McCain: Broke-Ass Senator

Just as John McCain is stabilizing (some would say bottoming out) in national and early state polls, it appears that he may have raised less money this quarter than last, when he was essentially bankrupt. What is wrong with this man that he can't keep up with people like Ron Paul, who is a year older than him and light-years away from mainstream Republican philosophy, or Chris Dodd, who has yet to break 1 percent in any Democratic primary poll except in his own state of Connecticut, where the last public poll gave him 6 percent (for Dodd, I blame this on the bouffant, which is the wrong color and shape, although the texture is appropriately sticky -- a fly was recently trapped on its surface).

McCain is by many judgments smart, focused and hard-working, yet he can't seem to get himself to make those phone calls. Hell, if he's getting about 10 to 15 percent in national polls, that means someone out there still likes him, and presumably they are not all poor. But he's just too proud to beg, and probably not evil enough to fundraise/terrorize his way to a war chest like Rudy Giuliani or deluded enough to fundraise/borrow from himself like Mitt Romney.

McCain also has a touch more self-respect than John Kerry, who ostensibly borrowed against his own assets when desperate, but do we really think that Teresa Heinz's billion dollars didn't make a difference to the creditor? Then again maybe McCain did ask beer-heiress wife Cindy and she stared him out of the room with those ice blue eyes. She got him a job at her father's company 25 years ago, and isn't likely to bail him out again.

Even in a tough fundraising year for the GOP (I NEVER thought I'd say those words), there are ways to raise something, somehow, but that would involve having mastered late 20th century technology (the Google! the electronic mail! the World Wide Web! -- not a key strength of most septuagenarian Republicans).

Whatever the reason, shouldn't Republicans be a little worried about a presidential candidate who can't even manage his own campaign's finances? A four-term senator who spends money like a drunken sailor (his own words) when none is coming in?

So here he is, probably the most accomplished candidate in the GOP field, about to wither away, bewilderingly penniless but most likely heading for luxurious retirement.

Follow Paul Jenkins on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PaulcJenkins

Comments

[zenpiper]

This is a sad story of a high-decorated combat veteran who lost his way. He is a good man, but does not listen--to the U.S. public nor to his constituents. His pursuing a military solution to the MidEast has brought him down; the war cannot be won and Senator McCain does not want to acknowledge this. It has proved to be his undoing.

[BUSHsurvivor]

I hear that McVAIN will now be running ads in New Hampshire, but with his campaign being broke does that mean he'll be standing on the corner passing out flyers?

[Apples]

Prior to our occupation of Iraq, the company I was working for at the time had McCain speak to several employees. I recall the meeting with great clarity.

He spoke of his disdain for Saudi Arabia and went into great detail as to why he didn't believe the Draft would be a good idea for either the military or the country. I recall thinking how amiable he came across. I even recall thinking that he might make a decent Democrat.

But when alarmed mothers begged him not to support invading Iraq, he gazed down at the carpet and continued to keep his gaze there while he responded with a 'Sorry you feel that way' response, and went on to the next question.

He blew it. The hole he dug for himself that day was visible to everyone. And he just keeps digging.

[Colmore]

"Bomb, bomb, bomb Iran" remember that from McCain? Remember how "safe" the Iraqi market was, while he was surrounded by security? He is a liar, hoodwinked by the Bush/Cheney/Rove crew into backing an invasion that NEVER should have happened. Where are all the LEADERS who truly love this country? Where are the PATRIOTS, who would not sell their soul for a high position? None of them are in the GOP, that's for sure.

[zendem1]

After Karl Rove lambasted him in 2000, John MCCain could have changed history. He could have come out against the war that he knew was wrong, and prevented a Bush/Rove Part 2 from happening in 2004. Instead, he became Bush's bitch because he thought that would be the fast track to the White House. Instead, John has become a bad joke.

[hugs4u]

McClain is just reaping the fruit of his labor. Like a 2 bit whore on the street, McClain has lost his usefulness. Bush and Rove used him and then cast him aside.

[NYCLWYR]

Paul, well stated. I can't say I feel bad for McCain, however.

He strikes me as even more contemptible than Bush, cause as you say he's smarter than the chimp.

But he's sold his soul too easily. So much pandering, so many lies, so much distortion.

I don't know how he sleeps at night.

[Qbear]

Juan McBush was NEVER going to be the GOP nominee. He was toast with Republicans on Immigration, and toast with Democrats on Iraq.

[Unsui]

"McCain also has a touch more self-respect than John Kerry..."
Oh, really? McCain lost any thing resembling self-respect when he let Rove pimp him out in the 2004 race. Please, let him quietly fade away: McCain's candidacy is long dead.

[realitytrumpsbull]

If he'd sold that stupid bus and used the money for Greyhound tickets way back about a year ago,
he'd be staying in good motels, eating well,
and have plenty of campaign moolah to operate on. Instead, he rolled the MegaHoopty, probably
bought some guy in Saudi Arabia a yacht in the
process, and wiped out his campaign funds.
Champagne tastes on a beer budget...

[lawyeredup]

That was the promised made to him by the Bushey for what they did to him the last time and for surpporting them now on the Iraq war. I sincerely believed he missed calculated on the extend of mistrust their base now have for Georrge Bush. He lined himself to the worst President in American's history.

[FDRbyGodDemocrat]

What's wrong with this man, you ask? He pimped out his ethics, morals, and values to appeal to a right-wing element that he thought he could win.

[chinohillster]

This posting deserves an AWARD just for the juxtaposition of "bottoming out" and the title "McCain: Broke-Ass Senator"!