What possessed Trump to criticize John McCain in front of an audience comprised in large part of vets. If anything, he may have turned a former Trump supporter into a vote against him. McCain was one of their own and attacking him is like attacking them. A stupid move on his part (thank goodness!).
8
McCain was an intelligent brave man. Not a simpering cowardly, poorly read, draft dodging mouse like our current President.
8
The very small trying to diminish the truly great...never rings true. Trump is a friendless man without a shred of honor or ounce of human compassion already experiencing the total aloneness of his final destination.
11
Thanks you for reporting on and highlighting the shame Trump brings on all of us by obsessively criticizing a recognized war hero, and further lying about and distorting McCain's career. I find it important to remind the American people just how unstable and irrational our president is.
It will take a swell of sentiment to publicly shame and dismiss this president so that we can end this national nightmare. It's one thing to be a novice at a job, it's another to be an offensive and cruel person incapable of basic civility while performing that job. The American people must collectively tell him that he's fired.
9
After being blinded by the gravitas of a draft dodging president criticizing a war hero I remembered to think about alternate motives and/or red herrings. Given the recent, simultaneous attacks on Kelly Ann Conway's husband and John McCain could be a way of threatening anyone who dares oppose him width retribution against them and their family? daresay it is Stalin-lite to attack a political opponents family.
7
My two sons served in the Marines and both were deployed in Iraq. John McCain volunteered to serve in Vietnam, was captured and tortured. John McCain was a hero who suffered longer than he needed to as a POW. I think the main reason trump is critical of McCain is because trump is a coward. He was too scared to go to Vietnam. I doubt he didn’t want to go out of principle. How can a man without a conscience be a conscientious objector. No, trump is a coward and his contempt for McCain is just petty jealousy. He knows he can never measure up and that’s why he wants to tear down. Trump is a sorry excuse for a real man.
10
Too bad that Trump thinks John McCain was 'not his kind of guy'. Too bad for our country, for decency, for notions of honorable-ness and public service. Trump doesn't seem to learn alot from anyone on this planet but he sure could learn a great deal from John McCain. And I am a liberal with many differences with John McCain including his disastrous launching of Sarah Palin onto the national stage, but you cannot fault the man's public service, essential decency and patriotism.
8
The bottom line is that he cannot keep us safe. He's not capable.
Republicans? This is all on you.
11
The Washington National Cathedral disputed President Trump's claim that he had to "approve" the funeral of the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).
"Washington National Cathedral was honored to host the funeral service for Senator John McCain. All funerals and memorial services at the Cathedral are organized by the family of the deceased; only a state funeral for a former president involves consultation with government officials," a cathedral spokesperson said in a statement to The Hill on Thursday.
"No funeral at the Cathedral requires the approval of the president or any other government official," he added.”
Who could have guessed? Another day another egregious lie.
15
Harry Truman fired Douglas MacArthur so there was rancor between the two men. Both blasted the other man.
When Douglas MacArthur died reporters asked Truman about the feud. Truman stated MacArthur wasn't around anymore to defend himself and Truman would have nothing more to say. Those were the days.
9
McCain was a war hero. He was a terrible person though as he cheated on his first wife, the mother of his children, was involved in the Keating scandal, was a terrible presidential candidate, pushed hard for a war with Iraq, and did not follow through on campaign promises. All the adulation is unwarranted.
3
The only veteran Trump dares to attack is a dead one.
5
Trump is constantly projecting. His modus operandi is to claim others are guilty of whatever sins he himself is exhibiting.
By claiming (falsely, of course) that McCain was at the bottom of his class, Trump is really telling us how poorly he himself performed in college. I will assume that's the case until Trump proves me wrong by releasing his own transcripts. Which will never happen. Our President is a disgrace and a buffoon.
15
The president has sunk to a new low! Disgusting and deplorable ..... when will congress stand up and say “enough is enough” ? By sitting silent, they are in effect endorsing his abhorrent behavior .
9
What kind of person continues to slam a veteran who has been dead for seven months? And, more important, what kind of people still stands up for such a person, still supporting him, and still voting for him? That Trump is a disgrace to everything America stands for is a sad "given" these days, but far more dreadful is the idea that there are millions of people (so aptly labelled "Base" or, even better, "Deplorables") who still stand up for this man. Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham, and a host of other Republicans proudly genuflect before him. That is enough to make any truly moral person vomit.
14
Only Donald Trump would fight with a dead man and lose.
22
Criticising Trump gets nowhere; he just shrugs it off. What hurts is to pierce his ego - just keep labelling him "coward"', "coward", "coward".
11
Trump is unhinged mentally? This is news? Really?
Trump’s nuttiness demonstrated by—this time— public denunciation of anyone living or dead who criticizes or opposses him is not the problem. It is the Republican establishment weasels who enable him and remain silent in response to his serial outrages.
9
Did Trump expect McCain to rise from the dead to thank him for the funeral?
It's just weird...
10
After all of this If American Voters go to the polls in November 2020 and even make it close Shame on them. I don't care who his runs against him. Look at the field and how can one believe he is the Best. Fifty years from now when most of us will be gone History will not Serve this man Well.
7
After GW Bush I thought we were safe. There would never be another President so bad that would make Bush look good. And yet, here--we--are
9
One of the most genteel and competent legislators assailed by a man who barely deserves recognition.
Somehow this nightmare will be over soon, yes?
5
How pathetic to attack a man who is dead, as well as to complain he didn't get a "thank you." Gee, what did he do beyond approving, if he did, lying in state at the Capitol Building. This is pro forma. What a tiny, tiny person Trump is.
9
No political relationship in US history was more toxic than that between LBJ & RFK. LBJ would never have considered attacking RFK after he died. No emotionally healthy person would.
Trump is unbalanced & unfit for office. GOP leadership should invoke the 25th Amendment & work w Democrats to remove Trump.
11
We need a 24-hour blackout on Donald (I refuse to use his last name thereby helping his brand.). No news, no posts, tweets, etc. Reputable news organizations should simply report on significant events during that time without using his name, just “the President.” The rest of us could devote some time to having fun, doing good deeds, etc.
It is obvious that the VP, the Cabinet, the Congress, are not going to deal with a president who is suffering severe mental issues.
Note - not a peep from our elected officials in Arizona about Donald’s vile comments about McCain. Not even from Kyrsten Sinema.
7
Give Trump a break. Sure, if Michael Cohen is to be believed, Trump may have been a bit of a timid puppy when faced with the prospect of fighting living foreign foes who could have injured, captured, or tortured him. And, OK, even today there are those who might say that Trump laps too meekly from the shiny bowls laughingly placed before him by powerful foreign bullies. But, hey, he's proven himself to be a regular Doberman when it comes to attacking the deceased and the defenseless. And isn't that what we need most in a commander-in-chief ?
(Sincere condolences to the family of John McCain, whose fundamental decency - reflected, by way of example only, in his defense of Barack Obama against a supporter's racist rant - and life of service to this country should serve as an example for everyone, across the political spectrum.)
5
I wasn't a big McCain fan but there's no denying his courage under fire and more, plus his service to our Country.
Then there's trump: a con man and LIAR (well over 8,500 documented lies since taking office), racist, serial defaulter on loans, 5 time bankrupt, marriage cheater, payer off of porn stars, cheater (over $150 million) in estate taxes plus other tax cheats, dead beat who doesn't pay his bills and cheats working men, among other faults. It's ALL there and well documented. Those who refuse to see and accept these TRUTH's about trump are fools, enablers, and COMPLICIT in his crimes against OUR democracy.
The next time trump insults Elizabeth Warren and/or any other democrat I recommend they respond aggressively with the above list.
Just sayin... Lock HIM up. And his 'crime family'.
5
AACNY - you voted for McCain twice? In what capacity? President or Senator? If Senator then that's a neat trick Your location says New York.
1
Yeah, what's the deal with that? I mean, it's not like you can just move to a new state whenever you feel like it...
3
What I find even more despicable than Donald Trump's pathetic assaults on an American hero who is not alive to defend himself,
What I find even more despicable than Donald Trump's obsessive and compulsive personality,
What I find even more despicable is the silence of all but a few of John McCain's Republican colleagues in the Senate, especially Lindsey Graham.
Donald Trump acts like a monarch because he is being treated as one by his Republican sycophants, and that only feeds his already outsized ego. For shame, Republicans. For shame.
80
1. This isn't a feud - that takes 2 sides.
2. What is he trying to distract us from this week?
3..Why do you guys keep reporting this stuff as if it was real news. Focus on #2.
61
This man is just plain SICK. He not only needs to be removed from office, he needs to be institutionalized.
9
Above all else, Trump must be worshiped. What a false idol these republicans have set up.
6
Hoisted by his own petard.
We have a president whose aberrant behavio, on display every time he appears in public, makes evident he cannot fulfill the duties of office. His party refuses to address it. We are all at risk because of them and the country cannot sustain this malfeasance much longer.
6
The Miami Herald is reporting on an alleged money laundering scheme that funded the Trump campaign... in case you were wondering exactly why the so-called president keeps smearing a dead man. Diversion and distraction and we keep falling for it.
11
John McCain was and always will be a true American war hero. Donald Trump is a draft dodger. Despite his flaws of which there were many, John McCain still deserves praise as a patriot and statesman, words that cannot and will not ever describe Donald Trump. Instead, we must use words such as dishonest, ignorant, incompetent and turncoat to describe Donald Trump.
Trump's disdain for John McCain, as well as former President Obama represents his deep seated jealousy of those smarter and and more talented than himself. Donald Trump will always be a weak, petty person who has not and will not ever achieve the greatness of those he criticizes.
5
NYT, Please stop aiding DT to distract the U.S. public by publishing his idiotic tweets. meanwhile his administration is making it easier for companies to get out of their pension obligations, dump toxic waste in our waters, and give yet more tax breaks to undeserving corporations and oligarchs.
1
Another Trump deflection (supported by the complacent and complicit silence of the majority of Senate and House Republicans) from the real and primary issues at hand - Mueller investigation nearing final report, House investigations ramping up, and additional investigations in NY.
4
Where are all the “We support our Troops” guys. And the Vietnam Nam Veterans? Why aren’t they outraged by this attack on a man who suffered for his deep feelings that compelled him to duty instead of seeking a deferment anyway he could get it?
I for one did not agree with the Republican McCain but Citizen McCain I respect his honor, bravery and courage.
10
I think that Donald Trump tries to cover up that he has no serious thoughts or plans for running our country, so he trots out these petty drama to disguise that fact.
5
@Cyclopsina
Bravo! I think you have described the situation to a T. He never unveils any ideas or vision for America, only stating he is accomplishing more than any President ever has and how great everything is now. That, and airing all the grievances he has and whining about how SNL, the media and comedians are treating him.
3
I lived in NY in the 1980s and knew what Trump was. Back then he got a pass because everyone knew that he, himself, was in on the joke. I left for a while, then returned during the early years of "The Apprentice." People loved to say, "you're fired." "No ," I said, "I've never watched the show, and BTW Donald Trump is the most vulgar human being on face of the earth." Alas, with each passing day he confirms my opinion. That he is President is truly mind-boggling.
10
Donald John Trump will never be a great man. There's simply nothing great about him. Nor will he ever be a patriot, having lamely excused his way out of his line in service. None of his children have ever served in the US military either, feeling themselves too superior to actually serve our nation. It's rather rich I'd say to ever have anyone named Trump speak the name of John McCain.
8
Romney tweeted regarding McCain:
"heroic, courageous, patriotic, honorable, self-effacing, self-sacrificing, empathetic, and driven by duty to family, country, and God"
In summary, everything Trump is not.
9
@Dan Murphy Spot on ! So, why don't we hear Romney (and the rest of the oh-so-pious Christians) in Congress, particularly the Republicans, SCREAMING about this outrage in the public square ? Could it be because they themselves are as gutless as trump ? And by the way, when did Romney serve in the U.S. military ? I seem to recall from his bio that he himself had a golden- boy upbringing, and similarly spent his business life shafting the 99%.
3
Why do Americans denigrate draft dodgers in the Vietnam war and in the same breath indicate that the American war in Vietnam was one of America’s greatest mistakes?
If the war was immoral and cruel then why is the draft dodger doing anything but avoiding participating in an immoral war?
As John Kerry eloquently said to Congress, who wants to be the last man to die for a mistake?
2
@Michael Kittle
Because lying and fraudulent medical reports are the cowards way out. Declaring yourself a conscientious objector is the way to speak out against war and serve your country in another way by working in conservation,caring for the very young or very old,education, or health care.
A liar, thief and con man helps no one but himself.
8
While I do respect Senator McCain for his service to our country, I think those who focus only on that aspect are missing the larger point. For the President to use his position to publicly disparage and personally insult ANY American citizen is beyond the pale and begs for his removal from office.
20
@Matt
I have been saying this for 2 years. I have wondered how anyone finds it acceptable for the president to insult, disparage any citizen of this country, by name? It truly boggles my mind that people not only find it acceptable, but actually cheer it and defend it. I never would have imagined that this was ever even a possibility. I remember telling a friend-when Trump was elected-that he was going to have a real problem because he could not handle criticism at all, and when you were president you couldn't just lash out at American citizens... Apparently I was wrong. That seems to be what he does more than any actual work.
trump is stuck in the cycle of holding grudges because his expectations of superiority haven’t been fulfilled.The more angry and bitter he is, the harder he tries to deflect the blame. Grudges then spiral into a never-ending cycle of blame and rage. In other words...he's terrified the world will never respect him. For once, he's right.
12
Trump is a narcissist. Narcissism is a recognized personality disorder. Among other things, those that have the disorder are pathological liars and suffer from delusions of grandeur. Trump's repeated obsession and remarks about McCain are a symptom of his disease. He is mentally ill.
14
Please stop paying attention to this. Do not give the President a platform to continue this one-sided diatribe. This is not news.
9
@Katie Please stop referring to him as "the President". He is not a president in any sense of the word.
3
Trump is not only infantile and mean-spirited, but he is vindictive, callous and downright stupid. I wouldn't let him babysit my goldfish!
14
Me thinks there be trolls here!
1
One wonders what kind of funeral Trump wants. He is digging his grave with every mouthful, so it is not that far off.
I doubt that there will be many mourners, being heavily involved in divvying up, or more likely, avoiding connection with the leftovers from his numerous failures, the loss of the presidency being one of the lesser ones. The Twitter feeds will dwindle to a twitter, and a measure of sanity will blossom with the reappearance of Government of for and by the People.
5
@Tom Carney - Good question. I'm not sure either but every day I try to eat right and stay healthy so I'll be around to witness it.
2
Democrats should pray that Trump keeps up his petty and outrageous attacks on the late John McCain. If Trump does so, he himself will be a dead man when it comes to having any chance at winning re-election.
7
If you believe in heaven, John McCain is up there having a great laugh.
3
NYT, please stop printing the foolish
utterances of the president. He seeks
to be in the news and the centre of
discussion. It will be fine to read
the policy decisions. Never imagined
that 63million morons would vote
for this person who is totally unfit
for the office and probably mentally
ill. Can't bring the good old days
when Caligula, emperor of Rome,
got no such wide publicity. This
Caligula seem to dominate the news
cycle.
10
Seriously McCain was given an dossier packed with lies from Andrew Wood (British) and passed this pack of lies to the most corrupt Comey and Comey's corrupt FBI on December 9th, 2016. Then Comey investigated Trump because of these lies. Wood, McCain, Comey are pond scum.
Why would McCain pass on this pack of lies? Because he was deep down a bitter mean old man who lost his election against Obama deservedly so. And Trump beat Hillary, something he could never do. His running mate was not invited to his funeral. Nor was the President.
McCain is thumbs down like his vote.
2
@Mark Raymond
Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by more than three million votes. Your delusions are your own, but facts are facts.
Clinton 65,853,514
trump 62,984,828
5
There's a screw loose.
6
It should be obvious to everybody, including republicans in Congress, that trump is mentally ill and probably has a degenerative neurological disorder. Anyone who reads a newspaper, watches TV, or glances at the covers of rags at the supermarket check-out counter has known for decades that trump is a debauched little pee-wee of a man who will do ANYTHING for a buck. Twenty yrs ago, I knew this from the occasional bits I came across that advertised/exposed his scams and lowbrow self-promotion to raise money. I know this, and I don't even live in New York.
Now, trump has sunken to a new low. We watch the specter of a "man", a "president" ranting against a deceased war hero and patriot who, as far as I know, NEVER did anything in his life that was contrary to the best interests of the U.S.A. The bloviation against Senator McCain, who spent 5 agonizing years in a Hanoi death camp, is being spewed by a narcissistic girlie-man who used his father's (probably ill-gotten) money to hire a quack "doctor" to attest that poor donald had bone spurs that made him unfit for military service. I think the thing that made, and still makes him unfit was not the presence of bone spurs, but his absence of love for this country, respect for our Constitution, and a pair of gonads.
Congress sits and does nothing while we watch trump's penis envy playing out very publicly in the national media. This creature is hurting our country. And, he's embarrassing to watch.
9
I "friended" the White House months ago to monitor DT's comments. Yesterday I got a FB post telling me I could listen to all of DT's comments made in Ohio. I posted something like "DT, stop talking about Senator McCain." I got an immediate reply. For the first time in my 80 plus years on God's earth, I was told by a nameless someone to "Go to hell." Just another glimpse of the national divide. (And I guess FB thought that was a suitable response, not worthy of censoring.)
7
Welcome to the joys of social media.
3
Sad thing is, with the world burning down around us, McCain is even a thought in Private Heel Spurs brain.
Trump's aggravated that they'll probably have pay people to be nice and show up at his funeral. Unlike McCain, whether you liked him or not, people respected hi.
4
President Trump knows John McCain's mortal days of fighting back are over. but can't we get one of our fine actors made up as Sen. McCain, returned from the dead, to haunt Trump,like Marley's ghost? perhaps in a Navy dress uniform backed up by the Navy band? or even appearing in a tv special on the Fox News network? casting call going out for tomorrow at 10! maybe the President will be so rattled he'll lose face with his base and be forced to resign, causing Variety to toute, 'Chumps Dump Trump". next up, "Grifter", the Trump musical. think of THOSE juicy roles!
3
Never before has a more disgraceful American walked this earth.
9
Did Linsey Graham go into hiding? It would have been interesting to hear his opinion since he is closest to both of them.
3
Lindsey actually did come out and said something in South Carolina. He was concerned about his friend Donald’s rhetoric.
1
@mary bardmess
Sen. Graham was not available. He was at the chiropractor getting his spine adjusted.
2
People, we are now at the point where the President of the United States insults and demeans a dead war hero. VOTE!
10
And still, the spineless, corrupt GOP congress stand by him
11
The real question is, what's he trying to distract is from with his ranting, this time? Is the Kushner/Qatar/Saudi deal being investigated? Is more criminal evidence against him (Mr Trump) coming to light? What's going on of substance right now that he's got everyone chasing after smoke and mirrors to keep under wraps? We all know Mr Trump is a horrible, corrupt, amoral, racist, xenophobic basket of deplorableness - what's the REAL news you're not covering while you're at the circus?
6
DT keeps digging his own grave.
4
John McCain will always loom large in the twisted psyche of Donald. He will forevermore live rent free deep in Donald’s small mean brain and under Donald’s gossamer thin skin.
John McCain is all that Donald is not and can never be: courageous, a hero, a good friend to many, willing to learn from his mistakes, beloved by his family and friends, and someone who ably and honorably served his country.
Donald is just a foul mouthed prevaricating venal corrupt incompetent Putin loving serial bankruptcy kind of guy.
11
"I never was a fan of McCain, and I never will be.”
Whenever Trump goes into one of his vile McCain tirades, I find it helps me set matters straight in my mind to picture him in a Vietnamese prison camp crying uncontrollably, begging for mercy, bragging about his fabulous SAT and Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores, offering to build a giant luxury hotel and casino in Hanoi much taller than any in China with its top five floors reserved for Ho Chi Minh and his girlfriends;
while repeatedly praising Vietnam’s cultural traditions, the grace and beauty of its women and reminding his captors over and over again that -- but for fact that U.S. military doctors had mistaken his bone spurs for weapons -- he would never have set foot in their beautiful, generous and liberty-loving country;
all the while dangling out the prospect of Miss Universe beauty pageants, an NFL franchise financed exclusively by the Deutsche Bank and going in partners with Ho on a nationwide chain of Trump universities.
7
On a recent PBS Newshour, commentator Mark Shields noted that Donald Trump resembled a commander on the field of battle who, afterward, went around, shooting the wounded.
As another comment here said, the word 'despicable' is much too kind a description of the vile, amoral monster in the WH.
NOT my president
9
Enough is enough.
4
There's a saying that bad things come in 3's. For trump the 3 are McCain, Obama & Hillary.
2
@Mike Don't forget Robert Mueller. He's going to soon become the .... object ... floating in donald's happy little party punch bowl. At least, that's how donnie boy's gonna' see it.
2
Once you understand how Donald Trump engages in conflict, his treatment of the late Senator is easily understood. He knows that McCain can't fight back. So, his insults reflect cowardice. Cowardice is in his DNA. He attacks on twitter or from the podium with Secret Service agents ready to rush forward if necessary. A "profile in courage" he ain't.
Having said that, we have to wonder about his psyche. We all know people we dislike intensely but we don't feel compelled to share those feeling with the rest of the world. Why does Trump feel compelled to tell us who he detests? Knowing that he dislikes the late senator or believes George Conway is a "total loser" or "whack job" makes none of us sleep better at night. In fact, it does just the opposite.
5
I recently read in this paper a comment from someone who referred to Donald Trump as a "gutter rat." I like that. He is.
8
Don’t know if these attacks are Trump playing distraction politics...but it is tasteless and a fine example of what seems to be a serious personality problem.
3
Fighting with a dead war hero is insane . It is sick. May be Mr.Conway is right that Trump need a check up for his mental stability. The guy who was too coward to go to war is criticizing a hero who fought the enemy and got captured . He refused to compromise with the enemy and refused to come out leaving behind his fellow captured comrades. He is a great American hero who visited the injured soldiers almost every week . He is a great man. I salute Mr.McCain. Thank you for your service for our country. The GOP leaders are scared of Trump so much that they are keeping their mouth shut. Seeing these spineless GOP lawmakers, I feel shame.
7
I can't understand how the good people of the Republican Party can continue to support this petulant, crazed man/child.
Please vote him out in the primary and restore sanity and pride to the GOP.
3
Easy, there are no more good people in the Republican Party.
2
This story isn't about John McCain. It's about a man (not my Prez) who is stuck, like a broken machine, in constantly making others wrong so he might look good. Sadly, there are still so many who cheer him on. He is an embarrassment to his country and himself. He has dragged the country down to its lowest common denominator; himself and those who behave like him.
4
It was not just “to a new level” that Trump took his feud with the late McCain. He has taken it to "a new bizarre low,” as McCain’s daughter Meghan puts it.
None would be surprised that most Republican leaders have proved to be spineless to call out this president when he disgraces the office he holds in this manner. They have their eyes on the next election. But what about the Christian evangelicals whose support was an important factor in his being elected? Not one of them has come forward to chastise him? Aren’t his despicable remarks about a dead person a disgrace to Christian values?
It’s not just any person whose memory Trump has ben disparaging. The person was a war hero whose service to the nation all Americans, except a few stooges of Trump, are proud of. The evangelicals may also note that the man who keeps saying that McCain was not a war hero is one who dodged military service with an invented medical problem.
They may also want to learn something from the military personnel whom Trump was addressing when he engaged in his latest anti-McCain diatribe. The disciplined soldiers that they are, they desisted from booing their commander-in-chief. But the total silence with which they received his sickening remarks eloquently conveyed what they felt about them.
It is about time the country took seriously the alarms raised by George Conway about Trump's mental state. Some of the things he has been saying and doing can be associated only with an insane mind.
4
Mr. Trump’s childish resentments prove, once again, that he is not fit for the office.
4
One might hope that the attacks on McCain might be the tipping point that begins the GOP abandonment of their puppet who has managed to reverse those roles, but I suspect not: their jobs now depend on responding to the howling of the "base."
Many, if not most, of Trump's red meat followers don't care what he says as long as he projects some sort of tough guy stance and the tone of his words convey the kind of grievance they must feel toward...take your pick.
The target doesn't matter as long as they feel he shares their anger at "things not being as they should be." And they need to hear that the blame lies with people "who aren't like you and me"...even though Trump is nothing like them (barring seeking simple solutions to complex problems).
Populist demagogues are not new; so it seems both sad and an educational failure that there has been enough support for this narcissistic, hate filled conman so that we now endure the shame of having him "represent" our country.
The GOP could repudiate him, but they have no shame.
5
Anyone who lived in New York City during the '70's and 80's was familiar with Times Square ravers sprawling on the sidewalks howling at nothing until the police hauled them to Bellevue hospital. Donny baby is bucking for a straitjacket.
9
John McCain was a Vietnam war hero. He was also a petty, irascible, vindictive, spiteful, humorless politician who would sacrifice his principles to those instincts. And that will be his legacy.
1
@TWW and sometimes McCain rose above those lesser traits to act in the best interests of his country and his fellow military brothers. Is there anything even remotely resembling a selfless thing that dt has EVER done? If so, I've never seen any evidence of it.
6
Trump's decision to keep up his feud with the late John McCain is a grave mistake.
7
There is an article from Politico in my daily news notification this morning saying that the President will be re-elected in a landslide in 2020. Yep- this article shows the numbers that point to the re-election of this poor, sick, twisted, little man. If ever there was a time that the opposition pull together, unite, and put an ELECTABLE candidate on the ballot- it is now. https://www.politico.com/story/2019/03/21/trump-economy-election-1230495
2
I'm not a fan of Trump's, never was, never will be. I like grown-ups who are grown-up, who behave with personal dignity. I like people who do their jobs, instead of wasting the public's time and money on TV and golf. I like people who have some understanding and warmth for other people. This narcissist, this morally corrupt and basically unintelligent man, this cold fish, this embarrassment, this con man, this arrogant and demeaning President - no, I am not his fan, never was, never will be.
8
The coward in chief has now clearly demonstrated he is unfit for office.
Mr. McCain fought for our freedom risking his life and suffering severe injury in doing so. How dare Trump denigrate his character in such a dishonorable and disgraceful way, given he himself had a doctor fake a disability to disqualify him from serving his country. The coward should not be in charge of the armed forces under any circumstances.
I disagreed with some of the Senator's policies but always respected him. Given current members silence for the most part, I cannot understand why he was a republican. Apparently, the party died with him since what is left are a bunch of cowards leading us down a path towards dictatorship.
I am sure many veterans and current service members would agree that denigrating any veteran or active duty service person in such a demeaning and disrespectful way is indeed a high crime worthy of dismissal. I suspect Senator McCain himself would agree if he could.
All veterans deserve our respect and we all owe them a heartfelt THANK YOU.
4
There is something seriously wrong with this man. He paints a picture of a person you might see in a downtown area, wandering the streets, muttering to himself. Totally oblivious of
others walking by. Raging on & on about everything & nothing.
Are the Republicans so empty that they have absolutely NO ONE better than a mentally ill elderly man ? What on earth is wrong with them, supporting aberration like Trump ?
6
Who didn't know that Donald Trump was an ignorant, immature, immoral, intemperate insecure cowardly moral degenerate by nature and nurture?
Trump was not a covert stealth subtle candidate. Everyone knew exactly who he was and was not and voted accordingly.
Among the 63 million Americans who voted for Trump was 58% of the white voting majority including 62% of white men and 54% of white women.
While among the 66 million Americans who voted for Hillary Clinton was 92% of black voters including 88% of black men and 95% of black women.
5
I’m a veteran and learned the meaning of honor. I’m surprised that any veteran would support such a dishonorable man as Donald Trump. And I hold them in contempt because of it.
Wait until all these flag-waving vets sitting behind him find out he’s a traitor as well.
People (including the media) throw their hands up and say they don’t know why he does and says these things. If you’ve lived with anybody with narcissistic personality disorder, you know Trump has it.
And we’ll never get Pence to sign on to remove him via the constitution. Pence thinks he’s preordained to be president so it might not be as far-flung idea as I think... Scary...
6
@Rich - Pence is hoping no one will notice how complicit he is in the Russian debacle.
This is one of a propagandist's favorite modus operandi -- speak loudly in situations where there is, at best, a whisper for a rebuttal. Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, et al perfected it in a modern world via radio and news reels.
As a propagandist, trump has added digital and social media to the propaganda toolbox. Twitter is his perfect megaphone and he uses it to spew out trash, lies, hatred, whatever bile is available at the time. His tsunami of drivel is only challenged by a sandcastle on the beach, soon gone and forgotten after the next passing wave.
He loves "his rallies", once again a one way transfer of malicious information. His frightful opinions are widely shared with overwhelming cheers, followed later with minuscule rebuttal.
He hates press conferences where questions can be asked and, even worse, follow up questions can also be asked. So how long has it been since there has been a "White House Daily Press Briefing"? I can recall early on when these were scheduled for mid-day to maximize the impact and viewership. Now it's just our "Great Leader" responding to his choice of questions with the roar of helicopter blades drowning out meaningful interchange.
So on to Senator McCain -- he can't reply either so trump's propaganda and modus operandi works perfectly, and the base still believes the falsehoods the "Dear Leader" has spoken.
1
I am so sick and tired of “individual 1” and all the garbage that surrounds him and his administration. Not to mention the damage he is causing our country and the world no less. To refer to all the trouble and embarrassment he initiates and then exacerbates as a circus is an understatement. Well done Donald, you’re number 1. The worst POTUS of all time.
5
Just when you think Trump can sink no lower ... he starts speaking ill of the dead. Not just any dead person either, no no, a dead war hero and one of the most widely respected men of our time.
McCain must have really got under his skin.
2
I wonder if Trump has any idea of the millions of Americans who will criticize -- nay, Condemn -- him after HE's dead.
6
Move over W! Here comes the worst president in our nation's history.
6
Trump's continuing feud with John McCain is simply a misguided appeal to his base. While praising the intelligence of the American electorate, he secretly knows that they can be led around like a bulls with nose rings - only instead of bull rings, he uses their beliefs and prejudices to lead them wherever he wants.
If DJT doesn't destroy our fragile democracy, he has published the blueprint and playbook for some other demagogue to do it later. If a democracy like America's is going to exist, there will have to be a paradigm shift in human thought throughout the world.
In the near future, we will program the human mind in the computer based on a "survival" algorithm, which will provide irrefutable proof as to how we trick the mind with our ridiculous beliefs about what is supposed to survive - producing minds programmed de facto for destruction. These minds would see the survival of a particular group of people or a belief as more important than the survival of all. When we understand all this, we will begin the long trek back to reason and sanity.
See RevolutionOfReason.com
i find his rant incredibly disgraceful. when will he be silenced?
3
Behind every comment he makes and every tweet, you can feel his fear. It would just be pathetic if he wasn't our President.
80
It makes me sick to the stomach to think that I voted for Trump,makes me even sicker to think we didn't have anyone better.
27
Actually, we did. You just couldn't look past your party affiliation. That's a big problem in our nation.
54
@Bob Jester
Give me a break. You just stopped looking after you saw trump's name. Hillary Clinton was a much superior candidate and ANY fair minded person would acknowledge that.
57
@Bob Jester,
It's astonishing you thought that he was the best we had.
What we're seeing in Donald Trump now was entirely
foreseeable...thin-skinned, petty, narcissistic, perhaps you and the rest of his supporters weren't paying close attention.
Let's just hope you won't make the same mistake again in 2020.
-Mark
55
Please. I voted for Senator McCain twice. I was a big supporter, but this canonizing of him just because President Trump criticizes him is just too much.
When Senator McCain was running for president, where was all this hero worship? He was demonized across the front pages of The Times repeatedly. Now, suddenly, his critics have made him "Saint John McCain".
Senator McCain chose to act on his personal vendetta against the president in in final days. It was pure McCain. Let's not pretend otherwise.
9
Maybe it wasn’t a personal vendetta. Maybe it was just standing up for what is right?
62
@AACNY No one is canonizing McCain. Just pointing out that he was a far better man.
67
@AACNY
No one is nominating Senator McCain for statehood.
His faults were there for all to see.
However, we watch the President of the United States continue to fight with him 7 months after his death.
Perhaps we are viewing this as a comparison between a man who showed outstanding courage and respect for his country with a jealous coward who cannot tell a lie from truth.Thousands of times over.
58
Without any doubt, Lindsey Graham represents to a fault the cowardice of the Republican party. He used to be a close friend of Mr. McCain and all he can limply mutter is some nondescript praise without ever mentioning this despicable man who disgraces the White House.
There is a large, hardcore following of Trump whose minds will not be changed no matter how vile and repugnant his utterances are and how bitter and angry our commentaries sound. The louder our imprecation the greater their determination to cast aside doubts in their own judgment.
5
@Thule
And they are all religious.
4
@Thule. Every time I hear Lindsey Graham speak these days, I remember the Bible verse McCain asked him to read at his funeral: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Graham doesn’t seem to remember much from his old friend and mentor.
2
Donald Trump could have possibly been a great man.
But he chose not to be.
Instead, he chose to be a spoiled rich kid acting as if he was God's gift to humanity.
He could have chosen to be a very learned person, but he was too busy playing the part of a know it all con artist.
In the end, in front of everyone, he is proving to be the errant fool that he is, charming unsophisticated people with his smile, a stitch of TV and a gift for lying and selling to the unaware and bring out the ire of those who aren't so quick to be charmed.
He's a dime a dozen and that he has been doing this for most of his 70 something years and getting away with it is telling about what folks will put up with, with people of reported wealth.
3
@marriea,
there isn't any planet on any universes that tRump would have been a great man. not one cell of his would qualify.
3
The number of people who live in the president's head is amazing. Makes one wonder if that why the real world seems like terra incognita for him.
4
President Chickenhawk didn't "give" McCain anything. That funeral was an honor well earned thru public service. I wasn't particularly a McCain fan, but even I recognize that the man deserved the respect he was given. Arguing with the dead is the height of insanity. It's also the ultimate bully move, so no particular surpise that the Angry Orange would go there.
6
A few sentences without the commentary would be enough to let the public know about this ridiculous vendetta. To paraphrase what Trump said years ago 'any publicity is good, even bad publicity'. Stop giving it to him.
1
To me this is not only amazing, but disgusting and maybe Republicans and the Veterans Organization should in a mrror. If they continue to keep quiet I don't ever want to hear from them about duty, honor, patriotism. I wonder what has happened to my so called fellow citizens who stand and clap at those rallies when he attacks the late Veteran Senator McCain. I rarely agreed with his politics, but he served with honor and was a POW for many years. He was tortured because it was known his grandfather and father were two famous Admirals. To listen or not listen I have grown after several years of the media giving full attention to a man who claims to be President who Kellyanne's husband is correct has serious mental health issues. To use his rallies and then yesterday even at the tank plant it was all about him and him. He gave McCain a beautiful funeral and got no thanks. No, the citizens of this country at least the ones that know and respect honor and duty to country did not the hand clapping seals that belong with Trump. I am a Vietnam vet over 51 long years ago and had uncles that served with Patton in the 10th Armored Division. Patton would walk up and smack Mr. Trump in the face. Trump a coward whose father paid a foot doctor to write a fake note. He loves to know about Fake News - well he is the biggest fake. I hang my head because I never though people would be silent and let this man sprout venom, where is Graham and Mitch hiding in a closet. Jim Trautman
3
Today, I watched the video accompanying this article with the sound off. Once again I was struck by the almost physical revulsion he arouses in me every time I look at that angry, red face and the busy, gesticulating hands that are rarely in the service of a positive or useful message for the country. Mr. Trump, you should seriously consider taking lessons in leadership and empathy from Jacinda Ardern, the New Zealand Prime Minister.
5
The audience should have walked out.
7
One of the crowd on Wednesday was interviewed and said about Trump's rant against a Senator who has been dead for 7 months, “I can understand what he was saying, but I don’t know that it was totally necessary to explain all that to every single person out here,” Creech said.
No one told them Trump wasn't explaining it all: he was lying when he said he "allowed" the funeral to happen and that he should be thanked for a State funeral for a Senator. He was lying when he said McCain handed over the dossier to the FBI - they already had it.
They are too dumb to figure it out on their own and just believe everything Trump "explains" to them.
How can so many people be so stupid and continue to support this vile man? And that includes the numerous silent Republican Senators.
4
McCain was everything Trump is not, and somewhere deep inside, Trump knows this.
1
These are not the ravings of a sane man. There is no Fortune 500 company in the world that would keep Mr. Trump on as CEO. He would be gone immediately. The only question is: Will our country survive his tenure? Time will tell.
2
Each time Trump opens his mouth he displays behaviour unbecoming a President of the USA. The USA slides downhill each and everyday he is in office.
That an American president would continue to go after a deceased individual like this is beyond abhorrent. That an American president would continue to attack and denigrate a person such as John McCain is beyond despicable. Donald Trump would not last ten seconds in John McCain's shoes. American history will remember these two individuals very well for what they did and for what they stood for. Unlike John McCain, the remembrance of Donald Trump will be most caustic.
1
Our President is sick. Extremely sick. I do not know whether much scientific research has been done on the metastasizing effect of non existent bone spurs on the brain but clearly such research is desperately needed. I fear the prognosis, as all of us should.
3
I watched a few minutes of this diatribe and that was all I could tolerate. Who would ever have imagined the U.S. would have a President who talks this way? He is the epitome of a "low life".
Why did the audience applaud? Why didn't they either boo, or get up en masse and walk out?
1
This article states -inaccurately- that Trump has recently "brought up Mr. McCain's vote against repealing the Affordable Care Act." In fact, Trump has repeatedly said that McCain voted against "repeal and replace." That's a huge distinction - and a distortion of the truth.
At some point, I hope trump’s supporters and defenders realize that he is a know nothing and, even worse, he is proud of his ignorance - as are they, I guess!
Trump is haunted by McCain. Good. The telltale heart.
3
Mr. President show us your xrays. Without surgery bone spurs don’t go away. If you had them they are still there. Or did you lie to avoid the draft?
Are the rest of you as exhausted as I am? By the constant drama played out in real time, every single day, sometimes every single hour, by a president who has no vision beyond himself—whether for the office of the presidency or the country he was elected to lead?
Remember when John McCain—clearly no fan of Barack Obama’s—nonetheless defended him against a claim Obama was “an Arab”? When he said, “No ma’am. He’s a decent family man, a citizen I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues”? Or better yet, when McCain declined early release from the tortures of the Hanoi Hilton rather than take advantage of his father’s fame to jump ahead of his fellow prisoners?
Will we ever have that kind of this-is-bigger-than-me vision in the White House again? A president who thinks beyond his own personal grievances, rather than letting them fan the worst instincts of the worst among us? Or will the country just collapse from sheer exhaustion of it all, from the daily barrage of petty grievance emanating from this man, shouting down basic human decency?
2
trump's insecurities are supported by the likes of kellyann and sarah. they must be equally insecure to defend him at all cost.
Bone spurs never quite disappear... if they’re real that is. So let’s see the x-rays! But all kidding aside, as a Gen X kid who grew up in a small Midwestern town surrounded by damaged Vietnam vets acting out, wrecking their own and others lives, demanding absolute allegiance to their pointless scars and unhealing psychic wounds, I can’t stand the sight of this draft-dodging country-club brat. Can’t imagine the pain and cognitive dissonance he’s causing in the real vets’ minds and hearts — but that’s the point isn’t it? Agent Orange blows back home, not as exterminating firecloud but flatulent, authoritarian miasma.
2
Prez Trump is vying to surpass Obama's willingness to tow the party line in keeping the media spin going until the creation of Rojava out of Syria. After all, even spun media like Brexit has reached its limit to be ingested by the sheep. Thank Goodness they are going to pass recreational marijuana at the national level so the spin will at least be endurable and cut down on the suicides. C,mon Toto, the road leads over the horizon.
Arise each day
Hoping to hear
Of the demise of Donald Trump.
Oh Happy Day
Free at last.
1
Mueller, NYC criminal investigations closing in,trump's fake unhinged Vinnie "the chin" Gigante antics (babbling,attacking dead patriot) further building insanity defense leading to 25th Amendment based removal while avoiding gaul indefinitely.
2
The president* proves the claims of others that he, the president*, suffers from mental maladies whenever he displays this neurotic fixation toward people who are dead and gone. Or those who have retired from day-to-day adversarial contests against him , like Hillary. This is an embarrassment to our nation - and a deeper one for Trump- who seems as self-aware as an amoeba.
Rage-tweeting about a dead man...
How much more before otherwise sane people who could not stand the thought of voting for *another* Clinton realize the Emperor not only has no clothing; his brain has also atrophy.
This thing called Democracy is unique: It allows the thoughtful and the ignorant equal access. It allows men and women who wish to serve our country to do so; it also allows those who have no qualms to grift and genuflect to do so as well:
Here's looking at you Lindsey Graham.
Trump never expected to win according to Michael Cohen, his fixer, so he never took the time to rehearse a public persona.
What you see in his day to day behavior is the unwashed American you can find in the corner bar or rude baseball game.
Trumps unrehearsed obnoxious demeanor is a shock for Americans who are used to programmed politicians. But his over the top emotional instability and narcissism is a picture of an unstable personality in the process of unraveling before our very eyes.
We’ve had other unstable presidents like Richard Nixon and Lyndon Johnson who were also very dangerous but they held it together with the support of their advisors.
The difference is that Trump can’t be held together by anyone and is in desperate need of psychotherapy.
2
Senator Johnny Isakson found his voice in opposition to Trump for insulting a friend, a veteran and fellow Senator. Is it ironic that Navy pilot McCain was held in a cage for five years supporting his fellow soldiers and this oath to defend the US Constitution against foreign and domestic enemies while Trump and his administration puts children in cages and lies about it to Congress.
But the Senator and his party created the Trump monster and now they can't escape it. If only the Senator could come to the defense of the Constitution starting with Article 1, the Constitution on voting rights, health care, women's rights, immigration reform, reasonable gun control, etc. with the same vigor. That might be a much more lasting way to honor and defend McCain and every soldier before and after him.
1
The dementia is setting in as evidenced by the chain of rants and raves. He is mentally unstable and when he is alone with his own thoughts, he goes off the rails. The anticipation of the release of the Mueller report, the conviction of those connected to POTUS of crimes related to him, the failure of many of the initiatives that he has had passed into law and the vacuum that he has to live in as businesses are beginning to ignore him has to weigh heavy on the head who wears the crown. He trolls with tweets and taunts with rambling speeches. He is in decline and needs to leave office one way or the other.
Donald Trump's renewed attack on the late Senator John McCain is not normal. A healthy, stable person doesn't behave like this, even if they didn't like the guy.
The Congressional Republican response to these continuing attacks on their late colleague McCain have ranged from the mild rebukes issued by Senators Isakson and Romney to the silence of Senator Graham, who once pretended to be John McCain's friend.
When are Republicans going to finally have the courage to stand up to Trump and say enough, this is not the way a president or even a stable, mentally healthy adult behaves? When is the Republican leadership going to have the courage to tell him that if he continues to behave in an irresponsible and unpresidential manner, he won't be their candidate in 2020?
This is like watching the Hans Christian Anderson tale of 'The Emperor's New Clothes,' except we're waiting for that clear-eyed courageous little boy to point out the obvious fact that the emperor has no clothes or, as is the case with Trump, he's lost the plot.
1
It is interesting that Trump always has to praise himself in the same breath as he insults someone else. Then he usually follows up by pitying himself because others don't praise or thank him enough. He also usually manage to get all that into a single tweet, which is not easy to do considering the limited number of characters allowed. Guess I can give him praise for that.
But seriously, the guy leading the USA into the future is a model narcissist. That is not even debatable. Enjoy!
It's so transparent. There is no greater threat to a fraud's ego than the existence of someone who isn't a fraud. And so Trump tries to tear McCain down, even now, long after he passed.
That a President should behave this way is beyond embarrassing. That people continue to support him is even more so.
The President of the US - the most powerful country in the world, the most free country in the world, the best place to live in the world - is attacking the very men and women who gave their lives to make it so.
Our enemies must be feeling very good. Our President attacks our allies, repeatedly, and praises our worst enemies.
Sure sounds like an enemy of the people to me.
2
so, why is Trump redirecting now?
as in what doesn't he want us paying attention to?
That said, the draft dodger isn't fit to shine McCain's shoes, much less question his bravery or patriotism.
Either Trump is keeping the feud alive, or a war hero who set an example of sacrifice and decency is bringing the President down.
Even in death John McCain continues to serve his country.
1
I certainly won’t lose any sleep waiting for the Republicans to call Trump on his appalling disrespect for Senator McCain, a man who refused to be released from horrific captivity ahead of the enlisted men, when the Vietnamese discovered who his famous father was. (Can anyone imagine Trump doing that?) Mitch McConnell couldn’t even bring himself to mention Trump’s name in “defending” his former colleague. They call that leadership these days. I can only imagine a Trump funeral and the sorry slate of speakers and attendees likely to show up. Maybe they’ll hold it in a casino, a more fitting venue for our huckster president, than Washington’s National Cathedral.
1
Just another sad action from Mr. Trump, who daily is an embarrassment for our country and is totally without compassion for the poor of this world. He is not remotely the man that John McCain was and to speak unkindly about one regarded as heroic and unselfish in his concern for his compatriots in military service is despicable. As one of many physicians who served at a SAC base I cannot imagine how someone with the apparent mental instability of Mr. Trump could be given access to the chain of command to the use of weapons of mass destruction which could destroy the lives of millions of human beings and other living beings.
1
Little Timmy really wishes he could be Johnny. Never. Going. To. Happen. Meanwhile Johnny continues to be flattered from beyond knowing he forever has a fan. Be best Timmy, your pal Johnny.
Those of us in the 1980's that watched daily Trump in the headlines in NYC are waiting for the rest of the country to get it. Bet it fashion or trends it starts there (usually) and drifts to the middle. We watched and heard him spout his elitism and racism. Even then everyone knew he was a lil bit off. Always in the papers always doing or saying something marginally ignorant. Still won't admit going after the Central park innocent teens just because they were black. He has not changed. Well...now he has a TV channel
1
Republicans once again denounced Mr. Trump when he continued to attack Mr. Khan and his wife, who Mr. Trump implied was forced against her will to stand silently by her husband’s side during the emotional speech.
Boy, if that isn't the pot calling the kettle black.
This latest unhinged rant follows his consistent pattern of desperate behavior...viciously attack anyone and/or anything to deflect/detract attention away from truths about to be revealed. His latest, hateful spew about Sen. McCain informs me the dossier exists, he is compromised by Vlad and knows he is in very deep water. In his mind, it’s not his fault, but Sen. McCain’s for not “protecting” him.
1
Maybe John McCain will get the last word and last laugh when another Vietnam hero, Robert Mueller (Bronze Star for heroism and Purple Heart), issues his report on Bone Spurs. He needs to go.
2
How did we get from JFK who inspired my generation to serve this country to this sniveling manchild who can only see things in terms of how to make himself look good? As a Marine Vietnam veteran I find it reprehensibly insulting to all people who served that a draft dodging miscreant speaks of Senator McCain and all he represented in such a way. The fact that so many Republicans refuse to speak out against this is sadly telling of itself. What a sad excuse for a man and a most shameful behavior for a president of my country.
146
@James Green
uh... decades of ignoring education and prioritizing money and consumerism? After enough neglect people stop thinking.
2
It is amazing. Not one veteran in front of Trump could actually have the gumption to tell the President in a calm voice to please sit down and be quiet. The respect was palpable.
Looked a scene reminiscent of days in those 30’s when good people kept things to themselves. It is not something for encouragement. Many vets just might rue their silence one day up ahead.
4
There is abundant material, published in mainstream periodicals, produced by reputable journalists, documenting, analyzing and dispassionately interpreting the events of John McCain's life and career, establishing for any but the most besotted centrists that John McCain was no hero or even particularly admirable. Trump's post mortem bad mouthing is a welcome antidote to the obligatory honorific "Hero" whenever the late politician is mentioned.
1
@Edwin can you point to some of those sources?
@Edwin
Ugh.
On December 26, 2018, after great pressure, President Trump flew a darkened - for security purposes- Air Force One into Iraq to briefly visit our troops. Notwithstanding that his Presidential predecessors had done the same thing, Mr. Trump went into anxiety-laden detail about how dangerous landing in a war zone was. While his palatable angst was understandable, he continues to berate a deceased political opponent, John McCain, as not being a hero; notwithstanding his flying twenty four missions into a sky filled with exploding metal - the last of which resulted in his being shot-down, permanently wounded and severely tortured for over five years. Indeed, Mr. McCain refused early release rather than break faith with his fellow POW'S who had been incarcerated prior to his arrival. Can anyone see Mr. Trump exhibiting this type of courage and commitment to country or his fellow man? He is a shameless, shallow man-child.
11
The repercussions for POTUS's speak choices will not only affect present opinions for those listening. But for futures generation who will lack respect for those who were of great service.
3
Ah yes, trump making vile personal attacks on a war hero who put his life on the line for the USA while trump was hiding in cowardice from the draft.
trump, just the kind of hero who generates unlimited inspiration, loyalty and faith in the hearts of trump supporters while inspiring fear in the hearts of republican senators.
2
As long as Trump gets the immediate reinforcement from social media for his despicable, vicious and cowardly tweets, and thumbs up from the adulating, misinformed base who attend these carnival rallies he will stay the course - and as he becomes more threatened and cornered - his reckless, dangerous and unhinged behavior will continue, if not becoming even more desperate and bizarre. Pray tell me when America becomes great again, not anytime in the next two years that's for sure.
3
I guess Mr. Trump is not aware that Fusion GPS was first hired by Republicans.
2
“.....the denunciation drew no cheers”.
The pendulum is starting to swing.
4
Justice will be served, here or in the hereafter. The story of Lazarus comes to mind, where the rich man who had everything the world offered had no generosity of spirit it live for his fellow human being who had leprosy. When, they both reach eternity, the veil is removed to see the rich man pleading for s drop of water from Lazarus, but cannot get it so instead asks that someone will worn his family on earth at what awaits them, and he is told they’ve had opportunities “. For all those in leadership that don’t care enough for their fellow Humans to do the right thing, be warned. You have a date with destiny! The day of reckoning will come, and don’t expect John Mc Cain or anyone else to grant you even a sip of water in your torment, as a great chasm exists between the nether worlds, as it seems to be here metaphorically, ‘it will be done unto you, as you did for the least of these my brethern’. So, Trump and kind, carry on mismanaging all the blessings you’ve been allotted, but realize this, you won’t be able to tweet your way out of Judgement Day!
2
When I saw this the other day, I thought to myself, "looks like Michael Avenatti has a housemate." I believe Senator John McCain will eternally be among the most cherished people in most of our collective memory.
At times I wonder if one "solution" to Trump is--at least for the most part--to simply ignore him. Since he is some people's president, if he says something really important, publish it. Otherwise, turn the page.
2
Sounds as if any reference to Trump should soon appear only in the medical columns in the press.
1
While McCain commendably served his country, he didn't have the tools necessary for The Big Win back in the day.....and I voted for him, despite mixed thoughts. I think that's all Trump is saying, that he wasn't overly fond of him. Many of us were not.
McCain clearly wasn't all he was cracked up to be since he made a point to NOT invite a sitting President to his funeral. That was rather rude and disrespectful to the Commander in Chief & shows that he wasn't all the man he claimed to be.
Meghan McCain has every right to grieve, but she's got some displaced anger issues; her spouting off frequently removes any luster from her father's image and legacy.
4
@Samantha Jane Bristol
Wait, what?
Imagine contemplating your own funeral, which you know to be imminent. Imagine a gigantic bully who has insulted you publicly and repeatedly. There is nothing rude about expressing your wish that this guy not be there.
The point is not whether McCain was or was not "all he was cracked up to be." The point is decency, empathy, restraint, good judgment. Trump has none of those qualities, and it's both disturbing in this specific instance and dangerous for our country in general when those qualities not there to guide our president's decision-making.
55
@Samantha Jane Bristol
You know what Trump said about McCain when he was alive, right? It wasn't that he "commendably served." You think that may have had something to do with the absence of an invitation?
You have "mixed thoughts" about McCain, but are an eager Trump apologist. Congratulations for such clear thinking.
44
@Samantha Jane Bristol but why is Trump belaboring the point? Doesn't he have other concerns upon which to focus?
22
It is frightening and sad to watch a man decline so publically. I would hope that if I began to repeatedly exhibit such behavior, my friends and family would step in and get me the help I needed.
166
@ES can you imagine staging an intervention with him, though? You'd never, ever hear the end of how smart and rational he is unless you had him forcibly carted away.
9
@ES But trump's friends and family are just as pathological as he is. How could or would they intervene ?
8
@ES
There will be no intervention from his family, they are all the
same, just like him. Imposters.
1
I am an American veteran. We number in the millions.
Our only duty was to serve honorably. Those who served beyond the call of duty are honored by superior officers and respected by their comrades in arms.
Politics, religion, race and gender are irrelevant.
John McCain wasn’t just one of us, he was honored among us.
Many members of congress did not serve in the military and their refusal to defend one of their own is questionable but tolerable; but the silence of the many veterans organizations, especially the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Veterans and Arizona’s own Veteran’s Heritage Project to stand up for John McCain is indefensible.
Trump, not being a veteran is a best an outsider, at worst a draft-dodger who lacks the standing to criticize any of us who served willingly and discharged honorably.
Trump has bragged that any act of violence he commits in front of Trump Towers would be acceptable. By attacking a deceased honored veteran is he testing the limits of 2020 campaign tolerance?
It’s not clear how many MAGA-hat-wearing people or bikers are veterans but those who are also being disrespected.
Stand-up Veterans for a fallen brother; a fallen hero; stand up for John McCain!
322
@Peter P. Bernard, I could not have said it better.
36
It is also concerning that a false narrative regarding McCain is regularly circulated by the MAGA crowd, claiming McCain was a “traitor” and pardoned by Nixon for treason. They post photos of a younger McCain compared to photos of emaciated POW’s presumably to support their claim that he disclosed classified information to his captors & was thus treated better. (of course we know that the exact opposite is true and that he did not provide the names they requested). In any event, in addition to your plea to those who have served, I would like for them to debunk this garbage tale and set the historical record straight. We would ordinarily look to our President for such leadership but clearly this one isn’t up to the task.
46
@Peter P. Bernard
Bravo Peter.
Well said.
But I wish you didn’t have to say it.
28
Did I miss Lindsay Graham's condemnation of these despicable comments about his dear friend and mentor, John McCain?
Everyday we witness a "new low"... and new evidence this person is totally unfit in all capacities, let alone the leader of our Nation!
166
In the words of that great American philosopher and time traveler Emmett Brown, "Let's think fourth dimension-ally." As someone who was on the scene, I can do that. There was a small portion of trauma inflicted on boys who did not go to Vietnam. The futility of the war resonated even to the Suburbs, and would have been particularly acute for someone who was lying to get a deferment. Remember, this was going on for years. For years we faced the prospect of going. When a high draft number was picked for my birthday it was one of the biggest reliefs of my life. Up till then it was a spot on my X-rays left over from a bout with the flu that had kept me from being eligible. So, yeah, Trump can't let it go because the war branded itself even on those who didn't go.
11
@Richard Mclaughlin
Are you equating this with the experience of being a POW? I hope not.
6
@Richard Mclaughlin
Well that's a big boo-hoo for Trump carrying all that weight of not getting drafted. I had a low draft number and had to make a choice. Without having a rich father or connections with a doctor willing to write an excuse, I had to choose between getting drafted and going to Nam, going to Canada or burn my draft card. I chose going into the Navy as all the others choices were not acceptable. Others made different choices.
Trump not going into the service is not an excuse for him picking on a dead veteran or acting like a total ass in all other circumstances. Trump just proves over and over just how unfit he is to be president of this country.
8
Although I was perplexed by his choice of running mate in ‘08 and ended up voting against him, I’ve always had the greatest respect for John McCain. I wished he’d been the front runner in ‘00. He should’ve been, but for some dirty tricks here in S.C.!
All that being said, I salute him and I wish his family well. His was a life well lived, and he was an honorable man and great person.
I don’t have anything good to say about his detractor and present occupant of the WH, so best to stop there.
63
I know it’s difficult but we need to show a little compassion and refrain from assailing Donald Trump for continuing to criticize the late John McCain. This clearly is a case of the brain-dead attacking the dead.
6
This president bullies DEAD people. So proud.
14
The hypocrisy of the 80% of Evangelicals (some, I assume, are good people) who support this man and relish in his spiteful, infantile, and masturbatory behavior is disappointing.
9
Trump is worthless but he couldn't do it without his enablers:
THE GRAYS
(In Greek mythology the three Gray Sisters shared one eye and one tooth.)
The Sisters have one tooth, one eye,
for all: each has two days a week
to bite to eat, to see to seek.
But they get by fine, none say “mine.”
The Grays are weird, and no one’s seen them,
yet Congressmen have learned their trick.
You might say men are politic,
sharing a single testicle between them.
5
As someone who once considered John McCain a personal hero and a Trump voter I can shed some light here. The recent news coverage has been fairly clear that it was McCain, and his staff, that was used by the Clinton campaign to bring in the 'dirty dossier'. That was and is a shameful thing for a sitting Senator to do and it may or may not have been a consequence of the brain tumor he was afflicted with. Either way it is obvious that it isn't Trump 'keeping the feud alive' as much the recent press coverage trumpeting the role McCain played in the effort to reverse the results of the Election. I am ashamed of Sen. McCain for his role in that dossier so have no objection to the President continuing to be critical of him.
4
@Greg
John McCain was a patriot first and foremost. He was obviously very concerned about even the vaguest possible involvement or interference in our electoral process by a major foe of our country - Russia. It was perfectly appropriate for him to turn over the dossier to the FBI for investigation, to determine the truth or falsity of any or all of it. The feud or ongoing hatefulness of the man in the White House has to do with his narcissistic personality disorder, not anything the John McCain had done.
24
@GregP What? When handed a file of suspiciously-sourced information a sitting senator should *not* have taken it to the FBI? The press is covering this bizarre “feud” (in which one party is deceased) because Trump keeps making bizarre and unhinged statements that only reinforce how mentally unfit he is to lead our nation.
29
@GregP
That’s what I like about trump supporters. It’s never his fault.
The man has no shame.
At the end of the day he is the clueless bully in the sandbox
29
As a visiting nurse, I have been sent out to do many mental status checks to assure that patients are safe at home. It is clear that Trump is mentally ill. His obsessions and juvenile outbursts indicate dementia, at best.
The GOP is squarely responsible for enabling him to occupy the White House, and they do so only because they care more about being re-elected than they care about our Country. There will be a reckoning.
21
I can't really say I'm surprised. DT is a person so fundamentlly insecure that he somehow feels it elevates him to criticizes those who disagreed with him, even when they are dead. Agree with McCain or not, seeing him as a mix of excempleary and at times flawed, like all of us--and accepting that he is--only makes me admire him all the more. Who on earth could ever question JM's patiatism--I only know of one, the draft dogging, loyal to no one but himself, the person who occupies the Oval Offics. DT is beyond redemtion at this point in his presidency, but those who should be held accountable, are the republicans who lack the backbone to say enough is enough and do more than simply say they disagree with what he says about a hero and a hero that is dead after truly serving his country for most of his life. I wonder what happened to the idea that character matters in a president?
7
George Conway is spot on. End of story!
8
The more that Trump continues these ridiculous diatribes about a highly respected deceased public servant the more we see the contrast between him and McCain. Someone who bravely served our country and endured a horrific imprisonment vs. someone who abused his standing as a spoiled and entitled brat to get out of service with his "bone spurs". Someone who had principles and who did his best to make decisions consistent with his beliefs and in consideration of his constituents and the country vs. someone who has no moral compass and is using his office to enrich himself and his family. Someone who never made a secret of his low class ranking - and what difference does it make after the many years of service McCain gave us? vs. someone who's fixer paid off and threatened his schools to hide his SATs and his grades. Jealousy perhaps?
6
Perhaps the Times should ask EVERY Republican in Congress to respond. And press them when they don’t specifically call out Trump.
8
Trump has no capacity for shame.
Most folks, without personality or character disorders, would never criticize a war hero knowing that their father paid a doctor for a false medical report to keep them out of that same war. Even if they were not motivated by respect for the hero, they would fear the embarrassment of the comparison.
Trump has no such hesitation. No conscience. He goes all in, convinced that his cruelty is a sign of boldness. And to his base, it is. We all await his “sir, have you no decency” moment. Will it ever come?
10
Even though McCain was part of the Republican party I have a lot of respect for the man and his family and I believe a lot of Americans do as well despite party lines. When McCain passed away I believe the classic Republican ideals went with him. His decision to vote against the repealing of the affordable care act was the perfect example of a politician who cares more for what's best for all Americans vs. sticking vehemently with party lines. Trump's continued criticism of him after death is a clear sign that McCain is a well respected man and Trump is an immature toddler who feels the need to tear down anyone who dares to criticize him or cause him problems. When will the rest of the Republican party grow a backbone and call Trump out on his immaturity? Also, Trump supporters who feel the need to go on social media and tell the McCain family members how much they hate him and other despicable words are just as childish as Trump. God forbid people think for themselves!
5
My theory is that that trump is just turning up the flame bit by bit to boil the frog. And republican democracy is the frog.
3
All the Republican Congressmen and Senators that should be condemning Trump are reneging on their duty to provide oversight of the executive branch and should be publically shamed.
4
The question is not why trump does what he does. The question is why are our Republican politicians and family members, neighbors and friends complicit in supporting him? It’s the only question that matters when you ask about a narcissistic tyrant who wields power and influence.
10
Marc Antony: “The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones.”
So it is with McCain, who took every opportunity to shaft Republicans so he could get nice write-ups in the liberal media and get on all the TV Shows.
Only reason he is "famous" is because the liberal media gave him so much exposure for knocking Republicans.
Trump needs to keep knocking McCain and reminding everyone of his evil actions.
@True Observer
It is interesting how distorted the current Trump mirror makes everything. John McCain volunteered to serve his country, and he was shot down, injured, and endured years of terrible torture as a prisoner of war. Offered the opportunity to be freed earlier, he refused so that other POWs could be released who had been held longer. That added years to his imprisonment.
Returning to this country, he then entered into public service as a legislator. Among his other achievements, he fought for campaign finance reform, against torture, and against military spending corruption as well as ones that helped Native American communities. While I oppose many of his policies, I can still respect his decency and integrity.
One of the greatest floor speeches was his call for a return to regular order in the Senate. His thumb's down to destroying the ACA saved lives and prevented suffering for millions of Americans.
It is so strange for Trump supporters to condemn others for "evil actions". Lies, insults, corruption, affairs, sexual assaults, dealings with dictators, fraud, and so many other problems with Trump. Sen. McCain earned his honors and respect.
As Mencken put it, "In this world of sin and sorrow there is always something to be thankful for; as for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican."
1
@True Observer
Trump may well keep knocking Senator MCain, but it is impossible to win a fight with a deceased person.
2
How do people continue to support this "man"? Why? It's simply unbelievable.
7
Seems that I remember him not even allowing the flag to be flown at half mast after McCain died, at least not until several days later when he was finally forced to do it by the public outcry. And now he wants a big thank you for “allowing” McCain to receive the final honors which the country owes him. Ironic that the pain of our nation’s disrespect for all Vietnam veterans is now resurrected by a brazenly proud draft dodger president. Not really surprising though from a president who actually believes napalm and agent orange are the same thing because he thinks (mistakenly) that he saw it in a movie. It was a sad day when this man was vaulted (I will not say elected) to the presidency by a glitch in our electoral system.
6
Stop covering this inanity and cover the proposed cuts to Medicare, Social Security and Education. This is a sideshow, perhaps a deliberate one (if not by Trump himself, then his Republican enablers).
We know he is crass, vulgar, toxic and incompetent. However, we still need to look after what really impacts us, which are these relentless attacks on the increasingl- needed safety net.
With the rich-poor divide becoming ever more stark, ditch the click-bait and help us protect ourselves from the most corrupt administration in our life, if not history.
7
@Minneapolis Maven while we know that very well, it's important to demonstrate his toxicity and vulgarity. I can only hope that some of his supporters will be swayed by seeing his true character.
1
The obsession Trump "cannot seem to shake" of course is himself. This is just another manifestation of Trump's self-loathing narcissistic personality disorder. He looks in the mirror, would like to see something heroic but cannot escape the inner coward, and relieves the resultant anxiety by selecting his opposite (a genuine military hero) as a target to try to drag down.
The prospect of a huge military parade, doubtlessly for no purpose in Trump's mind other than to honor himself, is nauseating -- especially the part where the troops will be required to salute this shameless draft dodger as they march by the review stand.
4
Thank God he wasn't invited to McCain's funeral. 'I never liked him" would have been the opening line of his eulogy and he would have demanded everyone thank him on the way out of the church.
8
Is this really newsworthy? Is there a public clamor or civic necessity to report yet another one of Trump's mindless obsessions with which he hopes to dominate the news cycle?
1
Individual 1 stated that John McCain was not his kind of guy. It may be the only time this week that he told the truth.
8
As Special Counsel for the Army Joseph N. Welch said to Joseph McCarthy in another age: "Have you no sense of decency sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?"
Where is the Welch for this age? We have the McCarthy already, front and center.
5
The media should “walk out.” The argument will be that he’s the President and can’t be ignored. Yes, he can. Take the air out of his sails. Ignore him. Explain to the American public why you’re ignoring him. Shut his twitter account down. Walk out of his press conferences at the first obvious lie of the day. Don’t allow this continued nonsense.
And, get the man some help.
6
"America deserves better, the people deserve better, and nobody — regardless of their position — is above common decency and respect for people that risk their life for your life." Sen. Johnny Isakson
2
I have family in the military (and police) and this is not sitting well for them.
They voted for Trump. They didn't anticipate his attacks on one of their own.
I am almost 70, a lifelong Dem, however of all the Repubs, I admired McCain.
I question why Trump's attacks now, on a deceased war hero.
It will not help get the military vote, or police vote for that matter.
It alienates some Repubs.
It energizes the Dems even more.
Why? It almost seems he is doing everything he can to fail.
I hope that the people in my family who voted for him will sit it out in 2020 should he run. I just can't see how my military relatives can ignore these comments against McCain, or validate them by voting for him again.
By the way, should Trump pass away of natural causes before the election, I will be holding a huge celebration party. And we can all toast what a wonderful fellow he was.
8
So, once again Trump has uttered something so despicable that it dominates at least some part of a news cycle. Maybe Trump was feeling particularly insecure this week and needed attention. Or maybe he is trying to distract from something big that's about to hit the news. How's that Mueller report coming along?
3
Trump railed that he was angered at McCain because, in the world according to Trump, McCain has said he’d vote for Trumpcare but then double crossed him. As Trump put it, if McCain had expressed his opposition (actually he did, but that was in the real world) Trump would have found another vote in support of Trumpcare. From where? The Duma?
2
It strains the limits of my vocabulary to try to express the outage and disgust that this makes me feel.
For the ten thousandth time I ask, how can any decent person support this man? I am really asking. I have family members who love him, and it actively pains me to try to understand why.
I've made a huge effort to have open-minded conversations, to read articles and books that try to explain -- but I'm starting to think there is no good answer. That to support Trump is to be either hateful and bigoted; or to be so brainwashed, dim-witted, or poorly educated to recognize him for what he is. It pains me to say this. I am still hoping to come to a more nuanced understanding, assuming there is one to be had.
11
Another article in today's Times provides the best advice of all on how to deal with Trump's incessant tweeting.
Ignore him. Walk away and turn your backs to him.
The one thing that hurts Trump more than anything else is losing his "bully pulpit." (Aptly named in his case.) He can't stand it when no one pays attention to him.
3
Trump is gearing up to campaign for the 2020 election. This is all about blaming John McCain for his (Trump's) incompetence. Still no replacement for the ACA. Blame John McCain. The Dept. of Veteran's Affairs is in a shambles. Blame John McCain. The Mueller report is close to being released. Blame John McCain. The list goes on.
2
I am a veteran without the outstanding hero credentials Senator John McCain has. Can you imagine the pummeling I would get if I joined groups that protested against Trump.
3
John McCain was no hero, in fact he was a disgrace at the end. McCain died in office. He refused to resign when he was no longer able to physically do the job--even physically be present in D.C.--seemingly part of the job description. This is more like the Soviet Politburo than a thriving, vibrant democracy. McCain also tried to give the Senate seat that he temporarily (semi-permanently?) occupied to his wife and/or engaged in other machinations to transfer the seat to his favored pick. Americans should be fed up and the machinations of the enfeebled elderly who game the system to their own political ends--Yes, RBG, this means you!
McCain seems to be celebrated by the left because he lost to an unqualified Senator (for 15 minutes) with an extremely thin resume who never did anything ever to distinguish himself aside from having a mother from Kansas and a father from Kenya. As to his "war hero" status, it is certainly undeniable that McCain killed more Vietnamese than Trump did. is this really something we should be so proud of?
Although I wish Trump would focus on the important issues of the day instead of attacking a no longer relevant McCain, especially the invasions on our Southern border, part of me enjoys the spectacle of Trump going after this disgraceful fraud.
1
Not everyone knows that McCain is considered an enemy and a traitor by nearly the entire conservative movement.
Why is this? It is somewhat analogous to the attitude towards Hillary Clinton by the progressive wing of the Democrats. He/she doesn't believe in the core doctrines of our party, but thinks he/she can tell everyone what to do, and run the whole show.
Donald Trump is the same person he has always been. He is the Republican Party. Almost every elected Republican is silent in the face of their President's assaults on truthfulness, integrity, decency, character, and morality. Those values no longer matter.
5
Trump isn’t fit to lick John McCain’s boots. I didn’t often agree with him, but McCain was nevertheless a class act - a genuine war hero, a man of honor and a man with a deep love for his country. I believe if the Republican party hadn’t saddled him with Palin, he might well have become president and he probably would have been a pretty decent one - certainly orders of magnitude better than the one we are currently stuck with who apparently can’t even win a fight with a dead man.
3
I think what upsets the president most is that Senator McCain, even though fifth from the bottom of his class at Annapolis, still had a higher GPA than Trump at Fordham and Penn. What was your class rank and GPA Mr. Trump? Can we see that, or is it in the same confidential nature of your high school transcripts and tax returns?
6
Is severe mental instability grounds for removal? If it isn't, our Constitution is flawed. Every day it grows worse, but no one will announce that the emperor is naked.
7
@Daphne
I see two flaws associated with the 25th Amendment. First, as written it requires the Vice President and cabinet officers to declare the President unable to perform the duties of the office. They are political appointees of the President and as such will not go against him.
Second, the Amendment provides for the Congress to choose an alternative body to make the decision. Thus far the Congress has not seen that flaw and taken appropriate action.
Let us hope that the experience of having trump in office will cause Congress to take the action they should have done 50 years ago.
It's all well and good to remind everyone how reprehensible the tweets are. But we are missing the biggest point: THIS IS NOT NORMAL.
I agree with "Opinionated" Let’s all pretend that the President is not insane.” Insane may be overstating it, but there are huge mental issues that make him unfit to be president, incapable of functioning at a bare minimum level necessary for the job.
All of us, and especially the Senators in the US Senate, have our heads in the sand. We all need to wake up and really get how NOT NORMAL this is. As a Country, we're on overwhelm and desperately need to wake up.
3
We must remember that Our President told us that had he been there at the Parkland, Florida high school massacre, he would have rushed in, even if he had no weapon, to confront and take out the shooter. Surely he is a Brave Man and an American Hero too. After all, He told us so.
2
Not only does Trump keep reaching new depths of dishonesty, but now he is matching them with his disgraceful pettiness. I think that most rational people, if confronted one on one by someone at this level of rage and immaturity, would shudder and move away from him or her and hope to never encounter them again. In conversations with friends across the political spectrum, most say the same thing about Trump. He has become downright scary and needs to be removed from office quickly by any legitimate means possible before he completely shreds any confidence in our government both domestically and worldwide.
2
So Senator Isakson thinks trump is "deplorable" just like Hilary did. Maybe trump will find a way to unite the country after all.
I'm glad to read that the veterans at the tank factory didn't applaud trump's dismissal of Senator McCain. I couldn't believe he would choose that setting to go after a deceased true American hero, a man who transcended politics with his courage and nobility in war. trump just showed what a petty little creep he is--and so totally undeserving and inadequate to the job he holds, the honor the position entails, and the attention he gets. It's as if we've fallen into one of Kafka's stories.
1
My father served our country and was a WWII veteran who fought in the bloodiest part of that war - the Pacific theater. After retelling horrific stories of what he and his fellow soldiers endured, it amazed me how he survived. Never diagnosed with PTSD he suffered anxiety for years following his service. After hearing Trump continue his rants against the war hero John McCain, it is my hope that every soldier and veteran in the US support draft dodger Trump’s removal as President. His disrespect of McCain is disrespect of all who currently or who have served our country. I’m sure my father is cursing him from his grave.
76
@Joyce Dev
Fine thoughts but T doesn't even get condemned by his own --- and McCain's -- party. He is a despicable person who, somehow, has inspired a cult, no other word for it. His base, for reasons very difficult to fathom, sticks with him no matter how outrageous his behavior. Why aren't veterans standing up for other veterans instead of making excuses for a lying draft dodger?
8
What an example to our next generation of how service and heroism is treated by leaders of one party in our country.
11
“I can’t understand why the President would, once again, disparage a man as exemplary as my friend John McCain: heroic, courageous, patriotic, honorable, self-effacing, self-sacrificing, empathetic, and driven by duty to family, country, and God,”
Maybe it has something to do with the fact that Trump is not heroic, not courageous, not patriotic, not at all honorable, the opposite of self-effacing, the farthest thing from self-sacrificing, never empathetic and driven by duty only to himself.
18
Here is a question for republican voters. Do you respect war heroes and patriots like John McCain or not? You can’t vote for Trump and still claim to care about the people who fought for this country. You can’t vote for trump and claim to care about decency or morality or honesty or respect. The right to vote means you have the responsibility to choose. That’s your choice.
15
What’s missing in this article that I read elsewhere is what Trump supporters in the audience had to say that tells you everything you need to know about the their lack of decency and thoughtfulness, and their unshakable allegiance to him. In a Washington Post, a welder said he “understood what he [Trump] was saying,” but didn’t want to explain it. Another supporter in the audience, forklift driver said, “We’ve got a president up there right now that has backbone,” he said. “And we’re sorry if we hurt a few feelings, if that’s the way it is, but we’ve got to be strong again.” Right, strong again by shredding honorable people who are the exact opposite of Trump. He’s a bad man. What of his supporters?
10
Each time the President says things like McCain is "not his kind of guy", the President is honoring John McCain by clarifying how different the two are.
15
Salter is right: this is but one more example that the President is unfit, both morally and cognitively, for the office.
What's shocking is that more people aren't shocked.
12
I think this is Trump’s desperate ploy for attention and, in so doing, to keep the nation polarized, anxious and a little like him in hostility. And we go for it, playing into his hand ... for his power benefit. He has nothing else. Really ... in his entire life, personal and public, what, other than self at the expense of others, has he been about? He’s certainly not admired as far as I can see. Poor man, what with what he’s done has it come to for him? Apparently, the desperate need for more. Unlike honorable individuals, such as John McCain (may he be at rest in God’s Peace), Trump looks like ... well, let’s say not much/not anything of note including being president. When Trump says the late Senator McCain is not his kind of guy, boy, does he have that right. It’ll be forever that way.
49
Boy, anyone remember 1972. McGovern had to remove Thomas Eagleson from the ticket, for past mental health issues.
Now you’re stuck with a man with really serious issues as President.
Really UFO: Unfit For Office
38
@Paul
The “mental health issues” were depression. Eagleton never publicly exhibited any problems, it was just the thinking at that time about mental health issues that more or less required him to remove himself from the ticket. Trump, on the other hand, is clearly ill and exhibits that every day.
6
Just once I would like to see a day when the name "Trump" did not appear in print or spoken in the media. We know that he hates John McCain and anyone else who disagrees with him, but do we need to be reminded all the time. He is a bully who uses the media to pump up his ego and the media complies. I know that we need to be aware of what he is saying and doing, but how about reducing him a couple of paragraphs instead of making a big deal about his every tweet, his lies and inflammatory rhetoric! Stand up to the bully instead of giving in to him all the time. It can be done.
26
@PJ Blevins
Agreed. Wouldn't it be wonderful if, like New Zealand with the mosque shooter, we could just agree to ignore him mostly?
1
@PJ Blevins
Great suggestion!! Starve the beast. How hilarious if he were not to appear until about page 17, pre-empted by stories like climate change, Girl Scout cookie sales and dog shows. You know--reality, and incidentally, things Americans care about.
1
Could somebody please tell this disaffected nutcase who unfortunately is also the president of the United States that John McCain, a decorated war hero and true patriot, is DEAD?
And contrary to the readers who not unreasonably wonder if publicizing Trump's rants on this and other topics just encourages the problem ... I think we need to keep reporting, accurately and fairly, on his unhinged behavior, so that intelligent and discerning voters (some of whom are probably tearing their hair out at having voted once already for him) will be able to make informed decisions. He's mentally ill, and the nation needs to understand this, as most of the rest of the world already does.
26
What Trump thought of McCain is not important... the issue here is that Trump "enjoys" criticizing McCain. Trump likes to "push buttons." He likes the attention, even when it's negative. It's just one of the ways Trump has demonstrated he is a very, very sick man.
35
Hillary Clinton got one thing wrong when she mentioned the "Basket of Deplorables" during the 2016 election. No matter how large that basket may be, it scarcely leaves room for anyone aside from this nation's biggest deplorable: our president.
10
This is nothing new.
After Mr. and Mrs. Khizr Khan spoke against Trump's bigotry toward Muslims at the Democratic Convention, Donald Trump smeared these Gold Star parents.
The Khan's son, U.S. Army Captain Humayan Khan, was killed by a suicide bomber in Iraq in 2004. Captain Khan died protecting the men who served with him - and was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star.
Trump and his then Chief of Staff John Kelly (retired U.S. Marine Corp. General) emotionally abused Myeshia Johnson,
widow of U.S. Army Sgt. La David Johnson, who was killed by terrorists while on assignment in Niger in October, 2017.
Trump has never respected our veterans - or their families.
Trump does not respect our heroic war dead - who we hold in our hearts.
Donald Trump is not fit to be Commander In Chief.
28
More homework by the writers would have reminded them that Lima, where I was born, was once the sinkhole of the Burlesque circuit --it was the original target of the first-prize-one-week second-prize-two-weeks joke. Many a Burlesque act entered its death spiral in Lima, and I see Lima is still working its magic. Mr. Trump, leave Lima alone --they have enough problems. And remember where you are going now.
2
"He said he gave Mr. McCain “the funeral he wanted, and I didn’t get ‘thank you,’”"
How can a dead man thank anybody? Trump is apparently incapable of uttering a coherent sentence, and is Orwell pointed out decades ago. sloppy language usually represents sloppy thinking.
12
Everyone look at the insane ranting of a sitting US President this way: Republicans lost all credibility long ago. They have no dog in the fight of calling any Democratic President out on anything later on down the road. They have officially gone the way of the loony bird.
13
Trump's behavior shows he has an extremely low emotional IQ. For this reason alone, the 25th amendment should be invoked. Trump is a clear and ever present danger to the United States.
15
Trump who dodged the draft and Vietnam several times with fake bone spurs criticizes John McCain and says he wasn’t a war hero because he was captured. McCain risked his life for his country; trump risks his country for his life(style). Hard to believe Vietnam Vets can support this loser.
21
The only think keeping me from wishing tRump would simply have a heart attack, die and leave us in relative peace is the prospect of Mike Pence as pResident. You're my insurance, Mike!!!
4
Mocking the handicapped. Picking on the bones of a dead man. And we STILL ask ourselves whether or not the Democrats can find someone who can beat this person in the next General Election? Is there REALLY a future for this country, ladies and gentlemen? Who ARE these Americans who put THIS in the White House?
14
Deplorable! And those who cheer and encourage this manner of 'presidential' behavior are deplorable too.
It's as if you're sitting in a bar and there is a loudmouthed drunk spouting off.
Well, Trump isn't drunk, but obviously he does have a personality disorder. I just cannot imagine anybody calling himself/herself a "patriot" and then supporting this foul man.
8
There are some things that reveal the truth more than others. trump trashing a dead man shows just how truly weak trump is: a weak minded weakling. It also shows how truly lost the minds of his supporters are: a flock of sheep mindlessly reacting to whatever falls in front of their faces.
8
Often print and other media express a quiet outrage about the moral failings of people in the news. This is not really news but social commentary on the actions of people contrary to a perceived ethics or the dominant moral norm of our culture. Unfortunately, the media, particularly those who decide what and whom to cover, do not seem to comprehend their own moral responsibility when covering the news. The rise of Mr. Trump is in part due to the media's coverage of the spectacle of how an inept real estate salesman could become President. The novelty has worn off. The media continues to empower Mr. Trump and the bizarre spectacle of his presidency by revealing to the world his bad behavior. The most recent coverage of Mr. Trump criticizing the deceased American hero, Senator John McCain has no redeeming quality. Such comments by Mr. Trump are disgraceful and hurt every American, particularly those who served in the military. If the media wants to speak with a sense of moral outrage regarding events in the world, it must act responsibly when reporting the news. People who are opposed to pornography should not be profiting from it. People who want to put out a fire do not dump gasoline on it. People who do not agree with a tyrant should not give him a stage upon which he can gather new followers. Ethics and social responsibility are for everybody including the media.
4
@Cyril
I believe the press continues to report Trump's bizarre statements and tweets to show America just how off kilter this man is. The hope is that someone will have enough courage and power to have him removed from office before it gets worse.
1
If I would had been an American living in Arizona I would have never vote for Senator John McCain. But I would have respected Senator McCain for his heroism and his services toward his country.
President Donald Spur Bone Trump was a coward whom refused to serve in Vietnam, and he is still a coward by attacking a dead man whom can not answer. President Trump is a little pygme whom will never be the giant that Senator McCain was.
20,000,000 people own a big thank to Senator McCain for his vote against the repeal of Obamacare because they would have lost their coverage, premiums would had increased and no money would have been save, contrary to what lying Donald is claiming.
9
The man is mentally ill and needs help. His mental health is only one of many reasons he is unfit for office. He shouldn't be allowed to possess firearms. He needs hospitalization and treatment. He is a danger to himself and those around him not to mention the nation and world due to his position. Clearly the 25th amendment applies.
9
Just when you think that Mr. Trump can't sink any lower, can't possibly be any more classless, tactless, and/or boorish, he sets a new standard . . .
10
Remember when the GOP used to claim they were: the party of family values, the party of morality, the party of deficit reduction, the party of free trade, the colorblind party; and most importantly, the party of the soldier and the military?
Trump regularly sides with foreign powers over American interests, disparages gold star families, denigrates genuine war heroes (Mc cain and Mueller) and openly flaunts his bigotry and immorality
And the GOP's response vacillates between silence (paging Cruz, Rubio, Cornyn), tepid whispers of disagreement (see Sen. McConnell's and Graham's responses) and cheering (See videos of CPAC 2019 audience cheering Malkin's mocking comments about John McCain's ghost)
Trump is revealing the GOP leadership's hypocrisy and cowardice by the bucket loads.....
None of its present senators and many of its governors will ever be able to run for President without wearing the taint of Trumpism
Their continued silence regarding Trump's horrendous behavior will be the proverbial political millstone around their necks
12
When speaking of John McCain, Individual 1 said that he was "not my kind of guy". That may be the only true statement he has made all week.
8
The problem is the media keeps falling for Trump's insane babbling. He's a liar, cheat, bully and a would be dictator. If the media would ignore this insane fool for even a week he might lose some of his bluster for causing trouble. If the media would call him out for what he is he might lose some of his Trumped self importance.
15
John McCain had more integrity in his little finger than the current occupant of the White House has in his entire body.
24
In his fevered imagination, Donald probably fantasizes about relieving himself on the late Senator's grave. He isn't mad about what McCain did with the Steele dossier. He's mad that the dossier existed in the first place. His continuing deranged behavior only reaffirms how very plausible the whole thing is, including, and perhaps especially the most salacious parts.
18
@Rick The question of the day is this: How will we now when and if Trump descends into madness?
1
This won't stop. Like a disturbed person Trump keeps repeating
this hatred hoping to get a different result.
25
@84
So true. If the crowd cheers, Trump thinks it's for him. If the crowd boos, Trump thinks it's directed at John McCain.
On the other hand, Trump has nothing but good to say about Kim Jong-un.
27
Senator John McCain was a hero, Trump is a zero. What type of person criticizes a military veteran injured in the service of his country, a prisoner of war and a public servant who gave decades of his life to the people of the United States. Shame on you Trump.
29
@Virginia....Same kind of person who would publicly mime a handicapped person and mock a gold star mother because she was Muslim. The greater question is why anyone would support such a disgusting individual?
1
Why does the Times continue to normalize behavior that is easily explained by psychiatry? Why does the Times continue to treat such behavior as a political story, when it is, in fact, a medical and psychiatric story? I implore Ms. Haberman and other journalists to begin reporting the real story: the president is dangerously unfit for the office he holds, by every reasonable measure, and should be removed.
36
@Patricia Raube
I think that's exactly why we have this story. The reporters can't diagnose him, they can only report what they see. The reporters know how bizarre this behavior is, hence a story headlining it.
The man has no decency, is unhinged, a diet pill junkie and should be removed from office now rather than later. I still can’t get the image of him out of my head hugging the flag....how undignified and disrespectful. Trumps presidency is a dark stain on our country and on Republicans that ignore him.
27
John McCain dead is still thousands of times the better man than Trump is alive.
14
Just when you think Trump can’t possibly stoop any lower, he somehow manages to do just that. Quite extraordinary really. To say he is “unfit” for office is the understatement of the century. And, of course, McConnell (just as low in my book) doesn’t call him out on this latest horror. Such a tool.
23
Right now, the only game in Washington is “Let’s all pretend that the President is not insane.”
89
@Opinioned! Right?!? I hate trying to explain to his supporters why he is not fit for office and the pathetic excuses they come up with why they believe he is. The other day I got in a argument with a family member in regards to Trump's number of lies per day. Their response was "well all politicians lie! Obama lied!" I just laughed. Obviously all politicians lie as most people do but only pathological liars like Trump lie about crap that doesn't matter or things that are easily proven untrue.
2
I guess Sarah Huckabee Sanders' oft-repeated statement that when President Trump is attacked he will fight back needs to be amended to say that he will fight back even when those who purportedly attack him are already dead and can't defend themselves.
79
@Jay Orchard
Yes, and doesn't that make him crazy?
7
Hmmm, I wonder how Republicans would react if it were Obama who was dissing McCain.
36
President Obama has class and manners, something Donald Trump, with all his money, will never have.
6
@Carden
Obama had enormous respect for fallen soldiers, often appearing at the arrival of their remains in the US and saluting with the honor guard.
Your comment is a straw man.
A common cliche often voiced after people die, is that they live on in our hearts and minds. As long as we don’t forget them, they never die. Donald Trump is certainly doing his part.
10
@Moby Doc
I heard a Republican propagandist on the radio yesterday. Still ranting about Elizabeth Warren's racial background. Not a word about his president ranting about a dead opponent. I guess that was a diversionary tactic to cover up what a disgraceful president we have.
As much as so many people agree with the substance of this article, how many True Believers in the Republican Party like Megan McCain will now be motivated in, at least in some small part, to re-evaluate the whole Republican/Trump Party as it now exists with sleazy leaders like Lindsey Graham and Mitch McConnell who claimed to be John McCain's best friends but are more loyal to getting re-elected via Trump's support. And both of whom, if people choose to remember, are Megan McCain's openly chosen adopted fathers in her beloved Republican Party.
I've listened to Megan McCain many times pop off about her extremely immature, blind loyalty to the Republican Party's values, if any exists anymore, that are simply based upon the love of her father. As a Vietnam Era Vet, I will always respect John McCain, his daughter and her love for her father but not their politics. And in all honesty, Megan McCain is just living off her father's reputation and people's respect for him and all the attention she now gets on TV as some kind of knowledgeable Republican whose opinions are biased and not given any critical examination.
13
@Gert. Nailed it about Meghan.
@Sharon
Thank you. People really just need to listen to Megan McCain. She's got a lot of growing up to do if she ever does and should expose herself to other points of view other than her father's Republican Party or what's left of it since it's now owned like Fox News by Trump. It's not so much that I disagree with her uninformed and slanted politics but she would never get the publicity and undue respect she receives if it simply wasn't for the fact that she's John McCain's daughter.
Perhaps there is a silver lining. Trump focusing on McCain takes away his attention from something else, preventing some other horrible action or Twitter. McCain is a hero yet again.
11
Who in their right mind would make an effort to say, repeatedly and demonstratively, unkind words about the deceased? Oh, I forgot, Trump isn't in his right mind.
22
@A When Trump dies, he will be roasted at his eulogy by "friends" who should be speaking out against him now.
You can never, ever win an argument with a dead person, nor can you widely disparage them to any effect other than to damage your own image. The dead are past and it is the living you must deal with.
For Trump to be so obsessed over Sen McCain shows that he is not at all stable mentally, and apparently getting worse.
Trump saying that "He" gave McCain the funeral setting is ludicrous. We, The People did that for a Hero and Senator of our Nation. All Trump was allowed to do is to sign off on it, and he did not have much choice in the matter.
You can never really win an argument with a dead person as they have already Had 'the last word'. Nothing you say negatively can affect them, it only shows how venal the speaker is.
Trump is truly expert as shooting himself in the feet and shooting his mouth off at the same time.
If Geo. Washington had fired off 'Rapid Letters' like Trump does Tweets, then they would have all been official correspondence with the public, and he would have had to been held to his lies: Why is Trump NOT held responsible for his well documented lies to the Public. That is worse than lying to Congress as Congress are Just OUR Representatives, and he has been lying to US, The People, directly, daily, and without apparent end.
Does not Trump know that he is badly offending even his Base? And the more he turns away, the more turn with them.
He has lasted this long on Bluster and Bigotry, but now he is attacking one of their own more popular dead kin folks.
12
You give his base way too much credit. They are members of a cult.there is no remorse or sense of responsibility among cult members for the sins of their adored leaders.
2
@karen
Not really talking about his Base, talking more about the Independent type voters who could not stomach Hillary who was the real warmonger of the Obama Admin with her and Victoria Neuland instigating the Ukrainian crisis which ended up with Russia gaining Crimea back.
They also went after Libya and the oil/resources there as well as the fact that the Nation was holding onto a Gold Standard for currency and would not bow to the Petro-Dollar.
Once they had completely gotten rid of their Nuclear Program and Chemical Weapons, Clinton's Coalition denounced and attacked Libya under false pretenses, and those all came thought the State Department and CIA and associated weapons dealers.
Benghazi, while not her fault, was due to CIA making weapons deals and becoming targeted by Mossad as a way of helping the Romney Campaign, as it seemed very clear that the info concerning the attack in Benghazi was released by Romney and Netanyahu before the State Department even knew about it, the information was brought up at a debate and Clinton had not been informed yet.
So while we knew Trump was crooked, we THOUGHT he was just the 'little crook' in his limited areas. Also it turns out that he is not just crooked but Owned by the Russians and other Oligarchic Crooks who laundered Big Money though his Companies, and is totally clueless about Real Governing, has no desire to learn, just trying to bluster and RULE his way though.
Vets see all of this clearly, and will vote accordingly.
As a thought experiment: Rewind yourself 8 years, click "play" on the clip in the article and close your eyes. Imagine that what you hear is being said by Obama.
The media and public outcry would have lasted long after Obama had been forced to step down.
Today, after 2 years with Trump, it floats between "so what?" and "hmm, weird".
17
This is yet another example of Trump's indecency and gracelessness. He seems to have this pathological need to get the last, demeaning word in and to try to destroy those who cross him. Cowardly, too - what sort of a man seeks to degrade the memory of someone as respected as John McCain, who isn't around to defend himself?
13
Yes its worth knowing our president is a sociopath, but would it not be worth even more to use staff and column inches to talk investigate what policies are developed in different departments of the federal government. Catch the little stories as well as the big ones.
9
@R.S. Like the one where they now track girls’ periods and pregnancies in detention centers. And then hold them there and deny requested abortions until its too late....or lifting endangered species protections for oil drilling...stuff like that?
1
Citing Max Liebermann: "I could not possibly eat as much as I would like to throw up"
He said that in Germany in 1933 for obvious reasons, and I can't help but think exactly the same every time I see or hear that walking embarrassment.
How any veteran, or any sane person can even listen to this is beyond my comprehension.
19
to those of you who contiune to support trump, when will enough be enough. my feelings about trump shouldn't be compared to anyone before him or anyone who will follow him, they are soley about a person who is void of empathy, feelings for others, lies about everything, blames anyone and everyone for his mistakes. calls the meida fake news when the stories the print about him are backed by his own words spoken or printed. trump said yesterday he thought America should see Muellers report, by now we know what he means, like his taxes or answering questions from Mueller under oath. he will later claim later he wanted to release the report, but others stopped him (new AG). To those serving now in Congress who contiune to support trumps lies and deflect your answers when asked tough questions, history will show you were judgement was wrong.
18
I don't think Trump is completely to blame for keeping his feud with McCain alive. It seems to me that new information has been released that is related to how McCain had not only tried to kill of Trump's candidacy for President but also how he was actively involved in distributing false dossier material after Trump was elected to the presidency to sabotage Trump as well as changing his promised yes vote to repeal Obama Care which we all already knew about that he changed to a no as the deciding vote that spoiled Trump's agenda. McCain was vicious and vindictive. His 50 year old military record is no get out of jail free card. No pun intended. The stuff he did that was unconscionable happened long after he was released from POW status. Also, I see the media keeps asking Trump about McCain and Trump is responding to their questions.
@NYChap I really don't understand Trump supporters. First of all, every citizen of this country has a right to support the candidate of their choice, including McCain. Wasn't it Trump's campaign meeting with Russians in Trump Tower after a promise of dirty on Hillary Clinton? You no doubt are perfectly fine with a campaign accepting illegally gotten information from a foreign adversary, but you think turning legitimately concerning material about a candidate over to the FBI warrants the US President's grotesque attacks on a dead person, despite knowing his family is still mourning that death? Really? How is it you are fine with the Trump campaign trying to sabotage Hillary Clinton, the Republicans trying to sabotage Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, etc., but Trump should be immune? How is it you can listen to Trump spend his time as president Tweeting relentless assaults and attacks on people, but then whine when Trump is the subject of criticism? I just do not understand how Trump brings out this cult-like mentality in so many Americans. It is weird and creepy. Somehow, though, he knows he does, shown early on when he said he could murder someone in broad daylight and not lose one of his supporters. Forget McCain: that you don't know that Trump's rhetoric is despicable in and of itself fills me with despair.
5
@NYChap
In politics, you get to try to get the better of another candidate. You know that, right? DJT knows it--and will use any means necessary in his attempts to achieve it. I think we have a case here of a supporter of the pot calling the (deceased) kettle black. Suggestion: avoid claiming knowledge you haven't got.
4
@NYChap Unlike Marc Antony Trump sounds like he didn’t really want to bury McCain and certainly never means to praise him. Even with sarcasm.
Trump called McCain a “loser” before there was ever a vote on Obamacare, or before he had ever even won the presidency. He didn’t just insult MCCain but all vets at his rallies. As far as killing Trump’s candidacy, McCain would have been recognized a second time for being a hero if he had managed to do that. And are you suggesting that Trump and his felons didn’t try to do the same to the other candidates?
Any sane adult who was frequently asked about McCain would put together a civil response that showed respect for the Senator’s military record while perhaps acknowledging that, like most politicians they didn’t always see eye to eye on issues. He might mention the number of times that McCain was returned to the Senate and that he served his constituents well. That is what a decent person of sound mind would do.
If Trump had given an adult, civilized, respectful response the first time he was asked about McCain the media would not still be asking him about him. Trump would be able to move on to more important matters than carrying on a one sided feud with a highly respected dead vet and Senator.
So called "conservatives", many who have sincerely been economically marginalized, allow Republicans and Trump to convince them that it’s poor brown people who “take their hard working dollars” when the top 4% increased their riches to 60% of all American wealth over the last twenty years. Obamacare did what they claimed they want – it mandated that irresponsible people pay at least a penalty so the taxpayer not foot their hospital bills – yet many, most of those conservatives cheer on Trump’s lambasting of the late war hero McCain.
9
A 5 time draft dodger vs. a bona fide war hero. Opening round, the dodger criticizes the hero for being captured, just part of the dodger's open hostility to those who have sacrificed themselves in some way for their county.
Senator McCain remained a man of character as the GOP conceded the party to a populist demagog making promises no one else would ever make because they could never be delivered (and still haven't). In character, as both patriot and protector of the American way of life, McCain took country over party and shared the Steele dossier with those who could give it a closer look. The dodger, who obviously has something to hide now laments the consequences Senator McCain's justified concern.
The vote on health care was defeated not by John McCain, but by all who voted against it. Certainly the dodger who loves spectacle can appreciate the power of the moment the unpopular bill was dramatically defeated with a thumbs down.
The dodger's base contends they voted for him to fight for them as those left behind. How long will they support the dodger as he obsesses about how he's been wronged, especially if the evidence of wrong doing is convincing?
8
And all I hear is people, on both the left and right, responding by defending McCain (aside from the Trump Cult members, who, per usual, take the cues from their leader and attack McCain). Trump's mendacious and grotesque attacks on McCain are not about McCain, and when people respond by defending McCain ,they are giving Trump's rhetoric credence, as if it would be acceptable directed at a person other than McCain, or a person who had not been a war hero, or whatever. The issue her is that the US President, and his base, are depraved, cruel, sociopathic, anti-social, classless, and boorish, among other awful things. His rhetoric, and his base's response with Trumpian perusal attacks on the (latest) subject of Trump's self-pity and wrath and his family, is in and of itself unacceptable for what should be a civilized country. (Nevermind that Trump, as usual, framed himself to be both the savior - "gave permission for the funeral", so gracious despite his hatred for the man, and the victim, which is how Trump always frames things). Trump only thinks about Trump, so defending his targets is pointless. If it wasn't McCain, it would be someone else. HIs language and incivility, classlessness, and sociopathy is what people should be calling out, not reminding us that McCain was this, that, or the other thing.
9
So what’s going on here is what’s always going on with Trump: he’s distracting the country from the really bad story. Namely the release of the Mueller report. I would think that after two years of his antics we would all be very familiar with his tactics. He doesn’t have a conscience, and he will do anything he needs to in order to take attention away from damaging news about himself. Yes what he’s saying about McCain is gross and deplorable, but what do we expect from this guy? If he ever acted like a decent human being I would be surprised. This stuff does not shock me, and it should not shock anyone.
11
What an ingrate! Trump should have thanked McCain for his thumbs down on Trumpcare.
If the ridiculous and unpopular law had passed and 20,000,000 people lost health insurance coverage, and premiums skyrocketed for the sickest, Trump would be on his way to defeat in 2020. His two legislative “accomplishments “ would be the budget busting upper class tax give away and the healthcare destroying a Trumpcare. Trump promised to replace Obamacare with something better....McCain kept him from replacing Obamacare with nothing.
31
@Asher Fried
In May of 2017, the Chicago Sun Times had a full front page photo of the Rose Garden beer party featuring Trump, Paul Ryan, Scalise all smiling and happy over the House vote to repeal and replace Obamacare. The caption was “ they win, 23 million lose.” McCain spoiled their party with his thumbs down vote in the Senate. 23 million didn’t lose, Trump & House Republicans did on that day & in November 2018. Yippie!
6
When the president is not the center of the news cycle he invents a reason to, once again, be in the limelight. It doesn’t
matter how untrue or outrageous his statements or behaviors are - they get notice. What if he was simply ignored! At this point the press and media need to get smart about not giving in and covering this kind of behavior. I’m frankly tired of the president getting what he wants from all of this. He gets back on the front page, he gets us distracted from what we really should be focusing on - he’s always going to try to be the center of attention. Let’s sideline him when he behaves badly. Simple, national parenting is in order.
33
I was raised to respect the office of President, regardless of party affiliation or personal feelings towards the current occupant. However, Mr. Trump makes this harder and harder to observe as his rhetoric is un-statesmanlike, dangerous and portrays an unstable mindset.
23
George Conway is right. Something is wrong with Trump's mental capacities.
He has allowed McCain to inhabit his mind to the point that John has moved in furniture and all.
All his charges against McCain are either dead wrong. As to his "giving" McCain the proper funeral a war hero deserved, all he provided was military transport as the funeral process needed.
Obsession is one of the most painful and dangerous things that can happen to one's mind.
Trump dislikes a man whose shoes he is not fit to shine, and thus the obsession with trying to destroy his good name.
29
John McCain was the Republican nominee for the president, and someone whom his Republican colleagues claimed to admire and respect.
Well, now we see how much that's worth. Who knows what corpse Trump will decide to pillory next? What we do know is that the Republicans will remain timid and fall in line.
To be honest, I've seen people expelled from high school for conduct and words far less egregious than Trump's. He is held accountable for his actions less than a hormone-ridden teenager.
22
Why do you call it a feud? First, McCain is dead and unable to respond, and second, Trump's condemnation of the man is nothing but a disgusting, cowardly rant from a megalomaniac. When you "normalize" Trump by using decorous words like "feud," you only aid and abet his piggish behavior. This is the kind of treatment that got him elected. Call it for what it is, especially in your headlines.
15
Every time I see President Trump l see a miserable individual. He can't speak without making it about himself. He truly embodies the characters from the Wizard of Oz, except he is proud to display no brain, no heart, and no courage.
32
Anotherr appalling lack of self-control by Trump.
As is the case with so much that Trump does, this fight with a dead man is cowardly, unseemly, and pointless.
I am sure that The Paranoid Mr. Trump, in his mind, has many legitimate grievances against a lot of people, living and dead.
But do we need to hear about Trump’s personal vendettas, especially when there is absolutely no national interest at stake, when there is no possibility of resolution?
Sen. McCain was human and therefore, imperfect. But he was a patriot and a veteran. Two things that Trump is not and will never be.
To Trump supporters: Trump is also an imperfect human. Stop indulging his whims and following him blindly down the wrong paths he often takes.
8
@Rita
Where are Ken and Barbie in trying to rein him in ?
This whole insane travesty puts me in mind of an incident in Catholic history -- the Cadaver Synod. In 897 Pope Stephen VI exhumed the body of a previous Pope, Formosus, and put the dead Pope on trial. According the synod formed for this madness, Stephen screamed at the dead Pope for some time. The dead Pope was post facto excommunicated and other abuses heaped upon his person.
This strange interlude was politically motivated and appalled everyone involved except Stephen.
Sound familiar?
Everyone agreed Pope Stephen was mad. (What did this do to the notion of Papal infallibility, I wonder.) However, he remained Pope for another seven months until he was arrested. Can we hope for something similar?
9
Where is the outcry? Where is the outrage? Imagine the apoplectic response on Fox and from virtually all republicans if Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Sen. or Rep. Ocasio-Cortez had uttered such remarks against Sen. McCain. I dare say Sean Hannity's head would have actually exploded. Trump's remarks are a disgrace and a disturbing indication of mental and emotional instability in the leader of the free world. But the real shame and true danger lies in the cowardly refusal of republicans to stand against up against him.
19
Let him rest in peace.
1
Yes, Trump's comments about the late Senator McCain are shockingly inappropriate, and like those about George Conway are very probably designed to generate headlines. Unfortunately the media has fallen for the bait yet again. Please, NYT, CNN and every other non-Fox outlet; stay focused on what's important and not what Trump is throwing out to distract from everything else engulfing him and his administration, such as...oh, where shall I start....
- the impending Mueller report (the main reason for these distractions, I'm sure)
- Trump's failure to call out white nationalism after Christchurch
- Trump's response to PM Ardern's proposed ban on assault rifles after Christchurch
- Jared and Ivanka's multiple failures and inadequacies, according to a recent and widely reported book
- the GOP's connections with Boeing
- SDNY's numerous investigations into Trump's circle
and everything else.
please...just ignore the nonsense and focus on the stuff that matters. Thanks!
7
I wonder how many people in that audience voted for Trump? For those that did, they need to take a hard look in the mirror. He continually insults this country, is a traitor to it and our Constitution. How can these people support that?
11
The worst part of this (latest) disgraceful behavior by Trump is that only ONE congressional Republican actually condemned Trump's disgusting words.
Think about that.
The ugly reality is that the Republican Party is now totally and completely the party of the twisted, corrupt, vile Donald Trump and that makes it, not ISIS, not North Korea, not Russia and certainly not illegal immigrants, the greatest threat to our republic. It's past time the press started saying so.
17
As a malignant narcissist, Trump, the malignancy, will not stop until the body politic is dead.
The Press must remove his ego from life support or at least get it off of the front page.
6
McCain is somewhere laughing that his honor is still stuck in Trump's craw...
6
I am no longer shocked by Mr. Trump's behavior. I am also not shocked by Republican politician's lap dog attitude to Mr. Trumps obviously insane hatred for Mr. McCain.
How many Politicians are vets? How many have served in the defense of our country?
How many have ever put their life on the line for the USA?
How many think of anything but the gold plated benefits they vote for themselves?
How many realize that this man is a sicko?
How many like Lindsey Graham professed being John McCain's friend as long as it was useful .
9
Donald Trump is a coward, a bully, and a draft dodger who is a disgrace to the military of this country.
In my opinion, ANY veteran who supports this clown needs a head examination.
My brother, (Vietnam 1967-1968) is dying in a VA hospital, my father fought in WW2 and my grandfather in WW1.
I thank GOD my dad and grandfather didn't live to see this aberation of humanity.
What is WRONG with the Republicans that they don't censure this President en masse for his disgusting comments and behavior??!? Most were colleagues of John McCain. I hope they are treated as poorly after they pass so thier families can endure the disgusting disrespect that the McCain family is.
Just like Trump, if he isn't blaming someone else, he goes after someone who can't fight back. But McCain's so called "Friends" could say something TODAY, and not some weak, limp statement.
"SHOW US YOUR BONE SPURS" should become the rallying cry.
Donald Trump is a first class piece of rotten garbage and an embarrassment to our country, and especially to "Our FIne Military" who he phoneys up to .
30
Once again, Haberman et al, who don’t like Trump, have framed these tweets about McCain to make Trump look as bad as possible, and on the front page of the New York Times as well. Trump is the only honest guy out there amongst all the politicians. John McCain torpedoed the health bill, he was never liked by either the Democrat or Republican party in life, even though he supposedly is now liked in death. He planned his funeral for a year to try and embarrass the president as much as possible. His daughter was very insulting to the president during the funeral. Imagine if you had the power of the president to allow a national funeral in Washington only to be excluded from said funeral and insulted to boot? Kudos to Trump for pointing this all out. I definitely see Trump as the winner in 2020.
2
@Labete The Tweets and comments speak for themselves.
3
@Labete even you don't believe the drivel you write. The article starts with Lima. Ohio not with tweets. We can hear Trump in his own voice and see him in video making disparaging comments. Trump has no decency. Most of us will never talk this way about the dead even relatives we resented. McCain planned his funeral. Trump had nothing to do with it. The only thing Trump did was to have the flag lowered and issue a comment regarding McCain and his service to the nation. He was pressured to do that. It's amazing the lies Trump tell and his followers accept them. It's really disgraceful what this nation is coming to. Trump needs to be removed from office in 2020 so we can have our nation back. And we can hold our heads up high again. Birds of a feather flock together.
13
@Labete I am truly curious how you can call Trump the "only honest guy out there" when he has been caught in a staggering amount of lies. From how large his crowd was on inaugeration day -let's be honest, who cares- to his ties to the Russians. This is an extremely DISHONEST man. I am well aware that I will not be able to sway a Trump supporter, but please, be honest with yourself about the man who is the leader of our country.
12
This highly unpopular occupant of our White House will do anything to distract from the real issues of our citizens including outrageous pricing of pharmaceuticals and mass murder by guns and government by plutocrats. He has a willing, easily misdirected audience whose opinions are influenced by just a few words from a reckless and incompetent real estate salesman.
9
I keep waiting to hear Lindsey Graham, McCain's great friend, at least in life, weigh in on this. Graham (SC's very own!) hasn't said a word in defense of his late friend. Since McCain is no longer able to do anything to benefit Graham, I guess Graham has lost interest in him.
19
Hillary tried to tell us that he was not fit to serve as President of the United States. Some of us listened.
28
"The Jealous are Troublesome to others, but a Torment to themselves.
Jealousy is a kind of Civil War in the Soul, where Judgment and Imagination are at perpetual Jars.
This Civil Dissension in the Mind, like that of the Body Politick, commits great Disorders, and lays all waste.
Nothing stands safe in its Way: Nature, Interest, Religion, must Yield to its Fury.
It violates Contracts, Dissolves Society, Breaks Wedlock, Betrays Friends and Neighbors.
It has a Venom that more or less rankles wherever it bites: And as it reports Fancies for Facts, so it disturbs its own House as often as other Folks."
William Penn, The Fruits of Solitude in Reflections, 1682
8
When over 80% of Republicans approve of Trump, something is indeed rotten in the USA.
Who on earth are these people? The ones who watch Trump TV, aka Faux Noise, 24/7, including the vast majority of the oh-so-pious white Evangelicals who support a man whose behaviour and words are the direct opposite of the teachings in their Bible?
Proud to be an American? Hardly.
23
It was reported that, during the president's diatribe, the crowd sat in silence. Perhaps stunned? Possibly complacent but certainly, through silence - complicit. One remembers the words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, "Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act."
19
Trump's mental health is deteriorating at an alarming rate. He is arguing with ghosts now. Soon he will be running around the White House lawn trying to spike the nuclear football. Time to invoke the 25th amendment before it's too late.
13
Trump is a coward. He won't even fire people at the White House face to face. He lets others do his dirty work. When Omorosa Manigault was fired we heard his conversation with her pretending not to know. He had John Kelly do the firing under threat of making her life miserable or easy. The only firing he has done face to face was on a reality TV show that his supporters conflate with reality. Now he has hit a grave-depth low by hurling insults at a dead man who can't respond.
18
Trump is simply trying to set up the Nixon defense of "everybody does it."
4
Donald Trump has always loved an “enemy” who won’t sink to his level and fight back.
He was thrilled when Hillary Clinton took the high road, and rarely claimed back her share of time during debates when every two words she uttered about matters of public record were interrupted by Trump declaring “that’s a lie”.
And John McCain - what an absolutely perfect target for Trump. The late Senator’s friends either like Clinton, believe Trump’s tirades will hurt him, or live in fear of anyone who regards a political opponent, even a dead one, as an “enemy”.
I was never a McCain fan. I admit I violated Mark Twain ‘s unfinished etiquette manual’s chapter ‘On Funerals’’, and, from my Mighty Soap Box broke his rule: “Do not cough or nudge your neighbor when taffy is being distributed” - to preserve the record.
But with the mourning over, Trump continues delivering false, blistering attacks - mainly because he won’t be challenged.
McCain’s dead, and, if there is an afterlife, is either too busy to be bothered, or the phone rates are prohibitively high (nobody seems to make calls - video and data lines, like directed lightning bolts, seem unavailable).
I’ve always been upset by death - the third reason, because I will never be able to meet a disliked statesman, thinker or historian and challenge acts or thoughts; the first two obviously concern myself and those I love.
Trump, I am sure, is big on #1 and may even have people who fit #2.
As for #3, he loves silenced targets.
2
Despite the media's descent with Trump and the GOP into the gutter, I believe most Americans have not left their moral, ethical and patriotic standards of two years ago.
Filling the news with Trump and his cohorts' regurgitated echoes of lies-bile over and over.... and over.... is pathetically irresponsible at this point. Another attack on McCain it's just another disgusting example.
Where is the leadership in media to shape a forum that provides a way we can work together. New leadership have very well thought out ideas and programs that address our infrastructure and social problems. It would be helpful if the media would explore them - in context - before creating a wall of fear.
Until that happens, the media is just feeding the Trump-GOP-fox entertainment smokescreen. Without Trump, McConnell, etc. lies and and lies of silence, the GOP would be exposed.
8
This is sad and frightening. And what Mr. Trump is doing as reported here, is too! My point is that this is not news, at least not front page news. It feeds all the fires, both of supporters and opponents. And a rhetorical question: If his tweeting is regarded as irresponsible, and only stokes the ferocity of his support, why report it so prominently, if at all? Why give oxygen to this rampaging?
I think journalistic responsibility is in order, here.
11
@Ken Grabach
I disagree, as difficult as it is day in and day out to see the horrors unfolding from this man, I think they need to be reported on in a responsible way. The president of the USA is unhinged and psychopathic. That's news!
10
@Ken Grabach because this is the president of the United States. This behavior reflects someone who at best lacks maturity and judgement, but more likely is not well. It's important to understand that our system of checks and balances is failing us.
7
@Ken Grabach sir, please tell us how this not a front page story, when the idiot in the White House during a public speaking engagement continues to trash a man who served his country by both military and public service, and who passed away last August. trump complained he didn't get a "Thank You", for giving approval for the service McCain wanted. i don't know if trump had any say or not, but what a sad thing to bring up. The more i listen to trump speak or the words in his tweets, the more i believe his only focus is the person he looks at each day in the mirror, himself. if trump gets to plan his own funeral, he will expect a lot more than anyone before him, and i hope he remembers to leave a "Thank you Card".
5
The authors of this article should print a correction regarding Mr. Kahn's act of brandishing is copy of the constitution while addressing the Democratic National Convention. This article states that Mr. Kahn was accusing Trump of smearing the character of Muslims. That is not true. Mr. Kahn was challenging Trump's character and inappropriateness to be president. Implied that Trump had no knowledge of the constitution irrespective of running for president.
18
DJT, you're not my kind of guy...please respect war veterans, they did their service to our country, with honor, you haven't...and by the way its a disgrace your tenure in the White House.
30
Meghan McCain nailed it when she said that her dad is living rent free in Trump's head. Unable to learn to live with McCain's comparative greatness, Trump has to continue to debase McCain. Yet another demonstration of a very unhealthy presidential mind. And another characteristic which is unlikely to change. Four more years of this? Really?
32
Why is anyone surprised at the “new low” of Donald’s carrying on about a man who is no longer with us? That’s what a bully does. Attacks those who can’t fight back because at his core he is a big chicken. I propose that the 12 year old in chief (no offense to actual 12 year olds) be treated like the school yard bully with a few time honored responses that have deflated bullies in the past.
A: Ignore him. If he still keeps it up try B: ask “is that all you got?” And keep asking that question until the big wind blows itself out...then ignore him. And if you really want to stoop to his level the ever annoying PeeWee Herman response is choice C: “I know you are so what am I.” In answer to every name calling attack.
But truly ignoring him is still the best. When this excuse for a man starts his up a name calling spree all he should hear is the proverbial crickets. No endless interviews with people saying how awful he is and endless articles about how low can he go. Just crickets.....
20
When God almighty lays his hand on a man sir, I take mine off. Thomas Hart Benton.
18
@Ken calvey: Not exactly. Benton as senior Senator kept the formalities of presiding over the funeral of John Calhoun but as a staunch Unionist refused to give a eulogy. "He is not dead, sir — he is not dead. There may be no vitality in his body, but there is in his doctrines. Calhoun died with treason in his heart and on his lips. Whilst I am discharging my duty here, his disciples are disseminating his poison all over my state."
How does a man, who holds the most important seat in our government utter such horrible words about a man who has passed and the audience remains in their seats listening?
The worst of this man has yet to come.
44
Just when it seemed Trump couldn't go any lower, he attacks a person six feet under.
46
Keep it up, orange menace.
It would be divine justice to find that John McCain reaches from the grave and pulls down the curtain that Trump hides behind, resulting in the end of our national nightmare.
I was not a great fan of John McCain, but he had more courage in his thumb than McConnell and crew have in their entire body politic.
The undoing of Trump can be McCain's final act of heroism.
37
Mr Trump complains that he did not get a "Thank You" from Mr McCain.
The man wants to receive Thanks from a dead man. This says more about Mr Trump mental health than anything else.
Mr Trump is mentally unstable, which makes him unfit to be president of the USA.
40
Thank all the veterans you know who voted for this miserable excuse for a human. This won’t be news to them; none of them objected to the lies about Kerry either. What a noble group
32
@Sean Casey junior
Good point. George W. Bush's "Swiftboat Veterans For Truth" smeared John Kerry and tried to claim he was a coward and a fraud who did not deserve his medals. The GOP stayed silent. Even Bush 41, a decorated veteran himself, said nothing.
This is the way the GOP has been for decades. They will stoop to anything to win. They don't care about honor.
3
DT´s mental instability is painfully obvious as well as an IQ deficit as dissing a veteran at a tank factory manned by many vets was his idea of a rally strategy. It is well past time for a GOP intervention to remove him from office. Mitch McConnell is complicit in this degradation of our nation´s reputation, governmental branches, laws and norms. All of the GOP who has stood silently by as Mitch has continued on this course are complicit as well. DT is a disgrace who has no shame. There is no need for the rest of us to follow suit.
26
Trump just can't stand the thought that John McCain had the last word by excluding Donald from his final services. McCain alone, not Trump, gave himself the funeral he wanted.
22
Hopefully the lack of response from the crowd of Trump “crazies” is the beginning of something. Maybe, just maybe we’re closer to Trump’s “Have you no sense of decency” moment.
10
I am a lifelong Arizona Democrat who never voted for John McCain, although I always respected his service to our country and his sacrifice for his ideals. Donald Trump is not fit to shine John McCain's shoes.
49
@Julie Goodwin
It doesn't matter who was/is a fan of McCain's.
The integrity of this man is indisputable IMO.
When offered the chance of repatriation from the Viet Cong prison after being repeatedly tortured, he rufused to leave because he did not want to leave those who would not be offered the same opportunity. Thus he served more years in that hades hole by his own choice.
That action alone makes him a man deserving of respect and honor IMO.
4
Many reasons for Trump’s latest attack on John McCain have been posited: deflection from his own growing troubles; jealousy; rancor; McCain’s perceived lack of loyalty to him; McCain turning over the Steele dossier to the FBI; Trump’s deteriorating mental health. And conceivably, they’re all valid explanations for this revolting behavior.
But here’s another: what if Trump is, deliberately or subconsciously, trying to scuttle his chances of being reelected? Being president has not turned out to be much fun for Trump. He’s never understood this job, is loathe to devote the hard work and time it requires, and is only truly happy when he’s lathering up his band of unmerry men at rallies or playing golf. Worse, all his dirty secrets are being unearthed, and aside from his Faux buddies, communications robots, and Congressional bootlickers, he gets no praise, no accolades.
Psychologically, he is unable to quit or to decide not to run for a second term, so the only way for him to be relieved from the burden of the presidency is to lose the election. Of course he will claim that such a loss was rigged, illegal, etc., since nothing bad is ever his fault, so he’ll be able to feel blameless for enginering his own defeat.
16
@Jane we can only hope this is the scenario and we're relieved of this in 2020.
5
@Jane
Interesting idea. Trump sure seems miserable, doesn't he? I'm reminded of his friend Howard Stern saying that Trump would not like being president, that he wants everybody to love him and was unprepared of how rough a job the presidency is. After all, Trump never wanted to be president, he only ran to stick it to Obama.
2
Republicans in Congress need to stop supporting this man. It is a shame that Senator McSally an ardent Trump supporter was chosen to fill John McCain’s seat after she lost the election. At least she will have an honorable opponent in 2020.
15
I am saddened that our president would disparage a person who sacrificed much, much more in service to this country than a grifter from Queens never would and never will.
I am further saddened that many of my fellow veterans stand with the grifter.
Mr. McCain, regardless of like or dislike of his politics or the person is a brother to me and fellow veterans that served in a long ago war in a far away place. Most of us had those "short-timer" calendars marked up toward our last days in the country. As many of us dined on our reviled c-rations, a luxury not afforded to McCain, we pondered our returns to "the world". McCain did not have that luxury either.
We considered ourselves mistreated if our favorite beer was out of stock at the clubs. McCain was mistreated in a much harsher manner.
Trump is not worthy of disparaging McCain as McCain was a much better man his politics notwithstanding.
And those veterans who cheerlead the disparagement of our brother, John McCain, by Trump, are not my brothers.
35
As time passes we will see that the draft dodger's low is infinite. Anyone who has or knows someone with a DD-214 and supports this miscreant is sadly disillusioned. Disrespect for a true hero, how much of a wake up call do you need?
18
You would think the fact that the draft-dodging incompetent currently incumbent in the WH had outlived McCain would be enough - he "won" at living longer. But, no, he probably won't be happy until he's had McCain exhumed so that he can kick him. It is beyond parody and a very long way beyond appropriate behaviour for anyone, let alone the POTUS.
19
Everyday since he became the GOP nominee, I find myself wondering: how could so many people let this happen? I am disgusted by all his supporters, but also silent enablers.
How would these people react, if Obama had said, done 1 millionth of what DT? I used to love your country. Now I deeply feel sorry for one part of it, and despise the other one.
36
Seriously, what does it take for Trump’s supporters to finally think, “wow; there really is something wrong with this guy”? Surely there’s at least some percentage who won’t just follow him wherever he goes, right?
25
Given that his job approval is actually up a little, clearly this is not something that will change his supporters mind. If all his other outrageous behaviors didn’t affect their support, why would this?
After all, he is the imperfect vessel chosen by god to lead this country, or some such nonsense.
2
How is anyone supporting trump for anything at this point? This is not the behavior of a human, much less a president. Mrs. trump must end her “Be Best” campaign if she cannot acknowledge her husband’s failure to adhere to it.
13
It’s truly shameful to see an attack by draft-dodging Donald on a deceased, much-decorated veteran. A new low, even for Trump!
12
In case there was any doubt about Donald Trump's mental instability this is what a person who suffers, as George Conway among others have recently noted, from Narcissistic Personality Disorder. As Trump is increasingly forced to confront that he's in and life-and-death struggle with his own cruel mendacity, it is not surprising that he, like Scrooge, is engaged with the dead. In the late John McCain Trump is confronting a man who embraced all the virtues that he lacks--bravery, candor, courage, honesty, patriotism and principle. Of course it's "sick," but we, as nation, finally must confront the harsh reality that Donald Trump is sick with a very serious mental illness that does require his removal from office.
22
For the donald to say/write those comments about Senator McCain means he has no regards for a man who has given so much to this country. I was an officer in the US Navy when Senator McCain was languishing in the Hanoi Hilton Prison. Don't forget the donald also got out of the draft because of bone spurs in his feet. Well bone spurs typically show up in former men/women who have been runners in your 50's. This country will survive the donald - wonder what history writers will say about him in 50 years.
5
One of the things that bothers me about this series of lies is the suggestion that there was a “replace” in repeal and replace
14
"Mr. Trump has made it clear that his feud with Mr. McCain is still very much alive"
That statement almost seems like something one would find in "The Onion". But the sad truth is only someone like Trump would continue barreling down a one-way street in the opposite direction, not caring who or what he hits or the amount of damage and pain he causes.
What I think he hates the most is that Senator McCain had the last word by not asking Trump to part take in the euolgy and that irks Trump to no end. How does one do a one-ups man on someone who has passed away? Only bullies and cowards continue to look for a fight from someone who is no longer able to fight back nor combat such hate-filled words.
This man continues to be such a disgrace to this country. He should go and beat up a cooked lasagna noodle - maybe that would make he feel big and strong and powerful.
7
John McCain was a National hero. Trump is the snake oil salesman.Meanwhile, we are not talking about the ‘national emergency ‘ immigrant children in unknown locations, Trump making money from his presidency etc.
14
I am truly ashamed that my this man carries the title of president of our great nation. He is an abomination. When, in gods name, are his so called supporters going to wake up?
26
Donald J. Trump's 'kind of guy' is someone who has his doctor falsely state that he has bone spurs to avoid serving his country...in other words, a lying crooked anti-American charlatan, like himself.
9
I fought the Vietnam war for twelve years, from 1963 to 1975, as a reserve officer, in various units, from the 21st infantry division in the Mekong Delta, to the Airborne Division. I was also a free-lance war reporter for various Vietnamese newspapers from 1965 to 1975, under the pen-name of Nguyen Vu.
In the memory of over 58,000 American KIAs and over 2,000 MIAs, I would like to express my deep respect to John McCain and other POWs, whose heroic patriotism were indisputable.
Unfortunately, Trump--for whatever reasons--have continued to defame McCain, partly because of McCain's last will that Bush and Obama, instead of the suspected Russian agent Trump, to attend his funeral, and partly because of Trump's kowtowing before Putin at the 2017 Helsinki Infamy.
Let's hope that the US soldiers will strongly react to this fake commander-in-chief.
Rest in peace, McCain and all Vietnam war heroes.
The real America will finally triumph.
117
@Chinh Dao: Well said sir! As a Canadian teenager in the 1970`s; I was deeply against the Vietnam war. The divisions it caused were deep and long lasting. However; my disagreements were NEVER with the men being sent to that quagmire; it was with Johnson and Nixon who kept escalating that conflict until it drove thousands of young Americans to flee to my country as the only way to oppose the war on moral grounds. That said; the dirty truth of Vietnam; as is well known now; is rich kids found many ways to dodge the draft; while poor kids could not. Then you had a family like the McCain`s; who believed it was their sacred duty to go as patriots. Finally you had those like "Cadet Bonespurs" who simply refused to either stand against the war and leave the country or ever step foot in Vietnam until 50 years later surrounded by Secret Service bodyguards. For a total coward like that to be attacking John McCain; even after his death; shows what a depraved and sick mind is at work here. For the G.O.P. and anyone who served in Vietnam to stay silent at this latest garbage; all I can say is "SHAME ON YOU!"
10
My grandmother used to tell me that "Cash never equals class." The low-life in the White House is a prime example of her adage. Also, given Trump's fixation on others' (McCain, Obama) college performance, how about we get to see some transcripts? And maybe a reason why he transferred from Fordham after two years?
47
@Frank
My mother still says, "A man can make money but money does not make a man." We may be cousins!
4
I am proud of my Honorable Discharge. Never left the U.S.A. but did what I was told and what was right. We have a true mental deficient occupying the White House. His carrying on is indelibly staining forever our nations fabric. So sad,so very sad. Please have John McCain in your hearts,he is so deserving.
39
Just when you think that Trump has clearly proved himself to be the most petty, most ignorant and least qualified president in US history he raises the bar yet once again. I am a US Navy veteran and his disrespect for a great man and these vile attacks disgust me.
John McCain is an American war hero. A man of true honor who deserves the respect of every citizen. Trump is a draft dodging coward, a disgrace and an embarrassment. For some reason he seems determined to never let us forget that he should be dragged from the White House in disgrace. Only that might allow us to begin to heal the stain that he has placed upon this country.
67
@Jim Dickinson Well said.
6
Once Trump is gone and his funeral procession rolls by everyone in the crowd will get a dozen eggs and express their freedom of speech.
56
What a ridiculous headline. There can be no feud with a dead man. Feuding implies two people at odds with each other. John McCain is dead. He isn’t at odds with anybody any longer. May John McCain be allowed to RIP and Trump cease what is tantamount to dancing on a dead man’s grave.
24
Donald Trump, you are no John McCain!
24
Oh when oh when will this country of good people fully denounce this “fake president” - and relieve itself of this sub-human, self-interested, repulsive speaking being? While certainly a response, “non-applause” is not enough.
16
Truly despicable. It is remarkable how Trump continuously finds ways to demonstrate the depths of his depravity.
47
@Matt Carey Yet his approval among republicans and veterans is in the 80's. How does that possible?
4
It’s pretty telling that democrats are more upset about this than republicans are, even though most were probably not in favor of McCain’s politics.
Republicans are pretty much continuing to prove that it is all about their self interest, and that human decency is irrelevant to them.
5
Trump has no class. No amount of money, or fake money, can buy class. Attacking a dead Senator is highly egregious, no class man!
19
So, he wants to rebuff Conway's negative remarks about his mental stability by trash talking a man who died months ago???? He must find the 25th Amendment more palatable than other outcomes of the Mueller investigation
22
DJT: I love our vets. Nobody loves vets like I do. Well, unless you're John McCain. Or transgender. Or Democrat. Or Hispanic. Or...
24
I would like to point out once again:
Trump voters: You did this. You own this. This walking dumpster fire of a human being is yours.
118
@Thomas Sadly those voters see no fault in Trump or their actions.
12
@Thomas
And those too complacent to vote.
Do not waste what you forefathers fought for.
Vote straight Dem in 2020.
And work for proper accurate voter rights in states effected by GOP manipulations and double speak to curtail Dem voters voting rights.
17
Indeed. They are praising him for his “directness” and perpetuating the lie that McCain was pardoned by Nixon. It is baffling to me that while the Republican “base” regularly promotes fake conspiracy theories & lies about its adversaries (such as the Clintons- pizzagate, murder, etc. & now simply makes up a story to justify Trump’s awful treatment of McCain), Devin Nunes (with Trump’s blessing) has sued Twitter & it’s parody accounts as if the same liars & fools are the protectors of truth and decency.
11
Trump’s affliction has a name: MDS.
McCain Derangement Syndrome.
8
Mere distraction, despicable and the sign of a desperate mind. His condition is getting worse.
21
I think that “Feud” is the wrong word in your headline. A feud requires at least two parties in conflict. John McCain is dead. The feud is over. All we have now is Trump once again being an utterly classless, crude, puerile lout, regurgitating the seemingly endless contents of his hate-filled gut. I suggest that “hatred” is the more appropriate word to use in the headline, as in “Trump Keeps His Personal Hatred Of John McCain Alive.”
“Be Best,” Mr. Trump? Time for a talk with Melania?
441
@Scott Fordin this is spot on. It is hatred.
9
@Scott Fordin
Correct. Trump is spewing hatred for John McCain in the same manner he spewed/spews hatred for former President, Barack Obama;they represent
E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G Trump will never be:
Intelligent, honorable, witty...intelligent, honorable, witty...intelligent, honorable, witty...
17
My heart goes out to Senator McCain's beautiful family. It is incomprehensible that someone in the office of the president would be so insensitive, hurtful, bullying, and so lacking in compassion and empathy for others. Senator McCain was an American War Hero and watching his funeral was one of the most moving ceremonies I have ever witnessed. It gave me great pride as an American to watch and participate even if just through television. What strong and endearing tributes the senator was given by so many accomplished and amazing Americans. Love to the McCain family and good for you for speaking up in memory of your loved one.
16
I have worked with elders as a chaplain for 17 years. I have seen this sort of thing before. Some people get so stuck on what someone, maybe dead for years, did to them, that they cannot move on. It plays like an endless loop in their minds and they will tell anyone who will listen until nobody wants to anymore. I usually suggest gently that God wants us to forgive one another and that it is for the benefit of the person who feels offended so that they might enjoy what time they have left. Sometimes it works -- often not. What I would like to know is where are all the president's evangelical supporters? Why are they not speaking to this?
44
@Denise Bennett:
Denise, so well said. Donald Trump has no spiritual advisor such as yourself to help him with this unhealthy obsession.
2
This man would set up a dictatorship in a heartbeat if our institutions fail us. His followers will gladly go along. I fear he is setting the stage for cvil conflict when his day of reckoning does arrive. America was literally on top of the world, and we are throwing it all away.
17
Trump dishonors the military and America with his latest remarks. With few exceptions, reaction from Republicans has been dismissive, focusing on their admiration for John McCain instead of their outrage of Trump's comments. As reporters, the Times and other media need to push back and demand that Republicans address specifically this question: Do they share America's outrage at his remarks?
13
The veterans need to write to their congressional leaders and let them know that they don't like these remarks, and that they expect their representatives to comment about this abuse from a bully. And, let them know that you vote. This is not a time to be silent.
19
We’re missing the point on this one. Trump’s disgraceful attacks against McCain aren’t really about McCain. He’s rhetorically stomping on McCain’s lifeless body as an example to every Republican of what will happen to them – and their families - if he’s given anything less than full support; the more disgusting the attack, the more powerful the message. This is more about combating Mueller than McCain.
25
And don’t forget, McCain was Putin’s enemy.
5
Trump's need to intimidate and demean anyone who challenges him is deeply ingrained in his personality.
8
Trump could use a friend, and a licensed mental health professional. He talks like someone with deep issues.
12
Here's the difference between McCain and Trump - McCain was respected for his war service and for his public service, even by many of us who did not agree with him at all politically. He was part of a US where people on both sides could actually do that. Trump is the product of a corrupt business and political system that respects no one and gives little or nothing to respect, and that eats Trump up every minute of every day, that he is not respected and never will be the way McCain was. So he bad mouths a man who gave years of his life to the service of his country, much of it in captivity, and he keeps at that man long after his death. If my conservative friends who have always been supportive of veterans don't come out against this horrible behavior, then they deserve to get all the carp Trump will heap on them, because he surely will heap it. He always does.
14
John McCain will haunt him forever. This is indeed a new low for a man who has already sunk to unthinkable lows.
8
At dinner last night we all said that Trump is out of his mind
The discussion the focused on how to beat him in 2020
12
@jonathan berger
This.
Focus on voting him out in 2020.
Straight Dem 2020.
5
Lacking class, brainpower, maturity, courage, any understanding of how the world works outside of golf courses and overpriced hotels and condos, Donald Trump naturally attacks a dead man who possessed all the things Trump lacks. McCain can't fight back personally, which is perfect for Trump.
I wonder what those assembly line guys thought. I'm sure they're happy to have their jobs, but why the President of the United States decided to kick the dirt from the grave of John McCain had to have been a headscratching mystery.
2
I sincerely hope Trump is deranged and cannot help himself. To think that any person, let alone a president, would deliberately, intentionally, consciously persist in attacking a deceased person and his family is sickening and the height of depravity.
Those who condone or support Trump's behavior have much to answer for if they wish to be seen as decent human beings. If they don't wish that, they should be sentenced to going back and repeating kindergarten since they have obviously never learned anything about respect, fairness, dignity or grace. They never even learned of the golden rule, the basis of all morality.
6
I don't understand. 'Make America Great' has no meaning to the vast majority of real Americans. It has no resemblance to the Republican party in my youth that was the party of my conservative family. The constant twittering is not only tacky but unsafe bringing the office of President to an unprofessional low as we are fed daily rantings of a man doing improv in the White House. He is surrounded by the petty lives of people who clamor for significance but instead become tabloid news. Its all quite shabby.
5
This is one way of dominating yet another news cycle. Trump didn't throw John McCain's funeral. He wasn't even invited to speak.
As for healthcare.... John McCain had an epiphany about all people needing access to care. Trump will never get that -- nor will his party of enablers.
I knew Trump was pathetic, but this is beyond the pale to continue to criticize someone who is a hero and who is dead.
6
Trump's psychosis is on full display almost on a daily basis now, he is clearly getting mentally worse. The pressures coming from the investigations no doubt are having an impact, but I also wonder how much the Putin regime is also involved in what appears to be Trump's now daily break with reality.
Putin would love to see an American President crack up, and Putin and his henchmen are probably in Trump's ear regularly stoking Trump's delusions and paranoias. This latest McCain issue has shown that the Presidency is now very much in the hands of a full blown psychotic, and I, for one, expect the Russians to do everything to push the President over the edge of the cliff of reality.
7
The only thing to feel is disgust
And that emotion’s really a must
Because of Trump’s disdain
For a man named McCain
Whose honor was supremely robust
5
John McCain had more dignity in his left pinkie that Donald Trump has in his entire body. Trump makes a complete fool out of himself every single day and is an ongoing, national embarrassment of proportions never seen in our country before.
25
The Petty President ever lowering the standards of despicable behavior. What kind of people can support such a farce?
18
“His posthumous attacks have been cheered at the president’s Make America Great rallies.” One keeps hearing the phrase “...but his is not who we are” by liberals after your President’s latest outrage. Sorry, America, but this is precisely who too many of you are, personified by Donald J. Trump. The Ugly American is back - supremely arrogant in his ignorance, proud of his lack of curiosity or empathy, wallowing in angry self-pity and a menace to the rest of the world. He (and the preponderance seem to be male) has crawled out from under his rock to embrace his new leader, that mountain of stupid named Trump. Attending an American school in the Middle East, I saw these louts up close and found them frankly scary, full of xenophobia, completely uninterested in the rich culture in which they found themselves. I thought all Americans were like that until I attended an East Coast university. There I found that most of my fellow students were kind, empathetic and curious about the world. (In fact, I liked them so much, I married one.) I convinced myself that the Ugly American was at least comatose - until your last Presidential election. So there you have it, folks, two Americas, and the world awaits: which one will prevail?
18
I beg to differ. This is an obsession that we, as a public, cannot shake.
Yes, I agree that trump is unfit for office and disagree with many of his prerogatives and despise his treatment of McCain, but I believe this feud is a distraction from his proposed draconian cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and social security (which shouldn’t be touched at all!). It fits his pattern of “bad news” —> “distraction” that he has utilized from the very beginning. He has used this with great effect and to great benefit his whole life and amounts to little more than smoke and mirrors.
Every time he announces a potentially unpopular agenda or is forced to do something against his will, as in the veto proof bill to expand national preserves, he unleashes a Twitter attack to create outrage. It has the effect of keeping the spotlight on him, which we all know he loves, and distracting us from the real issues.
We have much to fix in this country and I do not believe he is the man for the job but let’s not be continually distracted by his attempts to hold the spotlight and instead continue to expose the dark noisome underbelly of his agenda.
15
You are absolutely right. His job is to be a distraction while the people who really are running our country get to work to put into place policies that certainly are not beneficial to any of us. The media is paying way too much attention to this awful man instead of linking his outbursts to what is going on behind the scenes and who is really running the show.
@Rebecca R
4
It is unfortunate that we appear to have a President who cannot control his internal demons from running roughshod over the country and its people.
At this point if his handlers are not careful they will be doing more and more overtime working to treat a patient in the White House of the free floating neuroses.
6
If Trump were my father, I'd have at the doctor's office, getting him the help he so obviously needs.
It's a shame none of Trump's wives, children, business associates or Republican members of Congress see fit to come to his aid.
Or the country's aid. So we suffer.
Trump is unfit for office in every way.
What will it take for Mitch McConnell to do his job?
Does McConnell even remember the Oath of Office he swore?
"I do solemnly swear that I, Mitch McConnell, will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God."
8
Remarkable that amidst all the other urgent priorities, the President presses home a personal prejudice to someone who sacrificed much for his Country.
Galling beyond measure was that the recipient of this President's bile is no longer there to press a rejoinder.
Such petty and inconsiderate behaviour challenges the wisdom behind the current incumbent's judgement when it comes to other real priorities of state.
220
If the U.S. survives Trump, i.e. the "tool" his handlers are wielding to impose an authoritarian/facsist state on the country, he will go down as the absolute worst president in history. That will be this man's legacy. The absolute worst ever. The disgusting legacy of Trump and his team will pale in comparison to what history has in store for them.
22
I noticed Lindsey Graham stood up for John McCain, his best friend in the Senate. Again. But Graham's a wannabe. He wanted to be brave like McCain was brave. He also wants to have power, or at least access to the reins (reigns?) of power, and thus Trump is in no danger of losing his number one Senate sycophant. Much the same is true of Mitch McConnell, no less a lick-spittle when it comes to Trump than is good ole Lindsey. And Georgia Senator Isakson criticized Trump, saying he would do the same if Trump repeats himself 7 months from now. Mitt Romney, too, voiced his objection. This is all we'll get from the Republicans in Washington, the equivalent of "thoughts and prayers" that Republicans pour forth each time there is a mass killing in America.
So President Trump has been warned. More scoldings await if he misbehaves again. Lesson learned.
Not a finger lifted in action, though. Not yesterday, not tomorrow, not seven months from now. Not on Nov. 3, 2020. Never.
21
President Trump is disgraceful! What politician with any sense of decency publicly attacks a war hero who is dead? What is wrong with America, that this becomes simply another news cycle story? Not so many years ago this event, in and of itself, would have disqualified a person for the presidency. Now it’s just another Tuesday.
15
I'll cheer him on. Veto override? I am hoping as the idiot keeps talking, the desire to bring not to his knees or just out of the White House grow.
Given how many times he has defaulted on loans, I see a nice bunch of real estate coming on the market.
I did not serve in the military, but served in Africa helping farmers in how to be more productive. I always had the deepest respect for people willing to risk their lives, even when I disagreed with our approach.
I wonder how many of his Core think this speech was what they are looking for in their hero
9
Not just the politicians who are not speaking up, What about the veterans. Where are they?!
50
Any Republican who cannot muster unequivocal criticism of Trump for the vile and sadistic things he says (we're looking at Republicans like you, Lindsey Graham, the so-called "friend" of John McCain) is just as unfit for office as Trump.
30
Trump is a loathsome little man and somewhere deep inside he knows how ugly he is. Hence he attacks someone whom he knows is the exact opposite of himself. It must irk him so much that McCain was and still is in death, highly respected even by those of us who disagreed with him fundamentally.
Trump is coming more unhinged by the day, lashing out with such toxic vitriol and hatred, projecting it on the American hero, on his employee's husband and anyone else he can find.
All i can think (and hope) is Mueller must have something really really big and bad and he's getting ready to spring it. And Trump knows it.
19
This outrageous behavior by Trump towards Senator McCain is more evidence that clearly demonstrates that we have a president who is mentally ill and needs to be removed from office.
107
Any comments Sarah Palin? Any thoughts? Ivanka, Jared, any advice on how to react to this? What do you say to your children, how do you protect them from adopting his disrespect and now disgraceful behavior, what does it take to face the reality that this person is severely unqualified for this position and doing such damage to especially our children. Evangelicals, have you any thoughts?
175
@Yolanda
p.s. the Republican party has a tremendous opportunity at this point to regain the support and respect of all Americans by finally denouncing this person and realizing it's time to face reality
10
Yes, Mr. President, McCain was not your "kind of guy". No, McCain was a hero, a brave and selfless public servant more interested in putting country and service before ego and popularity. In short, he was an honorable man. You, sir, are no John McCain. Not even close.
Crawl back under the covers and thank the stars that people like McCain are protecting your sorry being.
35
This is Trump intimidating Republican house and Senate members in advance of the votes to uphold his veto. McCain voted his conscience on the health care issue on crossed Trump. He is letting it be known that voting your conscience comes at a cost.
32
He antagonizes those who are, and were, what he could never dream becoming. He will never be a respected and honorable war hero and public servant such as John McCain, never. He dishonors the POTUS office everyday. Every day. McCain lived a life that allowed him to go in peace and on his own terms. The words of this little person will never change that. Shame on Trump!
20
Trump is proving Mr. Conway's case. Trump is one sick puppy! May John McCain rest in peace in a country he loved more than self and served with dignity. I can't believe a thinking military person would have any respect for Trump.
21
Isn't clear to all that Trump has a serious emotional problem.
He is mentally ill and is in need of treatment. But what he gets instead is support for his conduct. When it comes to time to write history about this Mitch and the gang will be considered traitors to our Constitution and what America stands for. Phrases like "you Mitched it" will stand for someone who crumbles or chocks.
When will Congress stand up and say enough is enough-invoke the 25th based on the Presidents failing mental state and take back our government from a lunatic.
29
@Den thanks for adding "you Mitched it" to my vocabulary!
3
Wonder why the audience didn't boo instead of remaining silent? Time to stop this silent acquiescence.
75
I agree with Trump. McCain was absolutely not his kind of guy. MacCain was a hero and he is a conman!
14
He uses a Public Taxpayer Funded Office
to display his ignorance of decorum.
16
I pity you, USA citizens, to be stuck with a president who evidently lacks the least form of decency. He is not the right man for the job, I hope that he will not be your next president once more. You should adopt the voting system 'one man one vote'.
12
@Elizabeth S
Agreed. But the system that also includes 'one woman one vote' might be more effective in this case.
4
@Elizabeth s. Women have the vote here too. I know we're backward, but not that much so...
2
@Amy Haible
By 'man' I meant 'person', of course women votes are included in my mind!
2
This is what malignant narcissistic personality disordered people do. They have a sick, perverse need to keep themselves at the center of attention. While Trump disparages a war hero and veteran, the people of Nebraska are swimming in flood waters.
22
Seriously, what is wrong with Trump? Every time we think he can’t go any lower....
More importantly, what is wrong with Lindsay Graham? Trump is his new BFF now that Senator McCain has died and he doesn’t have the gumption to stand up and tell Trump to stop and defend his friend McCain? These Republicans are a despicable lot, willing to throw anyone away for the sake of their own advancement.
35
“The American President carries on Feud with the Dead”.
“A Popular Minority of American Voters Support an American President who Feuds with the Dead”.
Which headline says more about the state of the U.S?
22
Every word that Trump says proves that George Conway is right. Every word is a confession.
19
45 continues to "fight" with Senator McCain.
He should give-it-up.
He has lost..
45 must be having bad dreams featuring McCain every night because he simply cannot stop talking about a man who has been dead for 7 months.
The more 45 blathers on the more people have to wonder about his state of mind.
Clearly, he is not now, nor never was, fit to lead this nation.
republican senators (that's you graham) with the exception of Isakson and Romney are silent; afraid of 45 calling them-out too.
Yet another sad day for America.
15
How did this little man become the leader of such a great country?
11
There is something very very wrong with picking a fight with a dead guy. Come on now, this is one of the most insane things he's done. How can anyone look at that tirade and still believe trump in control of himself? Where the heck is the Republican leadership?
34
What does it take? What other action will it take for this nation to realize that we have an unhinged narcissistic president leading our nation. Do we need to wait for a major catastrophe to happen that will take our republic to the brink?
15
It's worth pointing out Trump is a classic bully. He loves to pick fights with targets that can fight back. John McCain is the ultimate victim as he can no longer defend himself.
13
Senator McCain declined to be released and stayed with his fellow soldiers for more years of captivity and torture in the Hanoi POW camp than Trump has given in years of public service in his entire life. Senator McCain is not able to defend himself so it is up to his peers in Congress and the military to do so. It should not be left up to the Senator's daughter to fight off the President's attacks upon her family.
40
Enough is enough. Attorney Conway's commentary on Trump is somewhat misleading. Trump is not "nuts" as this would imply that his ever increasing rants are perhaps in part symptomatic of a treatable condition? Sorry, perhaps splitting hairs here but Trump's vile, despicable cowardly adolescent attacks on anyone and everyone that is a threat to his self-worth is a very much conscious, premeditated and predictable as he has a deeply flawed personality structure. He is incapable of change because he has no ability to feel, think or sense that he is anything but perfect and better than the rest of mankind. A deeply damaged and increasingly unhinged dangerous leader who is unable and unfit to be president
30
@Horseshoe Crab I disagree, I believe he could use an insanity plea, and make it stick.
1
Don the Con's Distraction War ...slam a War Hero to get our attention when an earlier news cycle was focusing on the Mueller Report and the potential crimes of his kids and son-in-law with Deutsche Bank..what a horrible excuse for a man and all symptomatic of his serious mental instability.
15
It's time you veterans who voted for "Old Bonespurs" rethink your vote in 2020. Yes, there is such a thing as decency and morals which trump has none.
From a 1967 Vietnam Era Draftee
40
@Ben Daniele Agreed....from this third the last draft vet...Oct 72...aka SSG Roberts..US Army.
6
Time and again (in a short time), the man once again proves his lack of decency. Another chapter of mankind, dishonoring the dead. It's not Alex Jones this time, but an American President.
When John McCain addressed the Senate after having voted thumbs-down the repeal of Obamacare, he gave the absolute right reason for doing so. None of this went to Senate Committee for hearings, from both sides of the aisle. He was right to point this out and the fact that Obamacare was rammed through the Senate on strict party-line vote, the same way the Obamacare repeal was being managed that night. He exemplified what Senate Leadership SHOULD BE, that night. I'm afraid we won't see much of that anymore and I do hope to one day be proven wrong.
Ben Sasse, you're a total let-down man. You are. How much longer do you guys keep this whatever it is (heads-down support?) going. All for the sake of your Seat? What do you call it when a dishonorable man repeatedly attempts to dishonor an Honorable Man? And only the Gentleman from Georgia speaks out.
I miss you John McCain, and I'll never forget you. Wish you could've been our Senator.
I doubt this has anything to do with
9
@TerryZ - I agree with everything you say, except that the ACA was 'rammed through on a party line vote'. Remember that that republicans boycotted the vote as their first act in denying anything Obama.
Was this a first step towards giving us the president we now own? Boggles the mind.
3
Trump's outrageous statements are an obsession the New York Times cannot shake. An interview you published recently with your White House photographer gets to the heart of the matter. When the President feels the news cycle is not going his way he knows from experience to make outrageous comments on unrelated matters. It is no mistake that on the eve of the Mueller report release the President has increased his distraction comments. Do journalists have the ability to sort this noise out from core stories or at least put it in context of the President's news cycle management?
2
What could be more pathetic than the spectacle of an immature man — of seventy! — railing against a dead man? One would think a draft-dodger who avoided service on the flimsiest of excuses would know better than to feud with a dead war hero. We should all be deeply disturbed by this feud, and alarmed that a man so hysterically obsessed should lead the nation.
8
Hard as I try, I cannot think of a single person who I have encountered in all my 56 years of living who displays such corruption of character, such unabashed contempt for humanity. How can it be that we singled out such a rare, loathsome creature to rule our country?
55
Who writes your headlines? It is only a feud if both parties participate. McCain even when alive did not stoop to this deplorable man's level.
12
The fact that this man is unfit for any public office is obvious, and it has been since he announced his presidential campaign. What bothers me is the fact that his level of support is so high among Republicans. What, and I mean what, is wrong with them?
104
@Charles E
What is wrong with them?
Quite simply: He helped channel obscene tax cuts for the wealthy, and industry deregulation. Which pleased the GOP and their billionaire overlords. Duh. They know what Trump is; they don’t care.
6
The madman across the water, does not let anything go. Now he is ok with releasing the Mueller Report Witch Hunt to the public. Could it be that he has already been briefed on the results ?
9
@Fausto Alarcón
You're absolutely right on that, given how totally corrupt washington politicians have become someone probably sold him the report!
1
The Mueller investigation is obviously no witch hunt, and his actions have already shone quite a bit of light on Donald Trump, his associates and “Organization”.
The key problem is the “report” itself will probably prove a disappointment - with all of the important data sealed as portions of ongoing federal, state and possibly other nations’ criminal investigations and civil litigation, or, from orders on high because the information would really affect international relations, or for whatever reasons the Attorney General can invent to block release of material that would destroy several family empires (not fortunes - The Trump Organization and its principals may all actually have net values in the red, especially if cut off from extensive foreign gifts, loans and other support), most importantly, the general habit of federal prosecutors of not releasing millions of pages of supporting documents, and the public’s lack of interest in something that can’t be explained in a maximum-3 minute opening segment of TV news, and its rejection of 5,000-page forensic accounts of trillions of pages of paper, let alone the raw files, which require quite a lot of specialized knowledge to appreciate as proof of horrendous crimes and amorality.
The simple conclusion demonstrated so far is the extremes Trump has gone to demanding all ask not what they can do for their country, but what their country can do for him.
Definition: Bully - a person who habitually seeks to harm or intimidate those whim they perceive as vulnerable.
Example the current occupant of the Oval Office.
22
Odd, since Trump owes McCain a tremendous debt. By choosing an unqualified, lazy, mean narcissist as his Vice President, McCain paved the way for others with similar "qualifications" to run for President.
86
@Unsurprised And Mr. Trump has paved the way for others with similar "qualifications" to be the president of USA. And you can bet on it, unfortunately, he will not be the last of this kind to be elected president of USA.
3
Republicans need to consider their President. This is a man who publicly excoriates the memory of an American hero; a man who actually fought bravely in the Viet Nam War, and who actually stood solidly for his ethical, moral positions while he was in office. John McCain's memory ought o be revered by every American, especially veterans. Allowing Mr. Trump to stand in front of any audience and, in any way, disrespect the accomplishments of John McCain without response from the Republican Party is an embarrassment. You need to be ashamed.
52
Truly unhinged. That’s what Trump is.
All women and men in uniform should deny him a salute. I know- they won’t. And I understand.
At the same time, Republicans should deny him their support. I know - they won’t. And that I will never understand.
Can’t they see the damage Trump does to the nation they claim to love?
27
@Wolfgang I think they can, but between the love for their nation and love for their jobs, they have chosen the last.
@Nelson
I guess that is what it is. What puzzles me, though, is that speaking out against this President puts you in danger to lose your job.
So it seems I have to re-phrase : "Do Trump supporters not see the damage Trump does to the nation they claim to love?" - America, you frighten me.
McCain was a great man and a true hero. Trump is a fraud and of low character. I think that, deep down, Trump knows this. Thus Trump's attacks on McCain.
26
It's a shame that Trump's comments are not illegal, yet his election was. What's even more of a shame is the passivity as well as the support of those who don't have the courage to stand up to this cowardly bully Their continuous complacency and complicity squarely places the blame on themselves.
16
New Zealand has Prime Minister Arden.... and meanwhile, we have a President that's picking a fight with a dead war hero.
85
Trump is not right in the head. He is riddled with revenge, and poisoned by envy. Now, in the perpetual grudge match that defines and degrades his 'presidency', Trump even attacks the dead.
Trump is not right in the head, and even GOP leadership is starting to admit the fact. No one as vain, insecure, and petulant as Trump can be emotionally stable.
Trump attacks a dead man, but demands praise for allowing his funeral. The words of the late conservative, and trained psychiatrist, Dr Charles Krauthammer, ring true today:
“I used to think Trump was an 11-year-old, an undeveloped schoolyard bully. I was off by about 10 years. His needs are more primitive, an infantile hunger for approval and praise, a craving that can never be satisfied.” – Dr Charles Krauthammer, August 5 2016
37
This president’s pique against a deceased Senator and war hero belies everything that his office and America stands for. His petulance and childish rants are pardoned by Republicans who continue to turn a deaf ear to his attacks on common decency.
This president uses his office to command attention and air his personal grievances publicly. How Americans could ponder reelecting such a wretched individual requires deep national soul searching. Do they really think that this man represents the best in all of us?
15
We should all be thankful that John McCain handed over the Steele Dossier to the FBI. If only a single incident outlined therein is provable (bet the ranch most of it is), then we have Putin's puppet in the White House.
The personal attacks-rants-on a deceased hero seem to be fueled by fear. Or mental illness. The behavior of a man who desperately needs some professional help.
More disturbing are most of the Republican members of Congress who knew Sen. McCain and have remained shamefully silent. Decency demands at least a modicum of outrage.
15
Sir, since you’re in such a magnanimous mood, could you let the taxpayers of this country see your last few tax filings?
22
When will Pelosi and Schumer let the tax payers see their tax filings?
2
@wbrooks I'm sure they would if they were running for or elected to be president. Trump is the first president since Nixon to not reveal his tax returns.
4
Senator Ron Portman’s (R-OH) web site says “Today, Senator Portman was proud to be with President Trump in Lima.” This is not a sentiment that comes to mind, given what was said in the presence of the Senator, in his home state, and in front of his constituents. “Disgusted,” “abhorred,” “embarrassed,” and a host of other words, but not “proud.” Of course, maybe these kinds of comments are well-aligned to some individuals’ senses of dignity, ethos, integrity, honor, or political expediency. But not mine. Yesterday was not a day on which one should have been “proud to be with President Trump.” So, in that respect, maybe it was like most days.
30
"His posthumous attacks have been cheered at the president’s Make America Great rallies."
How empty the lives, hearts and brains of both this President and his followers must be that this is what they consider funny or right.
The rabble listens to their master and reacts like this:
"Mr. McCain’s widow, Cindy McCain, for her part, shared on Twitter a hateful message she received after Mr. Trump’s most recent attacks, in which the sender wished that Ms. McCain’s daughter “chokes to death.”"
So Mike Mulvaney, the President doesn't incite violence?
87
There is new information being made available on a regular basis regarding John McCain. He was up to his eyeballs in the fake dossier that was paid for by Hillary Clinton and others to keep Mr. Trump from winning the presidency and to remove him from office if he succeeded in winning, This new informations paints a different picture of mr. McCain, and certainly should be explored.
2
@wbrooks--the dossier wasn't fake. It was prepared by a British spy whose area of expertise was Russia. He had many connections there.
The salacious info. contained in it, looking at the rest of Trump's infidel and genital- grabbing sex life, should have made him proud.
McCain's voting record was too conservative for me. But I would never question his valour as war hero.
For Trump to rail against a dead man is beyond bizarre, but then again, he's a living example of "bizarre". His fans love his every crass, racist and uneducated remark.
I don't believe he's fit for office because his character is deeply flawed. Most of his fans are like him.
It's his constant rejection of the Constitution and the law, taking emoluments, and inciting violence against anyone who disagrees with him, and people of color, that makes him a candidate for impeachment.
12
@wbrooks can you name some things in the dossier that have been proven unfounded? Your facts about who paid for the dossier are also incorrect. It was started by a republican candidate then later taken over by the DNC.
11
Time and again (in a short time), the man once again proves his lack of decency. Another chapter of mankind, dishonoring the dead. It's not Alex Jones this time, but an American President.
When John McCain addressed the Senate after having voted thumbs-down the repeal of Obamacare, he gave the absolute right reason for doing so. None of this went to Senate Committee for hearings, from both sides of the aisle. He was right to point this out and the fact that Obamacare was rammed through the Senate on strict party-line vote, the same way the Obamacare repeal was being managed that night. He exemplified what Senate Leadership SHOULD BE, that night. I'm afraid we won't see much of that anymore and I do hope to one day be proven wrong.
Ben Sasse, you're a total let-down man. You are. How much longer do you guys keep this whatever it is (heads-down support?) going. All for the sake of your Seat? What do you call it when a dishonorable man repeatedly attempts to dishonor an Honorable Man? And only the Gentleman from Georgia speaks out.
I miss you John McCain, and I'll never forget you. Wish you could've been our Senator.
18
I too miss John McCain, but not for the same reasons. McCain ran as a conservative Republican, but often voted as a liberal Democrat. It is understandable why liberal Democrats honored him, but it is also understandable why conservative Republicans detested him.
1
Trump’s obsession with John McCain only reinforces what Kellyanne Conway’s husband has been saying, that he definitely has a mental health issue, to worry about what a dead man has said about him shows that he is not in his right mind and to accuse him of doing wrong when McCain was given an incriminating file by not giving it to Trump shows that the president is not thinking straight because he’s not law enforcement and that’s the proper place to go with it.
This country is in it’s greatest danger right at this moment, with a mad man at the helm.
32
This man you referred to as a "mad man" has succeeded in producing a booming economy, a more powerful military, and is working on border security; something that Obama never came close to. I am glad President Trump, rather than Hillary, is at the helm.
1
@wbrooks compare the % increase of the economy under Trump versus under Obama. Compare the actual barriers and other measures put into place by Trump versus Obama. The numbers show Trump is way behind.
4
@wbrooks - So money and guns are more important than common decency?
All Donald Trump can do is attack the ghosts of his past. There is nothing new for him- only the ego-driven need to debase anyone and anything he can only and pitifully aspire to be. Just listen to his rants and you hear the weakness in his character and mind.
19
He's made holding a grudge into it's own singular pathology.
26
“I'm going to be so presidential that you people will be so bored.” - DJT during the campaign. Another sad day in my country.
And no mention of that profile in courage Lindsey Graham?
40
I gave him “the funeral he wanted, and I didn’t get a ‘thank you,’” said Trump. Such an alarming statement that says so much about his view of the presidency. He just doesn’t get it!
Donald, you didn’t give him anything! You work for us! We the people gave John McCain, a war hero, the funeral we thought befitting his service to our country.
231
@Longfellow Lives
I'm shocked the John McCain did not write President Trump aa thank you note from the grave
13
Sen. Romney used the following words to describe his friend John McCain: "heroic, courageous, patriotic, honorable, self-effacing, self-sacrificing, empathetic, and driven by duty to family, country and God," none of which, by any stretch of the imagination could ever apply to Trump.
In my 68-plus years, he is the most despicable man I have ever seen. As my grandmother always assured us, what goes around comes around.
I hope you're right, Granny!
143
Surely evidence, if any more is needed, that your president is becoming increasingly unhinged. He needs professional help before it's too late.
p.
28
This is a very concerning thought: The President of the United States is a damaged human being. Damaged mentally and emotionally. He cannot hold back the vitriol language for a prominent US Senator who served his country honorably for decades and died 7 months ago? That is amoral behavior. His thinking shows no clear sense of decency—none whatsoever.
70
This latest dispatch on our despicable president nearly overwhelms me. Trump’s continued fight with a deceased war hero can only be described as classless. There are no other words.
17
Apparently, there is no "bottom" with how low this man will go. Republicans tepid response to Trump's antics and attacks is pathetic. I did not agree with most of McCain's positions and his selection of Palin as a running mate was a disaster, but I truly respected his long service to this country.
45
Without any accomplishments for manufacturing, factory workers or farmers to tout in Ohio, and these failures the fallout from his tax cuts and trade wars, Trump needs to devolve into insult to achieve cheers from the crowd. In this case, his pathetic need for adulation fell flat. To taunt a deceased veteran and senator before a military crowd is disturbing in the extreme. This is your guy, GOP?
And McConnell retreats into his shell as usual.
40
There is a Jewish proverb, "A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones."
There is a Muslim proverb, "Love sees sharply, hatred sees even sharper, but Jealousy sees the sharpest for it is love and hate at the same time."
But, I'm comforted most of all by William Penn's observation that, "The jealous are troublesome to others, but a torment to themselves."
Congress should censure the President for rhetorically urinating on the grave of an American patriot and war hero.
Alas, however, because of the cowering members of what used to be a major political party, it won't.
Still, perhaps watching on full display the external manifestations of the internal torment of a man who by ever measure falls short of our respect, and knows it, is enough.
62
@Didier
Thank you.
I have copied those prayers and Penn's words for future use.
4
@Didier
Thank you, Didier, for these wise and comforting words. Every time I see and hear the President behave in this manner I cringe and I am saddened for our country. At the same time, without any doubt, I know that he is living with a torment of his own making that he cannot or is unable to soften or cease. Yes, perhaps our observations and knowledge of the bigger picture of this ugly chapter of history, is enough. In this moment.
3
We all know that President Trump's words are appalling in the extreme. They serve to reinforce the power of language, and the importance of context in communication. After all, it's the President of the United States saying these things, so by default, they carry weight.
But, stripped of their Presidential context, such language demonstrates a soul who truly suffers. Donald Trump is a man who fairly embodies Buddhism's "Second Noble Truth" (if I understand it correctly) - that suffering is caused by craving and ignorance. Mr. Trump's craving can never be sated - for more money, power, adulation, respect, deference, and on and on and on. It is bottomless.
As anyone who has grown up in abusive household knows, abuse isn't always (or only) physical; it is often verbal too. In a way, the McCain family, like all of us, are victims of Mr. Trump's continued verbal abuse. But like all abuse, it comes from a place of deep anxiety, weakness, and suffering. That in NO way excuses the horrific words and deeds that President Trump (or any other abuser) serves up. But it does remind me that for all his money and power, I would never want to be Mr. Trump for a second. He is a sick, tortured man, who imposes his blackness on all of us.
29
There ought to be special medals struck up -- perhaps with oak leaf clusters and red, white and blue ribbons -- for men like George Conley.
Men married to women like his wife who are bright, quick-witted and not-unattractive, but capable of turning on their husbands in a minute and devouring them whole for no apparent reason, like sea lampreys and river monsters would.
I’d call it the Kellyanne Award for conspicuous bravery displayed during very trying times for the country.
12
Trump is lurching toward incoherence, a symptom of mental decline. After Sunday's Twitter storm, his rambling speech with totally disconnected thought fragments, and his "enemies everywhere" even dead, we should acknowledge that he is unfit for office. It is not safe to leave him in office.
89
@poslug
I have issue with the 'remove him from office' idea for many reasons. But I am also being to fear that he is becoming unfit for the office. If you had a granddad acting like him, you would be making an appointment with a doctor ASAP
16
Just another milestone in the record of Trump's imbecility. His attempts to impose his absurd viewpoints would be even more infuriating than they are were they not evidence of psychological impairment.
19
Why do we continue to give Trump his soapbox? Do we imagine that outrage will push American's to vote Democrat? At a minimum, we are wasting our time letting his set the frame and drive the discussions, when we should really be discussing the important issues, not the tirades of a narcissistic fragile-weakling authoritarian. He loves the spotlight and the chaos he creates. Can't we decide to do something better, create the message, set the frame, and lead Americans away from him?
13
@James Igoe
This is right on point. Let’s take the “fake news” focus away from his rants. He LOVES it when his words are broadcast in huge letters across our tv screens. What is the most insulting (and hopefully effective) thing we can do? Ignore him.....stop giving him so much air time.
Currently, I believe we are playing right into his hand. Please stop giving us more proof of the lack of integrity we currently have in the White House.
9
The silence of the GOP speaks volumes of their lack of backbone and integrity as the leader of their Party denigrates an admirable man whom is dead.
29
Whether you are a supporter of this presidency, or searching for a more fit, capable and stable occupant in The White House, it is time to go forth.
While decent Americans feel the need to condemn this latest 'feud' taking place in the mind of our commander-in-chief, some of us accept the fact that he is in the grip of mental distress, and one course of action now may be to ignore him and this reprehensible behavior, and keep moving forth.
It appears to be another ugly diversion to keep us distracted, and joining others in extending our deep apologies to the Family of the Honorable Senator McCain.
We can do better in the times we are living, and John McCain is an American hero and an inspiration not only to our Military forces, but to the average citizen, who remembers what he has done for his country and extraordinary courage.
They do not make men like him anymore.
12
Humans have been burying our dead since shortly after the dawn of our species. It is widely considered a reverential act toward the deceased, as well as a coping tactic for the remaining living. Until recently, humans were thought to be the only species that engaged in such practices of honoring our dead, and that funerary practices might be one behavior that sets us apart from the rest of the animal kingdom. But we're not alone. Non-human species that exhibit grieving/mourning/honorific behavior toward their dead, even non-familial members:
Elephants
Dolphins
Whales
Porpoises
Chimpanzees
Giraffes
Turtles
Bison
Birds
Baboons
Gorillas
Macaques
Lemurs
Geladas
Pigs
and the list is growing
45 and his supporters show less understanding of ethics, civility, group cohesion, grief, respect, mourning, and honor than turtles. Turtles! Chew on that for breakfast...
93
I am a Navy Vietnam veteran [Fire Control Tech. 3rd Class/destroyer sailor] ('65-'69) who suffers from service-connected severe hearing loss and a former federal prosecuting attorney (1995-2010).
I was a constituent of John McCain's during his entire career as an elected public servant. I got to know him mainly through attending many of the town hall meetings he conducted. And while we may have disagreed on many issues, I nonetheless admired him for naval service, his love of country and his heroism.
On the other hand, we have Donald Trump, a truly despicable and loathsome individual of the highest order. Indeed, as are all of his supporters including all elected Republican officials who refuse to condemn Trump by name for his remarks.
Here in Arizona we have our own version of such a loathsome individual: Martha McSally, the disgraceful individual who was appointed to fill Senator McCain's Senate seat.
Moroever, and as someone who never misses an opportunity to brag about her stint as an Air Force fighter pilot, McSally's tepid remarks "praising" John Mcain,while refusing to call out Trump by name, are disgraceful in and of themselves.
Finally, McSally's cowardice in the face of Trump reminds me of Llloyd Bentsen's comment to Dan Qualyle in the 1988 vice-presidential debate, " You are no Jack Kennedy." So wih all due apologies to the late Senator Bentsen,I simply state, You Senator McSally, are no John McCain."
325
Trump's attacks on McCain are beyond any kind of social or ethical pale. He is non compos mentis. Period. Anyone, anyone, observing this has got to recognize that.
In continuing to acquiesce in his insanity, the Republicans are beyond derelict and fully and responsible for the consequences of his actions. He needs to be removed from office, now. This is essentially the most powerful man in the world.
Good god almighty, what has the United States wrought here? And how is it even possible that any even marginally thinking, moral person can continue to support him?
315
Donald Trump has a vile and classless mouth.
John McCain was tortured in Vietnam for years while serving the military for his country. He then served his country til his last dying day in various honorary roles.
Donald Trump, on the other hand, went to Vietnam most recently, never as a soldier. When Trump was on Vietnamese soil it was to praise a leader of North Korea, someone who has terrorized. Yet someone with the likes of Kim Jong-un was applauded by Donald Trump.
My husband is a veteran, a Vietnam veteran. I wonder what Trump would say about him. Would he insult him because as a young man he served his country in the military, in Vietnam?Would he make fun of him because he went on to become a teacher, going through college under the GI bill? Would he laugh at my husband as he goes for medical treatment in a Veteran’s hospital? Would he think my husband’s pictures of him and his young friends in Vietnam were humorous, something that they should be ashamed of instead of being proud?
Calling Donald Trump deplorable is the mildest name he could be given.
To the McCains - John McCain not only served his country, he served what most of us want, a country of honor, justice, respect.
He served all of us. We are sorry you have had to endure what Donald Trump has doled out to you. As he insults Mr. McCain, he insults us all. You have my most sincere condolences.
160
@MIMA Honorary implies free service. McCain's time in the Congress was amply and well compensated. Just think of the great health care he had.
At some point we all have to ask ourselves...
"Is there nothing too shameless for this president to say or do?" What is the point of attacking Senator John McCain who honorably served this country in the military and in the U.S. Congress and who died more than 7-months ago?
How many scandals, examples of the bending of the law, incidents of demonstrated lack of character will it take before GOP enablers say he has gone too far?
How many 'questionable' political hires or honesty-challenged trump friends and acquaintances will it take before everyone says "What a parade of Crooks are coming and going in and out of this administration?"
How much disrespect for the office of the president are we willing to allow?
When is enough...Enough?
207
It is the bully who takes shots at those who aren't able to fight back and feels strong.
119
Whilst everyone who thinks reasonably or has an ounce of moral fibre would never disparage the dead, it’s no problem at all for this so-called leader of American Greatness. How numb we have become at the relentless insanity of Trump’s spittle and constant wining over imaginary wrongs to the point that they are no longer imaginary, the wrongs that are is so surely making its way into the light of day is that this Presidency is a serious, terrible mistake.
As facts eventually have power over lies, there’s enough evidence about how unstable people react when confronted with the truth: it goes from bad to worse. Facts also eventually showcase our understanding of what a situation is. Trumps thinking and actions are very disturbed, abnormal and contrary to known American values worldwide.
Trump is even creating new unstable behaviour at the same time he displays older unstable behaviour, a greasy panic that puts even more light onto what is now clearly true; Donald J. Trump is completely unworthy of the office he holds and the responsibilities it demands, it’s getting worse by the day, and that he is possibly the most dangerous situation Americans have faced outside of a military invasion of US soil and/or nuclear war.
Or something lighter like the destruction of advanced cooperative efforts to make the world a worse place than you found it, to shrink and degrade positive human values, to build worse economies and share wealth with only the privileged few, to fail miserably.
13
We have come to expect this behaviour from Trump and anybody shocked is living in a bubble. Trump is a living lesson that wealth does not equate class or dignity for Trump has neither. We should really shock and worry us is that living Republicans are hiding in the shadows while Trump denigrates one of their own. Where are the veteran groups in this? If Senator Graham who claims he was BFF's with McCain can look himself in the mirror I would be shocked. For all of these fake macho men to let McCain's wife and daughter have to defend McCain while they cower in the presence of Draft Dodging Trump is embarrassing. In retrospect, it takes class to know class.
63
@Steven McCain. All these Senators, including McCain’s supposed BFF Lindsay Graham, are looking at Trump through the lens of their election campaign money men and at the calendar of their own re-election. Even the ones who aren’t up for re-election are tepid critics, afraid of having him provide them with one of his delightful belittling nicknames.
Meanwhile, I’d like to know how Trump voters square this with their own support of McCain in the past. Do they think that Trump isn’t insulting them along with McCain? If so, apparently they keep their brains and self-respect where they sit.
11
Ironic that a man who will not release his own college grades is constantly criticizing someone else who graduated low in his class and went on to have an exemplary career.
141
Let’s grow up together, guys, to acknowledge that this deplorable episode is just an aspect of Mr. Trump’s 2020 campaign, appealing to his base: Realty show fans who love to be entertained by thrills and suspense. Remember that his near future court proceeding regarding his national emergency declaration to build the Wall (let’s forget he promised Mexican government would pay for it) is another episode of thrills and suspense. While this is not respectable Republicans’ liking, Republican politicians will be trying to keep Mr. Trump’s base within their vote counts, ending up supporting this reality show.
Sigh.
12
The silence of Republicans about Trump's attacks on McCain are shameful but not unexpected, we all know they lack a spine.
What I find jarring is the silence is the of the members of the military and the veterans. I found his speech hard to watch, I wondered how were they cheering the man telling the same old "crooked Hillary" jokes from 2016 after repeatedly insulting a deceased war hero and a POW. Is there nobody except the opposition party and the late night TV hosts who will stand up to Trump?
53
@RS. This is the how and the why of authoritarian government. No one would kid themselves. We are seeing it in action right now.
My guess is the the Mueller report will NOT show any direct link to the Russian interference with our elections. However, the evidence of Trump’s guilt is right in front of the public in plain sight: his call for the Russians to “find” the emails, the many convictions of those who actually were in contact with the Russians and who worked with and for him, his lying about not knowing about the meeting with Russian affiliates in July 2016, his firing of Comey, his attempted arm twisting of AG Sessions, his flouting of the Emoluments Clause (not directly related to the Russia investigation), his not so veiled threats towards other DOJ executives, his two hour meeting with Putin without the use of an American translator or any other American (probably taking lessons in how to subdue a democracy).
The open manner in which he is contemptuous of individuals and of democracy tells you what he is and what he is doing. But the willful ignorance of those who are filled with resentment towards the government for their own particular reasons fits nicely with the selfishness of the corporate elite. Trump is incapable of constructive governing and so are Republicans. The damage they are doing now will prevent our children and grand children from having a decent life because we are not dealing with real problems but with Trump’s mental illness.
6
Trump and Pence are both unstable and should not be in the offices they are in.
What does Pence say about this, nothing.
16
Trump is quite obviously jealous. because he had five deferments to Vietnam, some obviously fake for the "bone spurs."
I did not like Mr. McCain during his race against Obama.
However, I came to admire him greatly upon reading his memoir of being captured in Vietnam and surviving his five+ years in prison, with torture, and refusing early release to stand by his men.
This man is truly a great American hero. I will stand by him always.
Trump will never do anything to compare to this kind of heroism.
=
11
It’s impossible to know where to begin here. Could it be that the president is inwardly raging at the adulation that John McCain received for 50 years as a prisoner of war; a Congressman; a Senator; and a twice-presidential candidate that he cannot yield the stage to a man who is now seven months deceased?
Surely it cannot have been the Senator’s back-breaking vote to keep alive the Affordable Care Act. The one-vote margin of defeat for the president certainly galled Donald Trump’s vanity as he sought to destroy a healthcare law that he hated because it reminded him of a man who was his superior in every way. But one senses a deeper reason for his continued gnawing at the memory of John McCain.
The president, 50 years ago, refused service to his country, citing an infirmity that prevented him from normal mobility. But as he has contrasted John McCain’s heroism and sacrifice, Donald Trump must surely be ashamed of his cowardice in the face of certain danger, an obstacle that John McCain surmounted without a second’s regret.
Perhaps this secret, scarlet letter, now made public after his run for office, remains the final hurdle for many who might otherwise embrace him more fully for having worn the colors. His “service” as “commander-in-chief” rings as hollow as the stones in an empty barrel.
When he looks in the mirror, he surely sees the great imposter.
20
@Red Sox, ‘04, ‘07, ‘13, ‘18 -- what's so troubling is how Republican Senators are so willing to throw one of their own under the bus to curry favor to this president and his base. When their erstwhile colleague Jeff Sessions was being publicly humiliated by the president, they remained silent. With his recent attacks on the late John McCain, Republicans again imply approval with their silence. They're not outraged or offended by anything this president says or does.
5
Every day elected republicans enable this corrupt president is another mark against them. History will not be kind. Ask them everyday how they justify their support. The president and his mean policies that seek to divide and punish and anger are destroying us all from within.
21
I have a suggestion for all media. Take a stand today to only report the truth period. How refreshing it would be to have trump out of the news immediately.
13
George Conway hit the nail on the head- Trump is mentally ill. And he seems to be suffering from not only a narcissistic personality disorder but also a pretty bad case of an inferiority complex. What's more- he behaves like a 14 year old girl who just discovered social media. He hurls insults at people from behind a key board and lacks the courage to say any of it to someone's face. He would never say any of this directly to Megan or Cindy McCain. Classic bully behavior on display for the entire world to see.
I grew up in a home filled with Shakespearean quotes from my father and this one comes to mind:
"Me thinks thou dost protest too much."
16
With this latest attack on John McCain, Donald Trump has proven again that he is a psychologically and emotionally unstable human being, who needs to be removed from the Presidency in the most expedient way possible without further dividing the country.
The Republican Party, as it is now constructed, is dominated by his mental health illness, lack of integrity and a profound lack of courage.
I hope that a significant number of those who voted for Trump realize the depth of their error. We all make mistakes!
28
He's acted this way in public his entire life. He did it during the campaign, degrading and making fun of a variety of people. He got elected. There is a good chance he will be elected again. There are a lot of people out there who relate to this behavior, such as the response his wife Cindy received about her daughter choking. He just has to keep his base to stand a chance at getting re elected and his state TV, Fox News are in line 100%. By saying these type of things in a hostile environment that he has created, not unlike reality TV methods, his supporters become ironically, more rabid in his defense as they perceive "the media" treating him unfairly. This is all very deliberate. The silence of the GOP is another sign of the sickness that this man has brought out in this country.
15
Trump is shallow and mean. His reactions are impulsive responses to the moment. There was a story about the dossier and McCain was connected so he tweeted about McCain over the weekend.
Then Megan McCain defended her father and insulted Trump. He couldn't let it stand and I think his ranting and disparaging of McCain is directed at Megan and Cindy McCain for calling him out on his weekend tweet.
Megan McCain said on morning TV that Trump would not be remembered as a great man. Trump who watches hours of morning TV saw this and had to react only proving Megan McCain's point.
He is a weak, petty person who demeans the office daily.
18
Which Republicans are going to challenge him for the 2020 election. Seems like some should be getting tired of this insanity?
10
When it mattered, the "liberal" media attacked McCain 24-7. We should wonder: Whence does their sudden and totally unconvincing admiration for the late Senator spring?
4
@boroka Attacking ones policies has nothing to do with it. With over 1000 media sources most are Conservative.
8
@boroka
I echo William’s sentiment. Challenging someone’s policy positions is not the same as attacking the actual person, especially after that person is deceased.
We need to stand up for basic human decency. This president spits in the face of decency on a daily basis.
6
For the past two-plus years, every day this president has demonstrated his passion for lies, hate, derision, ad hominem attacks, and disrespect for the country, the U.S. Constitution, law enforcement and the judicial system. What he has done to hurt all Americans-except his morally-questionable base-through executive orders is astounding. Yet, the majority of his party stands by and turns a blind eye to this depraved behavior. We as Americans cannot view this as "normal" and do have to speak up. In the book, "The Case Against Trump, published in the beginning of his presidency, has papers by many top psychiatrists and other mental heath professionals that felt a "duty to warn" the public about Trump's mental health issues. So, it comes as no surprise that they continue to surface and bring the country to a new low here in the U. S. and abroad. This is not normal. It is not acceptable. And, as a citizen that loves this country and all it stands for, I cannot be silent. Kudo's to Meghan McCain for calling out a bully, liar, and the most dis-ordered person, sadly, holding the highest office in the land. My hope is that more Americans will not be blinded by Trump's malignant personality. It is not enough to ignore all of his behavior with the rationalization that he has placed to conservatives on the court, or cut taxes. Be careful what you wish for. It's a reality show that should end. Hopefully, in 2020 the country can return to our "better angels" and return to civility.
20
There are core Trump distortions at play here.
1) Trump's deals require others to lose.
He is near the end of corrupting the old GOP. They must renounce all previous principles--not just free trade, law and order, the environment and so forth--but military veterans, honor, and patriotism.
Like a cult leader demanding members to give up their families and what they value, only the cult and its leader matter. Forcing Republicans to give up old loyalties, friendships, and personal ties leaves only Trump, and it cuts off their Lincoln past.
2) Trump needs personal enemies. He cannot deal with abstractions. To him Sen. McCain represents not just an entire cohort of honored veterans and heroes that forever excludes Trump, the senator embodies the Constitution and ideals of service and sacrifice.
Trump can hug stage flags; he cannot ever salute one in union with patriots who have fought and died for their country and earned their nation's respect.
Sen. McCain's funeral bothered Trump. He can attack ghosts. He cannot exorcise one. From the beginning of Trump's political grab, Sen. McCain's presence and universal respect for his integrity had to be destroyed.
Trump like his tax records and financial dealings and hush money can only survive in the dark.
Senator McCain lived in light. Thank you for your service, Senator.
20
This grievance of his about McCain’s funeral seems significant to me,
It makes me think that he is already concerned about his own funeral, how big it will be, which world leaders will attend and whether it should feature a riderless horse with boots reversed in the saddle.
It reminds me of the comedian Red Skelton’s famous remark at the funeral of the widely reviled Hollywood bigwig Harry Cohn who -- upon noticing the very large size of the crowd -- said, "It proves what Harry always said: “Give the public what they want and they'll come out for it.”
24
Dear Mr. President,
Please stop your petty angst and do your job!
7
Oh God no, do not do your job, whatever he thinks that may be.
4
It would be difficult to invent a more loathesome character than Trump. He disgusts me on a daily basis. He is rotten to the core.
200
@Kurt. He also seems to have difficulty talking in coherent sentences.
15
Grear minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people. ... Eleanor Roosevelt.
39
A new low even for Trump. Why can't he just leave it alone? He's gone off the deep end this time.
9
Does Trump really view it as "winning" to try to pick a fight with a man who is no longer on this earthly plain? Even in a shadow boxing match with someone seven-months deceased, Trump proves that he'll never get the upper hand. McCain's reputation and service as an honorable defender of our country speak for themselves. Trump isn't worthy of letting the name of a veteran and war hero cross his lips.
8
Anything to distract from what else is going on against him and his family, although to denigrate John McCain is unforgivable, as is McCain's former friends in the Senate to remain silent.The Conway tit for tat, to me, is staged, just another distraction, Trump takes everyone for rubes, including the press. As far as the Mueller report goes, he's already been briefed on that by Whitaker, hence his statement to let it be made public.
4
Bone spurs and all, he can find the words to condemn a Vietnam combat veteran, POW, and while I often disagreed with him; basically a good man.
Somehow he cannot find any words to condemn white-supremacists; while he finds the words to inflame them.
Meanwhile, McConnell and friends, have been sitting on the fence so long you can't tell where the fence posts end and they begin.
A man who has always been described as a close friend, Senator Lindsay Graham, has done next to nothing to defend the legacy and good name of Senator McCain.
I can only hope to never have a 'good' friend like Senator Graham. What can he be so afraid of? Something extraordinary that keeps him from speaking in his 'good friend' John McCain's defense?
22
Arguing with a dead veteran. Actually it a a perfect use of Trump's time and energy since it is an exercise in futility. Anything to keep him away from real issues.
12
John McCain was not universally liked, but even most of his adversaries respected him for his courage, heroism, integrity, and basic civility. Which is also why some who needlessly make comparisons may be jealous. I am not sure McCain would approve, but I think of Lloyd Bentson's line as modified for the occasion, "Mr. President, you are no John McCain." Indeed not, for he was one of a kind.
9
His McCain comments merely affirm what Mr. Conway states, the president has some sort of personality issues that propel him to engage in a bizarre controversy with the deceased. More disturbing are the cheers that the president gets from some audiences for his diatribes against McCain. I only wish I were here a hundred years from now to read what the history books say about this period in USA history!
9
Trump is proof positive that a man lacking of character and principles cannot, and will never, rise to greatness.
17
I cannot believe this petty, divisive and self pitying behaviour so inappropriate for this highest office.
Growing up in Australia, the office of
President of the United States seemed to be one of reverence, leadership and guidance, that was presented in popular culture on TV, as a person that kids were meant to look up to, you could rely on, a standard bearer, regardless of who was in office. The current POTUS has absolutely shattered any illusion of high regard for the office, by his lack of civility and capacity on every score, to show decency or guide a nation. Even allowing for entrenched political differences, a President should rise above the tit for tat of social media and TV news, and spend some time doing actual work while reflecting the status of his position. What is appropriately presidential behaviour even mean now?
22
At some point we’ll suddenly be discussing the acknowledged mental illness of Donald Trump.
There will be repetitions of the questions, “How did we mistake this for a merely obnoxious personality?” and “Why did we let it slide so long?” There will also be debates about the proper definition of the “we” who ought to have recognized the true nature of the problem and acted to arrest it.
Some of those close to the patient will say they suspected as much long ago but didn’t want to plunge the nation into a constitutional crisis. Some will say it happened so gradually, or else so suddenly, how were they to know? Some will say they mentioned it — to somebody or other — more than once, which was all they could do.
The eventual consensus will be that everybody in and out of government really knew. After all, how else to explain such bizarre behavior?
78
I would have gotten up and walked away, if I was in the audience.
182
@Jean louis LONNE
A lot of Americans don't appreciate Senator McCain's role in promoting that highly controversial dossier. That was purely vindictive politics and for that he should be called out.
As usual Trump's critics lack even an ounce of objectivity.
@AACNY
Fine. Call him out when he’s alive. It is a coward and a bully who attacks one who literally has no way to defend himself.
This behavior is unquestionably vile, petty, and spits in the face of basic human decency. Even a five year old child could understand why it is wrong. Why can’t a grown man? And why can’t you?
32
@AACNY
"As usual Trump's critics lack even an ounce of objectivity."
As usual, Trump's supporters lack even an ounce of decency.
27
Someone should put John McCain's name into the ring of 2020 presidential candidates. McCain's nameplate on the desk in the Oval Office for four years would be more cogent, more productive, and far less damaging than the current occupant.
69
How about Meghan McCain? Run against him in the 2020 Republican primaries. She could remind "Default Donald" how he's nothing like John McCain.
3
@Awed Job - No thank you. I just read an interview with Meghan McCain. She's a loving daughter but she's clueless and out of touch when it comes to the way 99% of the country lives. We don't need another silver spooner in the White House.
I wonder what it says about the audience - one-third servicemen/women - that they lacked the decency and honour to stand up and walk out.
242
@AN, it is beyond my comprehension why any veteran would have voted for coward trump. Five deferments. Now leads from behind. We better require an intelligence test for recruits. The coward in office holds rank over 4 star generals and fleet admirals, OMG!!!!
42
@AN
The military are taught discipline and honor. They would not consider insulting the President, as awful a man as he is.
13
@AN I suspect they were told to sit down and shut up or face disciplinary action before the speech. The trump PR team was there ahead of time making sure the 'faithful' appear their best for the cameras.
21
The demoralizing truth is that average Trump voters are likely to accept anything, no matter how vile, as long as Trump keeps channeling their hatreds and resentments. The late Sen. McCain -- who, it cannot be said often enough, proved himself a hero in Vietnam while Trump was dodging the draft on a nonexistent 'heel injury' -- is collateral damage in what is now Trump's decades-long war on unity and decency.
116
It's great that our Commander in Chief spends his time protecting us from the real threats to peace and democracy in these challenging times.
7
As an American citizen I am appalled at the ongoing behavior of the person we expect to embody the ideals and principles of our great nation. As a war veteran I am horrified at the vitriol towards a man who sacrificed so much for that nation. As a physician I am terrified of what this behavior says about the mental state of the leader of our nation.
209
@armydoc Maybe the United States of America isn't as great a nation as people assume.
2
‘…drew no cheers.’ That’s not surprising. Veterans stand together. I’m a vet, served in Vietnam about the same time as Sen McCain. I didn’t agree with most of McCain’s political positions, but I have the utmost respect for his service to his country. Veterans get this; Trump doesn’t. But, then again, there is a lot Trump doesn’t get.
343
@Mandrillus sphinx
You are correct. However, silence is not enough. The veterans in the audience owed their comrade in arms affirmative support. It is silence that allows this travesty to continue.
56
@Mandrillus sphinx And thank you for your service.
18
@JCS
The BBC News had more close-up footage of the clearly embarrassed audience than other networks.
For the life of me and in the name of any scrimp of decency I cannot fathom that there could be no one, no one in that crowd who could not exclaim 'Good God!, Shame, shame, shame". Really.
Yet, there it is, and still he has blind support.
27
As an American citizen I am appalled at the ongoing behavior of the person we expect to embody the ideals and principles of this great nation. As a war veteran I am horrified at the vitriol towards a man who sacrificed so much for that nation. As a physician I am terrified of what this behavior says about the mental state of the man who leads our nation.
551
@Gary Brickner It is allowed to happen because of his high level of support from Republican voters. Now that is the real problem.
81
@Charles E
I disagree. It's not the voters (of any sort) right now. The politicians only need them at election time. It's the SENATE.
9
@Gary Brickner -
"Toys in the attic, he is crazy.
Truly gone fishing.
They must have taken his marbles away…"
Paraphrasing Pink Floyd
Ironically, the song ends w/ "Tear down The Wall!"
16
If McCain were to have died the day he was shot down, an examination of his life would have revealed a not very admirable person with a not very admirable Navy record. However, his leadership while in captivity is what made him the admirable man he was.
It is said about Louis Mayer, the Hollywood magnate, was highly disliked by those he ruled over. Many turned out at his funeral. It was quipped that they showed up to make sure he really was dead.
In my life, I have known a few people I didn't like much. After they died, I just celebrated that I outlived them. Hating a dead person doesn't get you much mileage.
17
His dislike for the late Senator McCain resides in knowing he, Trump, can never get the great respect of the nation. And McCain stood up to him like no other Republican Senator, even today, just a a handful speak out about Trump's disparaging remarks.
Senator McCain bested him at every turn, and Trump knows it. The Senator from Arizona is still gnawing away at this President, and I hope he continues to.
Senator McCain stands tall.
378
“Hatred always contaminates the vessel that carries it” Alan Simpson. Wiser words have never been spoken.
304
I find his opinions despicable. No one cares what Trump thinks of McCain. People with scruples and high ethical values do not try to besmirch the good name of a war hero who has passed away. Time for someone in the White House to grow up.
133
@Nancee Brown, so why are there hundreds at each of his rallies. Americans should be ashamed of themselves.
17
I noticed that these comments are monitored for civility. It’s a shame we are not able to do the same for Trump’s remarks. What a horrible man.
623
Even though John McCain is dead, he's still a better Person than Trump is Alive.
578