John McCain at his fieriest before 'don't ask, don't tell' vote (McLame throws temper tantrum)

The Washington Post ^ | 2010-12-18 | Dana Milbank

[rabscuttle385]

(snip)

Saturday's debate on the repeal of the "don't-ask-don't-tell" policy was only half an hour old when the Arizona Republican burst onto the floor from the cloakroom, hiked up his pants and stalked over to his friend Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). Ignoring Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), who had the floor, McCain hectored the men noisily for a few moments, waving his arms for emphasis.

When McCain finally stormed off, Durbin shook his head in exasperation and Lieberman smiled. A minute later, McCain returned - he had apparently remembered another element of his grievance - and resumed his harangue.

It turns out McCain's fury was stirred by a trifle - he had wanted more time for the debate, which the Democrats eventually gave him - but that was typical. It doesn't take much to set off McCain these days.

(snip)

McCain famously said in 2006 that he would support repeal once military leaders recommended it. Instead, he led the opposition to repeal. McCainologists in the Capitol speculate that on this and other issues he's driven less by policy consideration than by personal animosity. A decade ago, his antipathy toward President George W. Bush led him to seek common cause with Democrats to thwart a Republican president. Now his antipathy toward President Obama has made him a leading Republican hardliner.

[rabscuttle385]

McCainologists in the Capitol speculate that on this and other issues he's driven less by policy consideration than by personal animosity. A decade ago, his antipathy toward President George W. Bush led him to seek common cause with Democrats to thwart a Republican president. Now his antipathy toward President Obama has made him a leading Republican hardliner.

[Tribune7]

McCain was the good guy on this one.

[rabscuttle385]

He still has anger management issues.

[B4Ranch]

It's a goddam shame he didn't fight for our POWs in Laos this hard.

[Gene Eric]

>> Now his antipathy toward President Obama has made him a leading Republican hardliner.

(rolling eyes)

[Bizhvywt]

I don’t believe it. McCain’s showboating because he knew it would pass without him. He’s mad because he has to pretend be a conservative.

[rabscuttle385]

The Juan McCain Truth File. "I think the Democratic Party is a fine party, and I have no problems with it, in their views and their philosophy." — U.S. SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, 02 APR. 2004 FR Keywords: mccaintruthfile, mcqueeg, mcbama Please tag all relevant threads with the aforementioned keywords. This can be a very high-volume ping list at times. To join the ping list: FReepmail rabscuttle385 with the subject line add  mccaintruthfile. (Stop getting pings by sending the subject line drop mccaintruthfile.)   Republican Commissar’s Warning: By joining this ping list, you may be subjected to the delusional rants and ramblings of McCainiacs, of "moderate" Republicans, of pragmatic conservatives resigned to voting for the lesser of two Democrats, and of countless RNC shills who simply want to meet a new overlord.

[MyIndianNameIsSwimsWithSharks]

I don’t believe it. McCain’s showboating because he knew it would pass without him. He’s mad because he has to pretend be a conservative.

Couldn't have said it any better, myself. Thank you.

[MyIndianNameIsSwimsWithSharks]

"Hectored." A perfect word in a McQueeg story.

Keyword: McHector.

[CitizenUSA]

For whatever reason, GOOD JOB Senator McCain. Your attempt to stop this madness is duly noted and appreciated by this veteran.

[Antoninus]

I don’t believe it. McCain’s showboating because he knew it would pass without him. He’s mad because he has to pretend be a conservative.

Exactly. Just like Romney fought "so hard" against gay marriage in Mass. It was all for show.

Message to the GOP--we're not stupid and we're on to you.

[TigersEye]

...but that was typical. It doesn't take much to set off McCain these days.

It never has. McCain has issues. He's famous for it.

[SFC Chromey]

If he really cared, he could have filibustered this, and everything else Reid, Pelosi and Obama are trying to do.

[mickie]

I totally agree! Give credit where credit is due. John did a good job.

[Innovative]

"Earlier in the week, he (McCain) was observed in the unseemly act of publicly gloating on the Senate floor over his success in killing a massive spending bill. He's also been raising hurdles to the ratification of the Obama administration's nuclear arms treaty with Russia. At the same time, he led the opposition Saturday to repealing the ban on openly gay men and lesbians serving in the military - taking on Lieberman, who led the other side. "

I guess rabscuttle385 didn't like that McCain opposed the repeal of DADT...the way he is attacking McCain, when he was standing up for the military against the Democrats.

[Republic of Texas]

No, McCain is a petulant asswipe who occasionally, out of pure random luck, lands on the right side of the ledger. He can never be trusted.

[EternalVigilance]

If your kid turned out like that wouldn't you be angry all the time too?

[CitizenUSA]

I believe Senator McCain also voted to continue the DREAM filibuster.

I don’t understand FReepers who continue to attack the senator even when he makes the right votes. It makes no sense. If a senator is going to be forever scorned and cut off from any chance of conservative support for past mistakes, what’s the incentive to change? It’s not like Senator McCain is going anywhere for the next six years. I’d much rather retire him at the end of his next term as a conservative ally rather than as a RINO quisling. We’ve got plenty of them—no reason to encourage more to join the ranks of the Maine witches.