Does anyone feel sorry for Senator John McCain?

[AnArmyVeteran]

Senator McCain has changed a lot in the past two years. Especially after Palin. McCain had a lot of integrity. He was the true maverick by going against his party bosses and sticking his head out for campaign finance reform, something republicans look at like it's Ebola. It's obvious McCain is in a different political climate that he is used to dealing with. He is trying to cater to the most extreme, and McCain is going against every fiber in his body and it is showing wear on his objectivity and ability to reason at all. He's caught up in the right wing hate machine and he hasn't found a way to climb out of it. He looks lost and when he speaks it's not the John McCain of just a few years ago. Whatever a person thinks about him, remember, the things he is saying now he will always regret later. I just hope he takes back the person he was. He needs to stand up to the tea baggers. He could be a leader by telling the truth about the tea party. He would have a forum. And he could end this entire spiral of hate we are in. He is just about the only person in the republican party who could carry the stature to change their party, and stand up to the lunatics in their extreme ranks. McCain needs to have a national address to the nation condemning the hatred from the right. He needs to condemn conservative talk show hosts whose only function is to spread fear, hatred, anger, racism and rage, blind rage. Then McCain needs to attack Fox News and tell the world the network is a fraud.

McCain, you still have a chance to redeem yourself and take back that part of yourself that made you a great man. Don't miss this opportunity John.
Find yourself and save your nation.

[la la]

1. i'm sorry, but no- i do not feel sorry for mccain--

he rides the elephant till it gets mired down and then he switches positions on the elephant ---and then months/years later- switches positions again---

he either listens to 'advisors' too much---or doesn't listen at all--or changes advisors --who the hell knows.....

he can no longer be relied on to be a politician of the people.....

[olegramps]

45. You want me to feel sorry for a lousy gold digger.

This asshole got into the Naval Academy because his father and grandfather were admirals. He would have been kick out except for the his father's influence. He graduated at the bottom of his class and is the archetypal example of a privileged underachieving brat, just like Bush. War hero? He was a lousy pilot that just happened to get shot down. When he comes home, he sees his wife has been crippled and he is out of there drinking and screwing anything that will tolerate him. He finally marries a women that can buy him an election and a little respectability. His character was fully revealed when in desperation he chose Palin as his running mate. The thought that they could be elected and that he could croak leaving her in charge would have been a nightmare.

[napi21]

2. At one time I liked him & respected him. I remember him

apologizung for lying in SC when he said the State could dcide about flying the confederate flag over their State House. I remember when he fought against his own Party many times for what he believed in. Something happened to him when he got the nomination for the Pub Presidential candidate. There's no way he would have chosen the barracuda as a running mate. He's NOT the same man that you speak about and I no longer have any respect for him at all. I can't think of anything he could say or do to regain that respect.

[Lucian]

3. Fuck no.

[2Design]

4. McCain changed back when he ran for President and they gave it to bush - he sold his soul

up until that point, I thought he was a worthwhile human being - now - not so much -

[ingac70]

5. He NEVER had any integrity. He is a giant POS.

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

[MajorChode]

61. Amen

McCain cheated on his first wife at every opportunity, and then finally dumped her after she nursed him back to health while being disabled herself. When she was no longer the tall beautiful model he married, he dropped her like a dirty sock for a younger, more attractive, and richer woman. McCain then went to bat for his rich friend during the S&L scandal and never once offered to even partially repay all the old people who were swindled by Keating, thanks to his help. The only time he has ever bucked the GOP is when he thought it would be politically advantageous for him to do so. Anytime he ever went against the GOP on a controversial issue, he quickly reversed himself when he caught too much flack from the right.

He's an asshole, through and through, with no hope of redemption.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

66. Yep.

Stupid, and without a moral compass.

[Ardent15]

6. Not at all

He is responsible for his disgusting actions.

[Sherman A1]

23. Precisely

It's about taking responsibility for one's actions and in my opinion has never really had to do so.

[Mz Pip]

7. Don't hold your breath

He lost all credibility as a serious politician when he picked Sarah Yep Yep for his VP. Back in 2000 I thought he was much preferable to GW. But Ithink he was just another legacy boy with a good story. The RW spin machine trashed him and he just sucked it up rather than expose them for the slime that they were/are.

It was clear he was not comfortable during his rally with Palin but it just shows how far he is willing to go to stay in office. I honestly don't know what the guy believes in any more. Instead of standing up to the teabaggers he grovels at the feet of their queen and lets her make fun of him.

It really is time for him to retire to one of his many houses. He's already stated that he has no plans to do any work between now and the 2010 elections. He's not the only person who ever lost a presidential bid and had to remain in office. HE has a job to do and needs to do it.

As much as I wish John McCain would follow your advice, I don't see it happening.

[The Second Stone]

8. I never understood why the media and the public

bought this entitled, privileged jerk's bullshit.

[Ardent15]

9. Because he's a "war hero", and we love the miltiary...

..except when it comes to actually, you know, taking care of them.

[Ichingcarpenter]

10. Deserting his sick wife and kids is a lot of intregrity?

You must not have followed his life before 2008 or 2000.
Keating 5? His adopted daughter's slight? kooks? Bomb bomb iran? His vietnam and naval history

There is just too much history to type on my iTouch right now

[cliffordu]

11. Nope. Not one fucking bit.

I used to be one of his biggest apologists here.

After what he pulled during the election, he can shuffle off to a rest home as far as I'm concerned.

[saltpoint]

12. Not me.

He seems always to have been the most fiercely ordinary man who presents himself as a hero.

His experience is not particularly exceptional. His insight and judgment aren't particularly keen. And he's goddam boring as well.

[cliffordu]

13. duplicate. Weird.

[Contrary1]

14. "Find yourself and save your nation."

McCain's not the man to do that.

[Inspired]

27. Exactly!

Who gives a rats ass about McCain anyway? I certainly don't. Pre or post Palin.

[Bluebear]

15. Why are you erecting this statue here?

[chollybocker]

16. I heard someone say he was not as 'Mavericky' as he used to be.

Oh, that was McCain. Nevermind.

Feel sorry for him? Let me reach across the aisle to say,...no.

[aquart]

17. Integrity? John McCain? LOL! No. Nuh uh. Not so.

And after watching him carry water for George W. Bush for 8 years in the sure and certain promise of being next if he just played ball, it is SWEET to see him so screwed.

[political_Dem]

18. Hell No.

Especially when he stood there and let Caribou Barbie whip up racist sentiment during their town hall meetings and campaign rallies. And he clearly displayed his contempt for not only Blacks and Asians, but all people of color.

[Hekate]

19. My hubby used to really like him until Sarah Palin.I have in-laws who were faithful Repubs til Palin

I used to be neutral on the guy until all the dirt about his past started to come up, then I was rather disgusted. But I'm a lifelong Democrat and never would have voted for him in the first place, so that didn't matter.

But for me, neutrality went right out the window when he chose Sarah Palin as his running mate. (Are you detecting a theme here?)

John McCain is OLD, and his health is lousy. His temper is nasty and sometimes he talks and acts like he's no longer all there mentally. If he were to have won the presidency, with his lousy health there is a very good chance he would not have survived two years, much less four, and then the nation would have been stuck with President Caribou Barbie and Co-President Tawd. And that damned John McCain was willing to put us all at risk for WHAT?

He sold his soul a long time ago in whatever Faustian bargain seemed right to him. Good luck to him getting it back. I just hope he retires or is voted out very soon, and then good luck to Cindy.

Hekate

[Politicalboi]

20. Then McCain needs to attack Fox News and tell the world the network is a fraud.

Like Colburn did, and was on Bill'O show tonight, and said what he "really" meant. LOL! Of course Faux is fair and balanced. LOL! Kiss Kiss Kiss. McCain brought us Palin. I feel sorry for us. The only good thing is Tina Fey. We need her to tone down these assholes to maybe "see" what a fool Palin really is. Although I don't know how they missed her performance during the elections.

[SoCalDem]

21. Nope.. he could have been president if he had run against Clinton in 1996

but he waited his turn, and by the time he ran again in 2000, he was too old and junior had gotten the secret handshake.

McCain should have retired when he lost in 2000..

He's a greedy, stubborn old man.. a mean one at that..

he also was no war hero.. he got himself shot down, and did what any pow would try to do..survive.

The story about how he refused to be released had more to do with not shaming his pappy, than solidarity with his fellow pows..

[Tx4obama]

22. I feel sorry for America b/c he unleashed Palin on us & he is still standing by her. n/t

[rpannier]

24. I feel sorry that he's a pathetic sour-faced whiny loser

Who lies every chance he gets

"What has a man profited if he shall gain the world and lose his immortal soul."
It's a passage from the Bible he should take to heart

[old mark]

25. No. I used to admire him, till I read many articles on what he is really like -

He has no business in office at all, he is real trash.

mark

[Solly Mack]

26. Fuck no.

[WVRICK13]

28. Can't Fell Sorry For The Man

who unleashed Palin on us. Nope, no way.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

29. Why are you beating up the poor o p?

Janeane Garofalo wanted him for vice pres, John Kerry too.

Oh, he looks pathetic with his groveling. I liked him when he was all mavericky. He was hilarious.

[TheCowsCameHome]

30. Not here. Any integrity he had has long since washed away.

He thought Sarah Palin was his ticket to the White House.

Thank God that ticket went down in flames.

[customerserviceguy]

31. He'll have a few years in retirement

to take stock of his life. I don't think he'll survive the primary.

[trotsky]

32. McCain never had integrity. That was a well-crafted myth.

Keating 5.

[spanone]

33. NO i BLAME the bastard for unleashing the shrew on america

[lunatica]

34. McCain was never who you think he was

We're just seeing him for what he really is now. He may have gone against the Republicans in the past but it was usually to be worse than they were. He was never on the liberal side of anything.

Who do 'maverick' represent as politicians? I've always found they only represent their own interests.

[ashling]

35. When McCain was a "Maverick"

it was because that role worked for him. It doesn't work now. I didn't trust him then and I don't trust him now.

[AnArmyVeteran]

46. McCain gave up his soul when he kissed & made up with Bush in 2000...

Bush, Rove and gang assassinated McCain's character and even military service during the 2000 republican primaries. But then when McCain lost to Bush in the South Carolina primary he gave in and then hugged Bush. No one with their character intact would ever make peace with someone who attacked his family, his children, his military record and his mental stability. McCain didn't even get a public apology from Bush for the ambush of hate directed toward him. And if you remember, during the Carolina primaries those pious, righteous 'Christians' manned phone banks calling people to tell them blatant lies about McCain, even attacking one of his children.

NOTE: During the republican primary in Iowa Bush beat McCain by getting close to 95% of the vote. McCain received about 5%. The reason: The republicans in Iowa wanted to keep their government subsidies. McCain was against continuing the subsidies, but Bush pandered to the greedy republicans by promising to keep the government's cash register open for them to loot. Conservatives 'say' they are against government and government spending, unless they are getting the money. That Iowa primary showed the true colors of a conservative republican. I'm surprised the media didn't even mention that contradiction in 'principles'.

[Mike Daniels]

36. Until he apologizes for giving Palin national exposure I could care less about McCain

Even after poll after poll shows that the public (including a considerable number of Republicans) considers Palin unqualified for the presidency McCain continues to defend her presence on the national stage.

McCain could have easily chosen another candidate as a concession to the religious element of the part (Huckabee for example) or any number of qualified female politicians but he chose someone exclusively on her ability to get the MILF-motivated voter.

That act alone should wipe out any "good" McCain may have done over his career. Also, history should hold McCain accountable for any damage Palin does should she ever obtain national office.

[Phentex]

43. Exactly! He turned out to be an idiot and he's sticking with it...

he gets nothing from me.

[AnArmyVeteran]

55. Agree, he should apologize for unleashing Palin on us...

And he should be truthful in his reasons for picking her. If McCain savagely attacked Palin and called her the dunce she is it might end a lot of the idiotic speculations that she is a presidential contender. The 'liberal media' keeps hyping her as a potential candidate and promoting her when they should just turn off their cameras and refuse to follow Palin around. How can anyone believe Palin is presidential material? I never thought I would say this, but she is even stupider than Bush.

[RT Atlanta]

37. No... and I'm still mad at him

for unleashing that beast Palin on the lower 48

[Toasterlad]

38. Yes, Now That You Mention It, I Do.

He used to be a man of principal. A Republican, to be sure, but a "pure" Republican, who didn't willingly align himself to the loony religious base, who felt government should be concerned with fiscal, not moral issues, and who was unapologetically critical of ANY proposal with which he did not agree, whether it came from the left OR the right. He demonstated a willingness to work with colleagues from across the aisle that has all but disappeared over the last decade or so. He was a man who genuinely cared about this country, and who routinely put its needs over political manuevering.

And somewhere along his path to power, he allowed himself to be seduced by the notion that he must toe his party's line in order to acheive his goals; that he must pander to the lowest intellects and ideologies in America in order to save it. He ceased to be an admirable man, and became just another political shill. Sadly, he wasn't the first or the last to fall victim to political "pragmatism".

On the plus side, he introduced the world to Sarah Palin, who is the single biggest threat to the Republican party since Richard Nixon. Well done, Senator. Well done.

And no, I'm afraid McCain's hero days are behind him. He's too old, and losing the election took too much out of him; he'll never be a truly respected figure within the Republican party again. Such are the perils of selling your soul.

[Stevenmarc]

39. You mean the original Mr. Cash for Clunkers, when he dumped his disabled wife for an heiress

[NorthCarolina]

40. Sorry, but I never saw McCain as anything but an opportunistic phony to begin with.

He's a befuddled old fool who should have retired from the Senate long ago, instead of going out in a public death spiral. I had assumed the GOP Presidential candidate nomination, in an election where the GOP had almost 0% chance of winning, was designed to be his swan song, and an effort to save "candidate Romney" for an election year with better prospects for the GOP.

[Mike Daniels]

53. Actually, had the economy not collapsed McCain may have easily won

People forget that McCain, even after selecting Palin for VP, was either pulling even or slightly ahead of Obama shortly after the conventions.

It was only when the economy cratered and McCain's reaction was to stumble around and "postpone" his campaign that Obama started to pull ahead again.

[NorthCarolina]

70. I had not forgotten that, it's just that I realize

a large portion of the voting public is brain dead...so I just discounted it.

[tallahasseedem]

41. No.

He sold his soul forever in 2004.

Plus, he forced Sarah Palin on to the scene.

[City Lights]

42. No.

My Republican empathy well ran dry long ago.

[joe black]

44. NO

Old and stupid.

[lpbk2713]

47. Who?

Isn't he that guy that crashed all those Navy jets?


:eyes:

[NNN0LHI]

48. I don't think you realize McCain has done some pretty bad shit in his life

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/10/07/1504434.aspx

McCain: Examining Keating

Posted: Tuesday, October 07, 2008 9:08 AM by Domenico Montanaro

The AP looks at Keating. "The Republican senator's lawyer in the case, John Dowd, told reporters in a conference call Monday that McCain had been the victim of 'a political smear job' by Senate Democrats. When a reporter noted that McCain himself has spoken contritely about his role, Dowd responded, 'I'm his lawyer and I have a different view of it.'"

More: "Once close to Keating, McCain received $112,000 from him, his family and associates. The senator and his family also flew in Keating's plane to the Bahamas and -- in the events that triggered the Senate investigation -- took up his cause with financial regulators as they were investigating the businessman. Keating eventually went to prison. McCain eventually repaid $112,000 to the U.S. Treasury and reimbursed Keating for the trips. The irony of the Keating case is that McCain received the mildest ethics committee rebuke of the five senators in 1991, and was kept as a defendant because he was the only Republican. The special counsel in the case had recommended that McCain and one of the Democrats be dropped as defendants. But Democrats, who controlled the Senate, refused to take all the heat for the scandal and all five remained in the case to the end."

And once six-degrees games are brought up, there are more where those came from… AP writes: "McCain has past connections to a private group that supplied aid to guerrillas seeking to overthrow the leftist government of Nicaragua in the Iran-Contra affair. … The U.S. Council for World Freedom was part of an international organization linked to former Nazi collaborators and ultra-right-wing death squads in Central America. The group was dedicated to stamping out communism around the globe. The council's founder, retired Army Maj. Gen. John Singlaub, said McCain became associated with the organization in the early 1980s as McCain was launching his political career in Arizona."

[librechik]

49. Why doesn't he just retire and live in one of his 9 houses? Sorry?

When he apologizes, I may give him some respect. But sorry? For that lying greedy insensitive war monger? Are you crazy?

[csziggy]

50. No, I never felt he had integrity. And he always gave me the creeps

I got bad vibes off him every time I saw him interviewed. My husband criticized me because I compared him to Raymond Shaw in "The Manchurian Candidate" (1962 version) - he just felt "off" to me. And Cindy McCain reminds me of Angela Lansbury's character - Raymond's mother.

[Subdivisions]

51. He just said 'It's time to pull the trigger on Iran.' AND, remember the

Bomb, bomb, bomb
Bomb, bomb Iran...

I don't feel sorry for him at all. There's no reason to.

[Bobbie Jo]

52. Oh hell no. Not after he unleashed that hateful

queen of screech to continue her reign of terror across the land.

Sorry, I'm just not feeling it.

[AnArmyVeteran]

54. McCain seems to be mentally confused and clueless where he is...

Can you imagine how he would be if he was the president? And with Palin waiting in his shadow hoping McCain would die so she could opportunistically step in and be president. That thought is terrifying to me... Yet, that is exactly what conservatives want. It's obvious they couldn't care less about the country. All they care about is their own corrupt, soulless political party.

[Bobbie Jo]

64. The mere thought of that scenario sends chills

down my spine.

Beyond the prospect of that near disaster, the GOP has proven it cannot be trusted to govern. period.

[Golden Raisin]

56. No,

[snooper2]

57. McCain has always been a POS...fuck him

nt

[Turborama]

58. McCain fired up the right wing hate machine by unleashing Sarah "End Times" Palin on the world

I don't see why anyone should feel sorry for him now that the monster he created is out of control. He owns the right wing hate fest that's been going on during/since the election.

[MrSlayer]

59. No and I'll never forgive him for unleashing Palin on the country.

He should just go away and enjoy his wife's money for the rest of his life.

[onpatrol98]

60. I'm not feeling sorry for him at the moment...

[ellie]

62. Jesus, no

He is a horrible human being.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

63. I kind of do.

Way back in the day, he seemed a much more traditional GOPer, someone who was certainly conservative but not unreasonable.

Sadly his desire for the Presidency made him go around the political bend. He fully embraced those who he had known to be bad for his Party and bad for the country. He espoused views that I am not sure even he believed in to win votes. And he finally ran himself into the political gutter when he brought someone even he knew to be wholly unqualified onboard his campaign.

And now he says he never claimed to be any kind of "maverick".

It is a very sorry slide in political irrelevance that man has taken.

I would be more sad if he had genuinely been trying to do the right thing and failed instead of completely sold himself out to do it.

[DailyGrind51]

65. I feel sorry for his first wife, the one he ditched for the blonde beer heiress!

[BlooInBloo]

67. Is this like The World's Worst Joke thread or something?

Who the fuck would feel sorry for Crazy Old Man Yelling At Clouds?

He was never a maverick - look at his voting record.

McOlderThanDirt is a worthless piece of shit, has been for decades, and it was all his choice.

[GentryDixon]

68. I wish his cheek would finally explode

and out us all out of our misery.

NO! He gave us Palin.

[ecstatic]

74. LOL!!

[miscsoc]

69. I do have a soft spot for McCain,

and I think a lot of people, including a lot of non-americans, do as well. He reminds me a lot of Winston Churchill - I don't mean that wholly as praise. I hope he ditches the right wing doctrine - it doesn't suit him. Although even when he expresses his real opinions he's a bit of a prick - but at least a sort of admirable and semi-genuine one, with a sort of charismatic stubborness.

It would be good for him to lose the GOP primary in AZ, it might force him to be himself.

[Hansel]

71. No. nt

[ecstatic]

72. Maybe if he says F*CK YOU to Sarah Palin at his concession speech

and goes off on the repugs and teabaggers. That would be great TV :) :popcorn:

[Paladin]

73. Nope. (n/t)