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Lost: The “Old” John McCain
As someone who was a huge supporter of John McCain in 2000 and who registered as a Republican to vote for him in the 2000 California primary, I second the views of THIS COLUMN by Dana Milibank.
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35 Responses to “Lost: The “Old” John McCain”
Although I have criticized John McCain on certain issues (e.g. the Iraq war), I have always respected him, in particular because of his heroic service to country.
However, recently, this man who I considered to have more integrity than most politicians, has now become just another politician as shown in his “I will do anything, I will say anything” stance to protect his right flank, his political career, against “birther” Republican, J.D. Hayworth.
Shame
Mr. Milbank may be holding out hope, but I hope he's not holding his breath…
I'm probably making excuses but, almost every losing Presidential candidate goes off in to some sort of funk. Such a defeat seems to tear down a once promising candidate. I'll still defend the McCain that ran in 2008. His current behavior has been quite paritisan and doesn't represent his last 30 years in office.
Just now realizing about McCain? Had him pegged as a wolf in sheep's clothing long ago. He's a MINO [moderate in name only].
His picking Palin should've been the last red flag. There are some who speculate that his “attempted but failed” campaign reform was meant to be a pre-discourager for later action by real guardians of the Constitution to give up and not defend via the 14th's mandate to not abridge the rights of any citizen “born or naturalized” [ONLY] in the US.
There have been lots of red flags with McCain but as usual the kumbaya crowd only wants to see the “best” in people and smooth over the ever-glaring flaws..
Like you Joe I supported McCain in 2000 but I wonder if McCain has changed or we were just taken for a ride back then by a triangulating politician that has no real convictions. I fear it's the real John McCain we are seeing now.
The Moderates who lean left should look in the mirror.
During my lifetime, there have been three Moderate Republicans running for POTUS: Ford, Bush I and Mc Cain. Mc Cain spent the aughts going across the line and going against Party disipline.
How was he treated in 2008? “McSame” anyone?
The Left needs their Emmanuel Goldsteins (see the writer Kathy kattenberg for a perfect example) and Mc Cain had never been in their headlights like the Bush's (Pere and fils) were. It opened his eyes, and it opeded the eyes of the lower level partisans.
You want Moderate Republicans to come to the fore? Support them in Election years as well as Governing years. And especially during the general.
For a lot of partisans on the Right, we see the media and so called “Moderates” have been lying about wanting Moderate Republicans.
The question you should be asking: How do we regain the trust of the Right again. Untul then, Conservatives, especially fiscal, will reign on the Right.
Enjoy the whirlwind.
Maybe you're right Ron, about the whole “convictions” thing being little more than an act all along, which means a lot of us were taken in. The only other explanation I can think of might relate to a deteriorating mental state, which in many ways puts him right at home in the US Senate.
You must mean those little dust devils that dance across dry fields in the summer. We used to chase them down and run into them when we were kids. A quick buffeting and then watch them zip on by, picking up more dust as they went. Hey, kids will do anything for fun.
I'm with you Dana, wish the old McCain was back.
One quibble. Your statement: “During the Bush years, former POW McCain fought against abusive interrogations; last week he scolded the Obama administration for inadequate interrogation of the underwear bomber”. Abusive and inadequate are not equal.
In other words, if any person is a Conservative or Republican, you will continue in your Two Minute Hates.
Have fun with that.
being little more than an act all along”
Puleez.
He's a chameleon, and so is Obama. See: politician.
I guess you haven't listened to Conservative Limbaugh who on many an occasion just vilified Senator McCain.
As a Democrat (you may call me “partisan”), I have never gone as far in my criticism of McCain as that Conservative “gentleman” has. Let's have those whirlwinds, we can handle them in Texas.
Of course Rush attacked McCain. Because he broke with party unity and went against the Bush Administration many times. “Gang of 14″ and “Mccain-Feingold” anyone?
He isn't one of the many writers who wished for Moderates to return to the Republican party.
Again, you want Moderates to take back the GOP? Support them in November elections. Otherwise, it's just words.
What would you call it if it isn't an act? Hypocrisy? Waffling? Abandoning of convictions? Amnesia? Residual anger at losing too many times? I think his willingness to suck up to the Bush/Cheney folks after he was treated so abysmally in the primary 10 years ago should have told people something. Anger can take many forms, and isn't always directed where it should be. I'v'e long since given up on McCain. You should too.
I remember when he won the nomination, I thought “if Obama loses, at least we won't have another hard-right know-nothing Christianist in the White House”. The problem, of course, was how far right McCain turned in order to appease the conservative base, how he did end up sounding a lot like Dubbya. And the Palin pick? Yikes!
The only other explanation I can think of might relate to a deteriorating mental state, which in many ways puts him right at home in the US Senate.”
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LOL!….
I watched the Mullins questioning and I don't think anyone could say that McCain was “enraged”. Besides Mullins is electioneering. I think he has plans to run for office and that’s why he is suddenly so “outspoken” on issues. Considering no progress in Afghanistan and limited success in Iraq, now his electioneering, Mullins has outlived his usefulness and should retire.
” almost every losing Presidential candidate goes off in to some sort of funk.”
agree with shannonlee. . . i wonder about happens in the psyche of those that go through that kind of aspirational deflation. . . for some like McCain it seems to create new demons and for others it seems to sever them from their old ones when they rise from the ashes. . .McCain is still in the blazing rage of loss and exposure, in my opinion. . .
“You want Moderate Republicans to come to the fore? Support them in Election years as well as Governing years. And especially during the general.”
Some of us have. I voted for Bush 41 twice and McCain in the 2000 primary. And what did we get for it? Both they and we were (and are) denigrated as RINOS or pseudo-conservatives by the bushwhackers in the party. As a result, the party has moved from the middle, even would be moderates like McCain, Voinovich, et al. in order to appease the rabid minority, albeit very active, in the party. I would have voted for McCain 2000 over Obama in 2008. But McCain 2008 was a pale shadow of his former self.
That's nothing more than a rationalization for apathy. And the fact that people say it all the time is no excuse.
Dems don't remember McCain's voting record because they are not big on records. A good speech about bipartisanship beats a 30 year record of bipartisanship.
at would you call it if it isn't an act? Hypocrisy? Waffling? Abandoning of convictions? Amnesia? Residual anger at losing too many times? '
You pick, as long as you don't say he was a phony or faking it. It lowers your perception quotient.
a 30 year record of bipartisanship.”
Yeh.
Fine duck, he used to have convictions and now he doesn't. Better?
Of course now that McCain is not acting like that voting record makes us look a bit more intelligent than the picture you have painted here but I think we both know where each other stands on the 08 election issue. And you apologize for him with equal fervor as I do for the O man.
Better, yes.
And you apologize for him with equal fervor as I do for the O man.”
LOL
I have seen nothing that would indicate that McCain was ever one of the sharper knives in the kitchen and I wonder if his “mental state” was ever what it should be after his POW experience. He finished near the bottom in his class at Annapolis and got into flight school because his father and grandfather were admirals.
McCain's latest action or statement putting him in the news is politically incorrect.
So now, all of you who formerly found him to be an “Acceptable Republican” now question that deeply.
At least you aren't calling this, too, another developing constitutional crisis.
I have seen nothing that would indicate that McCain was ever one of the sharper knives in the kitchen and I wonder if his “mental state” was ever what it should be after his POW experience. He finished near the bottom in his class at Annapolis and got into flight school because his father and grandfather were admirals.”
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Ouch! The truth hurts…lol..
Also, DLS, I just so happen to agree with McLame on DADT. What pigeonhole will you put me in now?..lol..
“Also, DLS, I just so happen to agree with McLame on DADT. What pigeonhole will you put me in now?..lol..”
I'd put you in with a solid minority, if you weren't laughing at the question as well as at me.
I don't believe you necessarily are posturing on behalf of the Republican opposition, as McCain likely is doing.
Are you satisfied? Well, I thought I'd ask.
And I have already stated that I believe McCain is behaving this way because he is bruised, battered, and in the typical after-loss funk that every candidate feels.
Why do I feel this way…he has a 30 year record as evidence.
Why do I feel this way…he has a 30 year record as evidence.”
Also notice that: “Yesterday, the decidedly odd couple of Senators John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) teamed up to introduce legislation that would restore the Glass-Steagall Act”
He at least tries to be bi-partisan. McCain, Feingold, etc.
Who cares about bipartisanship or campaign finance anymore anyway? It's all out the window now. Wake up and smell corruption people.