You know, occasionally people accuse us of holding a grudge, of being mean or spiteful or vindictive if ever someone happens to offend our sense of political decency.

And those people are right. Here at VDB, our memories are indeed long, and our patience is short, especially with those who pander shamelessly to the Christian Right in their blind rush for the White House.

Sanctimonious poseurs, like Rick Santorum and Tom Delay.

And like one-time straight-talker John McCain. As far as we’re concerned, McCain now deserves not only every painful unintended consequence he gets, but even those consequences which, for some reason, he doesn’t get.

Which is to say that it gives us great pleasure to report the following, out of the polling shop at the University of Iowa:

“McCain’s support has collapsed in Iowa. His support among registered Republicans dropped from 14.4 percent in March to 1.8 percent in July-August. UI political scientists note that McCain has been passed in popularity not only by former Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn., who earned 5.2 percent support, but also by a Democratic challenger, Obama, who is supported by 6.7 percent of Republicans.”

Less popular among Iowa Republicans than Obama. And Obama, not incidentally, also outpolling Republican knight in Reaganesque armor, Fred Thompson.

Sell VDB’s shoes, because we’re going to Heaven.