John McCain's 2008 Sell-Out Express Tour continues around the country. Last night's show was in New York, where the politician who once seemed like the genuine article continued to look like an article in the National Enquirer.
McCain appeared on Letterman, where he "announced" his candidacy. "I am announcing that I will be a candidate for president of the United States," the senator told the talk show host, in what can only be described as the least interesting piece of political news since Tom Vilsack dropped out the race (I know what you're thinking, but it's true -- Tom Vilsack was running for president. But his candidacy never quite generated the buzz of say, Elizabeth Dole).
After shocking the world with his faux announcement, McCain announced he'd be announcing again in April. Wow. Quite an exclusive. Look, I wasn't born yesterday (though if I had been, this would be a terribly impressive blog from a one day old baby). I know candidates form exploratory committees -- that's announcement #1. Then they leak word that they're likely to toss their hair gel into the ring -- that's announcement #2. Then they appear on Letterman or "The Daily Show," something hip the young people watch -- that's announcement #3. Then they file paperwork with the FEC -- that's announcement #4. Finally, they give a speech and make it "formal" -- that's announcement #5. And -- of course -- it works. CNN, MSNBC and Fox all covered the Letterman appearance as if actual news had been made.
It all began in 2004 when McCain made a deal with the devil to get access to the Bush financial network and started accumulating frequent flyer miles on Air Force One, actively campaigning for Bush's reelection and spurning John Kerry. It has continued right through the Fallwell/Robertson fiasco up to McCain's cheerleading for the president's escalation in Iraq.
Sure, in 2000 he benefitted from fawning press coverage (just try to find an article from the campaign where he wasn't referred to as "the maverick Arizona senator"). But they fawned for a reason. He was a straight shooter. He did tell it like it is. He was (insert cliche here). And then, after nearly four years of useful criticism, that McCain was gone, another politician willing to do or say anything to become president.
That's why Wednesday night's Letterman appearance is worth disparaging. Because there was John McCain, once a rare American phenomenon, the authentic politician, suddenly taking his cues from the pages of guys like Sam Brownback.
How sad.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 3)
1. John McCain has more balls than any of you whiners that call yourselves bloggers. F--K off and get a life. John has given much to this nation and what have you punks given? A lot of bull s--t. Bring them on John will be ready.
Command Sergeant Major
United States Army Retired
Bob Cole at 6:08PM on Mar 1st 2007
2. Agree about McCain's pact with Bush's money machine. Unfortunately, you take a man with the makings of a decent president, expose him to back room realities, and this is what you get. SAD, yet it is the NORM for the Republican Party forebearer. Sell you soul to the devil.
Rick at 6:25PM on Mar 1st 2007
3. McCain is a closet Liberal masquerading as a Conservative when ever it is politically expedient. The sorry SOB should just plain come clean and admit that, just like Reid, Pelosi, Kennedy or any one of the Democrat leadership, he would betray this country the first opportunity he got to gain political power.
He is a treasonous coward ... JUST LIKE THE DEMOCRAT LEADERSHIP. That piece of human feces needs to run on the Democrat ticket where he belongs!
Thomas at 6:35PM on Mar 1st 2007
4. I will not support McCain. He has abandoned and betrayed his fellow 1.7 million military retirees, and has neither supported nor sponsored any legislation that would restore military retired benefits stolen under that weasel, Clinton, and perpetuated under that snake, Bush, along with the "three stooges," Rumsfeld, Winkenwerder, and Chu, and their brown-nosing lap dogs, the service chiefs.
They can all go to hell.
Ken
Ken at 6:50PM on Mar 1st 2007
5. Great blog article...you nailed it with honest truth. It's so sad to see McCain becoming a first ballot flip flopping Hall of Fame nominee. He's bacically a 70 yr. old bum.
James W at 7:23PM on Mar 1st 2007
6. The young turks have not earned the right to be critical!!!!
John at 7:24PM on Mar 1st 2007
7. McCain is always referred as a Vietnam War Hero just because he was a POW in Vietnam. A war hero he is not. He was the son of a Admiral and was given special treatment....a private nurse, good food, private room, a doctor to tend to his injuries. He was never tourtured or beaten or given soup with magets in it.
The Vietnamies gave his special treatment thinking the US would pay them to release him. To top it all off, Mc Cain and good ole John Kerry did their best to bury the pow issue by saying there are no POW's in Vietnam...Well then where is my brother at?
No way will I ever want McCain or Kerry in for a President and go to war.....your sons and daughters will be forgotten about and they will say....they aren't there.
Gidget at 7:26PM on Mar 1st 2007
8. McCain is too old to be President. His mind is "slowing" the same as any 70 year old and so is his judgment. His attitudes are also dated just like Cheney and Rumsfeld. They are all living in the past and are making judgments on "old" information. Bush is a victim of having chosen old men to advice him. We don't need another oldie in the White House.
Irene Slater at 7:33PM on Mar 1st 2007
9. Individuals #'s 2 and 3 reflect the stupidity of many individuals that blog..the inability to see the big picture!Regardless on McCain's political position,as a man that has been through the worst war can offer,he's more than earned the right to his position!Unfortunately,#'s 2+3 lack any intestinal fortitude,otherwise,they would not have made the comments in that manner!
John at 7:39PM on Mar 1st 2007
10. John, # 6 above, had the gall to say, "Individuals #'s 2 and 3 reflect the stupidity of many individuals that blog." Hey John...YOU BLOG!! And just because they have a different point of view they no credibility, and "lack any intestinal fortitude,otherwise,they would not have made the comments in that manner" ???
You had nothing to say about the issue before us, to wit, McCain's stature as a presidential canidate. All you did is complain that others are stupid and cowardly because they have differing point of view. Come on.
Joe at 8:33PM on Mar 1st 2007
11. Jesus. The Republican war-mongering is ubiquitous. It even shows up on the TYT blog.
Ben, you're absolutely right about McCain. What I'm grappling with is whether he'll really be the weakest Republican candidate in the general election. Or would it be Giuliani? Or Romney? Or Gingrich? Basically, who can I root for to be the most-likely loser to Edwards, or Obama, or Richardson. (Clinton is toast, imo.)
Craig B at 8:57PM on Mar 1st 2007
12. There are many reasons Republicans will NOT support McCain. First and and most important is Campaign finance Deform. to place limits on free speech in the 30 days before an election is abhorrent to all Republicans. That the Supreme Court's 2 Democ-RATS and 3 RINOs upheld this law is absolutely disgusting and gives all the tip-off of the kind of Justices McCain would nominate to the Court should he be elected and they're not conservatives. RINOs such as Souter and Stevens and Kennedy, an appropriate name for him, would be the McCain standard.
Then there is what he said about Robertson and Falwell--placing these two fine gentlemen in the same category as the racists Jerkson and Sharpie Sharpton. Not for nothing did Biden say that Obama was the first "clean" black candidate for President. For comparing Falwell and Robertson to these two anti-Semites McCain deserves the contempt of all decent Americans (who are disproportionally Republican).
Finally there is McCain's vote against the Bush tax bill of 2001. This tax bill, now the law, is responsible for the four years of economic prosperity our nation has experienced. This vote by McCain was a tip-off of the kind of economic program he would institute--one that would tax the people like a Democ-RAT.
For those foregoing reasons, and many more, John McCain should be denied the Presidency of the United states. He holds Republicans in contempt and that was shown today in the way he treated the Conservative Conference in Washington. The contempt is mutual, he can be very certain!
David S. Levine at 8:59PM on Mar 1st 2007
13. Joh McCain is a sell out. I have never voted Republican in my life. At one time I considered voting for McCain, but not now. Many Dems feel the same way. I see nooone on either side of the aisle. I think that is sad.
Patty S. at 9:13PM on Mar 1st 2007
14. John McCain is the real article, caught up in political necessities. He must be all things to all people: conservative for the conservatives; moderate for the middle roaders, etc.
The problem is that, by acting that way, he is not following his conscience. What is needed is a straight shooter who is willing to call it as he sees it, regardless of the political consequences. That is what he was in the last campaign and he should return to that again, to win, or to lose.
Gerald Serlin at 9:19PM on Mar 1st 2007
15. First off I would LOVE to respond to "gidget". Kind Madame, please note that Senator John McCain does not call himself a war hero. In his own words time and again, he has stated clearly that he ONLY did as he saw fit during his term as a POW. Yes, Senator McCain was the son of an admiral, he was also the grandson of an admiral. As such the Viet Kong attempted to afford him 'special treatment' by giving him the cowards way out and heading home as soon as they realized his family's influence. The reason that the Military and his fellow Americans consider him a hero is because then young Captain McCain REFUSED to leave before ANY living soul in his camp who had been there longer than he was also released. Captain McCain was afforded special medical treatment when it was convenient for his captors only. You have obviously not paid attention to the Senators well disguised gait as he walks due to the broken limbs he has suffered. As he makes his run for President in '08 please take a moment to notice as he raises either arm above his head to wave to his constiuents, that neither arm will straighten beyond about 70 degrees due to the fact that had had both of his arms broken numerous times during his wonderfully pleasant stay in the Hanoi Hilton. Please also note the next time you decide to have a lovely bowl of warm Muesli that it does not have the conveniences that his porridge did while he was a resident of Viet Nam, you won't habve the high protein content of maggots in your ONCE DAILY meal!
I am a raving fan of Senator John Sidney McCain, and have been since before he was even a Congressman. I have been a fan for years before I was even allowed to vote for him myself. I will remain a fan of his because I know what this man stands for and I will continue to support him as long as he remains the honest and true American that he has always proven to be.
As far as his stance on Military retirement? I am a military retiree spouse, and I cannot complain. His support of the concurrent receipt laws have allowed my family to benefit and a larger annual increase than previous retiree families have received in the past. Because of Senator McCain and other fine legislators, Military personnel are not penalized for obtaining disabilities while in the military, they are now given BOTH their retirement pay and their disability pay. How is that a bad thing?? Because it takes ten years to get a 100% of each?? Well as you follow that line of thinking, please remember that Senator McCain will only ever receive a small portion of his retirement pay because of this disabilites he endured while NOT being beaten, tourtured or fed rodent feces as Gidget implies.
Mr. Mankiewicz, this posting is not meant as a diatribe to your initial article. I do understand your bubble being burst that someone as honorable as our Maverick Senator has had to give way and buy into the political machine that this country is now founded on, that too disappoints me, but who of us have not had to give in a bit on an ideal or two to acheive what we must for our lives to meet our expectations.
BDiehl at 9:39PM on Mar 1st 2007