"Shouting and shoving but no punches" between Temper Boy McCain and Chuck Grassley in 1992

[Amerigo Vespucci]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/20/john-mccain-charles-grass_n_97626.html

Sunday's Washington Post features a front-page story examining the notorious temper of Sen. John McCain, including a first-hand account of McCain's physical altercation with fellow GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley.

It was early 1992, and the occasion was an informal gathering of a select committee investigating lingering issues about Vietnam War prisoners and those missing in action, most notably whether any American servicemen were still being held by the Vietnamese. It is unclear precisely what issue set off McCain that day. But at some point, he mocked Grassley to his face and used a profanity to describe him. Grassley stood and, according to two participants at the meeting, told McCain, "I don't have to take this. I think you should apologize."

McCain refused and stood to face Grassley. "There was some shouting and shoving between them, but no punches," recalls a spectator, who said that Nebraska Democrat Bob Kerrey helped break up the altercation.

Earlier this month, The Huffington Post first reported on charges leveled in Cliff Schecter's book, The Real McCain, that McCain had physically attacked GOP Arizona Rep. Rick Renzi. At the time, McCain issued a non-denial denial, saying the reports about his temper were either "false or exaggerated."

But in the Washington Post today, McCain aide Mark Salter confirmed that Renzi and McCain had a very heated exchange:

Reports recently surfaced of Rep. Rick Renzi, an Arizona Republican, taking offense when McCain called him "boy" once too often during a 2006 meeting, a story that McCain aides confirm while playing down its importance. "Renzi flared and he was prickly," McCain strategist Mark Salter said. "But there were no punches thrown or anything."

[Radical Activist]

1. This is the perfect opponent for Obama.

All of Obama's opponents end up getting frustrated, angry and implode when their ugly attacks against him don't work. McCain will explode on national television and look psychotic while Obama remains cool and collected. I can't wait. Bookmark this prediction.

[bluestateguy]

2. McCain sold out our POW's and MIA's

He put the kibosh on getting to the truth of what happened to these people.

[CoffeeCat]

3. McCain worries me the most...

...because he experienced horrific trauma while he was a POW--and he appears to still have PTSD.

For years, this man was tortured and psychologically damaged in ways that would break most human beings.

It doesn't seem like his emotional issues were resolved, after he was freed. He cheated on his wives, and
has two marriages that ended. They all described him as having anger issues. Now, we hear that he loses it
around others.

The man is not emotionally stable.

Furthermore, McCain's trauma was centered around war. Now, he's salivating to continue our current failed
war and expand it further. Given that McCain returned from war and has continued to display emotional
problems--I wonder if he's not still traumatized and attempting to work through the trauma by being the
one "in control" in a war situation.

Abuse is cyclical. Some children who were abused grow up to abuse their own children, because it gives them
a feeling of power and control---in a situation where they were once controlled and powerless.

It seems like that is what McCain is doing. He was once powerless and traumatized in a war situation. Since he
hasn't processed his trauma, he'll orchestrate himself at the "helm" of a war situation and control it all.

If he was truly at peace and emotionally stable, he would end the war. But he's not. He's still traumatized, so
he's going to expand the war and enjoy being on the controlling end of a war scenario.

I find this horrendously disturbing. Bush was a warmonger, but McCain is a nutjob warmonger with unresolved PTSD.

The man needs years of therapy. He doesn't need to be the Commander-in-Chief--that's for sure.

[leftchick]

4. Question: How does this make it to CNNMSRNCCBSABCNBC???

Answer: It doesn't

[rurallib]

5. Must have beat each other senseless

based on performances since. (ok - before also. Not two of our best).