About John McCain

[Cyrano]

This is a guy with courage.

If you knew that you were going to die next month, next week, tomorrow, how would you face it?

Most know of his real heroism in Vietnam. He was captured, held prisoner for years, tortured, offered release because of his family, (and propaganda purposes), and refused.

There is much that we Dems can't and won't ever agree on with McCain. But think back to that 2008 campaign when a woman, holding McCain's microphone, called Obama an arab, or a terrorist, or whatnot. McCain grabbed the mic out of her hand and said that Obama was a good man and a good American.

Yeah, he voted for lots of shit that we'll never forgive him for. And he gave us Palin. He fucked up and he knows it. But he never badmouthed her.

McCain is going to be, not just a loss to somewhat sane political opposition, but to decency in America.

And let's never forget the tremendous courage with which he is facing his own death.

His loss should be mourned by all.

[cilla4progress]

1. Maybe his passing will be the

turning point, we are all waiting for...

[Cyrano]

2. Don't count on it.

McCain's courage is the exception. Trump's hatred and cowardice are the rule.

[Kirk Lover]

16. I think that may come with the fall of RUMP - when he is fully exposed. Well that's what I'm

hoping for at least!

[Drahthaardogs]

3. You do what you can, just like he is doing

What else is there to do

[RockRaven]

4. For every anecdote where he behaved with honor

you can find one where he was cynical, sleazy, racist, or corrupt.

Yes, he shut down that lady at the campaign rally in 2008. In 2008 he also, during a Presidential debate, accused ACORN of engaging in the largest episode of voter fraud in the history of the country and declared the American people had a right to know the full extent of Obama's relationship with ACORN -- a totally bogus accusation rooted in racism and a McCarthy-style insinuation.

I get that he has more integrity than Trump, which is to say at least a modicum. But I don't identify with the impulse to lionize him that I'm seeing now that we know his end is near.

[Cyrano]

5. Yes, he was, at times, a prick, but

who of us have not been?

McCain is not a saint and should not be lionized.

He's a politician. There have been times he's voted for things he doesn't believe in, in order to get votes for things he does believe in. That's virtually the definition of a politician.

McCain is no saint by any means. He's sold his soul on some issues. On others, I wished him ill and wished he'd "rot in hell."

Having said all that, I believe he's among the best that we can expect of those with whom we disagree. He's not Trump. He recognizes Trump for the swine that he is, and has really raised the concept of decency to a high standard by stating that he doesn't want Trump at his funeral.

But let me get back to the bottom line on this post.

The "Commander In Chief" is sitting in the White House, having mocked McCain's status as a POW.

John McCain was a POW for five years. FIVE YEARS as a POW. And tortured.

Anyone who has ever served in the military understands what a tremendous pair of balls that takes. Even when they have an out because of their family name. And all wonder if they could do the same.

[Shrike47]

6. Very well said.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

19. Both you and RockHaven give a balanced assessment. McCain should be honored, not lionized. . . nt

[mountain grammy]

15. I agree.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

18. Both you and Cyrano give a balanced assessment. McCain should be honored, not lionized. . . nt

[PJMcK]

7. Sorry, but he lost my respect in 1998

McCain made an awful and insulting "joke" about Chelsea Clinton at a Republican dinner.

She was a teenager at the time. She was not involved in the political world the way that, say, Ivanka is. It was a gratuitous, nasty, unfair and crass attempt to smear the president's daughter.

McCain was disgusting. Fuck him.

https://crooksandliars.com/2008/02/09/john-mccains-crude-chelsea-clinton-joke

[JI7]

12. He apologized for it and he got along well with Hillary in the Senate

[PJMcK]

22. Fair enough

Still, I give the credit to Hillary Clinton because she would've been one of the people who would have to accept the apology. The others being Chelsea and perhaps President Clinton.

On the other hand, when did McCain offer his apology? If it was after Mrs. Clinton was elected to the Senate, his apology becomes suspect since the Senate prides itself on its so-called civility and behavioral and historical norms... at least they used to. It would have been within the "code" for McCain to apologize to his Senate colleague.

Regardless, he was a Republican. He didn't support my Democratic views and policies. Importantly, he wasn't a maverick because he nearly always caved to the party line.

Most distinctively, by legitimizing the crazies of the right wing of the GOP with his naming of Sarah Palin as his running mate, he opened the door to the Tea Party/Freedom Caucus/RWNJs, etc. with which we got Trump. Perhaps Trump was inevitable in a celebrity-driven society, but McCain deserves his share of responsibility.

McCain was fifth from the bottom of his class at Annapolis. When he joined the Navy as a pilot, this entry from Wikipedia is interesting:

McCain began as a sub-par flier who was at times careless and reckless; during the early to mid-1960s, two of his flight missions crashed and a third mission collided with power lines, but he received no major injuries.

When he was captured by the North Vietnamese, I respect his fortitude. But when he became a Congressman and then a Senator, he consistently acted against the values that I believe in.

In the Keating Five scandal, he eventually fessed-up to his poor judgement. Wow, good for him. By that point in his life, he should have developed much better values. As the famous amateur golfer, Bobby Jones (professionally, he was a lawyer) once said, "You might as well praise a man for not robbing a bank as to praise him for playing by the rules." McCain did not act appropriately nor ethically.

In the end, I will not miss McCain. He tried to serve his country but his legislative choices didn't really work out for far too many Americans.

[S.E. TN Liberal]

23. PJMcK

You said, ..."...Most distinctively, by legitimizing the crazies of the right wing of the GOP with his naming of Sarah Palin as his running mate, he opened the door to the Tea Party/Freedom Caucus/RWNJs, etc. with which we got Trump. Perhaps Trump was inevitable in a celebrity-driven society, but McCain deserves his share of responsibility..."...

I had never thought of it that way. I do believe you have made the best assessment of what John McCain has given America. It is a very sad legacy.

There were so many times he would start saying something that made sense, then he would quickly revert back to "John McCain, republican't first, American second".

[imanamerican63]

8. I am extremely happy that Obama, beat him!

But McCain did give us Sarah and her tea party nuts! I think if he went with someone else, it may have been a different outcome?

[JI7]

11. No, the results might have been closer but the big thing was the Economy then

And it was after 8 years of a republican.

[democrank]

9. I admire John McCain's courage and honor his sacrifice for this country.

I can't put into words how heartbreaking this type of brain cancer is. Just reading about what John McCain is going through makes me cry. I hope he passes peacefully with his family holding him.

[sarah FAILIN]

10. He is a human being.

We should treat the dying with respect. He has had some good moments for us and honestly those moments cost him a lot in his own party.

I hope his end is easy.

[dalton99a]

13. Another perspective: Compared to McCain, the rest of the GOP are draft-dodging cowards and traitors.

[Heartstrings]

29. +1000

[Liberalagogo]

14. Why do so many on DU behave like sterotyped abused spouses?

The minute one of the Republithugs says or does something remotely decent, so many rush to kiss his or her ring.

No thanks. McCain blew it a LONG time ago, he gets no redemption from me just because he's about to go into the light.

I won't speak ill of the dead (after it happens), but I certainly won't give out any praise.

[JI7]

17. Mccain has a long record with positives throughout and things we would consider

Negative.

He isn't some trump type who was shitty all throughout his life and only is doing something good now that he is dying.

[Kirk Lover]

20. I agree with you and I feel very sorry for the folks who are so blinded by partisan hatred that

they don't even sound like that they THEMSELVES have human decency. . So those comments really reflect on the person and your comments reflect on you very very well.

[True Dough]

21. Cyrano, I see your points regarding McCain

I'm no fan of Republicans in general but some are better than others. I don't mind giving some credit where it's due.

[misanthrope]

24. It was more than one instance

McCain did it a couple of times during that campaign.

[Garrett78]

25. Of course, the implication is that an "Arab" can't be a "decent family man."

That the likes of McCain and Collins are considered "moderate" only goes to show how extremist the GOP has become.

[flotsam]

26. "offered release because of his family, (and propaganda purposes), and refused. "

This is specifically prohibited by article 3 of the code of conduct and acceptance would likely draw a court martial.

Article III:

If I am captured I will continue to resist by all means available. I will make every effort to escape and aid others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_of_the_United_States_Fighting_Force

[Lunabell]

27. Though I disagree with him on soooo many issues,

he is a hero to America due to his pow status. He took a great one for his country. Too bad his daughter is such a trump apologist.

[Hekate]

28. Thanks, Cyrano. I hope that, just for once, DU can behave with grace when he passes...

No, I did not always agree with him -- sometimes/often vehemently so. But he served this country his whole life as best he knew how, a patriot to his core.

And -- he is going down fighting not just Death, but Trump, to the very end. For that, I salute him.

Pass gently, Senator.