The McCain Mutiny: A maverick fights for his political life—and his soul

Newsweek ^ | 2010-04-03 | David Margolick

[rabscuttle385]

Late last month, at a dusty fairground outside Tucson, John McCain stood behind the person who is, at least for the next few years, surely his most important legacy to American politics. And speaking to the adoring mob, Sarah Palin stood behind John McCain, repaying his inestimable gift to her in the most compelling possible fashion: by helping him to survive.

(snip)

Many, many years ago she'd competed in a beauty pageant, Palin declared, as women howled (and a few men growled) approvingly. McCain would surely win the talent and debate portions of any such contest, she went on, but no way would the Washington elite and "pundints" and "lame-stream media" ever crown him "Miss Congeniality"! "He's never been a company man, he's never been one to just 'go with the flow,'?" she crowed.

(snip)

...Palin had apparently missed the real message this electoral season in Arizona: for his three decades in Congress, McCain hadn't gone with the flow enough, at least not enough to satisfy many Arizona Republicans. Why else would his rival, former congressman J.D. Hayworth, be billing himself as "the consistent conservative"? Many of the GOP's most faithful, the kind who vote in primaries despite 115-degree heat, tired long ago of McCain the Maverick, the man who had crossed the aisle to work with Democrats on issues like immigration reform, global warming, and restricting campaign contributions. "Maverick" is a mantle McCain no longer claims; in fact, he now denies he ever was one. "I never considered myself a maverick," he told me. "I consider myself a person who serves the people of Arizona to the best of his abilities." Yet here was Palin, urging her fans four times in 15 minutes to send McCain the Maverick back to Washington.

[SoConPubbie]

Hey everyone, Stop the in fighting and help us get rid of McCain

I totally support JD.

That being said, the in-fighting will stop when the deceitful attacks against Palin stop, not a second before then.

[Lakeshark]

I think she's been working against the illegal immi thing for a long time, it's her most important issue, one she's really personally involved with.

I don't think she's ready to write us all off as McCain supporters.

I'll wait for her answer.

[FreeReign]

I see, so you’re just bashing other politicians and diverting the entire thread because you don’t support McCain. OK, that’s perfectly clear now.

What don't you cut the BS insinuation, and look at post #9 to see the person who first diverted attention away from McNut, and toward another politician.

Unbelievable.

[Lakeshark]

I watched basketball with a hot date......

*bad shark*

[SoConPubbie]

No one ever said you said anything specific about Lakeshark.

Here is your original post:

I don’t understand why this thread got sabotaged into Ron Paul-bashing; it’s supposed to be about McLettuce, McCommie, you know, the reason we have a full-fledged Marxist in the White House.

“And those of you who don’t live in Arizona and support McCain, have no clue the impact of the invasion we’ve been experiencing. Many, many murders, including the latest one, rest on his head for his support of the criminal invasion. And Ms. Clueless supports amnesty as well, deny all you want what she told the Mexican station.”

My question to you was “Do us all a favor, and point out where any of us are supporting John McCain’s re-election efforts!”

To which you responded:

“I see, so you’re just bashing other politicians and diverting the entire thread because you don’t support McCain. OK, that’s perfectly clear now.”

With respect to topics that stay on topic, you should be addressing that to those who are using these threads as an excuse to either exaggerate or lie about Sarah Palin.

That is where the problem starts, not with those responding to those type of deceitful attacks.

[presently no screen name]

connection between her and flaming socialist McAmnesty.

We ALL know the connection - where were you in '08? Get up to speed. Why keep harping about the connection - she was McCain's choice for VP. Nothing to 'over the top' not to get.

Now tell me again how this isn't about SARAH? LOL! I remember your posts from last year about Sarah - BEFORE any support for McCain.

BTW, McCain is not a flaming socialists - you need to make it as strong as you can to make your agenda seem convincing. Lies/deceit/fabrication NEVER win in the end. Who will learn that first, you or McCain?

[presently no screen name]

I haven’t read ANYONE here supporting McCain. But I have seen some trashing conservative SARAH!

[onyx]

There’s little hope for truth and sanity when even Borax Queen posts: “And Ms. Clueless supports amnesty as well, deny all you want what she told the Mexican station.”

Sarah is firmly against amnesty and I what’s this assertion about a Mexican station?

[Forty-Niner]

No Sarah said that she supports “a path to citizenship for those that follow the rules.” By definition she is excluding illegal aliens who have not “followed the rules.”

Her answer recognized that the United States will continue to welcome legal immigration. Your problem with that is?

Amnesty is not needed for legal immigrants....ie those that “follow the rules.”

It takes your creative editing to turn her statement into one indicating Palin supports amnesty or is “ambigious.” Maybe your reading comprehension is poor? Or maybe you think mine is so lacking as to let that one slip by?

[Forty-Niner]

“Confusing the facts or ignoring them is kinda a liberal thing to do dontcha think?”

Yes I do.....what is your DU screen name? It seems you are the one ignoring the full quote, or ignoring facts that do not support your bias for (pick one) Mitt, Ron Paul, Huckster, ad nausium.....

PDS is treatable ya know?

[County Agent Hank Kimball]

Very astute analysis. I hadn’t thought it through to that extent, but of course you are absolutly correct.

Thank you.

Hank

[Man50D]

<Yes, why don't we review his record and put your LIES to rest:

More McAmnesty truths:

Opposes repealing Roe v. Wade. (May 2007)

FLASHBACK: McCain In 1999 — ‘I Would Not Support Repeal Of Roe V. Wade’

John McCain's Whimsical World of Conservatism

1982/00/00 McCain enters Congress, with his family accepts first of nine trips some aboard Keating's leer jet, three of which include stayovers at Keating's Caribbean resort (goes unreported for up to 7 years)

1983/09/28 McCain joins 26 other Republicans to vote with the Majority Party Congressional Democrats to demand U.S. Troops exit Lebanon, winds up on the losing side

1986/04/00 Cindy McCain and her father invest $359,100 in a Charles Keating strip mall

1987/00/00 McCain has received $112,000 by this time for Congressional and Senate campaigns, from Charles Keating, his relatives, and his employees, the largest amount to any Keating 5 member

1987/04/02 McCain joins four Democrats to intercede on behalf of his S&L Owner friend Keating with Ed Gray, chairman of the Federal Home Loan Bank Board and also banking regulators (2 meetings)

1988/02/11 McCain votes to affirm Anthony Kennedy as a justice for the SCOTUS

1989/00/00 McCain discloses Keating trips as his involvement in the S&L scandal breaks, reimbursing $13,433.00 with no repercussions as late as seven years after the fact

1990/10/02 McCain votes to Confirm Justice David H. Souter from New Hampshire to be an Associate Justice on the SCOTUS Court

1993/10/10 McCain co-sponsors an unsuccessful bill to cut off funding of United States troops in Somalia

1993/08/10 McCain joins the Democrats and most Republicans voting to confirm Ruth Bader Ginsberg, the worst justice on the court today. Three Republicans vote Nay.

1993/01/13 McCain and Kerry release the Select Committee report urging the MIA issue be put to rest so that Vietnam could be granted normalized relations with the U.S., over objections by MIA family and veterans groups. Video1 Video2 ( I do not endorse all of the information presented in video1 here. The video does touch on a number of topics, and I think most are germane ) If I could have found video that contained most of this information without touching on McCain's POW experience I would have posted it instead. Still, there are parts of McCain's POW experience that are troubling. I'd just rather not go there. Video2 shows how one MIA family rep is treated, confirming some of the reports in Video1.

1994/07/24 McCain joins with the Democrats to confirm nominee Stephen Breyer to be an Associate Justice on the SCOTUS. Nine Senators voted Nay...

1997/00/00 McCain leads the opposition to the Coats Amendment, preventing government funded fetal tissue research ( derived from "a legal act" [abortion] ) Amendment defeated!

1999/08/19 McCain stated, ""Certainly in the short term, or even the long term, I would not support repeal of Roe vs. Wade,"

2000/00/00 McCain joins Democrat Russ Feingold to introduce Campaign Finance Reform, an effort funded by George Soros Article

2000/00/00 McCain was the keynote speaker at the ultra-liberal Philadelphia convention sponsored by George Soros while John F. Kerry keynoted at another Soros event on the same day...

2000/11/20 McCain participates in the production of a gun control spot for Oregon's Proposition Five. (Circa this date, prior to the November election.) Article

2001/00/00 McCain founded the Reform Institute funded by George Soros

2001/05/15 McCain introduces the Gun Show Loophole bill S890, with Carper, Lieberman, DeWine, Clinton, and Schumer co/sponsoring. Analysis

2003/03/19 McCain joins Democrats to vote against drilling in ANWR

2003/10/30 McCain joins Lieberman again, this time to introduce the Climate Stewardship Act (Gorebal worming et al) Thomas Bill S139

2004/06/04 McCain signs letter with 58 Senators, "We write to urge you to expand the current federal policy concerning embryonic stem cell research."

2004/08/05 McCain announces he deplores the Swift Boat adds against Senator John Kerry, and asks the White House to refute them

2005/00/00 McCain resigns from the Reform Institute he founded with George Soros

2005/01/28 McCain declares, "I want us in the ICC (International Criminal Court)", but I would like to see more safeguards first

2005/05/12 McCain joins Ted Kennedy to introduce McCain/Kennedy immigration legislation that would wind up making illegal immigrants citizens (AMNESTY!)

2006/04/28 McCain states, "I would rather have a clean government than one where quote First Amendment rights are being respected that has become corrupt."

2006/09/06 McCain joins Dole to write op-ed for the Washington Post, states in part, "We should publicly remind Khartoum that the International Criminal Court has jurisdiction to prosecute war crimes..."

2007/02/17 McCain states he will close Guantanamo Bay terrorist detainment center on his first day in office Video (same as date link on the left)

2007/03/22 McCain gets the pledged support of Chuck and Sue Cobb, Jeb Bush's Florida Director of the Free Trade of the Americas Agreement effort

2007/06/00 McCain joins Baldwin, Shays and Meehan to file an amicus brief against the Wisconsin Right to Life organization brief The wrong side of a pro-life issue, helping pro-abort Feingold

2007/06/18 McCains Gitmo problem, close the base, grant Geneva Convention status, stop water boarding...

2007/10/25 McCain still wants us to sign the L.O.S.T. treaty in time, but does have concerns over sovereignty issues.

2008/03/00 McCain makes his first attempt to tell a state (North Carolina) Republican Party what to do. The RNC joins him.

2008/03/24 McCain hires Meg Whiteman to cochair his Presidential campaign. Whiteman is another wishy washy at best Independent, who has donated to leftist candidates and still doesn't have a clue what side to come down on with regard to illegal immigration. She is leaning toward running for Governor in California and being courted by it's Republican leadership. Links to CalCowGirl's comments regardint Whiteman's donations. Article above.

2008/03/26 McCains speech to the World Affairs Council, Europe may get veto power over some of our foreign policy...

2008/04/08 McCain casts last Senate vote during his Presidential Campaign. By the EOBD 06/24/08, he has missed 367 votes or 61.4% of the Senate votes in the 110th Congress. His last vote before the one he cast on April 8 was cast on 03/14/08. LINK

2008/05/09 McCains interview with O'Reilly... I won't drill in ANWR... it's pretty... I'm an environmentalist. (note: there's a good chance he may have an environMental disorder)

2008/05/12 McCain Joins the Goreball Worming Cult, sounding more like Al Gore every day... McCain's Oregon add Video

2008/05/13 McCain takes an Environmental walk, with the leader of the Cascade Land Conservancy... (another series of fruit loop moments)

2008/05/15 McCain states he will appoint Democrats to his administration, during a Republican teleconference and during a Columbus stump speech

2008/05/27 McCain announces support for severe cutbacks on our nuclear weapons, withdrawing battlefield nukes from Europe and giving our nuclear waste to an international body

2008/06/04 McCain states, "I disagreed strongly with the Bush administration's mismanagement of the war in Iraq."

2008/06/14 McCain tells Clinton supporters they should back him because he voted for Ginsberg and Breyer Said this to Conservatives on 2008/05/07

2008/06/21 It is announced McCain and Obama will address open borders group in Los Angeles on July 18th, 2008, Communists and worst of U.S. Illeagal Alien appologist groups...

2008/06/21 McCain and team realize he has so little credibility on judicial appointments, that they announce he will let Fred Thompson vet his judges. That's 06/21/08's version of truth...

2008/06/28 McCain declares, "I will make comprehensive immigration reform my “top priority,” during my first 100 days in office. He assures Latino leaders that they will have an ally in the White House.

2009/07/01 McCain's camp gets skewered by Tammy Bruce in her commentary titled, "McCain's Camp Praises Sanford and Trashes Palin?"

2009/07/12 McCain plans to lead an effort to reverse the decision in committee that would add $1.7 billion for 12 additional F-22s next year.

2009/07/13 McCain, in an unusual alliance with the Obama administration, moved Monday to eliminate $1.75 billion recently inserted into the proposed 2010 defense budget for more (F22) fighter jets from Lockheed Martin

2009/07/14 McCain backs Obama on F-22 cuts, but advocates vow fight

2009/07/21 McCain gives credit to President Obama for standing firm, on cutting F22 funding

2009/09/24 McCain Palin break on F-22 cuts

2009/10/21 McCain says, “I haven’t looked at him that carefully because I haven’t been around,” regarding Arpaio’s well-publicized exploits in the Phoenix area, when asked what he thought of him. However McCain had known enough about Arpaio around 2004 to back Mesa police Cmdr. Dan Saban over him.

2009/10/25 McCain defends Obama against Cheney's comments on his Afghanistan dithering, calls for unity with president

2009/11/18 McCain defends campaign staff against Palin

2009/12/06 McCain defends Palin while referring to her as irrelevent, then lauds her work

2010/01/10 McCain Strategist Schmidt trashes Palin, says McCain had planned to name Lieberman as his VP choice in 2008

2010/01/20 McCain coopts Palin for his own purposes.

2010/01/21 McCain and Brown meet, McCain's office... coopting alert

2010/01/21 McCain/Feingold Finance Reform takes big hit from SCOTUS, as Conservatives had first predicted Malkin

2010/01/22 McCain coopts Brown for his own purposes. Conservatives: Beware of McCain Regression Syndrome

2010/01/23 McCain's PAC supports California's former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina for U. S. Senate, likes Jessie Jackson and gender politics.

2010/01/26 McCain, U.S. Supreme Court overturns bulk of McCain/Feingold Act (Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3)

2010/01/26 McCain, Bayh team up on spending freeze bill to back Obama, and to grant him line item veto.

2010/02/03 McCain introduces the Dietary Supplement Safety Act of 2010. Bill S3002. The U.S. Government and the pharmaceutical industry have been trying for decades to clamp down on dietary supplements, to protect people from God knows what, to reduce competition with their medications, and also to gain market share in this arena

2010/03/24 McCain joins other Senators to form a caucus on Global Internet Freedom. While sounding rather benign, McCain's past inability to see things clearly, causes concern regarding any effort he decides to become a part of, especially if it's as important as a tool of freedom of speech. One can only wonder if this will come back to haunt us like so many other things he's become involved in have.

2010/03/25 McCain calls for civility in debate over the Health Care bill, echos Democrats call for peace. RNC head Steele refuses to buy in.

2010/03/26 McCain is taken to task by Andrew C. McCarthy in a commentary titled, "the Mark of McCain". It seems McCain offered (and Graham was involved too) an amendment that had terrible ramifications, in all likelihood leading to the release of Mohamedou Slahi, one of the 9/11 plotters. Read the detailed summary at the link.

2010/03/26 McCain, even the L.A. Times has his number. They herald his movement to the right (during re-election bid). They also touch on how McCain coopted (my term, not theirs) Palin and Brown for his benefit.

2010/03/26 McCain appears with Palin on FoxNews' "On the Record", with Greta Van Susteren. Among other things, Palin states, "I support his position on immigration."

2010/03/27 McCain calls in his favors from Palin, and she spends the day lavishing praise on him at appearances.

[Man50D]

Give it up? Like you? You are not living in reality, son, especially not a political one.

The reality is posted in reply #172.

You do know that JD Hayworth endorsed McCain for President, right? So, by your own definition, he too, is culpable for supporting a flaming socialist.

You're comparing apples to oranges. Hayworth's only choice was between someone in his own party and the opposing party. Palin's choice is between a socialist in her party and a Conservative in the same party! You conveniently ignore the fact Hayworth is not kissing up to McAmensty now as Palin is still willing to do nor did Hayworth vote with socialist RATs on multiple key issues! Moreover Romney's endorsement of McAmensty should tell all you need to know about the difference between McAmnesty and Hayworth.

Oh, but I forget, when challenged on giving names of anyone you'd support for President, you stated no one has declared so you won't be pro/con anyone. Yet, you've already dismissed Palin.

The only thing you want to forget is Palin's continued association with a flaming socialist but don't worry. I'll keep reminding you.

[Man50D]

Given the list of his conservative positions and votes on the issues, are you sure you don’t want to come back to the side of honesty, sanity, and the lack of Hyperbole and admit that John McCain is NOT a socialist, but extremely moderate RINO?

Given the facts posted in replies #130 and #172, no.

[Man50D]

Your trolling is getting tedious.

I'm sure the facts about McAmnesty and Plain's association with him seems tedious to you considering you refuse to accept the reality of Palin's continues association with a flaming socialist.

You obviously live a sheltered life and feel important working your way to be a keyboard comando for the PaulBot types. Your type were also seen in the 1930s in Germany.

Back to Saul again. You're incredibly predictable.

[Man50D]

We ALL know the connection - where were you in '08? Get up to speed. Why keep harping about the connection - she was McCain's choice for VP. Nothing to 'over the top' not to get.

After McAmnesty's first choice of flaming socialist LIEberman was resoundingly rejected. And she still continues to endorse him.

Now tell me again how this isn't about SARAH? LOL! I remember your posts from last year about Sarah - BEFORE any support for McCain.

Apparently your memory is extremely short considering you mentioned her connection as his VP in 08 but a few sentences later forget that very association! My posts appeared after she accepted to run with a flaming socialist! Nothing has changed between then and now since McAmnesty is still the same!

BTW, McCain is not a flaming socialists - you need to make it as strong as you can to make your agenda seem convincing. Lies/deceit/fabrication NEVER win in the end.

See posts #130 and #172. Denying the facts with baseless Alinsky like tactics does nothing to buttress unfounded accusations.

[backhoe]

[rintense]

And as usual, you ignored everything I've said. Nor do you have the courage to criticize anyone on that list who endorsed McCain, nor do you have one ounce of courage to toss out a possible name you'd support in 2012.

Coward.

[rintense]

And your apples/oranges line is a load of crap. You might as well just said lesser of two evils. Then again, you’d contradict yourself because you think both McCain and Obama are flaming socialists.

[AuntB]

“So whould you have said the same thing about Ronald Reagan?

Would your approach have been the same?

Remember, he was the first to not only propose Amnesty, but to get it passed. “

_______________________

Yes, Reagan signed the amnesty, but it wasn’t he who introduced it, it was McCain’s buddy Ted Kennedy, with the PROMISE of enforcement. And yes, I was ticked when he signed it, because we knew it would lead to the current mess we find ourselves in.

What you have to realize is that McCain won’t even admit that what he wants IS amnesty. He lies.

McCain actually had the nerve to say this a few days ago:

“President Reagan granted amnesty to two million people and that was wrong,” McCain said.

http://www.dcourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=79030