He doesn’t need to, since he’s always taken seriously by the media. They love The Maverick, even though in reality, there’s nothing mavericky about him or his actions, and there hasn’t been, for years.
Amazing bullshit that has persisted for decades, at this point.
Sadly, McCain was a pretty terrible presidential candidate but will go down as perhaps the greatest Senator of his era, despite his affection for military solutions. I have to admit he was right about the surge and Obama’s withdrawal from Iraq. It is a shame he couldn’t say the things in this speech to his own constituents in the last election cycle.
Party on twitter:
hastagMunichSecurityConference
I’m not any kind of McCain fan and, that said, I wouldn’t just write off his comments in this case.
Recall that at heart, he’s an old style cold warrior. Beyond his usual republican opportunism and BS, he may be genuinely disturbed by what he’s seeing from Trump. If he can see a way to oppose Trump while not selling-out the party and while posing as a man of patriotism and principle, he might just give other republicans in the senate the cover that they are looking for to oppose Trump’s agenda.
Sounds good, John but I’ll believe it when I see it.
See also, committed policy wonk Paul Ryan. I swear there has to be some way to bottle those press-hypnotizing pheromones.
The judicial branch, sure, I see them exercising their responsibilities already.
But the legislative branch? Yeah, right. I’ll believe that when I see it, Johnny Mac.
Because so far all I’ve seen from Congressional Republicans is arguing over who to screw over more, and how to free up money for rich people tax breaks - while Reps. and Senators run away from any concept of congressional oversight of the Republican-led executive branch, and any questions about it.
“McCain takes aim at Trump’s world view,”
This is the man who said ( I paraphrase, but not much) when asked if he would vote for Donald, “I am a Republican. I have always voted Republican and I will vote for a Republican.”
So your displeasure with Donald is irrelevant, John.
I’m gonna break with the partisanship here now and say, regardless of his past mistakes – Palin being his absolute worst lapse of judgement – that I have no doubt that McCain is a patriot and believes in democracy and the rule of law. If he is in a position of power within the Senate to take Trump on, then I am going to support his effort and that of every republican who allies with him against Trump. I heard Steve Schmidt, McCain’s 2008 campaign advisor on Brian Williams last night, and damned if he didn’t blow me away with his eloquent, forceful statements in defense of our democracy. Policy differences are one thing – but what we are facing in Trump and his circle of fascists is something way beyond that. We need to come together in a spirit of bipartisanship to beat the insanity that has gripped our country and threatens the world. I’m sorry if this disappoints some here, but I don’t think any of us can afford to mock those that we need as allies.
This just in from the punctuation challenged folks at Stealth Tax Alert…
Ol Johnny has another moment of clarity
Ol Johnny is indeed in a position of power and is quite able to “take trump on” as you say. McCain is the chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee. If trump wants a war with Iran or someone else he will of necessity have to come to McCain. And already trump has 2 and 3/4ths strikes against him. McCain does not take kindly to insults and is famous for his quick temper but he also knows, as the saying goes, that revenge is a dish best served cold. He knows how to wait and how to stick the shiv in with a twist. He is my state’s senior senator and I generally disagree strongly with his politics but I do not doubt his patriotism or that he believes in the rule of law and the decisions of the electorate. I also think he’s got an exceedingly poor opinion of DT but that he’s not ready, yet, to say it publicly. He most certainly would in a private conversation I expect. At some point trump will find out about the powers of the Senate and House and he will react like the petulant man/child he is.
Sen. John McCain is an American hero. First and last, a hero and patriot. This is the guy who stayed behind in the Hanoi Hilton so he wouldn’t be used by the North Vietnamese.
Trump’s not qualified to clean his toilet.
Agree. I think the longer-serving Republicans – forget those elected since 2010 solely on the basis of their hatred of President Obama – are genuinely alarmed at what they are seeing in Trump and his team.
I felt inspired by McCain’s speech and I hope he follows up these words with actions, and I hope other Republicans are mustering the strength to stand up to Trump, the electoral consequences be damned. Many of our European and Asian allies are absolutely freaking out by Trump, and are desperate for American leadership.
Okay Grumpy McMaverick. Does that mean you’ll do everything in your power to stop this agenda? No? You’re going to confirm all of Shitler’s nominees and not start any investigations? Okay, then. Time for your nap.
They would be alarmed by use of lies in service of the expedient.
Especially performed by a low-grade, low-quality grifter who preys upon good people’s sense of deference to take advantage of them while he simply persists a decadent selfish lifestyle of personal inconsequence.
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) delivered a scathing criticism of President Donald Trump’s worldview on Friday, though he never mentioned Trump by name.
Just what I have come to expect from the Milquetoast Maverick™.
I’m taking this one with me. Thank you for posting it. Allow me to offer something in exchange:
Hillary winning would just be more proof for him.
Note that he takes no responsibility for setting this foolishness in motion by choosing Sarah Palin as his running mate in 2008.
I’m cautiously optimistic, too, especially when I see that McCain attended with Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ben Sasse (R-NE), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Chris Murphy (D-CT). I can see this group having a meeting of the minds on issues pertaining to PeePee’s lack of fitness for office.
At this point, with virtually no power in DC, we need to find allies when and where we can.