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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It's the most bang-on opinion piece I've read all month.
Oddly enough, the most off-the-mark piece was written by his daughter where she whined that he lost the election because not enough people read her blog (where she listed her favorite songs and posted vacation pictures).
I see McCain's "new persona" as his actual persona. Now that he doesn't have anything to gain by being nice, (he isn't going to be running for president again), he throw off the false image that he so carefully crafted all these years and just be himself. What he doesn't realize here that there are already quite a few people that are going to be campaigning hard for his Democratic rival in 2010, and his bitterness is just going to drive more people to campaign against him.
I think these are his last two years as a politician. I don't think he is going to be reelected in 2010, even if he chooses to run. Who knows? He might just retire after his term is up.
Poor Senator McCain. Me thinks his star is falling.
A little tidbit ... When Obama was in town (PHX) the other evening, he stayed at a hotel in Paradise Valley (for his big Stim speech next morning.) Also, on the same night, same hotel, Senator McCain and his wife, Cindy McCain, were attending a fundraiser. The newspaper went on to say...no fanfare, no crowds, no limos for the McCain's when they arrived. Poor guy. We should really feel sorry for them. NOT.
Also, he and wife Cindy were attending The All-Star Game held in PHX the other evening. When McCain's name was announced that he was in the audience, the crowd booed him. Now, he really thinks he can win his next run for Senator in 2010? This will be an interesting scenario to watch.
Now , IF Janet Napolitano decides to run for AZ Senator in 2010 she just may give him a run for his money...as the saying goes.
Interesting.
I work for a defense contractor. Last day of work before the Christmas break we were shown a video presentation of employees and visiting dignitaries. When McCain's face showed up (he had been a visitor to the facility) he was booed, too, by some employees. Keep in mind this is in a very conservative district.
Mr. Loewe,
I loved your post. One thing is for sure... about the bitter old man, that is. And the trouble is, he just can't resist retaliating, and proving to everyone that he is, in fact, a very sore loser. It turned out that this election was actually not his turn after he thought he had it all sewed up. And his 15 min of fame are over, the clock has stopped ticking, and he is totally out of time. But he will not go quietly away.....
WHOAH
HEADLINE TMI
This article is entitled McCain's Viagra Problem,
I thought this was referring to that unfortunate four hour side effect in which he chose Sarah Lou, America's sole standing cartoon governor, as his VP pick!
McCain must bon viagra....but it's going to the wrong head!!!
Gotta carry on the Arizona tradition of his predecessor in that senate seat. Anybody remember Barry Goldwater?
Mr. McCain is no Barry Goldwater.
You can say that twice.
I sure do.
Ego trumps maverick.
So true! An excellent job of summarizing the fall of McCain. The bitter old man was willing to do and say anything to try to win the Presidency and now that he's lost, he'll do anything to keep his name in the press.
McCain knows about war and aggression- thats it!
he has nothing to offer to middle America, nothing!
Well said. What's even more outragous about McBush's claims about "generational theft" regarding the stimulus package is that he was/is for the war in Iraq. Didn't McCain want to stay in Iraq indefinitely? What would that cost? What has that war already cost?
Why is it OK to spend billions to bomb and rebuild another country, but it's "socialism" to spend money to help American's. So, does McCain, the GOP, and all of Hannity and Limbaugh listeners think it's awesome to spend billions overseas, but it's a really bad thing to spend it on America and Americans? Help me out with this logic.
And as far as "generational theft" is concerned -- how about the Republicans doubling the national debt in the last 8 years without creating many jobs? McCain out-Bushed even W as a war cheerleader in the costly Iraq fiasco and (while initially opposing them) changed 180 to support the permanent extention of the debt-creating Bush tax cuts. McCain/Palin don't even have the decency to diasppear from the scene. like the losers they are.
Seeing how the congress receives healthcare benefits for life, even if they serve but one term, maybe they should be the first to give back when they leave office. Or pay for their benefits. Or take a salary cut since they seem to think that making American workers take cuts are good for the economy.
Yes, I would like to see pay cuts and health care costs cut for our state government workers as well. If the average American is asked to give up our health care, wages etc, then why should they be protected?
I used to work for state government and let me tell you it is no picnic, like you assume. The pay is miserable (usually a full 15% or more below average compared to the same positions in the private sector). I had to pay almost $400 a month for my family's healthcare benefits. That is no break by any means. As for the pension, it is a mere pittance and the least they can do since the pay is substandard and the benefits are way too expensive.
And for those reasons (it is enough) I no longer work for government.
Great idea! Let's have a race to the bottom! Nobody deserves to have living wages or paid health care!
Yeah, right.
Wouldn't a better idea be to turn this trend around before we all make minimum wage?
They aren't protected...why would you think they are? What state do you live in where this is not happening? My husband was laid off months ago from a state job due to the budget and the ones that are left in his department are working themselves to death for less money. The health plan will be whacked soon and the pension plan is in the hole. In local government, we are all working 60 hours a week because our workload is increasing due to more people needing services. Now, who else can we wish ill will to???
Dylan, Excellant piece on a miserable old man. McCain milked the POW thing for years. His wife's wealth put him in the political position to even get an audience. He needs to retire and disappear into the Arizona desert and spend some time vaporizing a little high grade. How he ended up as the Repub nominee is a miracle.He is such an unattractive persona. Again, maybe that's why.
Remember this part of McCain's concession speech:
"Senator Obama and I have had and argued our differences, and he has prevailed. No doubt many of those differences remain. These are difficult times for our country, and I pledge to him tonight to do all in my power to help him lead us through the many challenges we face.
I urge all Americans -- (applause) -- I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together, to find the necessary compromises, to bridge our differences, and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited.
Whatever our differences, we are fellow Americans. And please believe me when I say no association has ever meant more to me than that."
I scolded people for making nasty comments about McCain's concession speech. I owe them an apology.
Sorry!
This was a great speech...too bad he didn't mean a word of it. Either that or he has developed split personalities and the bitter twin has won.
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