During the 2008 presidential campaign, I took issue with Victor Davis Hanson’s claim that John McCain is like Gandalf. Today, McCain is praising the Tea Party for their role in the budget debate. Nevertheless, the fact that he previously derided them as “Tea Party Hobbits” is telling. Gandalf would never think that “hobbit” is a term of abuse. After all, he chose hobbits as the people best able to destroy the Ring of Power and save Middle Earth.