Free Republic

Colleague and Friend Says Senator's 'Word Was His Bond.' BY KATIE ESCHERICH Sen. John McCain, who knew Ted Kennedy for more than a quarter-century, said he will remember his friend and colleague as "a happy warrior" on the Senate floor. "Many times there was no need for the microphone system, we all heard him very clearly," McCain said on "Good Morning America" today. Kennedy died late Tuesday from brain cancer at the age of 77. He will be buried Saturday at Arlington National Cemetery. "A great part of the legacy of Ted Kennedy is his passionate advocacy," McCain said. "Whether...

PHOENIX -- Sen. John McCain will hold a central Valley town hall Wednesday evening to discuss proposed health care reforms with Arizonans. McCain held a town hall Tuesday in Sun City, where most of the 1,400-plus attendees were retirees concerned about changes in Medicare and their insurance coverage. Wednesday's meeting may shape up to be a bit different because when McCain arrives, he will be greeted by anti-war protesters. Protest group End the War said it will be waiting outside the town hall with signs calling for the U.S.'s withdrawal from Afghanistan. Group spokesman Mitch Rubin said that McCain has...

This smells like gang of 14 stuff again! We have Obama/Dems defeated on Health Care and this ego manic John Mc Cain wants to resurrect a compromise bill! We need to reform Health Care after we regain congress next year when we can do it right! Not now! Contact John Mc Cain - info@johnmccain.com and tell him to stay the hell out of the way and lets defeat the democrat plan now.

Senator McCain Poised to Snatch Defeat from the Jaws of Victory August 24, 2009 BEGIN TRANSCRIPT RUSH: Try this, ladies and gentlemen. State-controlled Associated Press: "Senator John McCain says that President Obama will have to drop proposals for a government-run health insurance option if he hopes to reach congressional agreement on health care reform." So far, so good. I'm still reminded of last week. I was laughing myself silly when news came out and how big news it was that McCain was voting with Republicans. (laughing)Our nominee, our presidential nominee, and there was a huge story, about it: "Ah,...

ESTES PARK, Colo. (AP) — Global warming is threatening America's national parks. But there is no consensus about how to prevent the harm. Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona and Democratic Sen. Mark Udall of Colorado toured Rocky Mountain National Park Monday then heard testimony from parks officials and scientists about how global warming is harming the park system. . . . . . Both senators said confronting climate change is paramount. "A common misperception is that this is a crisis that is down the road," McCain said. "Climate change is real. It's happening now."However, there was no discussion at...

ESTES PARK — Bipartisan political leaders strolled through Rocky Mountain National Park this morning studying beetle-kill trees and changing vegetation patterns — and agreed that nuclear power must be part of any comprehensive climate-change legislation.Sen. Mark Udall, an Eldorado Springs Democrat, and Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona are holding a formal hearing in Estes Park later today concerning global warming and its impact on national parks. McCain called on President Barack Obama to come forward with a climate-change proposal to get the discussion started in Congress.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Sen. John McCain says the absence of ailing Ted Kennedy in pushing health-care reform has made a "huge, huge difference" in whether legislation gets passed. McCain praised Kennedy, a Democratic senator from Massachusetts, as a master negotiator who could bring together parties with different points of view and make the right concessions to reach agreement. McCain said health-care reform might be in a very different place today if Kennedy had been able to participate in the discussions.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. John McCain is refusing to consider raising taxes to reduce the ballooning deficit. McCain was asked on ABC's "This Week" whether he would make a similar pledge as Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to do whatever it takes to bring down the deficit over the long run, such as raising taxes. The Arizona Republican said "no."

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. John McCain says President Barack Obama will have to drop proposals for a government-run health insurance option if he hopes to reach congressional agreement on health-care reform. McCain says many Americans are losing confidence in Obama partly because of concerns about the so-called public option. The Arizona Republican proposed that Obama meet with members of both parties in Congress to find areas of agreement, abandon the public option, and then make clear exactly what he wants in the legislation.

The Republican National Committee is asking a federal court to restore the ability of national parties to raise unlimited amounts of money and to spend it to help elect state-level candidates. The case focuses on hotly contested governor’s races in New Jersey and Virginia. The 2002 McCain-Feingold campaign financing law (PL 107-155) does not allow national parties to give money directly to state candidates. The RNC wants to change that so it can expressly back the party nominee for governor, advertise and send out mailings on behalf of state or local Republican candidates and make get-out-the-vote calls. The law also...

It will U.S. Sen. John McCain’s turn next week to face raucous crowds at health care town halls. The Arizona Republican will host town hall meetings Aug. 25 in Sun City and Aug. 26 in Phoenix. They will be focused on health care and reforms pushed by President Barack Obama and Democrats in Congress. That includes the possibility of a government-run system to cover the uninsured and operate alongside private for-profit insurance companies. The contentious health care issue has prompted ornery crowds to boo and criticize Democratic lawmakers at similar town halls in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Florida. Protesters on the...

Ex-presidential candidate is siding more closely with GOP these days. BY GREG GIROUX WASHINGTON - He ran for president last year as a “maverick” Republican and had a high-profile meeting with Barack Obama after the election, but Arizona Sen. John McCain has been a staunch Republican vote since failing to win the White House. In fact, McCain is siding with his party this year on closely divided votes with greater frequency than at any other period in his 23-year Senate career, according to a CQ analysis of Senate votes. On votes that pitted most Democrats against most Republicans, McCain has...

SAN'A, Yemen — A delegation of U.S. senators led by John McCain and the president of Yemen discussed on Monday ways to help the impoverished Arabian Peninsula country battle the threat from al-Qaida. The state SABA news agency said the American team and Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh focused on "bilateral issues and fields of joint cooperation." No details immediately emerged from the meeting, but McCain spokeswoman Brooke Buchanan confirmed earlier that the talks would include counterterrorism cooperation and Guantanamo detainees.

SNIP At this point, someone (maybe her mother?) suggested she should speak for the youngin' mavericks out there. She anointed herself head cheerleader on a one-woman squad, and went to work on her vision of a new Republican Party. A kinder, more gentle GOP where all everyone felt loved. In essence, one that would look more like an elephant in donkey's clothing. SNIP Then came the blogs ... oh the blogs! Posts riddled with self-indulgent drivel and giggling suggestions on how bring more youth into the listless party fold. "Go Gay, GOP!" Each had one overarching theme: To win, the...

TRIPOLI, Aug 14 (Reuters) - U.S. Republican Senator John McCain praised Libya's leader Muammar Gaddafi for his peacemaking role in Africa and said Congress would support expanding ties, Libyan state news agency Jana said on Friday. U.S.-Libyan relations have dramatically improved since Tripoli's decision in December 2003 to give up its weapons of mass destruction programmes, with diplomatic ties resuming in June 2004 after a break of more than two decades. "McCain and the delegation accompanying him confirmed the importance of expanding further the relations between Libya and the United States. The Congress would back the measures to be taken...

The Daily Beast's Meghan McCain on why the far-right pundit, who says McCain needs to shut up, won’t be getting her wish—and why telling moderates to get out of the party is bad for the GOP. BY MEGHAN MCCAIN Michelle Malkin, the conservative pundit and author of the recent book Culture of Corruption: Obama and His Team of Tax Cheats, Crooks, and Cronies, was asked during a live chat on Politico’s The Arena on Friday which conservative political figure or commentator needs to shut up. Guess who her answer was? Yeah, that’s right—yours truly. So Michelle Malkin successfully rounds out...

If John McCain thought he was running against a young 'un in last year's race against Barack Obama, wait until he sees the guy some Democrats say might take him on next year for the U.S. Senate. There's talk that Tucson City Councilman Rodney Glassman — a 31-year-old hyper-energetic first-term council member — could very well carry the flag for Dems in a race many see as a cinch for ol' Mac. Seems that Glassman, with his eyes on a higher prize than representing Tucson's Ward 2, has two main options before him should he choose to run for statewide...

Before the Senate takes its summer break, a handful of Senators are taking a chance to trash the climate bill. A group of moderate Senators wrote a letter to Barack Obama telling him that they cannot support the climate bill unless it's further weakend ease the burden of cap and trade policies. Seperately, John McCain ripped the bill while talking to Stephen Moore at the Wall Street Journal. . . . . . Over at the Wall Street Journal, John McCain takes a harder stance, saying, "this 1,400-page bill is a farce. They bought every industry off—steel mills, agriculture, utilities...I...

WASHINGTON (CNN) – With the Senate poised to pass a bill Thursday night expanding the "cash for clunkers" program with an infusion of $2 billion, White House aides say President Obama will quickly sign the bill into law by the end of the week so there's no interruption to the popular incentive this weekend. "He's going to want to make sure the funds are in place by this weekend," one senior White House official noted because of the particularly brisk weekend business the program has sparked. There has been concern the program is so popular it will run out of...

WASHINGTON -- Arizona Sen. John McCain joined three other senators Thursday in sending a letter to President Barack Obama, expressing concern over reports the Administration may try the mastermind of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and other alleged war criminals in civilian courts. The senators said they believe that military commissions are the appropriate forum to try suspected terrorists and war criminals. Joining McCain in signing the letter were fellow Republican Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Democrats Joe Lieberman of Connecticut and Jim Webb of Virginia. Trying Mohammed and others in civil courts "would treat the war on terrorism as...

WASHINGTON (CNN) – As negotiations over a health care reform bill drag on in the Senate Finance Committee, Sen. John McCain says he is not in favor of the approach most likely to be put forward by a bipartisan group of six senators negotiating on the committee. . . . . . McCain does not favor a pure public option run by the federal government and the Arizona Republican says he also does not favor insurance co-operatives – an alternative to government-run, single-payer insurance that has been proposed by North Dakota Democrat Sen. Kent Conrad who sits on the Senate...

WASHINGTON (CNN) – The “Blue Dogs,” a group of moderate to conservative House Democrats who have worked to limit the price tag of health care reform legislation, are taking a hit from a prominent Republican who is suggesting that the group will ultimately prove ineffectual. “The Blue Dogs, they always bark and they never bite,” Arizona Sen. John McCain said on an interview that aired Sunday on CNN’s State of the Union. “They almost always – in fact, always, roll over and then play dead.”

John McCain is red in the face and hopping mad. I’m sitting in his office in the Senate Russell Office Building, and he’s just rushed in after delivering a speech on the Senate floor where he seethed about the earmarks in the Homeland Security Bill.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Sen. John McCain says he sees Sarah Palin continuing to play a major role in the future of the Republican Party. McCain says he respects the decision that his 2008 vice presidential running mate made to resign as Alaska governor. The Arizona senator says people make decisions based on what's best for them and for their families. And he says he thinks Palin "clearly" made the best decision. McCain says he thinks she will continue to be "a force" within the GOP. Palin intends to write a book and try to build a right-of-center coalition. Her long-term...

WASHINGTON (AP) - Sen. John McCain says he is still on the fence when it comes to voting for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor. McCain says he is examining Sotomayor's record as an appeals court judge to decide whether she understands the limits to judicial power. He voted against her when she was nominated to the appeals court. A Senate vote is expected this week. The Arizona Republican says the prospect of Sotomayor becoming the first Hispanic on the high court is part of the discussion, and calls her a great American success story. Two of McCain's close Senate colleagues...

(CNN) — Despite his campaign-trail promises, President Obama has failed to change the partisan tone in Washington, Arizona Sen. John McCain said Friday. "I'm afraid they have," Obama's former presidential rival told CNN's John King when asked if the administration has 'failed' in delivering on its repeated pledge of bipartisanship.

SAN DIEGO – Immigration, a hot-button issue that has dominated headlines in Arizona and nationally over recent years, is fading from the public consciousness amid economic turmoil, Arizona Republican Party Chairman Randy Pullen said July 30. “Because of what’s going on with the recession, although (immigration) is still important, it’s not nearly as important as the recession,” Pullen said in an interview at the Republican National Committee’s annual summer meeting. “Cap and trade is now even a higher issue in Arizona than is immigration, as well as health care.” . . . . . Pullen, an anti-illegal immigration activist before...

Maverick senator should battle Supreme Court appointment. It's time for Sen. John McCain to step up to the plate on an issue he usually leaves to others. The Arizona Republican ought to fight hard against the confirmation of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. Mr. McCain is usually not a partisan warrior on the subject of judges. But that's a reason why his active involvement would be effective. As the Republican Party's most recent presidential standard bearer, he commands more attention than almost any other senator in his party. As a man with a reputation for principled independence, his...

Somewhere, in his new life as a political hermit, Sen. John McCain must be grinding his teeth. Facing a primary challenge from the right in his campaign for reelection, McCain (R-Ariz.) has gone from spending nearly a decade as a hyper-exposed, perennial presidential candidate to being someone you can only find on Twitter. But with a tough decision to make any day now, McCain will reluctantly do what he has avoided for so long: make news. This will happen when McCain announces his vote for or against the confirmation of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court. Either choice...

During the 2008 presidential race, America's Independent Party leaders warned against the notion that somehow John McCain represented any sort of real alternative to Barack Obama. The proof of that assertion continues to mount. Even on matters that affect the very physical survival of our nation, the Senator from Arizona sets no bounds on compromise.

Mr. President, I come to the floor today to talk about the violence that continues to plague our southern border region by Mexico’s well armed, well financed, and very determined drug cartels. Despite the increased efforts of President Calderon to stamp out these blood-thirsty and vicious drug cartels, violence has increased dramatically, claiming over 6,000 lives in Mexico last year alone. The murderers carrying out these crimes are as violent and dangerous as any in the world. Many have extensive military training and carry out their illegal activities with sophisticated tactical weapons and no regard for human life. Last week,...

Video at link.

There are, of course, a whole lot of truly baffling things about the Birther movement and its theories. But perhaps one of the most puzzling is this unanswered question: If President Obama really were born in Kenya, why didn't the McCain or Clinton campaigns dig up the evidence and publicize it? Why has that task fallen to the ragtag crew that is the Birthers, led now by Orly Taitz, a dentist/lawyer/real estate agent who got her law degree online and is regularly admonished for having little, if any, idea how to properly file her court papers? Turns out there's an...

WASHINGTON — Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona, who helped vote down U.S. ratification of a nuclear test ban treaty ten years ago, said he would now consider supporting it. McCain told The Associated Press that he could support the treaty, a priority of former presidential rival President Barack Obama, if concerns are addressed before another vote.

KENILWORTH—Five-term North Shore Rep. Mark Kirk formally announced his bid for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate today, billing himself as an independent who wants to lead others who are “not afraid to stand alone” against the corruption that has infiltrated Illinois politics. Standing in front of his late father’s north suburban home, Kirk said his record as a moderate on social issues shows he is “not an ideologue or party partisan.” . . . . . Kirk listed as endorsers Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, who heads the Republican National Senatorial Committee, as well as GOP Sens. Mitch...

(snip) "I'm saddened to learn of the passing of Walter Cronkite, one of the most influential newsmen of our time," said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. "I will never forget our memorable visit together to Hanoi on the 10th anniversary of the fall of Saigon."(snip)

(snip) McCain said the presence of the Guard will not only help prevent the violence in Mexico from spilling across the border, but will also take some pressure off of the Border Patrol and U.S. Customs. "When the bad guys see Americans in uniform, it has an effect on them, no doubt about it," McCain said. "But also there is work that Guard personnel could do to relieve the burden from Border Patrol and Customs." That being said, McCain added that cooperation with Mexico on border issues will continue to be important. As part of his trip to Yuma, McCain...

(snip) Arizona: John McCain's presidential campaign ended in defeat, but it had enough leftover cash to help McCain boost his campaign coffers as he seeks a fifth term in 2010. McCain raised $1.6 million in the second quarter, of which $900,000 came from his 2008 presidential campaign account. McCain also took in $166,000 from McCain Leadership Fund, a joint fundraising committee that shares its proceeds between McCain's campaign committee and his leadership PAC, Country First PAC. (snip)

Over the past year, Meghan McCain has made rounds proclaiming her support for positions that aren't exactly like other Republicans. She has spent a significant amount of time criticizing the tactics of other Republicans, including Ann Coulter and Karl Rove. Additionally, McCain has been rallying against anti-gay marriage Republicans – including the man that became the symbol of her father's presidential campaign. In an interview with Out Magazine, McCain said, "Joe the Plumber -- you can quote me -- is a dumb*** . He should stick to plumbing," in response to Joe the Plumber's comment that he "wouldn't' t have...

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Sen. John McCain said Thursday the United States must recover from the "moral failures" of human rights abuses and called for Americans to stand on the "right side" of history as a leader of the free world. "I believe American leadership in opposition to human rights abuses, not silence, is the truest expression of our national character," McCain said in a speech to the Junior State of America, a civics education organization for high school students. "The United States since its founding has embraced a set of moral duties, among which I believe is the obligation to...

Sen. John McCain once reveled in his stance as a maverick of the Republican Party on climate change. Now, as the Senate prepares a new bill, the party's 2008 presidential nominee has people wondering whose side he's on. McCain opened the year critical of President Obama's plan to pay for middle-class tax cuts with global warming legislation. He called the House-passed bill a "1,400-page monstrosity," pointing out special giveaways to reluctant lawmakers and provisions that threaten to spark an international trade war. While McCain has built a reputation as a critic of government excess, his complaints about the Democrat-led effort...

I am 58 years old and a lifelong Republican. I am writing this letter on behalf of myself and countless other Republicans who feel the same way I do. I am that good person who is tired of sitting back and doing nothing to change our government for the better. I am calling on Sen. John McCain not to run again for the Senate from Arizona. He has served that state as a progressive Republican for a very long time and for the most part, I believe, honorably. There are two problems with that statement — one, that he is...

The political action committee associated with Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, SarahPAC, reported strong support from small donors in its mid-year report. SarahPAC reported $733,000 in total receipts through June 30, of which $420,000 was “unitemized” or from donors who contributed $200 or less. . . . . . Only two candidates received contributions from SarahPAC through June 30: Palin’s former running mate, John McCain, received $5,000; and Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski received $5,000.

anyone who is talking smack about Senator Lindsey Graham is going to have a problem with me as well, that man is family to me.about 7 hours ago from web

Here’s a quick quiz: Who said the following? "A cap-and-trade policy will send a signal that will be heard and welcomed all across the American economy, and the highest rewards will go to those who make the smartest, safest, most responsible choices." President Obama? Henry Waxman? Nancy Pelosi? Actually, that was candidate John McCain, way back in May of 2008. Which is all the more interesting given former running mate Sarah Palin’s anti-cap-and-trade op-ed in today’s Washington Post. In her opinion piece, Palin berated Obama for creating a job-kiling “cap-and-tax dead end,” despite having run on a ticket that mostly...

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain has passed an online milestone. The former Obama rival now has more than a million followers on the microblogging and social networking site Twitter. In a statement announcing the achievement, McCain said he was "both honored and humbled" to have amassed such a following. "It has been one of the most enjoyable experiences in my long political career – not too bad for an old guy," McCain added.

In the aftermath of the November election, President Obama and Republican foe John McCain pledged to work together for the good of the country. At the moment, the issue that is bringing them together is the F-22 fighter -- more specifically, how to cut the program. As the Globe reported on Sunday, Democrats, including some from New England, are fighting the president, trying to preserve the F-22 program to save local jobs. Today, McCain sought to eliminate $1.75 billion in the proposed 2010 defense budget for more of the fighter jets, the Associated Press reports.

Arizona Sens. John McCain and Jon Kyl split as the U.S. Senate approved a measure Friday that would allow consumers to buy prescription drugs from foreign markets. McCain voted for the measure, which passed 55 to 36. Kyl voted against it, saying he is concerned about safety and oversight issues. The Senate plan needs to be reconciled with a similar drug importation plan from the U.S. House of Representatives. . . . . . The Bush administration had opposed drug imports, but the new Obama administration has been more open to the idea.

(snip) "No. I fought against waterboarding," the Arizona Republican said on NBC's "Meet the Press." "I have spoken out as forcibly as possible everywhere against what went on. It harms our image so much around the world when photographs come out. We all know bad things were done. We all know the operators were under orders to do so… I agree with the president of the United States it's time to move on, and not look back." (snip)