[MARTIAL MONK]

It was Jesse Helms who stabbed McCain in the back by not releasing him from the hearings when everyone agreed that McCain had done nothing wrong.

The Democrats had the votes to exclude McCain but they wanted the Republicans in agreement to give them political cover. Helms refused. He was in the tightest race of his career, one that would go into the wee hours of the morning on election night. He didn't want to be seen as excusing a Republican and prosecuting Democrats no matter how innocent the Republican was. It was his refusal that forced McCain into the hearings.

[Mamzelle]

So Helms refused to pull his rear out of the fire? I guess it's Helms' fault that McCain was keeping such bad company in the first place? So, that justifies McCain being such a hysterical, posturing and disloyal conservative, and the ridiculous self-justifying incumbent-protecting McCain-Feingold?

Hey, he got the nom, it was his turn, he wimped, he lost. Now it's funny to watch him get a little energized about a campaign. He gets to fight a Republican!