Lefties describe McCain "flying off the handle" and "flipping out." They wish, but so do conservatives. Glenn Reynolds writes:

The press hates it when pols get mad at reporters. I'm not convinced that anyone else does.

Exactly. Nobody likes the press very much, least of all conservatives. McCain could do a lot worse than blowing up at a reporter for the Times. A few weeks ago Jaime suggested that McCain could go a long way towards solidifying his base by attacking mainstream outlets like the Times whose embrace of the Maverick has made so many conservatives nervous. (Jaime suggested a specific jab he might direct at the paper of record: “the New York Times endorsed me, which is the only thing the Viet Cong and I have in common.”)

No doubt McCain has a temper, but there's no tantrum here. Exasperation would seem to be a better description.