McCain Starts Mapping Out New Role In Senate

PHOENIX — Before resting from the grueling presidential race, John McCain began discussing with senior aides what role he will play in the Senate now that he has promised to work with the man who defeated him for president.

Democrats, who padded their majorities in the House and Senate, have a suggestion: McCain can mediate solutions to partisan standoffs on key legislation as he did to help avert a constitutional meltdown over judicial confirmations in 2005.

"There's a need for the old John McCain, a leader who worked in a bipartisan way," Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Wednesday.

GOP leaders, never fond McCain's independent streak or blunt style, nonetheless are reaching out to keep him in the fold and keep Republican ranks as robust as possible during the next Congress, two knowledgeable GOP officials said on condition they not be named because the conversations were private.

One obvious focus will be the war in Iraq. After two years spent more on the campaign than in the Senate, McCain will return as the ranking Republican on the Armed Services Committee. That will put the four-term Arizona senator in a position to influence Democrat Barack Obama's plan to set a timetable to withdraw U.S. troops from combat in Iraq.

"That would be good," Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., said in a telephone interview. "I would love to see McCain work with President Obama in dealing with Iraq in a way that Republicans and Democrats could agree on."

During the campaign, McCain staunchly opposed setting such a time frame, even as the Iraqi government began working with the Bush administration to do so.

But in conceding the presidency to Obama Tuesday night at a Phoenix hotel, McCain pledged "to do all in my power to help him lead us through the many challenges we face."

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He allowed that defeat was disappointing but said that starting Wednesday "we must move beyond it and work together to get our country moving again."

Aides said they believed McCain would work well with Obama as president because much of his best work in the Senate had been done with Democrats, including a landmark campaign finance law he crafted with Wisconsin Sen. Russ Feingold and an unsuccessful effort with Massachusetts Sen. Edward M. Kennedy to pass comprehensive immigration reform.

The day after Election Day quickly returned McCain to something much closer to normal life. After months of travel on his campaign bus or plane, McCain and his wife, Cindy, drove themselves to Starbucks for coffee near their Phoenix condominium.

McCain and his family planned to spend a few days at their vacation compound near Sedona, Ariz., to rest from the long contest.

Friends said that despite his disappointment, McCain also was relieved that the demanding campaign was finally over. Aides said he was relaxed Tuesday night _ at peace with his loss and confident that he had done his best in a political climate where a failing economy, an unpopular GOP president and two lingering wars set steep odds against a Republican victory.

"We fought as hard as we could. And though we fell short, the failure is mine, not yours," McCain told supporters Tuesday night. "I don't know what more we could have done to try to win this election. I'll leave that to others to determine."

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Associated Press writer Laurie Kellman in Washington contributed to this report.

Comments

[jjgasp]

Ammmm, we'll get back to you Johnny

[cornagainstsorcery]

In the end I still have respect for this guy. It's not his fault his party lurched into the empty platitudes of far right jingoism, xenophobia, fanaticism, and white Christian nationalism. He's first biggest mistake was hiring Steve Schmidt. His second biggest mistake was listening to him. But that picture above says it all, and I think if he has half the integrity I believe he does that he will make good on his promise as a pragmatist to be an effective bridging voice in the Senate.

[waynesmyer]

"I swear to work hand in hand with Osoma, now that he is our Presinator! and I have never flip-flopped on a promise! Have I ??? Sen. Little Johnny McCain, R(Repuke) Arizona
Hell! I may even hug and kiss him!
Did I ever tell you my Ape-Rape joke??

[suzyku]

After the dishonorable campaign mccain/palin ran, after the lies, the sleaze, the slime, the mudraking, the nasty name calling, the dishonorable robocalls, the klan like rallies, the hate mongering, the inciting people to violence, the booing, the anger that was encouraged, the phony suspension of his campaign, his "joe the faux plumber, tax evading "hero" of john mccain, the complete lack of integrity, lack of ethics, lack of morals, lack of judgment in many ways, especially choosing that idiot palin, the "say anything", "do anything" to get elected mentality, he put himself first and his country last. With all of that I feel strongly that he should be "shunned", he deserves nothing! He showed this country and the world his true (lack of) character, he showed us that he is totally unfit in every way to ever be a real leader! I will never respect this man again!

[waynesmyer]

Right On!: Suzyku: Little Johnny McCain should go on a Texas quail hunt with Little Dickie Cheney

[kkuate]

It is widely accepted in my Arizona community that McCain chose Palin to help him get the PUMAs and women's vote to achieve his goal of being elected president, but once in office, he was certainly planning on replacing her with Joe Lieberman within 6 months.

McCain is a sly maverick, and knows how unprepared and ignorant of most political issues Palin is, therefore, it was easy to manipulate her and have her do the dirty work for him (calling Obama unpatriotic, terrorist, socialist, etc) during his presidential campaign... Sarah took the bait and believed she was the 'real' thing - - - - - poor thing.

[filo]

There's no pity in politics.

[spandautoseattle]

Senator Schumer is at it again. Would someone please tell him to go home to play
with his dress-up-dolls, please. The old friends and colleagues that he endorses have the habit of turning against the American people.

[dutchgirl55]

I love the Republicans. They think the Democrats should appease THEM in spite of the way they behaved toward Barack Obama and in spite of the fact that they lost the support of many in this country. Does anyone remember them being concerned about Democrats after 2000 and 2004? I remember the Republicans response to Democrat concerns. It was, "Get over it!"

[cornagainstsorcery]

Exactly!!

[editoranne]

Part of me wants McCain to go away. A small part of me thinks he could make a good Secretary of Veterans Affairs. It would be a conciliatory gesture across party lines -- except that the Republicans are throwing McCain under the bus so they can move further to the right.
Tough choice. Until the last few months McCain was a noble and honorable man, but his unwillingness to control the evil forces in his party might mean he just has to go back to the Senate, serve out his term and go live in exile in the desert.

[waynesmyer]

Dear Editor Anne: Johnny " Bomb!Bomb!" McCain has voted against 8 out of the last 10 senate bill that would have helped vets! He still promotes more wars and would be the worst possible person for veterans affairs! Lwayno,@aol.com , vet, 10 years Army service
Try Max Cleland!

[Toonadude]

Given his past and what he just went through, McCain is in a unique position to lead the move to split the Republican party in two. He should point to what the Palin wingnut factor cost him and what she represents ...... the woman with the microphone struggling past the N bomb to call Obama an Arab. He was deeply embarassed by that episode and I think it was a defining moment for him where he realized what he had allowed himself to get sucked into. He holds Goldwater's old seat. If he was smart he would look to what Goldwater evolved into where he rejected the religeous wingnut arm of the party and brought unto himself a degree of dignity and credibility in his last years.

[Jules1]

President Obama is very forgiving, if it was me I could not stand to look at McCain, he was such an ass.

[harriettubman]

He acts so ambivalent toward Cindy. Last night he shook Palin and her husband's hands and walked right by Cindy until she said something. Then he quickly kissed her and walked ahead of her. He didn't hold her hand or nothing. They act as if their marriage was over years ago. Pity.

[CaptainStormfield]

http://www.bartcop.com/palin-morning-after.jpg

[ChicagoSuz]

eeyew!!

[theone718]

Mac better hope Napolitano doesn't go for that Senate seat in 2010, he will have a fight on his hands.

[mscriblerus]

They are no doubt the Starbucks lovingist jet-set couple in the world. He could have foregone all funding and just done an endorsement deal with Starbucks.

[infinity]

McCain lost. That means the majority of voters do NOT want an American presence in Iraq. Obama campaigned on getting the US out of Iraq in 10 months. That would mean Nov. 20, 2009. Clear, simple and it must be done. No compromising, fudging or weaseling. Why not appoint Colin Powell special counsel to get it done. That's the "compromise" to the Republicans--one of their own will carry out the order of the Commander-in-Chief.

[Dystopic]

McCain's loss was not all external. it was his hateful attitude, and the moose