McCain's suicide remark -- Freudian?

[KurtNYC]

There are many ways that anxiety is expressed by people in conversation. Many people will touch their face after/while lying. Psychologists link this back to childhood and a subconscious desire to push the words back into their mouth (have you ever seen a kid swear and then cover their mouth?) And while McCain's remark is regarded as a kind of unfunny joke, it struck me last night that he may have expressed something deeper.

He said, (if the Dems take Congress in November...)"``I think I'd just commit suicide. I don't want to face that eventuality because I don't think it's going to happen.''

Now the second sentence is self-contradictory. He could have meant something like "I don't want to think about that eventuality..." But he said "face."

How likely is it that the ever-expanding Foley/GOP/molestation cover up scandals are merely the tip of the iceberg? There could be all kinds of investigations if the Dems take control and McCain is so personally scared of that possibility that he blurts out his suicide fantasy followed by a sentence that seeks to explain his remark yet is in itself too twisted to make sense. I think there is some possibility that guilt momentarily hot-wired McCain's brain.

Guilt is the fear of punishment.

[Rex]

1. Nobody just jokes around about suicide.

McCain in mental and not in a good way.

[CTyankee]

2. Well, I was kidding when I said to someone

"Just shoot me now." We were talking about seniors (of which I am one)and someone said she couldn't phone an elderly family member because the old guy goes to bed at 4 pm. I don't think I was asking to be shot in advance of being like that guy, but it surely did get a laugh from my fellow seniors in the room!

[Rex]

11. Saying, 'just shoot me now.' ain't the same as telling someone

you will commit suicide. If someone shot you, they would be charged with homicide - hence the silliness of your jest. McCain didn't say that, he said he would commit suicide. A very intentional statement. That is why I doubt he just said it in jest.

[CTyankee]

16. Yes, I get it but I think some people might use the "suicide" term

as an idiom.

I work part time for LIteracy Volunteers and I work with the ESOL community. I am very aware of American English idioms. It IS idiomatic in American English to make reference to suicide casually. I am sorry to say that, because I think that it is not a healthy thing to say! However, I have heard that phrase in casual use and of course it bothers me. But I don't think it is, by itself, a cause for concern (depends on context).

However, I do agree with you that McCain's reference was odd. It seems extreme that he would go to "suicide" immediately, if the Republicans were to lose the Congress. So I get what you are saying. It just happened right after my statement of "Just shoot me!"

[Rex]

17. LOL.

It's funny how those things happen. It makes us more aware of the situation IMO.

[nam78_two]

4. And an attention-seeking ho

"Look at me Repugs..look at meeeeee-I am one of you. Democrats suck ha ha ha"....

Truly pathetic.....

To what extent is he gonna grovel to get an approving pat on the head from the 31% :puke:?
The man has no dignity left.

[Libby2]

8. I agree with that 100%

[TechBear_Seattle]

3. What does he know that we don't?

The prospect of a Democratic win in November makes him think thoughts that not even the Vietcong could manage. Why would he be so afraid of regime change at home?

[nashville_brook]

5. the self-contradiction: "face that eventuality..." & "not going to happen"

right you are! this is an a-mazing paragraph to deconstruct!

it's a MIGHTY LEAP to toss "suicide" into a discussion of a possible change in the BALENCE of power. it suggests that the guys in power would do ANYTHING not to faced the music.

just how GUILTY are they? are we really just talking about pages? might he also be guilty and afraid of what would come to light regarding

war
election fraud
katrina
no-bid contracts
and the complete subversion of the principles of our founders.

and if you ask me... watching mccain's "micro-expressions" while he talks is like watching a manequin try to affect a human persona. he's not "present."

[MADem]

6. Look, this guy was two short of being the anchor man at the Academy

(i.e., LAST in his class). He is no rocket scientist. Had he not had a father, and a grandfather, of flag rank, he wouldn't have made it past his second year--he would have washed out early.

He wrecked THREE USN aircraft--three. Normally, you wreck ONE expensive aircraft, in training, and you end up being a Public Affairs Officer, if you're lucky. This guy went on to have one blow up on the USS Forest Fire (aka the Forrestal, which was not his fault, in fairness) and get shot down in the third.

The point being, his first screw up should have eliminated the possibility of him being present for number two or three. But he was "special" and got favored treatment because of his parentage.

He also was an asshole to "the ladies" when he returned. He treated his wife like shit, treated his subordinates at OLA like shit, and was what was termed in the politically-incorrect old days as a "whoremaster." (Don't yell at me, it's what they called him). He was constantly fucking around, and behaving like an asshat and a rude shitheel.

He finally settled on his present wife who was way too young for him, but who had a rich daddy. No flies on that boy....

He strikes me as a painfully average person, a bit petty and unkind in the 'personal relations' department, imbued with hubris with regard to his role on the national stage, but in actual fact a bit obtuse. He did endure a lot at the 'Hilton' but last time I checked, that wasn't a block you had to check to go to DC.

Just as Admiral Stockdale wasn't Vice Presidential timber, neither is this fellow Presidential timber.

[nashville_brook]

7. "a painfully average person" -- hats off MADem!

i have NEVER seen what other people admire in this mediocre man.

i think what you point out about his "unkind"ness and personally shittiness are VERY relevant to the "job" of representing people.

[Chiyo-chichi]

12. If he were a Democrat, the points in your post would be

constant chatter on the Today Show, questions raised by Chris Matthews (not to mention Fox News), and comprise a series of Republican attack ads. His fellow vets from the aforementioned aircraft carriers would form a truth group to tell the world about McCain's mishaps, and "the ladies" would be lined up and trotted out to tell their sordid tales.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

9. No, I think he just forgot to add a sarcasm tag. n/t

[Hubert Flottz]

10. I think it goes deeper than just a joke too...

We the people have been the lawful Americans and have taken all the shit, so far. Now it's time for the criminals to pay for their crimes and their lies and they ALL whine like scared little sheep!

[savemefromdumbya]

13. some of the Nazis took poison after WW2

maybe we will find them all dead in the bunker?

[neebob]

14. What a stupid thing to say

He won't commit suicide; he'll just go along like he always has. Who cares what else he meant - it demonstrates his thoughtlessness.

[zbdent]

15. Just another Repuke campaign promise to the masses

that he will, like any other Republican, break ...

[Matariki]

18. Interesting. That would explain why he acts like a blackmailed man.

[alfredo]

19. Or it could be emotional blackmail.