Who Has Actually Read Meghan McCain's 'Dirty Sexy Politics'?

(Aug. 31) -- It's tough out there being a maverick's kid.

At least that's the lesson Surge Desk takes away from Meghan McCain (yes, that's John's adult daughter), who today released a new book, "Dirty Sexy Politics," about her time on the 2008 presidential campaign trail. (Or, more specifically, the limited time she served on the trail before she was "asked to leave and not come back," not fired, as she clarified on ABC's "Good Morning America" on Monday.)

McCain has distinguished herself from her father and other Republicans by speaking out in support of gay marriage and comprehensive sex education. She also has a highly active Web presence: Besides being a semi-regular columnist for The Daily Beast, her Twitter account numbers up to 85,000 followers, with whom she regularly interacts, taking questions and, more notoriously, showing off scantily clad pictures (OK, one picture in particular.)

But now, McCain has taken the much more politically established route of writing and publishing her first memoir. Unfortunately, very few people actually seem to have read the complete book yet and can offer authoritative comments -- an oddity for most mainstream political tell-alls, the juiciest bits of which typically get leaked in the hours or days before publication.

Fortunately, the excerpts released to the Web, along with McCain's "Good Morning America" appearance -- in which host George Stephanopoulos pressed her to describe her "conflicted feelings" about Sarah Palin -- seem to have provided plenty of fodder for pundits. Surge Desk organizes them by the likelihood that the actual book was read.

Almost certainly haven't read it:

Matt Lewis, Politics Daily:

Many conservatives (and others) I've spoken to view McCain as a "not ready for prime time" naif who was accidentally elevated to pundit status by virtue of her last name. Comparisons to Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan commonly follow, as do laments about the "celebritization" of politics. On the other hand, I recently reported on young conservatives defending Ann Coulter's decision to speak at HomoCon, a gay conservative conference. Could it be that Meghan McCain will be remembered as a political trend-setter who was just a bit too far ahead of the curve?

Dan Riehl, Riehl World View:

Good heavens, there's just no telling where she's been.

Jim Newell, Gawker:

This book is such a tease.

Balloon Juice:

The last few chapters should cover her father becoming a full-fledged teahadist the last few months.

Jennifer Rubin, Commentary:

Near the top of my "people I could do without hearing from or about" is Meghan McCain, the twentysomething daughter of Sen. John McCain. She is out plugging her book, which I don't intend to read. If her interview with ABC is any guide, a good deal of the book is devoted to trashing Sarah Palin.

Patrick, Political Byline:

Ah, yes, how supportive of a fellow Republican, than to mock her, because she's blond, because she's not a foreign policy wonk, because she is fat. How farking lame can you get? What is Megan McCain's horrible offense for this sort of hatred and stupidity? Because she is a moderate. Because she is not some sort of far-right-wing hatemonger idiot, that's what!

Maybe read it:

Cultural Caviar, Taki's Magazine:

"Filled with wit and insight, the Daily Beast columnist's book raises hope for a political party whose moment in the sun is bound to return thanks to a newly invigorated crop of young Republicans."

Definitely read, and liked:

F. Hollister (The book's only Amazon customer review as of 2:30 p.m. EDT, 5 out of 5 stars):

Daddy's Girl - all growed up and savin the US of A!

Is this a great country or what?

Perhaps Ms. McCain is our young Sarah Palin. Without the very limited government experience, of course. After all, Ms. Palin did manage to struggle through almost half a term as Governor.