[Toshi]

Nice writeup by Todd Purdum over at Vanity Fair:

http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2010/11/mccain-201011

Too many quotable bits to include here but I'll include this gem of a paragraph:

The prevailing question about John McCain this year is: What happened? What happened to that other John McCain, the refreshingly unpredictable figure who stood apart from his colleagues and seemed to promise something better than politics as usual? The question may miss the point. It’s quite possible that nothing at all has changed about John McCain, a ruthless and self-centered survivor who endured five and a half years in captivity in North Vietnam, and who once told Torie Clarke that his favorite animal was the rat, because it is cunning and eats well. It’s possible to see McCain’s entire career as the story of a man who has lived in the moment, who has never stood for any overriding philosophy in any consistent way, and who has been willing to do all that it takes to get whatever it is he wants. He himself said, in the thick of his battle with Hayworth, “I’ve always done whatever’s necessary to win.” Maybe the rest of us just misunderstood.

 

[sanjuro]

Man, if JD Hayworth was the alternative, I would be ok if McCain married Palin to keep that idiot out of office.

This election season is convincing me the wrong people are too easily electable.

 

[Silver]

I'm pretty sure, if you do a search, that you'll find a post from me saying that I would proud to have McCain as President.

I'd like to disown that opinion. McCain is a feckless idiot. The North Vietnamese should have killed him, the world would have been a better place, and I'd have a shot at rich beer heiress pussy.

 

[worship_mud]

blablabla..... and I'd have a shot at rich beer heiress pussy.

at least you got your priorities sorted.

 

[rockofullr]

OMG a slimy politician!

But he's a He-Ro, they cried.

STFU

 

[BurlyShirley]

It's kind of like how Obama claims he's a christian and that he's against gay "marriage" just so he can get elected.

 

[jimmydean]

He's old, he has no idea where he even is anymore.

 

[Pesqueeb]

He's old, he has no idea where he even is anymore.

 

[syadasti]

If his father was someone else he'd be nothing. Even the military would have rejected him. I have a relative who is an instructor in the naval academy in Maryland, two years ago he wrote in regards to an article about him:

I have not had a chance to read this yet. But I wanted to write and tell you that the academy graduate (early 80's ?) 20 year+ marine former F-18 pilot that works in my office read the article and said that no one he knows that personally knows McCain would vote for him. And the very conservative former air force lifer also a pilot and also attended the naval academy (older guy there was no Airforce Academy when he went to school) very much dislikes McCain.

 

[rockofullr]

It's kind of like how Obama claims he's a christian and that he's against gay "marriage" just so he can get elected.

So your're on of those "he's a Muslim types". Please tell us what country he was born in.

PS I'm just screwing with you mang.

 

[BurlyShirley]

So your're on of those "he's a Muslim types". Please tell us what country he was born in.

PS I'm just screwing with you mang.

No really, Im fairly certain he's agnostic. He's careful enough about what he says with regard to religion that it makes itself evident if you listen. It's always "the teachings of christ spoke to me" not "a voice from above directed me make this decision".

It's an important distinction. He also gave a shout out to the faithless in his victory speech in Grant Park which, Im fairly certain, has never been done by a president or future president before.

And the gay marriage thing... clearly this is pandering. I mean he won't challenge prop 8's overturn, he's trying to let gays serve openly in the military, etc. etc. But he'd never have been elected to the presidency without opposing gay marriage.

What Im saying is, these guys will all change what they say/believe in the interest of getting elected. McCain you can hate, whatever, but let's not act like he's the only guy doing this. Im sure many justify it by saying to themselve "If I can get across 90% of my agenda by lying about the other 10% then it's justified" and Im not so sure I disagree with that as a general principle.

 

[Pesqueeb]

No really, Im fairly certain he's agnostic. He's careful enough about what he says with regard to religion that it makes itself evident if you listen. It's always "the teachings of christ spoke to me" not "a voice from above directed me make this decision".

It's an important distinction. He also gave a shout out to the faithless in his victory speech in Grant Park which, Im fairly certain, has never been done by a president or future president before.

And the gay marriage thing... clearly this is pandering. I mean he won't challenge prop 8's overturn, he's trying to let gays serve openly in the military, etc. etc. But he'd never have been elected to the presidency without opposing gay marriage.

What Im saying is, these guys will all change what they say/believe in the interest of getting elected. McCain you can hate, whatever, but let's not act like he's the only guy doing this. Im sure many justify it by saying to themselve "If I can get across 90% of my agenda by lying about the other 10% then it's justified" and Im not so sure I disagree with that as a general principle.

 

[jimmydean]

What Im saying is, these guys will all change what they say/believe in the interest of getting elected. McCain you can hate, whatever, but let's not act like he's the only guy doing this. Im sure many justify it by saying to themselve "If I can get across 90% of my agenda by lying about the other 10% then it's justified" and Im not so sure I disagree with that as a general principle.

I honestly think McCain is just straight old, though. It takes a lot of energy to go against your party, he's too old to get all mavericky and stuff.

But I think the other guys are more like 75/25 and are happy if they get 50% done. All you need it 51% to win, right?

 

[splat]

If his father was someone else he'd be nothing. Even the military would have rejected him.

Same can be said of Ted Kennedy.

What Im saying is, these guys will all change what they say/believe in the interest of getting elected.

we have a winner here!

 

[rockofullr]

No really, Im fairly certain he's agnostic. He's careful enough about what he says with regard to religion that it makes itself evident if you listen. It's always "the teachings of christ spoke to me" not "a voice from above directed me make this decision".

Interesting, but not all christians are George W types who think that God talks to them. Also if he is just faking it, why choose a church with a crazy nutcase at the pulpit? Wouldn't it be more politically expedient to have chosen a more mainstream church?

And the gay marriage thing... clearly this is pandering. I mean he won't challenge prop 8's overturn, he's trying to let gays serve openly in the military, etc. etc. But he'd never have been elected to the presidency without opposing gay marriage.

What Im saying is, these guys will all change what they say/believe in the interest of getting elected. McCain you can hate, whatever, but let's not act like he's the only guy doing this. Im sure many justify it by saying to themselve "If I can get across 90% of my agenda by lying about the other 10% then it's justified" and Im not so sure I disagree with that as a general principle.

True. There is also the concept that elected officials, at some point need to be the representatives of their constituents and not just the representatives of their own beliefs.

 

[KavuRider]

+rep to you!

 

[stevew]

of their constitutionals

????????

poop joke?