1) The writer gives much more credence to McCain than I ever will. His POW account in in overdraft, IMO. He’s built an entire political career around that and gotten rich in the process. Yet, he couldn’t bring himself to speak this plainly in his own 2008 presidential campaign about what was readily apparent about Obama then. He couldn’t even rise to the level of plain-speaking that his VP candidate subsequently used to build her own political fortunes.
2) I would truly be amazed if a journalist of any kind ever begins to understand military rank structure. Specifically, a USN Rear Admiral (always capitalized) is equal to either a Brigadier General (one star) or a Major General (two stars) in the other services. It depends on whether the individual is a Rear Admiral (lower half - one star) or a Rear Admiral (upper half - two stars.)
3) The other military fact the writer overlooks is the political nature of becoming a flag rank officer. Once they have the stars on, they are no less a politico than any of the others. The only difference is the clothes they put on in the morning, a pinstripe suit or a military uniform with its accoutrements.
McCain would never call barry an idiot
McCain got most of his money from his wife. Her family owned a beer distributor in AZ I believe.