McCain's Viagra Problem
Losing the presidency must be pretty tough. It's worse than losing a Super Bowl -- at least then you're a worthy prospect for the following year. It's worse than losing the gold -- at least that gets referred to as "winning the silver." A presidential loss signals the beginning of the end of a career rather than the start of something immense. It's akin to a wedding proposal gone bad, in which a man is left alone on his couch, wondering how the glowing future he pictured just walked out the door.
And everyone's watching.
Impressively, most newly-minted presidential losers have acted more as statesmen than politicians in the aftermath of their losses, seeming wiser, more friendly, more open than they had on the trail. Some have even spurred the occasional "if only I'd known" syndrome in the American public. If only I'd known that Al Gore cared so much about the environment. If only I'd known that Bush Sr. jumped out of airplanes. If only I'd known how much Bob Dole loves Pepsi and Viagra. If only.
Even those whose political credibility were trampled by their campaigns -- the John Kerrys and Michael Dukakises of the bunch -- have managed to mute their partisanship, restrain their desire for vendetta, always avoiding the potential ugliness of being perceived as bitter.
Yet when it comes to this exclusive club, John McCain, it turns out, is quite the maverick.
Not since Ralph Nader has someone so willfully dismantled his own reputation and legacy like John McCain. Once a noble and battered war hero, McCain has morphed from integrity-driven campaign hero of 2000 to right-wing groveling partisan of 2008, to sorely bitter loser of 2009. Instead of trying to repair his badly damaged brand, instead of reciprocating Obama's post-election overtures, McCain chose, after what must have been careful deliberation, to go on an all-out tirade.
During the stimulus debate, McCain was one of the most prominent leaders of the opposition, spending the week producing sound-bite worthy grumbles of anger and bitterness. He aggressively challenged the president as a old-style partisan, accusing him, literally, of "generational theft." He mocked the president's bipartisan efforts, accused him of breaking campaign promises, and suggested Obama start over.
And that's just the first four weeks.
McCain seems unwilling -- perhaps unable -- to shake his latest persona. Even the old McCain could be endearing on late night talk shows and morning news programs. The new McCain prefers blowing off Barbara Walters when she offers him a seat on The View.
McCain thinks he's the victim, of the press, of the Democrats, of Obama's success. In fact, he is the victim of his own blinded judgment, the victim of a decision to scrap any semblance of himself for a long-shot bid at the presidency.
Americans hate kicking a guy when he's down. The public has, by and large, been very kind to its presidential runners-up. But if McCain continues to dabble in over-the-top, in-your-face, logic-be-damned style bloviating, his presence in the history books may well be reduced to a diminishing footnote: John McCain*, bitter old man.
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Very enlightening comments. Shows how closely people are paying attention to who is leading the country. Eight years ago not too many were involved in politics and look what happened. Gross mismangement and destruction of our economy and lifestyle.
Another interesting point to consider is the division of the two parties Reps/Dems and the idealogy behind the drives of each. According to many polls over time, it's clear we're divided evenly. Scary thought!!
To stick to the subject of McCain---he should not run in AZ and save himself the futility of more anger . At some point he lost sight of his own ability to be who he was, according to the structure he had created and became a wishy-washy pawn. Now what we see is probably anger at himself.
To those who had the eyes to see, it was an inevitable set of circumstances.
A candidate runs for the top spot for many reasons...
...more... Rolling Stone had a great article on McCain in their October (I think) issue... The real McCain. Spoiled, dishonest, daddy's boy, willing to spin anything for 'image.'
Did you see that one interview? The female reporter asked McCain if he wanted to take back his misleading statements (I don't recall which of the many lies she was referring to). If looks could have killed, she'd have been dead from the glare McCain gave her. He said something like "I have always told the truth...I'
What's with the Nader cheapshot? The man never "dismantled" his legacy. He's created a considerable amount of progressive legislation for the people of this country, and that's more than McCain or Obama can claim. Truth be told, Nader is consistently on the money, calling out the bipartisan corporate lackeys instead of groveling at their feet every 4 years. Let me ask you this, what are we still doing in Iraq? Have you heard anything on that one... NOPE, the only "change" I see is that we're EXPANDING the military budget and sending thousands more troops to kill and die in Afghanistan. Even during the campaign, Obama's "end to the war" in Iraq was only a facade, as he wanted to keep some 70,000 "security" troops in Iraq indefinitely. For all of our sakes, I really "hope" President Obama and the Dems in Washington stop groveling at the feet of the corporate elite... but only time will tell.
The truth is that Nader lost his mind somewhere along the way and for the last decade has been every bit as much an self serving, egotistcal obstructionist on the left as John McCain is being right now on the right. Neither of them has the best interest of the nation in mind.
Why is "self-serving" being a fighter for a third party and ballot access? Is it "obstructionist" to stand up to corporate crooks and their bipartisan friends? Nader was right, and Nader is right. As Obama continues the Iraq occupation, launches a new war in Afghanistan, salutes Israel's war crimes in Gaza, and bails out Wall Street crooks - let's remember how the Dems haven't done a damn thing since 2006.
Clueless Dems....
I agree with you, Nader did lose his way, back in the day, he was right on about what he was saying about the government, then the many defeats must have caused him to lose his mind.
A great article.
Yes it was and I am so happy he is not our Pres!
I'll second THAT! Whew, what a relief. I cried when he won and I'm not black.
The phrase "generational theft" is going to go down sweeter when we see the Republicans taking the stimulus money and even taking credit for it. They've pronounced the judgment on themselves, thieves.
Poor little, diminuitive John Mccane can't seem to find his dignity.Hi
The man bombed innocents, then claimed heroism...
This comment is ridiculous and is extremely counter-productive. I don't like McCain and don't think he was anything approaching a hero but in making this comment you are inferring that the millions of Americans who, regardless of the justness of the cause they fought for, answered their nation's call and risked their lives for this country should be demeaned for having done so.
That kind of statement is every bit as ill considered and inflamatory as anything Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity has ever said.
You should be ashamed of yourself.
once again, good example of the righties getting to say any ridiculous lie they want, but if anyone expresses an opinion about any of their wars....oh
Save the drama for your mama DavidDial.
Thank goodness he did not win the Presidency
Remember, Obama won with a lead that was over 7% - largest in recent history.
I watch CSAN and see this old fool walking around, now this is nothing against age ,it just seems he's sputtering to himself saying I should be walking around the whitehouse not this place. He should never of been the rep's pick.
I have never understood how the media bought into the whole maverick thing to begin with. What you are seeing now is the real McCain. P.S. I NEVER voted for him.
Guess you voted yes for the stimulus too.
We would have if we could have, but we would have first made it better by spending more on infrastructure and unemployment benefits.
This isn't a direct democracy, the citizens of the good ol' USA live under a democratic republic.
YEAH!
Remember how rude McCain was during the debate with Obama - wouldn't even look at him. There's your real McCain - everything else was an act all these years. He's probably really angry that (unfortunately) Palin keeps getting attention and headlines and he's got nothing. I wonder how angry he must be at her about now - like it or not she really did cost him the election as well as his total ineptness.
McCain made the mistake of letting his campaign run him and now he is angry and bitter at himself for letting it happen. He has no one to blame but himself.
I think you give McCain too much credit and let him off the hook too easily. He is responsible for everything that was said and done during that campaign, and for that reason he should be ashamed and stop blaming everyone else...I agree on that.
In regard to McCain, and I have NO regard left for him, although I formerly respected him to a certain degree. That was before the '08 elections, and for a brief moment when he met with then President Elect Obama, and we thought he was going to cooperate with this administration. Now there seems to be some kind of sinister intentions operating in him and most Republicans that I hope will bring them to their knees. They did NOT learn from their failed campaign antics, and that is what will bring them down.
There are two important times in our lives when our characters are in evidence. WHEN WE WIN AND WHEN WE LOSE. We need to be as humble when we lose as when we win.
McCain proved himself to be a man of dishonor during his campaign and is continuing that pattern of behavior even after President Obama has gone out of his way to show him nothing but respect. He seems like a revengeful and bitter man who thinks very little of Obama and shows that every chance he gets. The new republican catch phrase of "generational theft" seems to fall off their tongues very easily now that Obama is the man in charge but never seemed to cross their minds as Bush was spending billions every week on two wars and running our nation into the economic abyss. Hypocrites one and all.
You are so right. For McCain to utter the words "generational theft" after the fleecing of the economy that the Republican congressional leaders allowed Bush to do would be laughable if it wasn't so devastating. McCain is bitter and each day, no matter what the challenges, I am thankful that he and Palin lost.
McCain is a spoiled child of privilege, saved from one court-mart
McCain rages, throws hissy fits and publicly called his wife a vulgar name for the female genitalia. His campaign was as disorganized, irrational and full of impulsive blunders as the rest of his life has been.
When he "suspended" his campaign and flew to Washington to "solve" the economic crisis, he made a fool of himself but managed to keep his mouth mostly shut. This time , he's revealed his true mendacity and disregard for the nation's best interests.
He's another one of those megalomaniacal politicians who sincerely believes he's entitled to be President.
After all, he really, really wants it!
Excellent article! I will be donating money to whomever decides to run against McCain in 2010, and I don't even live in Arizona.
I am with you on this!!! As I have lived in AZ for 5 years a few years back, I have every intention to help vote McCain out!!!
That's GREAT Kannita and Girl28! I love the way the AZ crowd was more enthusiastic than other rallies. I think they were "digging" on McCain. SaWEEET! I'm gonna donate money to all these good old boyz opponents. GREAT IDEA! Let's carry the grassroots on!
"Not since Ralph Nader has someone so willfully dismantled his own reputation and legacy like John McCain. "
You make a very, very astute point. I think the fact that Obama signed the housing bill in McMasion's own territory speaks volumes. The State of Arizona is filled with low income, highly (for the most part) uneducated, and very religious (tons of Mormons are in Arizona from Utah), and pretty male dominated industries (due to the Mormon stronghold). The state is not what I would call a model American state. It needs lots of help. And where does the help come from? McCain's competitor. Go 'Bama.
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