall."

Helping his party is just not something McCain thinks about naturally. And after the primaries he much preferred to drink deeply from the bitter dregs of his defeat than make up with Bush. There were fouls on both sides in South Carolina, Michigan, and elsewhere, but McCain insisted on playing the role of a uniquely wronged politician, robbed by dirty tricks, ugly arguments, and, well, "evil." So, when Bush "reached out" to him, McCain enjoyed being as peevish and grudging as possible.

Then, McCain couldn't even manage to be consistent in his bitchy disavowal of any interest in the vice presidency. Last week, word leaked that he confided to Pennsylvania governor Tom Ridge, that he would, after all, be willing to consider the job. But he couldn't even fully execute his flip-flop.

"If Bush were to make a case, he would do it, but he prefers not to be asked," a McCain adviser explained to the Washington Post. So, was Bush supposed to show up at McCain's office with charts and tables to "make his case"? Was he supposed to debate McCain about the question? Was he supposed to beg? Forget it.

Those who think that a Bush-McCain ticket would have been the strongest GOP combination this fall shouldn't blame Bush's lack of "imagination" or "courage" for it not happening. They should blame the graceless, self-regarding behavior of none other than John McCain.