Good or Bad for the Jews

"Good or Bad for the Jews"

Many years ago, and for many years, I would travel to Morocco to visit uncles, cousins, and my paternal grandmother. Some lived in Tangiers;...

Sunday, August 26, 2018

John McCain, RIP

I was saddened to hear of the death of Senator John McCain. Having had a close cousin die of the same form of cancer (Glioblastoma) that killed the Senator, I think I know what a horrible way to go that is. He deserved better.

I don't want to get too political when we should be honoring a man who served his country for some 60 years, but . . . .

He came from a line of US Navy officers, and seemed fated to make the Navy his career. War, however, had other things for him. He, as we all know, was shot down over North Vietnam and underwent nearly six years of brutal treatment at the hands of the Vietnamese. I think few persons could have withstood the torture which he--and the other POWs--endured. When the Vietnamese discovered that his father was an Admiral, they turned the screws even harder. His captors later sought to give him special treatment, i.e., early release, if he would denounce the US effort. McCain to his credit refused early release; he would stay in the Hanoi Hilton. He emerged physically broken and his Navy career was over. He divorced the woman who had faithfully waited for him all those years, and married a younger and very wealthy one. He was elected to the Senate five times and was quite a media darling for most of that time--the exception being the Keating Five Scandal. He sought to portray himself as a "Straight Talker" and a "Maverick." I have my own views on those two labels, but I will leave it at that.

He ran for President twice, losing the first time in the GOP primaries to George Bush. He seemed to take the loss personally, remained bitter, and proved a reluctant supporter of Bush's campaigns. He, of course, ran again in 2008, won the primary, and faced fellow Senator Obama in the general election. That, in my view, was an election he could have won. He did one good thing right off, which was to pick Alaska Governor Plain as his running mate. That clinched it for me; I would vote for McCain instead of sitting it out. He, or the people, around him, however, soon began to undermine Palin; it was as though he envied her star power and ability to draw crowds. The sabotage was quite palpable during the campaign. You all know the details as well as I.

He ran an odd campaign. Not only was he sabotaging his running mate, but when the Wall Street crash happened, he suspended the campaign and returned to Washington to "deal with the economy." Those of us who were supporting him, were confused by this tactic, but assumed that he must have some plan to "deal with the economy." Well, he didn't. He just went to DC and spent valuable campaign time talking with Bush and members of Congress along the lines of, "Well what do we do?" Nobody knew what to do, and Obama kept campaigning, implying that he knew what to do. McCain eventually returned to the campaign, but whatever wind it had had in its sails, was now gone. Obama won handily. I leave to others whether it is fair to say McCain "gave" us Obama.

After that loss, McCain returned to the Senate, and, I hate to speak ill of the dead, but didn't really do much. For some thirty years in the Senate, not a whole lot of legislation or legacy, except that the establishment liked him, he was their favorite "Maverick." Enough said on that.

McCain always seemed a bit confused about American politics and the disadvantages that a conservative has in running for national office. He spent a lot of time trying to get cozy with the likes of the Washington Post and the New York Times, and he got not much for it except what Tom Bethell called that "strange new respect." As I have discussed before, trying to get that "respect" from the progs, is the road to political death for a conservative. McCain was the Democrats favorite "Republican." He made no secret of his hatred for Trump, a man who succeeded where he had failed. Enough said on that, too, you all know that story.

Anyhow, the man is dead. We can agree or disagree about his politics, but he was one of those fellows who suits up and goes to war at the command of his country. He proved brave in that endeavor and nobody can take that away from him. The rest of his legacy? We'll have to wait and see.

John McCain, Rest in Peace.

72 comments:

  1. I read John McCain's book, Faith of Our Fathers, which was very good. He rebelled against his father's urging a Navy career on him, and rebelled against the USNA while he was there, something he later regretted. I honor the service he performed for our country and John held up under brutal and harrowing conditions that would - and did - kill many others.

    As a Senator he was egotistical and self centered, and thought him too quick to choose war as a solution to many problems. I thought him smart and insightful choosing Sarah Palin, only to abandon her and later blame her - the one real bright spot in his campaign - for his own failures.

    In the end, he became petty and mean spirited and I'm glad he's no longer in the Senate. The country will be better off.

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  2. Senator McCain served his country ably in the Navy as did his family. With his passing he has performed a final service to the Republican party and more importantly to the conservative movement.

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    1. I'm touched by your comments whitewall and might have passed over them had I not noticed mister F's reference to "De mortuis nil nisi bonum" and you in the same sentence... You do indeed avoid speaking ill of the deceased Sailor and Senator simply by speaking of his 'good' accomplishments, even his passing. If I had my cover on I'd throw it in the air, sir!
      On Watch~~~

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  3. Replies
    1. Speak no ill of the dead.

      I second your comment of "Nothing."

      Delete
  4. Good analysis, DipII, which communicates more by not concluding a lot of themes than would be the case if you had followed through. De mortuis nil nisi bonum, and all that, but whitewall has the gist of it above. RIP.

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  5. McCain seems to have been a fairly strict secularist in a party that required at least a strong working relationship with religious people. Trump succeeded in that respect. He went to christian universities addressing the crowds, effectively, as 'you Christians'. He famously 'flubbed' a biblical reference, calling it "two corinthians", but at the same time, he made it clear that while he is not a believer, he wanted the support of believers. Many of the more famous christians, those who pray loudly on the street corners, were offended by his not living a life of christlike example. But the funny thing is, Christ was never offended by such. He was only offended by those praying loudly on the street corners and the idolators in the church. To his detriment, McCain missed this critical piece that Trump recognized. You don't have to pretend to be 'one of them' in order to get them to support you, you simply have to come up with a 'deal' whereby all parties get what they want.
    As mentioned, McCain *almost* got there in the GOP by picking Palin, but as you and commenters here point out, he was gun shy and wanted to pretend that religious people were, in their hearts, secularists like himself.
    Nobody's perfect.
    McCain was a good American and we couldn't really ask for a better way to handle his situation in Vietnam.

    - reader #1482

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  6. I refused to vote for him in 2008 (fortunately, my state has a "none of these" option :) ).

    A lot of people think that George W. Bush was stupid. Well, McCain really is stupid. He makes Bush look like Einstein. McCain graduated in the bottom one percent of his class (something quite hard to do, actually), and he spent his entire career proving that that wasn't a fluke.

    I always compared John McCain to Hillary Clinton. He has all of her violent temper (the obscenity laced tirades that he subjected his family to - in public - are legendary), but absolutely none of her intelligence. Hillary Clinton was the second-last person on earth whose finger I want on the nuclear button. John McCain was the very last person on earth whose finger I want on the nuclear button. Now that he's gone, Hillary moves up to number one.

    Good riddance!

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    1. I didn't vote for him either, but I did vote for Sarah Palin, so I guess I did vote for him as well, though, by default.

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  7. Anyone with a shred of decency would have resigned when it became obvious that he was incapable of fulfilling his duties in the Senate, but McCain (like too many other politicians) always put himself first, and those he was supposedly serving second.

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    1. Strongly agree! McCain was being paid by his constituents to do a job representing them as Senator. When could no longer do that job, he was honor-bound to resign.

      Most of us would like to observe the injunction about speaking ill of the dead … but how do we avoid noticing the sheer pettiness of a man who specifies that the current elected leader of the country he fought for will not be welcome at his funeral?

      And how can we avoid noting the utter stupidity of a man who made himself the darling of leftist media by criticizing his own Party every chance he got; then was savaged by that same leftist media which turned violently against him when he ran for President; and then as a failed Presidential candidate went straight back to trying to ingratiate himself with the media by once more criticizing his own Party?

      It would be nice if President Trump sent Air Force One to Arizona to bring the body back to his Swamp. It would be a good contrast with McCain's pettiness. And if Vice President Pence has an urgent golf game on the day of the funeral, we will all understand.

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    2. I think, by definition, Air Force One is the aircraft in which potus is riding.. if he sends the presidential plane somewhere else, it's no longer air force one.. or something like that

      Delete
    3. You are right about that. "Air Force One" is not an aircraft - it is, to quote Wikipedia, "the call sign of any U.S. Air Force aircraft carrying the President of the United States." Likewise, "Air Force Two" means that the vice president, but not the president, is on board.

      Delete
  8. Gotta disagree that McCain had a chance in 2008. As in 1976, Jesus Christ Himself wouldn't have won if He'd run as a Republican. Hatred of Republicans was too well-stoked, and they were also coming off two terms of Republican Presidencies. People were ripe for a "change", forgetting that not all change is good.

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    1. Yes.
      Even though I recognized Obama for what he was, seeing McCain campaign in 2008 made me very uneasy about voting for him. I saw things that reminded me a lot of my mother in the early stages of her dementia.

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    2. It speaks ill of our country that it would elect such a nonentity as the O, and he still garners a fair amount of enthusiasm and favorable publicity. How I wish he'd just take off for the golf links and stay there!

      Delete
  9. Well said and presented Mr. Dip, glad to see that you're still on the grid and responding to the salient Events of the Week! I almost began to expand on your eloquent essay, and apply the MUD to make it stick! However, before I commenced firing, I heard the echo of my Sainted mother, reminding me "Don't speak ill of the dead", she was the diplomat of the family... So I decided instead to do only one Dogpile search with the parameters 'McCain Traitor and Thief' hoping to rediscover the writings of a long time critic of John McCain. I wondered why I hadn't heard from him in a while? I learned from my search that his silence was terminal, he had died. None the less I heard him speaking critically about his fellow Hanoi Hilton POW. I remembered that the deceased combat Veteran's nick name for McCain was "Songbird", and there it was, So I'll just let the 'light commander' and "Maverick" speak to us in his own voice, and the words, that so many NamVets despise~~~
    On Watch~~~
    "Let's Roll"
    https://arizonadailyindependent.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/videoplayback.mp4?_=1

    FYI: I picked up this story in the Dogpile 'Traitor and Thief'search

    https://arizonadailyindependent.com/2016/08/09/mccains-victims-may-be-vindicated-by-hanoi-hilton-songbird-audio/

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  10. Mr. Diplomad, you are much more forgiving than I am, or possibly unaware of McCain's treachery.

    As a Vietman era veteran, I despised "Songbird" McCain. I read his obituary with great enjoyment, and now look forward to seeing him buried.

    With luck, he'll soon be forgotten, even more forgotten than the countless POWs that he stopped the search for and the men who died as a direct result of his actions.

    His death came 9 years to the day after another faithless traitor: Ted Kennedy, who left a woman to drown alone in the dark. May the two of them share the same pool of fire as they burn!

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  11. "After that loss, McCain returned to the Senate, and, I hate to speak ill of the dead, but didn't really do much."

    He deliberately let Obamacare live to spite Trump, and I hope he roasts for it.

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  12. Brain cancer with a side of TDS is what got him. He and Jeff Flake are the very definition of RINO.

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  13. Bravo! Couldn't have articulate it better than that, sir!

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  14. NAFTA with Mexico has been renegotiated and we at the Free American National blog are waiting patiently for your assessment!

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    1. Well my first instinct was to yell, SPAM!
      But on further review, I noticed some spuds with the spam&beans! That is:

      "...the majority in fact, of third world migrants and asylum seekers are not "needy". They're not women and children escaping violence and poverty. The majority, upwards of 75%, are single, unaccompanied, military aged males, and they're bringing the violence and poverty with them."
      So, I'll share a link to the above diamond backed guardian Meester Gray Man. Please click below the fold:

      With regard to our hosts "assessment" of the now defunct Nafta and our POTUS renegotiation of US trade policies w/ Mehico? I too would be interested to hear the Honorable Diplomad's take on that current event! However, since he is presently on the 'Do not disturb list' he might remain incommunicado until Old Glory is re-raised to full staff again?! Only time, or the old man himself will tell...

      https://freeamericannational.blogspot.com/2018/08/give-to-third-world-asylum-seekers.html

      On Watch~~~
      "Let's Roll"

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  15. Thank you for an excellent, evenhanded synopsis.

    I voted for the McCain/Palin ticket with enthusiasm for his selection in a running mate and concern with her ongoing destruction at the hands of the media and many Republicans at that time.

    Like most conservatives, I don't have much respect for political parties - or most politicians, for that matter - but I do respect what McCain went through in Hanoi and I detest those that think they can find some way to besmirch his sacrifice.

    In the end, I see McCain's military career sacrificed on the alter of sleazy politics much in the way that John Glenn managed to drag himself down. Some people are not meant for that environment - well intentioned or not - and should leave well enough alone.

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    1. When I heard teaching colleagues yokking it up over Tina Fey's joke about how Palin thought she could see Russia from her home, I pointed out that only five miles separate Big and Little Diomede Islands, meaning that the US's Alaska and RUssia's Chukotskaya Kray actually share a border. I would've been far more worried about an Alaskan governor running for national office who didn't know that Russia was next door. Indeed, such joking at Palin's expense made me ashamed to be a faux-siphticated Easterner.

      I will remember that McCain ran against a Communist-leaning nonentity, and as one who served honorably, even as a POW. While I understand Trump's preferring "winners", Americans are not Communists, who treat all returning POW as potential spies and traitors.

      As for the O being a Communist-leaning nonentity, I am of the mind that his phenomenal laziness was a case of God watching out for our country.

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  16. Really? I hope you give it a try.

    There's plenty to criticize about McCain - these things literally fill books - but the best you can do is fantasize about a line of perverts desecrating a grave at the USNA?

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  17. Oh I don't know 'tffr' I wouldn't call them "perverts" but crazy cadets and some midshipman, have been known to piss on stuff a lot more sacrosanct than planks, logs, and headstones!
    OW~~~

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  18. For some thirty years in the Senate, not a whole lot of legislation or legacy ...

    No, I recall a certain malodorous turd called the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA, McCain–Feingold Act, Pub.L. 107–155, 116 Stat. 81, enacted March 27, 2002, H.R. 2356). That was ... memorable.

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  19. Are any of his pall bearers fellow former POW's? Looks like not a one. Golly, I wonder why?

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    1. Not to worry Anon!
      McShame was eutilized by Gramnesty yesterday!
      Said he, "spending one day with John was enough to last a lifetime" Game Over for that Duet!

      As for the pall bearers, not sure if there are many left from that era Ready, Willing, or ABLE to heft a casket? I'd give 'em a hand salute if they tried tho!
      On Watch~~~

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  20. The facts about John McCain hardly bespeak a hero. Gradating very near the bottom of a class that nepotism got him into he somehow got a slot at naval aviator school, more nepotism for certain. Despite crashing 3 aircraft during routine training exercises his 4 star admiral father and grandfather kept him in the program. He broke his arms because he failed to tuck in his arms when ejecting from his firs combat mission. He earned the name songbird from the other pilot prisoners because he told the Vietnamese whatever they wanted, he made 32 propaganda broadcasts for them. Then once he became senator he closed down all investigations into POWs and sealed all POW record conveniently sealing his own traitorous broadcasts. He was at the center of the Forrestal calamity which killed more than 100 people. Just like his role in the Keating 5 nothing ever came of his wife's drug addiction and theft of pain medications from her foundation. The deeper one digs the less appealing McCain appears. The media paints him as a hero to avoid the sordid truth.

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    1. {{{{{ROGER THAT ma}}}}}
      Bravo Zulu~~~
      On Watch~~~

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    2. Well, now that he is buried, I'll post this here...This is all new to me, and quite horrifying. Hard to think of anything positive to say about McCain at thispoint. https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/mccain-and-the-pow-cover-up/

      Delete
  21. Anonymous~OW,

    So now you're using "crazy cadets and some midshipman" to desecrate a grave, in this fantasy of yours. Next I guess you'll be waiting for that HRC funded "dossier" with the golden showers to make it to the movies - maybe you'd like Michael Moore to dress as a sailor or a "crazy cadet" for the final thrilling cemetery scene...you sick f%%%.

    Why would you presume midshipmen or any normal human being would engage in behavior like that?

    Same for you, Dwan.

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  22. Read it again sh!tbird! You're about as braindead as your last iteration one-browed troll! Now as for cadets and some midshipmen too, they aren't the brightest bulbs in the box! Although the are a watt or 2 above your output! And NO ONE here is falling for your claim of being a "Conservative", you're just another lefty troll trying to spoof the locals! I'd suggest you go soak your head in that golden shower you mentioned, or perhaps more to your taste would be a bit of the sh!t sandwich that Dawn prepared for you?
    On Watch~~~

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  23. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  24. On Watch,

    You're unhinged.

    It is possible to disagree with someone on their politics without wishing them the final insult of having their grave desecrated. I'd like to think the final resting place of veterans would be spared from behavior that I'd expect from the likes of Antifa.

    I think most politicians these days are situational opportunists and few meet the standards of most conservatives for that reason. McCain falls into that camp in my opinion but I don't think he deserves the extra heaping of character assassination that he's getting for it. I also believe that politics in general have been dragged down into the gutter by people that cannot stand to have their respective positions challenged and will immediately resort to personal attacks rather than having their inability to defend their ideas exposed in any sort of debate.

    I guess what galls me most is to see people parroting circa 2008 attack pieces that claim that McCain was a "songbird" or that he was responsible for the USS Forrestal fire when there is nothing solid to back up these attacks.

    McCain, in my opinion, unwisely tried to play our leftist media against his party opponents and seemed oblivious to the fact that they would turn on him when the time came. I think he overestimated his skills as a snake charmer and to the extent that he played into the hands of the left in this suicidal endeavor, he alienated scores of conservatives, myself included. In the end, the media was more than happy to repeat any number of conspiracy theories about the man that simply were not true.

    Conspiracy theories aside, others will latch on to any hateful suggestion without regard to known facts. Just yesterday I was standing in line at the NEX at NAS Oceana when another old timer behind me made a point of saying out loud how run down the place was - it was about 90 degrees inside and the old fan they had pointed at the registers wasn't getting the job done - I agreed with him but in the process mentioned that the new NEX at Annapolis was pretty nice and suggested that they might upgrade this one similarly someday. Hearing "Annapolis", he immediately started on about McCain.

    The retiree seemed like a decent enough guy but he really had a poor command of the facts on issues that seemed to matter to him. He wondered how McCain, in his opinion, failed to make rank, by retiring as an O4, when in fact McCain retired as an O6. Not that there's anything wrong with retiring as an LCDR but he held that rank when he was shot down, and how do you get to the point that you care about a detail like that in the first place? A basic command of the facts would be helpful but this otherwise decent guy seemed to be so consumed with hate for McCain that he couldn't be bothered to get simple facts straight.

    There is just so much garbage out there that people accept without question and don't seem to be willing to do any sort of inquiry on their own when it's just easier to believe the most petty and unfounded rumors that come along. Mercifully, the line moved when he brought up the Forrestal incident.

    OW, I don't care what you think of me - it doesn't matter - but McCain is a veteran and I won't let someone suggest what you did without speaking up when they can no longer defend themselves.

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  25. Get off it tffy, You spew more bullsh!t than the Kansas City Stockyards! What I posted about McShame was in his own sing-song voice spouting enemy propaganda! You however, are attempting to foist his self-serving persona off as a G-D protected species, because, he's a Veteran!

    The songbird, the sorry-assed Con'man, and the once upon a time sailor all have earned whatever incoming McFlyboy is receiving! Even if only the backsplash from his attempt to soak the CinC with the Democrat supplied Russian Yellow rain!

    Sorry Charley, No Free passes for liars & cheats, nor vainglorious pretenders onto the Elysian Fields or Valhalla!
    On Watch~~~

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  26. Timely post by Steven Hayward at our Blog Neighbor above at Powerline: Reminded me of the Edmund Burke quote about the Forces of evil free ride, when good men say/do nothing!
    On Watch~~~


    The Self-Regard of McCain

    It would be much easier to refrain from reciting the litany of John McCain’s defects, and side with him against the predictable bumptiousness of President Trump, were it not for the fact of the news reported today that Sarah Palin is not invited—in fact may have been specifically dis-invited—from his memorial service. Palin has never been anything but gracious to McCain and grateful for his selection of her to be his running mate in 2008, even though McCain’s staff—especially the egregious Steve Schmidt and Nicole Wallace (both now regulars on MSNBC, which should tell you all you need to know)—undermined Palin from the start rather than preparing her for the stage on which their impetuous boss had abruptly placed her.

    It was Palin’s pick that gave a shot in the arm for McCain and might have actually have helped to propel him to victory over Obama (McCain was ahead of Obama in many polls in mid-September) if the financial crisis hadn’t hit, which McCain badly flubbed in response. Sure, McCain made Palin famous, which she in turn monetized, but she was not ready to be on a presidential ticket, and McCain’s premature pick ruined a promising political career.

    Just how can you complain about Trump’s boorish egotism when you decide to shun the person whose career you ruined, and who has been nothing but loyal?

    This is why, despite the many good things that can be said about McCain, he drives a lot of us crazy. Like Trump, loyalty seems to be a one-way street.

    https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2018/08/the-self-regard-of-mccain.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+powerlineblog%2Flivefeed+%28Power+Line%29

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  27. "...but he was one of those fellows who suits up and goes to war at the command of his country..."

    McCain was in the Navy because his family was a Navy family.

    Davod

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    1. Are you saying he had no choice or is this your view that military service is some sort of genetic defect?

      With so much about his McCain's politics to criticize, why go there about military service?

      Delete
  28. A tribute from a USN Vietnam Vet:

    https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQLcp7GXbDzgzZy9VaJhVP1neaQ3vTs2QQERMHpn2bY71dJ7Uz1kTsYqk8uJnD2TUdzQUCD2EwdYh9S/pub

    Davod

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  29. "...Sure, McCain made Palin famous, which she in turn monetized, but she was not ready to be on a presidential ticket, and McCain’s premature pick ruined a promising political career..."

    McCain's pick of Palin resuscitated the campaign, and brought in many votes.

    In many ways Palin was more prepared than McCain. Mother, Mayor, Governor of an oil state, and speaker. Her role was sabotaged by the very people who were there to help her. The obvious sabotage may well have been because she was never meant to boost the ticket.

    Davod

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    1. Palin was the best thing to come out of 2008's campaign and I had high hopes for her future but she is the one that mismanaged her career, not McCain.

      Frankly, I was so surprised that McCain didn't pick one of the inside-the-Beltway predictable safe bets, that I actually began to think that there might be more to him than I initially assessed but we all know where it went when he folded up completely with the financial crisis - always a politician, not a problem solver, or much of a leader.

      Delete
    2. tfhr = troll
      "Frankly" tis a funky twit,
      to the ear, experts believe it's
      the result of hiding under bridges
      in their formative years, also explains
      the smell that seems to exude from the species.
      Treatment protocols require peeing on the beastie.
      The higher alcohol content in the urine stream the better! Happy Hunting~~~
      OW~~~

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    3. Damn! OW, when you bust a rhyme like that there's not much anyone can do. You are a true poet - I shall address you from now on at "The Bard" - and will imagine you starting each day from hence, carefully selecting the proper Elizabethan collar for the task at hand. On good fellow...but thou must remember, "You speak unskilfully: or, if your knowledge be more, it is much darkened in your malice." That's from Measure for Measure. Protip: There are tons of Shakespeare insult generators out there if you want to just trade insults, at least make them amusing.

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    4. Davod, you may be on to something re the sabotaging of Palin. Consider as well the charges, which proved trumped up, against were later voided, against Ted Stevens. I see some merit in seeing that Palin mismanaged her own career, but, at the same kind, I cannot forget the rancorous hatred shown her for everything from being a Republican to refusing to abort her Down Syndrome child.

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    5. I Emergency surfaced from my afternoon meditation~~~
      I had the damndest dream, Prophetic?
      It Could be!
      There I was just barely submerged, {{{Ohm~~~~}}}
      Legs crossed, in the Lotus position, at periscope depth...suddenly I hear a mighty splash above me, some big red haired dude had fallen overboard from the deck of his yacht, and he was sinking fast~~~

      I jackknifed into position and began to descend in pursuit...I knew we were getting deep when my eardrums began to pop! We were headed toward the abyss, when out of the blue, the biggest barracuda I ever saw flashed by me going 80/90~~~~ Holy mackerel it was flying!
      I thought, she must be hungry, and I changed course to head back to the surface -- one last look below and all I saw were tail fins heading straight down! I crossed myself, and murmured a silent, "tough luck amigo"~~~
      When I broke the surface, I saw the yacht, loaded with guests on deck and schmoozing like nothing happened! I yelled "Man Overboard" finally one the crew through me a life ring and towed me aboard! I told him the story, but he thought I was snockered. I glanced over at the railing and of all people coming up the gangway was Governor Sarah Palin, and right behind holding her hand was, DJT hisownself! Big goofy grin, saying Sarah snatched me from the Jaws of defeat! I don't know how long I was out, but I came to and Rush in his final hour was announcing that Sarah Palin was joining Trump's ticket! Seeing how white I was, my wife rushed to her new stainless steel Made in America Icebox and grabbed me a Budwiser! I think she saved my life! Anyhowl, they say sometimes even the strangest dreams do come true~~~maybe this ones for you?! ~~~MAGA~~~
      OFF WATCH
      Happy Labor Day Weekend Guys n' Gals!

      Delete
    6. I disagree that she "mismanaged her career." She was and still is the object of hatred by the left that is only exceeded by their hatred of Trump. Perkins-Coie is the law firm Hillary used to launder the Fusion GPS payments. That is the same law firm that directed the flood of ethics complaints that bankrupted the Palins.

      Delete
    7. Michael K.,

      Palin was a charismatic breath of fresh air that completely jump-started McCain's miserable 2008 campaign but when she tried to be someone she wasn't - she was quickly taken down - think of that ridiculous Katie Couric interview.

      So the campaign went the way it went - but Palin wasn't the casualty - I'd say the country was but she could have waited for another opportunity or just run for the Senate at some point but instead we end up with her and her kids on reality TV shows. I'll never understand that - it was so disappointing to see.

      The lawfare tactic in Alaska is especially effective because of the way the state has left office holders vulnerable to that kind of sleaze. Given her reputation for tackling corruption (even within her own party), it's amazing she wasn't attacked this way beforehand.

      My gut tells me that like most decent Americans, Palin has lost her stomach for dealing with the DC cesspool. She probably doesn't want her family dragged through the muck anymore and has made the choice to exit politics, at least as far as running for office. I hope I'm wrong.

      Still, she can come back if she really wants to, in my opinion.

      Delete
    8. ... "or just run for the Senate at some point but instead we end up with her and her kids on reality TV shows. I'll never understand that - it was so disappointing to see."...

      Agree with much of what you wrote MK, but as we see there's a lot to be learned on Reality TV, and Trump is a perfect example of how a wise man or woman can parlay that face time, counter punching, and gutsy experience, into political capital and fancy footwork! I think Palin will be a contender again, especially as her kids grow out of their awkward star-struck stage... btw how's Todd nowadays... Ready for Round 2?
      On Watch~~~

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  30. Well, he did co-sponsor McCain-Feingold campaign finance law...unfortunately.

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    1. Washington Post excerpt

      Citizens United used 'Hillary: The Movie' to take on McCain-Feingold

      David Bossie, a veteran Republican campaign operative who made his mark investigating the Clintons,
      ...said Ted Olson was "singularly responsible for our winning this case." Olson transformed the case from a narrow one about McCain-Feingold to an assault on the law's constitutionality, helping crystallize the issue for the justices.

      When the Supreme Court first heard the case in March, Deputy Solicitor General Malcolm L. Stewart, representing the FEC, was pulled into a discussion of an issue that took him down a slippery slope: If the movie were a book, would the government ban publishing the book if it mentioned a candidate for office within the election time frame?

      Stewart said that it could.

      "That's pretty incredible," Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. said.

      Then came questions about electronic devices such as the Kindle.

      "If it has one name, one use of the candidate's name, it would be covered, correct?" Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. asked.

      "That's correct," Stewart replied.

      "It's a 500-page book, and at the end it says, 'And so vote for X,' the government could ban that?" Roberts asked.

      Bossie said this was the argument that turned a majority of the bench against the FEC and in favor of Citizens United.

      "That sent a chill down the Supreme Court," Bossie said. The argument became a "point of demarcation."

      Citizens United spent about $1.25 million in legal fees on the case -- so much, Bossie said, that it "makes you cry."

      But, he said, it was worth every dollar.

      "We have been trying to defend our First Amendment rights for many, many years," Bossie said. "We brought the case hoping that this would happen. . . . to defeat McCain-Feingold."

      Link to WP article:
      http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/21/AR2010012103582.html

      Delete
    2. The above excerpt
      was linked by
      yours truly,
      On Watch~~~

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    3. And thank you for linking to my review of Ann Coulter’s “Resistsnce is Futil!”

      Delete
    4. I'll have to get back over and revist your review LJ!
      Rush did a pretty good JOB of probing and prodding her on his Show yesterday. Glad to hear that she loves the Donald again, but she thinks he 'still needs a rolled up newspaper on his snoot from time to time'...

      course truth be told Ann should use a Gag once in a while on herself! Beyond their foiables tho, both of those ICONs covered the "Resistance" fairly well, Coulter is a first class researcher IMHO ;) Going over to re-read your review NOW! Tks,
      On Watch~~~

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    5. Spot On Scribbler! Oh! Here's a direct link, you linked to access your full review -- just in case any others hereabouts would like to read it too:
      OW~~~
      https://thelatest.com/tlt/ann-coulter-resistance-futile-the-media-laid-bare-trump-media-ann-coulter-1535144594

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    6. Thank you Anonymous, as well as Diplomad!

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    7. McCain-Feingold was also called the Incumbents' Protection Act. But I will not spend time condemning McCain. Let his family mourn.

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    8. If only they had spent their time mourning instead of bashing Trump.

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    9. Yeah! That stout daughter of McCain's doesn't have much going for her either, although I suppose somebody in the family had to fill the maverick's shitty boots?
      On Watch~~~

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  31. I'm sure you would have held up much better under the torture of your interrogators in Hanoi than McCain did - I bet you'd even turn down medical treatment rather than make a propaganda broadcast - because we all know how tough internet patriots like you can be when finally tested in conditions like those McCain faced.

    I bow to your fortitude, your iron will, and probable ability to dislocate your shoulders like Mel Gibson did in one of those Lethal Weapon movies where he crushes his tormentor's head with his knees, while suspended in chains, before doing his escape and evasion shoulder trick.

    Maybe you can take leave from your job as gate guard at Valhalla to go desecrate McCain's grave at Annapolis as trashing a corpse seems to be so alluring to you. Have fun.

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  32. 2nd repeater Tffy, your stuff smells more like BS than all the contributors to the aroma at the KC stockyards!Or maybe the pigs in Secaucus New Jersey, its a close call troll...
    OW~~~

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  33. Lest We Forget ... Phoenix:

    https://www.va.gov/oig/pubs/vaoig-14-02603-178.pdf

    JK

    ReplyDelete
  34. ~~~"By the time I get to Phoenix she'll be rising"~~~

    So what's NEW JK? Pssst ANYONE SEEN THE FINAL REPORT YET? Or did Flake and McCain take it with them when they went??

    VA INTERIM REPORT -- MAY 2014

    Our reviews have identified multiple types of scheduling practices that are not in compliance with VHA policy. Since the multiple lists we found were something other than the official EWL, these additional lists may be the basis for allegations of creating “secret” wait lists. We are not
    reporting the results of our clinical reviews in this interim report on whether any delay in scheduling a primary care appointment resulted in a delay in diagnosis or treatment, particularly

    iii

    for those veterans who died while on a waiting list. The assessments needed to draw any conclusions require analysis of VA and non-VA medical records, death certificates, and autopsy
    results. We have made requests to appropriate state agencies and have issued subpoenas to obtain non-VA medical records. All of these records will require a detailed review by our
    clinical teams.

    Lastly, while conducting our work at the Phoenix HCS our on-site OIG staff and >>>OIG Hotline received numerous allegations daily of mismanagement, inappropriate hiring decisions, sexual harassment, and bullying behavior by mid- and senior-level managers at this facility. <<<

    We are assessing the validity of these complaints and if true, the impact to the facility’s senior leadership’s ability to make effective improvements to patients’ access to care.

    We will make recommendations in our final report and ask the VA Secretary to submit target dates and implementation plans. However, to ensure all veterans receive appropriate care, we
    submit to the VA Secretary the following recommendations for his immediate implementation.

    We will address the sufficiency of the VA Secretary’s action to implement the following recommendations in our final report.

    1. We recommend the VA Secretary take immediate action to review and provide appropriate health care to the 1,700 veterans we identified as not being on any existing wait list.

    2. We recommend the VA Secretary review all existing wait lists at the Phoenix Health Care System to identify veterans who may be at greatest risk because of a delay in the delivery of health care (for example, those veterans who would be new patients to a specialty clinic)and provide the appropriate medical care.

    3. We recommend the VA Secretary initiate a nationwide review of veterans on wait lists to ensure that veterans are seen in an appropriate time, given their clinical condition.

    4. We recommend the VA Secretary direct the Health Eligibility Center to run a nationwide New Enrollee Appointment Request report by facility of all newly enrolled veterans and direct facility leadership to ensure all veterans have received appropriate care or are shown on the facility’s electronic waiting list.

    We will provide VA with the list of the 1,700 veterans we identified as not being on any wait list so that VA can mitigate any further access delays to health care services, and deliver higher quality of health care.

    RICHARD J. GRIFFIN
    Acting Inspector General

    ON WATCH~~~

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  35. McCain actually had a good health plan as a campaign document but had no idea what it said. I was at a reception for Martha McSally who is running for Flake's seat and she is a world of difference from McCain. She gave a 15 minute summary of the issues that was well thought out and concise.

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    1. That's good to hear Michael!
      McSally is obviously a worthy Senatorial candidate.
      And, she'd have my vote, if I ever decided
      to set up shop in that furnace. Although, I did find
      Flagstaff to be a livable venue back in the 80's. Recently my Brother in Law offered-up his "vacation cabin" in Durango if we came out to visit. Just the name makes me want to slap leather! I think he needs me to keep the riff raff off his property! That doesn't sound like a vacation to me, even if the "cabin" has all the amenities. Family!
      OW~~~

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  36. You might be interested in my late father-in-law’s novel about the POW issue. He was a liberal, anti-war, Bronze Star medal, Purple Heart decorated Korean War vet...yet he agreed with Pres. Trump about POWs: https://www.amazon.com/First-Man-Off-Plane-ebook/dp/B008JHQ3FM

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    Replies
    1. Great read LJ!
      Been grinning since I "looked inside"! I know these folks... Wondering tho at 5'2 212 pounds who's gonna play POW wife, Regina King in the movie?! Kudos to the author, D.O. Strickland he must have been a piece o' work and a helluva grunt ;)

      Btw, I had a dear friend, a Korean War POW and H.S. teacher, who wrote a book about his wartime experiences - I read it, it was the closest thing to being there, and not endure the freezing hellhole, IMHO... "And the Wind Blew Cold" ... it was an eye opener. R.M. Basset born and raised in Fla. He just recently died and is buried up in the Andersonville National Cemetery GA

      Tks again, for your link to "First Man Off The Plane"

      https://www.amazon.com/Wind-Blew-Cold-Story-American/dp/0873387503/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

      On Watch~~~

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  37. I admired McCain for his military service, but his behavior after he returned was cause for much concern. He was involved with the Keating 5 scandal and screwed over the people trying to find out more about POW's and his lackluster support for his running mate that rejuvenated his campaign, Sure people were looking for a change and a republican would have had a hard time after the hell Bush caught for the past 6 years. But he could have won against the "annointed" one but totally flubbed his campaign, I think he had a hard time with the media because in the past they were his friends, but the media supporting the democrats as they tend to. After Trump won the election that many thought the Felonia Von Pantsuit would win the Presidency but Trump pulled it off, and McCain resented him for it.

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  38. My son was invited to the funeral in PHX..he was a friend of McCain and Cindy. he knows I was not a fan of his..so ,we just did not discuss. I am going to be curious when I see him, face to face..to get his take on the service.

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