In Feb 2008, Clinton, Obama and John McCain all made appearances in Cincinnati over a 5 day period. The Obama and Clinton events were upbeat, packed with cheering people of all varieties.
McCain appeared at a much smaller venue, and, largely due to the abominable behavior by local Cincinnati and southwest Ohio politicians, the event was a mild version of what we now see writ large at Trump rallies. The local dimwits onstage, including a Hamilton County prosecutor, displayed behavior that can only be described as disgusting. I felt like I was at a Klan rally.
However, Mr. McCain, when he finally appeared, was dignified and articulate, although I remember little of what he said. The warm up clowns had stolen the show.
Afterward, I stood outside with my friend, hoping to get a close up picture for my dad, who idolized him. We waited and waited, but eventually had to leave. I found out later, when the shocking display of hateful behavior by the locals was the lead story on ALL of the national news broadcasts, the reason McCain never emerged was because he held an impromptu press conference almost immediately after he leaving the stage, firmly disassociating himself from the pack of idiots what warmed up the crowd for him.
I give him a great deal of credit for doing that, it was the right and decent thing to do, and it was done quickly and forcefully. I pray his spirit inspires Republicans today grow a spine and do the same, although I am not hopeful.
227
@Margaret. Let’s hope that his best friend in the Senate, Sen. Lindsey Graham does some soul searching. He has been very uneven in his responses to Trump’s excesses.
1
However, Libs and the MSM all did their best to destroy McCain in 2008.
I will never forgive him for injecting Sarah Palin into the body politic. It’s why he needed to shut down the woman who thought Obama was an Arab.
12
You called him a “maverick “ as if it were an honor.
President Trump is truly a maverick, but the “objective “ NYT would never accord him that respect.
2
@SmileyBurnette
There is no comparison between Mr Trump and Mr McCain.
3
John McCain - flawed, human, brave, someone you can point to when trying to explain to your children what it is to be a servant of God and the public. A life worth celebrating.
Trump - flawed, human, a coward, someone you can point to when trying to explain to your children what a failed human life looks like. A life worth - zero.
23
@mhood8 very well put.
Lest we forget, this is the "hero" who nominated Sarah Palin to be his running mate, placing a dangerous, ignoramus in line for the presidency should he die in office.
This is also the "hero" who promised that Republicans would unite to block anyone Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton (should she be elected) would nominate to the Supreme Court.
Do we have amnesia all of a sudden?
6
A couple who emigrated from Vietnam own a manicure-pedicure shop in my town. They work 7 days a week, from 9 am till 7 pm; know all their regular customers by name; and are assisted in the shop by their teenage daughter during the summer. Today, the TV was tuned to coverage of John McCain's passing. Another customer asked the owners what they thought about Senator McCain. The answer came without hesitation: "He was a good man. He did a lot for the Vietnamese people. And he allowed us to come here." This is a such a large part of McCain's legacy: peace, reconciliation, and open doors for those who want to come to America to build decent lives and contribute to a strong future for this nation. Myself the daughter of a World War II Gold Star family, I give thanks for the life and service of this great man.
33
Any death is a loss to a person’s family and friends; beyond that McCain’s death is a loss to conservatives who favor the rich over everyone else (he was one) and, at most, a matter of indifference to those who hope for a world in which people care for one another.
7
"Although Mr. McCain was sharply critical of Mr. Trump, especially when he thought the new president had threatened to overstep domestic or national interests, he remained broadly supportive of the administration’s agenda."
Please keep this in mind. While Mr. McCain and Mr. Trump did butt heads, they also had unfortunate similarities such as their penchant for war mongering.
I also recall Mr. McCain in 2000 doing an eerily Trumpian tactic when he openly used the word "gook" to refer to his captors, and when others criticized him for normalizing a racial slur that could affect more people than just his intended target, Mr. McCain gaslighted Asian Americans for supposedly being too sensitive.
9
@Sarah Johnson
That was the word used by the prisoners at the Hanoi Hilton. I think McCain has earned the right to use it.
This is not the time for political correctness.
A great America patriot, soldier and gentleman has fallen.
Thank you for your decency, John McCain.
558
McCain supported most of the reactionary Republican policies and let’s not forget his “bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb bomb Iran” sung to the tune of the Beach Boys Barbra Ann.
You would think that someone who witnessed the horrors of war would restrain his militarism. And we would hope that someone who took part in the bombing of civilians might have an epiphany on the horrors of war.
He showed a bit more decorum and integrity than the right wing nut Republicans - that’s no reason to lionize him.
6
@Ed Watters
Ed, as a lifelong Democrat, I agree with many of your sentiments.
McCain made a very serious error when he selected Sarah WHO? as his running mate in 2008.
He blew it when he was part of the Keating Five in the 1990s.
But compared to TODAY'S CULT OF TRUMP Republicans, who are invertebrates, he was an upstanding man with a spine and a sense of proportion and decency.
We are poorer for his loss.
He showed us what he thought of Donald Trump - thumbs DOWN.
Hopefully, when it comes time to elect his successor, the people of Arizona will elect a Democrat.
1
A man who voluntarily fights for an unjust war and bombs children is not a "war hero."
If I were Vietnamese, I'd have shot him down, too.
2
As a retired member of the Naval Service I wish to express my condolences to his family, yet factually there were far braver and grander men than McCain who a far more deserving of the honors that are being bestowed upon him.
In the end God judges us all...
5
@Jay Forest seems to be more possessed by resentment than admiration and respect for the totality of a person's life. My sympathies not only to the McCain family, but to your sir for being filled with anger at a time when love and respect is due.
4
@Jay Forest
And judges you, as well....
@Jay Forest What? "yet factually there were far braver and grander men than McCain" you say. Hmmm. Were you dishonorably discharged? Because clearly you're not one of the people who were far braver and grander. Otherwise you'd be humble and honorable.
"War Hero"? Read Truthdig today "Investigating John MaCain Tragedy at Sea"
7
Yes, an article written in 2008 in the heat of a presidential race prompted questions regarding McCain’s - and others - accounts of the horrible accident on the deck of the Forrestal. Like every piece written about such a tragic event, it is a mixture of surmise and speculation which most likely will never be fully and accurately observed. It is also impossible to understand fully the fear and panic induced by such an accident, and, while I believe the article has merit, we will have to leave it to the unfortunate, heroic crew to reconcile what occurred in their hearts and minds and leave the second guessing aside.
The NYT obit also makes clear Mr. McCain’s being nobody’s version of the perfect military officer, but a human being who on balance comes far closer to being a hero to his country than his detractors are willing to admit. The term hero is lobbed around far too easily these days, and when someone charges through life like Mr. McCain did, again on balance, he likely deserves the acclaim.
1
"In 1958, he graduated 894th in his class, fifth from the bottom."
This tells you why McCain didn't support the repeal of Obamacare in 2017. He was a fool and flipped sides like the wind. He may have been a war hero but to me, he was just another Trump-hating Republican loser with no vision and with nothing to offer but a bit of dialogue.
4
Or maybe he put his country above party and voted in accordance with what he thought was good for the people he represented.
6
@Labete
Would you like to enlighten us with anymore negative facts about John McCain?
I did not vote for him but deeply respected him. Your comment illustrates the type of negative, divisiveness that encompasses the current political climate rampant with this administration.
This man who served his country doesn’t deserve this today.
6
Ditto!
Thank you Mr. McCain for your heroic sacrifice on behalf of our nation in Vietnam. Thank you for conducting yourself with integrity in your 2008 campaign and correcting malicious rumors about your opponent. Thank you for preserving health care for tens of millions of Americans. You saved many lives. And thank you for standing up against the current would-be tyrant of a president.
There are very few with your combination of class, dignity, and courage. We will forever appreciate your service.
1625
@Casey Penk- Agreed Casey, McCain had one fatal flaw, ie never met a war he did not like including Vietnam and Iraq 2 which caused so much death and destruction to so many for no reason.
However, compared to Trump, he looks like another Lincoln.
RIP, Senator McCain.
1
@Casey Penk
I kindly ask you to explain how it is possible to praise someone who contributed to killing many civilians in Vietnam as well as devastating their land with chemicals.
With Thatcher, Sharon, Reagan, and McCain all underground, just looking forward to the Bush’s joining them!
8
@Justin
Shame on you.
Everlasting shame.
1
Often, I disagreed with Senator McCain’s perspectives and did not share his vision for our country. However, what I never doubted was his allegiance to, and love of America, and its citizens.
Though I feel in politics he was deeply flawed, he was a decent person of character, in a business where there is a paucity of both traits. When I think of Mr. McCain, solider and Senator, I am left with the following:
American. Patriot. Hero. Human.
Goodbye, sir. I will miss you. Godspeed.
9
To have another John McCain would require the horrific world of wars lived and fought by his and his fathers services to this country. Who he was and how we remember him is to recall this man for his call to duty, service to country and respect for values he believed. We would not have freedom were it not for men like Senator John McCain. Celebrate the man. Honour his courage. It was his sacrifice that earned our right to speak freely. Respect his passing. We owe him that. He earned it.
6
My condolences to the family.
As a personal aside. As a Democrat, I'd have voted McCain in 2004. In 2008 he, by necessity had gone biblical.
Regardless of politics. Thank you for serving. And I don't just mean militarily. voices that respect the institution of Congress are far and few between.
3
A small thing, among the events, positive and negative, in John McCain's consequential life. But maybe not so small...
A few years ago, I had the privilege of sitting in on a series of public online courses in American poetry. The professor occasionally brought in well-known figures to share the poems they were most passionate about.
One day, Sen. McCain did the honors.
I imagine that in 2018, relatively few prominent politicians would be able to, or wish to, spend an hour sharing their favorite verse. A few could; Obama for instance. But it is hard to imagine our current leadership doing so.
I can't help but feel that matters, somehow. Even if only as one small symptom of how we are now being led, and how we might aspire again to be led.
It's not about aesthetics; Trump's problem isn't an overfondness for gold-plating. Perhaps it's about the connection great leaders ought to have with something deeper about the experience of being human.
10
How ironic that in death Sen. John McCain could be a uniter. The hateful comments from the Left in response to Alexandria Orcasio-Cortez's appropriate remarks about Mr. McCain on Twitter match the hatefulness of remarks about Mr. McCain to be found on the ultra-Right Breitbart. They are equally disgusting and indecent. When a great woman or man dies, however flawed she or he may be, let's at least for a moment put aside our quarrels and honor the life.
2
“ We weaken our greatness when we confuse our patriotism with tribal rivalries that have sown resentment and hatred and violence in all the corners of the globe.” These are resounding truths uttered by Senator McCain. The last words of an honorable man when most of what exists from so-called leaders are disgrace and dishonor.
5
I sat next to John McCain on an airplane when I was 14 years old. It was my first time flying alone and my grandmother’s funeral had been earlier that day. He had just lost the GOP presidential nomination to George W. Bush. Throughout the flight, several people stopped by to tell him that he had run a strong campaign and that they hoped he would run again. He was incredibly gracious to each visitor - and could not have been kinder to me. I think he could tell that I was off-kilter and, though he could have ignored me completely, asked more than once if I was doing okay.
This story has absolutely nothing to do with John McCain’s dedication to the United States, his military service or his political career - all of which are deserving of our admiration and respect. But sometimes you just need to sit next to someone nice on an airplane.
Thank you, Senator.
14
The White House flag’s brief visit to half-mast might be an apt metaphor for Donald Trump’s impotent attempts to delegitimize democracy, in comparison to McCain’s lasting legacy.
Yes, that star-spangled banner yet waves over the land of the free - if not the home of the brave.
1
The media, save one network, appears to be giving lots of coverage to Senator McCain. This morning, I switched to see what Fox News was up to. My son commented something to the effect that Because of Trump, they would pretty much ignore McCain. Sadly, he appears to be correct.
How petty can one get?
7
McCain’s final words for the country.
“We weaken our greatness when we confuse our patriotism with tribal rivalries that have sown resentment and hatred and violence in all the corners of the globe,” McCain wrote in the letter. “We weaken it when we hide behind walls, rather than tear them down, when we doubt the power of our ideals, rather than trust them to be the great force for change they have always been.”
He added: “If only we remember that and give each other the benefit of the presumption that we all love our country, we will get through these challenging times. We will come through them stronger than before. We always do.”
2
Even courageous warriors must face peace someday. Rest In Peace, brave John McCain.
3
John McCain was the polar opposite of a Republican. This man was a courageous patriot and a man of honor who could be trusted to put country first. He was unique in the the party of Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell. How could a man of the caliber of John McCain have tolerated the stench of corruption from people like these two.?
2
Dear Senator John McCain, thank you for your sacrifice and service to our country. Thank you for showing us your honesty, courage, decency and integrity. Many politicians are praising who you are and only a few follow your foot steps.
4
"He voted against the Affordable Care Act, Mr. Obama’s signature health care plan, which became law in 2010"
So why did he go thumbs-down and scuttle the healthcare bill? Petty vengeance embellished with theatrics unbecoming a senator. His over-the-top animus to the president was truly reprehensible.
That said, I have always admired McCain for the courage he displayed while a POW and his apparent devotion to keeping our country strong. He had the opportunity to win in 2008. Our country would have been far better off. But he blew it by nominating Sarah Palin rather than someone with far more knowledge and experience. One can blame Steve Schmidt for that decision but the ultimate decision was his.
2
It is little wonder McCain's adversaries, Obama and Bush, and Trump's enemies, the media, Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, et al, lauded him. He was a good loser, just what they wanted; MacCain didn't go away mad like Hillary Clinton, he just went away. Obama didn't even have the manners to be a gracious winner to this decent man. When he held a meeting at the White House in 2009 seeking ideas --- as long as they didn't have any --- from the Republicans about the Affordable Care Act, he cut off McCain's suggestions with an impossibly rude, "John, John! WE won the election!"
McCain was an indifferent campaigner with the personality of a damp rag, the Republicans' Adlai Stevenson. Regretful of choosing the electric Sarah Palin as his his VP --- she far outdrew him with her crowds and flummoxed Joe Biden in their debate--- he bizarrely rued not choosing instead Joe Lieberman, whose personality was even more bland than McCain's. Palin's persona dragged the listless McCain campaign across the finish line, preventing a total rout by Obama. It is little wonder after dullards like the Bushes, McCain, Romney and Ryan, a firebrand like Trump captured the electorate's imagination in 2016, he as ruthless as the Clintons and Obamas.
John McCain was a good American. But more will come out soon about his own ties to shady Russians, I'm afraid. Let us celebrate his good qualities, but as with the Kennedys and Clintons, be suspicious of the canonization of our politicians.
The magnanimity and forgiveness of many of the Vietnamese people, at
least years after the fact, blows my mind. There was recently a story about current citizens of Hanoi laying flowers at the memorial for John McCain after he died. And the Times' photo of the Vietnamese guys rescuing Mr McCain from drowning in the lake in Central Hanoi, even though he had just bombed their city, was very moving. I wonder what happened to these guys? Does anyone else wonder with me?
2
Will we hear from Lindsey Graham, a good friend of
McCain, or is he going golfing with trump? I have not seen any word from him or Liberman. Why?
1
August 27, 2017
Myself served in Vietnam with Army ( 1967) and was thankful for everything that I learned about John McCain and my prayers to Rest In Peace for the family and the nation. As well this political authority and personal values are great lessons to embrace and encourage for all times.
jja Manhattan, N.Y.
4
I would have admired John Sidney McCain even more if he had used his unique power of persuasion by joining up with
Cassius Marcellus Clay instead of joining up with the United States Navy.He later "joined up"with Sarah Louise Palin which was another unnecessary mistake at the time.
Our country remains infatuated with military heroes more than we are with heroes for peace (Muhammad Ali, who suffered for peace. for example). Many good people will say THIS is not a good time to talk about all this. Others will say it's ALWAYS the time to remind our citizens to be against all unnecessary wars including our involvement in Korea,Vietnam,Iraq, Afghanistan,Syria.If the world had avoided those unnecessary wars,millions of human beings would have had the opportunity to live out their lives in peace.
After a while, wars become a habit.General Dwight David Eisenhower tried to warn us of that but only a few of us listened.
4
Senator John McCain, an American hero and statesman who did much to earn the respect and recognition he so deserves at this time. Too bad Donald Trump is so jealous of McCain and his name accomplishments. He loathed him so much because he could never be the same kind of man. Now, as John McCain lost his battle to brain cancer after much suffering, our president does not have even a modicum of decency to make an eloquent statement of the senator's many sacrifices and contributions he made as a hard-working military man and senator. Not everyone agreed with his policies but the fact that Donald Trump can't find it within himself to reach out in an appropriate way to the McCain family speaks volumes about his character or lack thereof. Donald Trump will never be the man McCain was and that frustrates him. He still wants to be the center of attention even when a great man's life is over and he has the opportunity to recognize that in kind and thoughtful words. He's a worldwide embarrassment.
2
With apologies for distracting from a tribute to an admirable, if flawed leader, it is very telling how deep Fox News is in supporting the current administration. The Times, a balanced and perceived left-leaning institution, has 4+ pieces on McCain and his legacy and what it means for the party, while Fox has only a small link to a small montage video from the day of his passing. The current Republican powers that be and their propaganda machine cannot tolerate remembering, let alone celebrating, an independent voice from their own side of the political spectrum. We have truly become a country divided, not necessarily along party lines, but between those willing to acknowledge the truth and govern on the basis of facts and a dedication to furthering the greater good, versus the morally bankrupt and their duped legions. McCain clearly represents the death of politicians on the right who have principles and govern according to them.
7
Are members of the armed forces and their families watching how this is unfolding?
Donald Trump's pinning medals on true military heroes is a travesty. He weaseled out of military service and has never devoted any part of his life to serving anything but himself.
John McCain, a man who served his country for 60 years, including capture and five years of torture after his air force plane was shot down, and who devoted decades of his political life advocating for causes he thought (rightly or wrongly) were the right ones, has been ridiculed and insulted by our current president.
Leaders from all over the world are recognizing and offering condolences to our country for the loss of an American statesman.
Donald Trump's refusal to recognize John McCain's service to his country underscores the hypocrisy of everything he does. As President of the United States, this behavior is more than an embarrassment, it is shameful.
7
In the early 80’s, John McCain was a monthly visitor to KOY radio in Phoenix to be interviewed live and to answer caller’s questions. He always spoke the same whether the microphone was on or off. After his appearance, he would not leave the studio until he answered every caller who was still on hold, a process that often took more than an hour. I saw him one late afternoon driving his own (older model) car down Central Avenue in downtown, with his face locked in complete concentration, leaning forward in the seat — like he was mentally propelling his car forward. I didn’t always agree with his politics, but I will always admire his conviction and drive to do what he thought best.
20
"U.S. Capitol Flag Is Lowered to Honor John McCain. At the White House, It’s Back Up."
Mr. Trump is the smallest president we have ever had. But Senator McCain was a decent and honest man. Despite his terminal cancer, he stood up and spoke out. He told us in no uncertain terms that Trump and his cult are endangering the nation and its aspirations.
4
Bush and Obama, recent electoral victors over McCain. asked by McCain himself to eulogize him at his impending memorial while at the same time the current occupant of the White House sulks, WH flag at full mast and spitefully ignoring a statesman of consequence, is testament to the sorry nature of the imbecilic brat the Electoral College appointed in 2016. No dignity, no honor, no grace there whatsoever. We are yet again shamed by him worldwide. Even the Vietnamese publicly honor McCain in Hanoi.
5
What little hope I had that the President would, thru public embarrassment, learn to behave more Presidential has altogether evaporated.
Trump's lack of respect towards acknowledging John McCain is juvenile and disgusting- and I did not agree with many of the late Senator's positions.
Better to see now what this nation cannot afford to vote into the oval office again.
3
A venerated POW caught after bombing civilian targets is not a hero. The adulation given to McCain is for his service to the ruling class both as a soldier and politician. Citizens should question why this obedient servant to wealth and imperial violence is being promoted as a hero by the same mass media that propagandized for the invasion of Iraq.
4
One veteran John McCain is worth over a million bone spur presidents.
I respected John McCain for being civil, for working across the aside, for his values, and his integrity. I did not respect John McCain when he compromised himself to support the Republican Party line. I believe Sarah Palin was pushed upon Mr. McCain as his running mate not because she shared his values and intelligence, but because she was a woman when the Republicans thought that a woman, ANY woman, regardless of how unqualified or ignorant, would be a draw to expand the popularity of the Republican party. This was an insult not only to mr. McCain, but women in general.
Republicans lost a great deal with John McCain's passing, mostly their integrity, honesty and compassion.
PS: President bone spur showed just how little a man (a cockalorum) he himself is by ordering the White House flag to fly at full mast a day after Mr. McCain's death. How petty. How pathetic. HOW SAD.
3
Every time I see some clip of Donald Trump trying to justify his own draft deferments, or chastising John McCain for the fact that he was captured in the line of duty, it makes me want to vomit.
I am opposed to most of the political views that John McCain held, as far as I am aware, but I can’t think of a single reason why that should change the way that I might respect someone who dedicated so much of themselves to the only country that I have ever called home.
Courage is the ability to admit one’s humanity, among other things. John McCain had it in spades.
4
--- On noticing the large crowd present at the funeral of Hollywood bigwig Harry Cohn, the comedian Red Skelton was widely reported to have said "It proves what Harry always said: “Give the public what they want and they'll come out for it. "
Assuming Skelton was right, President Trump is already assured of having the largest turnout for a funeral in recorded world history when his time comes; one numbering in the high millions, with long lines of people waiting to get in and check his pulse.
--- Looking ahead to when my own time comes, I am planning to invite Trump to my funeral and have him thrown out when he gets there.
4
Respectfully I was not a fan of Mr. McCain.
He was an unreformed ultra-warhawk.
The phrase 'to a hammer, everything is a nail' could have been coined for John McCain.
He wanted nothing more than 'More War'.
I recall him going so far as to say 'there's gonna be a lot of PTSD' as if it was an honorable national wound.
His persona was forever sealed for me when he mockingly sang "bomb, bomb, bomb (Iran)" to the tune of the Beach Boys 'Barbara Ann'.
The idea that John McCain should be now lauded as the long lost 'reasonable' republican, only serves to further illustrate how depraved the republican party is, was & remains.
They've gone from worse, to worser, to worst (not necessarily in that order).
John McCain was & will remain, on the disastrously wrong side of history.
6
John McCain risked his life to fly missions over Hanoi, only to be shot down, beaten, tortured and held captive for 5+ years, then continued to serve his country honorably and ably in the senate.
Remember, that's who John McCain was.
Donald Trump avoided the draft through lies, and was enough of a sleazy low-life to say he 'likes heroes who don't get captured."
Never, never, forget. That's who Donald Trump is.
3
The American Flag is flying at half staff to honor The late Senator, and Viet Nam War hero John McCain.
However, one clearly notices that the American Flag has returned to full mast over the WhiteHouse, ordered by Don Trump.
Old Bone Spur Don Trump just can’t stand that a A Vietnam war hero is being being honored with flags flying at half mast.
Note to Trump:You dishonored Senator McCain early on by saying he was no war hero because he was captured and became a Vietnam War Prisioner of War.
Well, returning flags to full staff over the White House by your order shows you are a coward. By the way, where will you cr during Senator McCain’s funeral .
Will you be checking on more bone spurs or is it brain spurs this time?
1
Fair thee well sir… A GOOD Republican
1
Thank you.
Another story that bears the headline, "As a Nation Mourns McCain, Trump Is Conspicuously Absent" doesn't currently have a comments section, so here goes: Trump's disregard for the basic common courtesies of mourning show what a vile, cruel despicable life form he is. I say "life form" because his behavior in the wake of Sen. McCain's death is that of a reptile, not a human. I've never been as disgusted with Trump until now, and that's saying a lot.
24
I’ve been disgusted with him all along and now this. Anyone who respects those who have served no less a prisoner of war, should be angry. Trump has shown the world how Un-American he is, at his core.
2
Two lions of the Senate in cahoots with divine providence...
...Senator John McCain dies nine years to the day after Senator Ted Kennedy, of the very same illness.
History recalls a very similar event when Jefferson and Adams died on the same day, the 4th of July 1826, the 50th reunion of the Declaration of Independence.
Perhaps it is the true Spirit of our great, albeit imperfect, nation giving us a sign about what is of true value. Lord knows we need it.
5
I thought of the very same thing. Funny, how life works, isn't it? RIP Senator McCain. Thank you for your service and, more importantly, for being such a gentleman while doing it. You will be missed.
Unfortunately John forgot about his honor when he aided and abetted in the larceny of President Obama's Supreme Court appointment. A dastardly deed.
13
If Mr.McCain has no family history of glioblastoma, what could be the other possible causes?. If glioblastoma is the fastest growing brain tumor, is it impossible to diagnose in its formative stage?
Normally the rate of survival for tumour stage 3&4 is five year but Mr.McCain died of glioblastoma within two years
discovery?. Did the period of PoW in Vietnam and solitary confinement were the source of glioblastoma in Mr.McCain?.
May be the history of the popular senator has something to be unraveled about glioblastoma for the Oncologists on the planet.
1
I understand the possibilities you reference. I had a good friend of mine who died of a glioblastoma in 2012. From diagnosis to death, he lived 14 months. He was never in the Armed Forces and also had no family history of Cancer. Like many current-day afflictions, I believe what we breathe, eat, & produce are the more likely culprits. With pollution at all cost and capitalism run rampant, what do we expect? Looks like the Piper is still collecting, and lessons STILL aren't being learned.
With all do respect, McCain played the part of a classic Senator, more a character than someone who left behind a legacy or list of significant legislature that bettered our country.
3
I too have mixed feelings about Mr. McCain, but on the balance I deeply respect him for his service, endurance, discipline and statesmanship. And for at least a few minutes, today's digital NYT front page (above the fold) is gloriously free of any mention of the embarrassment occupying the oval office except for mentioning his recent and very tasteless snub of Mr McCain. Well done, NYT.
9
I agree with you wholeheartedly. He always was a gentleman. For me, a saving grace.
I am a little surprised that I have not seen any mention of John McCain's mother, Roberta. John McCain may have been 81 but, God bless, his mother is still alive at age 106.
Of course, I am sad for her because she is burying a child, yet we have to celebrate her long life and being a daughter-in-law and wife of Navy admirals and the mother an internationally known and respected Senator and presidential hopeful. She underwent great stresses in these roles in her very long life.
Senator McCain was blessed in a way; how many of us can live a long full life like he has, yet never have been an orphan?
God bless them all. True classy people.
11
It was announced today that President Trump will not be attending the ceremony for the unknown soldier next year "I like soldiers who don't get killed," Mr. Trump tweeted.
8
I opposed the war where you first came to prominence. I disagreed with your political positions on many things: when you ran for President and were in favor of 'bomb, bomb bomb, bomb Iran" I thought you'd lost your mind, but when you gave the thumbs down to Trump's attempt at banishing "Obamacare" I applauded you; when you called out the President, I admired you, and now, now that you've stood for the Rule of Law and consensus politics I salute you as a Great American.
8
Thanks so much for this story of John McCain and his life. I read every word, learned a lot I did not know, and came through the article feeling very happy to have known the figure John McCain. Excellent article. I appreciate having read and learned from it. He was, of course, flawed. We all are.
4
Mr McCain maintained the dignity of independent assessment of US policy.
He was a guest of the Hanoi Hilton located in the Western Pacific.
To often NYT readers forget that considered views are lost in invective best described as ill informed online graffiti.
The right to vote may be old fashioned and too many Americans don't.
Almost half of Americans did not vote in 2016.
I fail to understand that as a foreigner Americans find it unreasonable to vote.
McCain did not have the opportunity to tick boxes for his choices for breakfast during his stay at the Hanoi Hilton.
Americans can tick boxes to vote.
His Australian mates will welcome him with a bbq and cold beer.
The place where youthful vigour lives.
He is in a place of good mates forever.
The Ode of Remembrance is worth a read and edited:
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.
They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England's foam.
They went with songs to the battle, they were young.
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.
The steaks are almost ready and the beer chilled vale Mr McCain.
Michael
Australia
8
@Private citizen
Thank you for that comment. Made me cry and I too can't figure out why my fellow citizens don't vote. Makes me ill.
4
Like all of us, Senator McCain was flawed , and most of the time, I disagreed with his political positions. However, unlike our current president, McCain learned from experience and developed into a responsible leader who cared deeply for his country and its people, regardless of party. The fact that he rose above petty politics, voted his conscience, and urged his fellow senators to work together for the good of the country demonstrates how he grew as a person, and also shows what true courage is all about. May he rest easy, and may his family and friends find comfort in his legacy.
1
I would love to know the reason why there has not been any announcement for the American Flag to be flown at half staff in honor of Senator McCain’s passing?
TELLING!
5
This man was a war hero and a true patriot. I would take him over 99% of the rest of the GOP-ers in Congress. But - yes, there is a "but". He has consistently voted with the GOP for almost all of its destructive agenda. And he has supported all of the horrible GOP supreme justice nominates. And although he did give trump's "health" care bill a thumbs-down, he has voted with the GOP for ALL of their ridiculous Obamacare repeal bills. And he ran a terrible, vitriolic campaign against Obama in 2008 with LOTS of "trump-like" untruths being thrown around by him. So although I mourn McCain for having been a true patriot and one of the last sane republicans left, I do NOT want to raise him to sainthood like so many others are doing right now.
4
I recommend Times readers spend a few minutes scrolling through McCain's voting record in the Senate. Mr. McCain opposed practically every piece of legislation supporting education, health, or anything else relating to the well being and quality of life for Americans. On the other hand, Mr. McCain supported all legislation promoting guns, war, militancy and bellicosity. And for the economically minded, he was solidly behind the Republican fiscal policy of borrow and squander. Pity that journalist are too scared of their readers to call it the way it is
14
John McCain: one of only a few Republicans that I have respected and admired. I wish there were more like him. I fear they don't make them like that any more. Rest peacefully.
1
nice obit but mcfadden usually does better than "push back" ??????
"Mr. McCain was one of the few powerful Republican voices in Congress to push back against Mr. Trump’s often harsh, provocative statements"
"react" "resist" almost anything but low-level, Orwellian 1984 non-think-speak "push back"
If journalism is the first draft of history, let's make sure obituaries are correct and share the full life of the person. McCain was a super hawk, make no mistake about it, insulted peace activists and promoted war against Iran.
5
McCain voted with the president more often than he didn't, and he elevated Sarah Palin to the national stage. He voted for Trump's tax cut for the wealthy, but he voted to save the ACA. He was a war hero, while Trump was a coward who resisted military service with bought-and-paid-for spurious medical conditions. Most of McCain's adult life was spent in service to his country, while Trump is an opportunist who, even as president, shows little interest in service to anyone but himself. Trump has shown his pettiness and childishness by making only the most cursory comment about McCain's death, but it was reported that McCain had said he didn't want Trump at his funeral. These two men had a complicated and fraught relationship. Both are stubborn. But, McCain's integrity has always been evident, his love for his country undeniable, his intellect in evidence. McCain had his faults, but Trump pales in comparison to the Senator. No wonder Trump is so jealous of the spotlight now on McCain. He knows he will never measure up. He will never be shown the same respect that is now being given to McCain, by both Republicans and Democrats.
4
Senator John McCain did what a lot of other Americans did, served his country honorably; he was a POW during the Viet Nam war for five years and then served his country by getting elected to several terms in Congress (both houses). He was nick named the Maverick, because he would not always side with his own party when it came to legislature and voting on bills, as we saw when voted no to do abolish the ACA health care bill, he knew that his own party didn't have a replacement of there own. John McCain = Duty Honor Country. trump = trump trump trump. I (we) should hope that those who served with Senator McCain in Congress for many years, considered him a life long friend and most importantly knew how he viewed many of the important issues, if when the disagreed. Honor him now and going forward, by standing up to trump, as McCain did.
1
While McCain did often reach across the aisle on certain issues, it’s important to remember that he can and was at times as extremely partisan and undemocratic and his fellow Republican senators. During the 2016 election campaign he said publicly that if Hillary Clinton won the Republican senate should keep any Supreme Court nomination from coming to the floor during her presidency. He was often just as bad as his fellow Republicans, so please let’s refrain from lionizing him.
8
The void left in the Senate is the advocacy for a particular think tank which gained some notoriety post 9-11, namely - The Project for a New American Century.
John Lehman has a legacy piece in the Opinion section of WSJ right now extolling the virtues of John McCain's leadership in this area over the years. Lehman was an adviser to McCain, and also a member of the PNAC.
"Viewed in this way, one can say that the historical task and political purpose of neoconservatism would seem to be this: to convert the Republican party, and American conservatism in general, against their respective wills, into a new kind of conservative politics suitable to governing a modern democracy." founding father of neoconservatism Irving Kristol.
This bunch completes the odd bedfellows list of those who loathe the idea of President Trump.
No one who fought in the Vietnam War should be considered to be a "war hero", including McCain. The Vietnam War was an unjust war, and no one should have agreed to fight in it, especially someone like McCain, who had extensive military knowledge. Would the NYTimes call any German from WWII a "war hero"?
7
Absolutely!
Because not all soldiers in the German Army were Nazis, they were simply fighting for their country. You can't blame a war on soldiers, it's blamed on the politicians who start it.
2
@Richard Rosen
You must be young. This kind of black and white simplified thinking was part of the incredibly painful cost of those times - watch Ken Burns documentary to get real about the cost of this type of either/or, villain/hero narrative. People who lived through it have more tolerance for the choices forced on the young.
1
The worst mistake that crazy-quilt "maverick" Senator McCain made, undoubtedly, was choosing Sarah Palin as a running mate.
People are still shaking their heads. Where was his judgment?
And such an important decision must make one wonder what kind of a president he would have been, and if elected and the brain cancer had come upon him 8–10 years earlier, what would have happened with a "President Palin".
5
I think Mr. McCain of all things carried his spite with him.
Interesting to see why a man who received so much in his life - even by his own admission - was so bitter. Why?
He butted heads with so many and made almost as strong enemies as he made friends. One of them has stayed an enemy even after his death.
Why ask for Trump not to attend his funeral? That is serious bitterness.
You can’t forget in life, and even in death?
4
@Vsh Saxena Knowing that Trump's behavior in all circumstances is that of a cheap, trashy guttersnipe, he would no doubt find a way to make McCain's funeral about promoting himself, his crowd sizes and polling numbers.
8
MCCain is only a man and people all have flaws.....he bent many times but that was choices he made. He could have stood firm but forces that he could not conquer alone had to come into play. Not that he is dead he will now be our national saint for a while,warts and all, just as we have come to the realization that President Carter had decisions pressed on him also.
But it is axiomatic that when someone dues they become a saint and I am sure many books will be written about Senator McCain on both sides of the coin.
Taking nothing away from Senator McCain and greatly respecting the accomplishments of President Obama, I truly believe that the entire disaster we are currently facing with the present occupant of the White House could have been completely avoided had Senator McCain chosen Mitt Romney as his running mate instead of the insipid Sarah Palin. Instead of quizzically following his handlers and agreeing to put Palin on the ticket in 2008, had McCain chosen Romney, it would have been McCain who would have finished his second term on January 20, 2017, and Mitt would be one year and seven months into his first term. There would simply have been no opportunity for Trump in 2016, whatsoever. I understand and concur with the importance of the United States electing its first African-American President, however, everyone needs to appreciate that in life, as in physics, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Unfortunately we have been forced, due to these circumstances, to repeat history, namely the corrupt post-Civil War period which I am now calling Reconstruction II. All great men make mistakes. Teddy Roosevelt made the mistake of promising not to run a second time in 1908, and he regretted it the rest of his life. McCain's major mistake and subsequent regret should have been running with Sarah Palin. We are where we are because of the little men behind the curtain who lead him down their path and not allowed him to follow his own. Rest in peace.
3
Although a lifelong Democrat, I admired Senator McCain's honesty and courage, both as a soldier and a statesman. I applauded his work for campaign finance reform and speaking out against waterboarding and torture. He was a lasting example of a Republican now apparently no longer in existence -- i.e. one who put country before party. Too bad that all those craven Republicans who voice their sorrow now are unwilling to follow his example of courage and service to our country and its people.
3
He was a strong and unrelenting advocate for the millions upon millions of illegal aliens in the US, and I am sure their thoughts and prayers are with him today. The "Gang of 8" attempted amnesty is his legacy. Senator McCain was not a politician who would permit concern for American citizens interfere with his support for foreigners.
1
@RE Ellis
This is your belief.
A fact for example is: Trump using fakery to get out of military service and dissing someone who was a POW.
Another: McCain voting to save healthcare is a fact and a show "of concern for American citizens".
1
Permit me the indiscretion to point out that, for maybe 15 years in the middle of his senatency, he was no maverick, but just a hard liner who, e.g., voted to impeach Bill Clinton.
Trump brought him back to his senses.
4
We are watching the end of an era in a time where the leadership is thin and corrupt and we can only hope that we are looking at the potential for the start of new period from the post baby boom generation and the new ideas and approaches that are not be burdened by party orthodoxy over the last 30 years. John McCain RIP and may he be guide to being a maverick; "you carry your weight in our time"
1
I'm heartbroken over the loss of Senator John McCain, a true American hero and patriot. He loved a good fight, but he always put country, ethics and honor above all else. His political sparring was much like tough competitors, pushing and challenging each other to excellence in order to achieve the best possible outcome. He earned the name, Maverick, because he would not trade his devotion to country for mere partisanship and petty squabbles. Often he was the sole and resolute voice of reason.
I will never forget his phenomenal move when he came onto the Senate floor and threw his thumb downward, silently turning around and walking out. Never has so much been said, so loudly, without uttering a word in the Senate. He was voting for something much bigger than the measure at the time, which was written behind closed doors and without giving anyone time to read or assess its worthiness He was voting for fair play and to restore regular order to the Senate. With one gesture, he did just that.
Whether you agree with him politically is of little importance. John McCain dedicated his life to unselfish and distinguished service to our country, risking much and enduring extremes in the process, bringing honor, courage and integrity to a proud nation. He was able to reach across party lines for the greater good. We have lost a courageous hero, statesman and a national treasure. Rest in Peace, John McCain. Well done! A grateful nation thanks you!
17
I have never agreed with John McCain's politics. Sometimes, I didn't even like the guy all that much. But, now that he is gone, what I will choose to remember about him (apart form the storied details of his service in Vietnam) are four extraordinary moments in his political career that speak volumes about the man:
* When he reminded the Senate -- and indeed the country -- that "torture is not about who they are, but about who we are":;
* When he patiently but firmly corrected a supporter who stated that candidate Obama "couldn't be trusted" to run the country because "he's an Arab";
* When he voted against repealing the Affordable Care Act; and
* When he appealed to his Republican colleagues last year for a return to the "regular order" of how the Senate does business.
Those four moments were praiseworthy enough on their own to merit setting aside my political differences in order to honor the man and his life of service to the country. Rest in peace, Senator McCain.
21
Senators McCain lived an extraordinary life. Although my politics differed greatly from his, I always respected his military service, his selfless bravery and honor while a POW, his patriotism, and his public service in the Senate. By comparison, the sad imitation of a President occupying the Oval Office is even smaller and more diminished than ever by his petty, vindictive refusal to properly acknowledge Senator McCain’s life and contributions to our country. No matter. Those of us who love our country and who value civility and decency will give Senator McCain the great honor he is due.
14
A light has gone out in The Republic.
Godspeed, good sir. You will be missed.
5
I have mostly disagreed with Senator McCain on legislative issues but I have always admired him, never more than now, for how he has conducted himself in public service: from the perspective of what an honor and responsibility it is to serve. Many here have said such things, as never have we needed more the role modeling of John McCain and others from both sides of the aisle who transcend our current morass.
Thank you, Senator McCain. The greatest homage we could ever pay would be to follow your example.
4
When he went against Obama I had this nagging feeling that a lifetime military man was seeing enemies behind all trees so I voted to give peace a chance with a mostly unknown; I regretted that decision later especially in his second term.
Now looking at the constellation of his life as a whole I cannot think of another living pol even in the same league as far as giving service and love to his country. I wonder how he would have done as POTUS if history had dealt him a different hand...
3
One can only hope that this great man’s passing and our farewell to him in the next few days will catalyze a renewal of good will in politics. Perhaps those that have mistakenly fallen in with the extremists on the Left and Right may feel some embarrassment when the Bloody Shirt Brigades start spewing more poison.
1
Looking forward to NOT seeing donnie at this great hero’s funeral.
After all it WAS Senator John McCains dying request that donnie NOT attend.
Let’s be honest, donnie only likes hero’s that weren’t captured anyway.
7
I think it shameful our President will not be at the funeral and I’m not a Trump fan. I also think it’s horrible to use Senator McCain’s passing as a means of scoring points against Trump.
1
@rebecca1048
No points being scored.
Merely reminding the world the words that the boor used to describe the late Senator.
donnies precise words about John McCain:
"He's not a war hero. He's a war hero because he was captured. I like people that weren't captured."
It’s on tape forever.
It’s also payback time.
This crude man/child is NOT welcomed at a very important national funeral for a CAPTURED WAR HERO, and Senator.
Meanwhile the late Senator requested a eulogy by President Barack Obama at his service.
That shows true class on the part of Senator McCain.
4
So, he’s not Trump’s hero. My hero doesn’t fight wars. To not welcome the President of the United States speaks volumes, and I’m not a Trump fan.
Millions of people have fought in wars. It doesn’t necessarily mean you want them making momentous decisions. John McCain thought Sarah Palin was qualified to be president of the United States. What else do you need to know?
11
If the POTUS insists McCain is not a war hero because he was captured, then why is his body being buried with great war hero honors in Arlington? Why is anyone who sought deferrals five separate times to blatantly avoid military service qualified to be Commander in Chief?
Perplexing questions. Perplexing times.
17
Senator McCain taught us how to be an honorable American. He showed us service to his country, commitment to a cause and a respect for his family both at home and his family in the Senate. The country has lost a great American hero.
5
So much commentary here about McCain as if, now that he is deceased, he was the end and be all of perfection. Americans have very short memories and tend to see things in terms of villain or hero. Now that Senator McCain is deceased he is suddenly the impeccable hero on the technicolor screen. No. He did some very good things as a Senator. He was brave and often incredibly honorable. He did some really bad things too. Things should be seen in perspective. Meanwhile, let’s cease the hyperbole. Balanced perspectives are a gift.
10
John McCain would be the first to agree with you comment.
3
Seeing all of the tributes today, have made John's passing even sadder. It is like losing a family member. Yes, he was flawed--but he was in the arena, where most never have been--never will be.
10
Seriously, the President of the United States "Tweeted" his regrets that a sitting Senator has passed. Not just a sitting Senator but a man who was a POW for more than five years? You couldn't pick up the phone and call the family, Trump? No...because remember you only cared about those "Not POWs"...those not captured!!!!" John McCain risked his life while Trump was getting out of serving his country with Bone Spurs. Senator McCain's family does not even want the sitting President to be at the ceremonies....they know what a coward Trump is...Trump will never know what it is to be hung by your arms in a background position...Trump will never know what it is to be beaten, abused, threatened with death. Why do any current military, veterans, retired military think this coward Trump has their well being in mind.
Consider that the man who was most responsible for John McCain's treatment at the Hanoi Hilton had more respect for the Senator than the President of the United States. "During his time he was held at Hỏa Lò Prison, now a museum which McCain has visited many times.The prison was being run at the time by Colonel Trần Trọng Duyệt. Speaking to Việt Nam News yesterday, he said: “I had a lot of time meeting him when he was kept in the prison. “At that time I liked him personally for his toughness and strong stance. Later on, when he became a US Senator, he and Senator John Kerry greatly contributed to promote Việt Nam-US relations ”
20
@Tony Mack
NOT MY president.
Lost the popular vote by 5 million.
Was helped to win by Russia’s hacking and Putin.
NOT MY president
7
Today, as the nation (with the exception of its president) has came together to celebrate McCain's life, a long, McCain-shaped shadow has fell over the White House and the Trump presidency. Trump, on the golf course, full of anger and self-pity, did his best not to notice.
13
John McCain was a true American Hero. There are many ways for the public at large to show appreciation for his contribution to our country. Write a letter to his family. Make a charitable donation in his memory. But to place his casket on display in the Capital Rotunda is off-putting to me.
1
@-APR
McCain has his policies with which you may agree or disagree. His life is now memory. Let history judge him.
His example is to "soldier" or "sailor" on, respect your opponents and try to come to a compromise.
2
John McCain was an honorable man. While I did not agree with many of his positions, I had nothing but respect for him as a man who admirably served his country. Rest in peace, Senator. Your country grieves along with your family.
Our current boor-in-chief should stay far, far away from the final tributes and the funeral. Let Senator McCain be honored and buried with dignity and respect.
10
We are frail, breakable, fallible human beings - but heroes such as Senator John McCain fight for what they believe in, perfectly aware that they are exposing themselves to danger. We look up to them, yet they shrug off the accolades because they’re still humbly trying to become better. They examine and correct themselves, admit mistakes, take responsibility, and keep humility close in hand with leadership.
My heart goes out to the family and friends of Senator McCain. I believe they will continue to see the torch of honor and truth that he cherished and defended in his lifetime shining on in all whom he has touched.
2
Another person, with McCain’s war experiences, could have lived a life of self-pity and helplessness. There was a resiliance in McCain that wouldn’t let that happen. And, he DID have his moments of defeat and he DID make mistakes, but he kept going. We can put our politics aside for a few days and feel sad about the loss of a Senator, a patriot, a loving father and husband. Even if you didn’t agree with him much of the time, I think he embodied some very admirable characteristics. Grit, loyalty, determination, optimism and humor. I know, even though they were prepared, nothing really prepares a family for the devastation of grief. I will be thinking a lot about his wife, children and dear friends as the next days unfold. I know this time is incredibly difficult. He will be missed by so many.
9
I respect and honor John McCain's service and sacrifice as a solider. Other than being something of a fiscal hawk though, I was never enamored of Senator McCain's tenure as a US Senator. He was frequently combative within his own party and he was unfortunately a very poor Presidential candidate. His involvement with the Keating Five was also inexcusable. I am sorry for his family.
4
I feel sad that he has passed. What a great man and leader! The others in Congress, the Senate, and particularly the White House should take some notes!
2
Fair winds and following seas, Senator.
6
John McCain was an admirable and courageous senator. The GOP obviously abandoned him.
The GOP is now the paranoid white, pro-plutocratic and anti-science party. It is now the Trumpuglican-authoritarian personality cult. The party’s paranoid biases are expressed as an all out assault on truth and common sense. This assault is grounded in “free”-market fundamentalism and in “Christian” fundamentalism—both of which prop up traditional hierarchies of wealth and power. Trumpuglicanism is all about tribal purity (socialism bad, Islam bad) and the preservation of the “established” order.
Authoritarian leaders and those willing to be led by them--and the Trumpuglican Party has a surplus of both--feel threatened by complexity, ambiguity and "Others." The simplicity of President Trump’s message consoles those who cannot tolerate complexity and ambiguity. His attacks on the “Others” reaffirm the xenophobia of the Trumpuglican base. With Trump in place, his persistently loyal followers assume they have much to cheer and far less to fear. They are oblivious to the dangers posed by America’s disunity, diminished credibility and loss of international prestige. They revel in tribal celebrations and evidence no awareness of the extent to which they are being manipulated.
The “silent majority” of voters—actually a 35-40% minority—steadfastly believe that President Trump provides a “true” voice for their grievances and outrage; hence turmoil roils our nation.
McCain will be sorely missed.
4
Had he chosen Kay Bailey Hutchison as running mate, he would have won in 2008. But she was too sensible for the feral entities controlling the Republic [sic} party these days. So he nominated victim-in-chief Palin, who cemented his legacy.
And while I am at it, I believe that marriage is not a Miss America contest. "Man of honor"? Perhaps, but better check that first with the crippled wife, Carol, that he sold for $100M, a beer distributorship, and a congressional legacy.
Sorry. My memories just run long.
7
Trump's precise words about John McCain:
"He's not a war hero. He's a war hero because he was captured. I like people that weren't captured."
I hope the McCain family bars the door when that goon shows up to offer his smarmy condolences.
7
The McCain obituary states that he graduated from Episcopal High School in 1954. The end of the article seems to suggest that he graduated from the naval academy in 1954. However, at another point, the article states that he graduated from Annapolis in 1958,
2
McCain attempted immigration reform along with a great American , Edward Kennedy, who was an immigration law architect. A key component in immigration reform is family reunification. Even Melania Trump has benefited from it. She recently sponsored her parents for green cards as a US citizen which allows her to have her loved ones in America, while taking care of aging parents. Her son has the benefit of having his grandparents nearby. Yet, Trump and the GOP oppose family reunification for the average legal immigrant. The 2007 immigration reform partly failed because of the GOP's attempts to end family reunification. If it had failed, Melania's parents would not have been able to obtain a green card.
9
Aristotle said that among all the virtues of man, courage was the most important, as it guarantees all the others.
I hope that the greater part of John McCain's legacy will be his courage, and how it shaped his actions and his life. And I hope this legacy might serve as instruction for we who remain, whatever our station in life - be it framing houses, growing wheat, repairing cars, baking bread or enacting laws.
I am glad we as a nation have produced such men as he, and I mourn his passing. I hope to see more like him in the days to come.
13
I voted for McCain in 2008. (I’m old, white and Vietnam was my war.) Now, in retrospect, I’m glad he stayed in Congress, tirelessly bringing his maverick “tell-it-like-it-is” personality to the Senate floor, defying any adherence to a particular political party affiliation. During the presidential campaign, McCain steadfastly corrected a supporter who accused Obama of being an “untrustworthy Muslim.” I’m paraphrasing but his response went something like this: “No ma’am. He’s a good Christian man whose views differ from mine.” That was, truly, his finest hour. Rest in peace, Senator McCain. You will be sorely missed.
Sent from my iPad
8
McCain, hardly a maverick, mostly supported almost every USA war, in that sense, he was in the mainstream of US politics. He did help normalize US relations with Vietnam, with John Kerry. He did allow for wacked extremists like Palin and worse. Personally, not a nice guy, but that's not pertinent, Let's be accurate with his political record.
10
I've been wondering all day... Why can't trump be gracious for once and say something nice about McCain?
When trump passes, will there be anything but fake praise?
McCain was a good man much of the time. Like all of us, he made some bad choices but he was never ungracious or unkind. We need more like him for our children's sakes.
10
I doubt if he will even merit fake praise.
8
His name was John McCain.
He led us all in bravery and kept us sane.
His righteous ways I will remember.
He taught me to never surrender.
4
Thank you for your service. Ray Sipe
7
I know this is not going to be a popular opinion, but does anyone know how many innocent people he killed in Viet Nam? I don't think that people who do their duty are heroes. The real heroes are the ones who refuse doing their duty when they are asked because they see the immorality of it. War hero? Give me a break.
4
@CBH
During Viet Nam there were people who were drafted and served because they felt their country was calling them to serve. There were also young people who disagreed and refused by being conscientious objectors who served in a different capacity. There were those who refused and went to jail and took consequences .
And there were the rich boys like Donald Trump whose fathers pulled strings, got doctors to make up things like fake bone spurs - who just lied and got away with it because they could.
15
@CBH
All in wars are innocent. It's the leaders who start the wars that are guilty. Young warriors are conditioned to obey. They unwittingly fight to satisfy the hatreds and anger of the old.
6
@Kay Johnson
There were many that could not stay in a country that was in a war they believed was wrong.
Please don't forget them.
Unfortunately, many of the policies that McCain supported were destructive. He supported Reaganomics, which to this day continues to transfer wealth from the poor and middle class to the billionaires while producing no jobs or growth, endangers the safety net and cause trillions in deficits. He was a defense hawk. Hundreds of billions in taxpayer money is wasted on nuclear missiles and a space force, instead of being used for education and infrastructure spending. He opposed the Obama 2009 stimulus, which was desperately needed since millions of jobs had been lost and the country and world economy were in the grips of a severe financial crisis. The obama stimulus has since resulted in a steady 10 year economic recovery and 3.9 percent unemployment, in spite of the GOP tax bill worsening the deficit, and the destructive trump trade tariffs. He opposed the affordable health care program in 2009, though his vote in 2017 temporarily prevented it from being overturned. Trump and the GOP have chipped away and it is in great danger of being revoked. McCain supported a flawed immigration reform package which would have ended family reunification for legal immigrants. McCain supported campaign reform but the Supreme court citizen's united verdict wrecked it. He supported limiting greenhouse gases and tobacco at some point, but overall supported his parties policies that are of, for and by a billionaire and oligarchy.
9
I remember reading, when he was running against Obama, that he voted the party line 90 some odd percent of the time. Some maverick.
2
RIP Mr. McCain. Thank you for your courageous service. You were a voice of moderation and will be sorely missed in these times.
4
A bit confused. All those hagiographic praises heaped on this fine man. Yet this smart, patriotic, country-first man though Sarah Palin was fit to hold the second highest office in the land. Please explain. Blind? Cynical? Or simply misguided by ambition? Or maybe just not patriotic as it is said. For what smart man or woman could meet the with air-head in question for more than two minutes and deem her fit to join his ticket, let alone be one heartbeat from the presidency?
10
The Post has a just uploaded a short article that Trump will not honor McCain and his passing publicly, but probably post a tweet to his family. How low can you sink?
9
l was not politically aligned with Mr.Mc,Cain and have disagreed with many his policies and his selection of Gov.Palin a severe handicap and l did not vote for him but he had the heart of a giant , he was a naval aviator and a Vietnam war prisoner, a navy lieutenant was the most famous prisoner on that war, was a victim of horrendous torture ,Trump who had never served in the military call Mr.McCain as a bogus war hero, Mr.McCain thank you for your services for your country sir
6
McCain was a war hero in an unjust war, just like Robert E. Lee. Those who insisted on tearing down Lee’s statues can now continue their foolish crusade against McCain.
@michjas;
.
If you want to make a reason for the statues you need to know history, not boilerplate.
I read this early this morning. I am at a loss for words to describe what Senator John McCain meant to me.
A great person has come and gone. Long live John McCain.
4
All day long I have been thinking of John Mc Cain and have been so sad. What a loss for our country and his dear family. I met him in Washington in his senate office where our son was lucky to get a four year internship during high school He also worked on two of his presidential campaigns. .I saw Senator McCain and spoke to him on other occasions. I just loved him and his dear mom, Roberta. She was actually a young woman in her late 80's when I met her and sharp as a tack. Now she is 106. I can't imagine how hard this will be for her to bury her dear son, after all he had been through. I know there are a lot of people who did not agree with the senator's views but to know him was to love him. God bless his family in this very sad time. I will never forget John Mc Cain.
6
I cried today. I cried for John McCain, his family, and most of all for our country. Because through all the publicity and the accolades for this great man the only thing I could think of, and I'm not making this up, is what a piece of worthless garbage we have occupying the White House, and how he has defiled us, like he defiled a man so superior to him there is no comparison.
It's a crying shame that we have to have the tragedy of a truly great man to remind us of what a truly horrible mistake we made by allowing such an inferior human being to become president.
14
It’s a poor reflection on trump that he never respected and in fact many times insulted this great American hero. I hope people will contemplate the huge difference between the two men: one worthy of all honors; the other dishonorable to the core.
15
It is very sad how low our standards are for our men and women of public office. A man like McCain dies and you’d think it was Abe Lincoln readers were eulogizing here. Embarrassing if you actually follow the news and understand the destruction McCain and his GOP colleagues have visited upon our America.
It is a little sad to see a familiar face go, and a Republican who had some conscience, albeit a tiny one, has died after a long bitter illness. That he survived as a POW so long is worthy of respect, as was his thumbs down of ACA repeal.
But the good stuff ends there.
He was a spoiled rich legacy kid who dumped his sick first wife for a beer heiress; barely graduated from Annapolis; never liked a tax cut or an insane military budget or costly murderous military venture he didn’t like, bailed on campaign finance reform, the list goes on. Keating five scandal, no resignation. He championed the GOP, in my opinion the most dangerous organization on the planet.
John McCain fought for himself and his rich friends, that’s about it.
So spare me the nauseating paeans. Read the news. Expect more of yourself and everyone around you, and fight for a better world. Save your praise for true heroes of the everyday sort, the unsung, the truly brave who use what small power they have to better the world with no laurels.
19
@A Prof - a mean spirited comment indeed. For his protection of the ACA alone, McCain deserves the highest honors. He has saved millions of lives.
6
What an ugly and mean comment at such a time. He endured intense physical, emotional and mental pain in the service of his (our) country. He was a human, heroic man. There are too few of these and they merit celebration on their passing.
5
You forgot to mention that he brought us Palin, the godmother of Trumpism.
1
These days, people are desperate for a public figure to look up to. Its a pity there is no living person who fits this bill in either parties.
2
Senator McCain also was early in admitting the science behind climate change. He worked across the aisle with Lieberman and later Clinton, until unfortunately, he gave up that cause.
Still deserves 'attaboy 'for so doing, IMHO.
8
Not fully appreciating an individual until after he/she dies is a peculiar trait of human nature, similar in its pattern to the way we ignore serious issues until they explode in our faces.
We should give leaders who display the character, integrity and courage of Senator McCain our full attention in life and death.
4
McCain said that whenever he did what he thought was the right thing, he never regretted it. When he did what he had misgivings about but was told to do out of political expedience, he later regretted it. Example, in 2000 supporting the Confederate flag in South Carolina-- he later changed his statement about it and recognized that this was a symbol of the wrong side in our nation's great crisis. Example, selecting Mrs. Palin as his running mate-- although he would never call this a mistake or blame Mrs. Palin for his loss-- the country was in a Republican caused financial crisis and the battle was probably already lost.
But here is my point: what a country we would have if all of our elected leaders only did what they thought was the right thing. There would still be errors, but honest errors and Americans would be better off in SO many ways.
7
McCain is no longer suffering and he was never a hero......he used his POW status to enrich himself......he cared about no one but himself......I wish his family peace
4
John McCain wasn't a politician. He was a man who cared deeply about his country and humanity.
He always stood out to me as someone who was guided by his morals, not the party line.
He served our country with honor and dignity, always trying to do the right thing regardless of what others thought, a true patriot who was one of a kind.
1
McCain fought for his country but now and then isn't it more important to fight against fighting for your country when the cause of the war is suspect, or even criminal? Vietnam. Sure he's a hero because he didn't know what he was doing. And now we have Trump, who is a worse enemy than the Vietcong ever were, and Trump is dissing McCain. Hey! McCain got sucked into the war because he was a career military guy. You're supposed to assume that the Commander in Chief is on your side, trying to protect the country. So you do your job and kill whatever is in front of you. And that's war and unfortunately the Commander in Chief has a role in it.
2
I fear the death of John McCain represents the death of any sort of moral compass of the Republican party. Last week we have already seen McCain's good friend, Lindsey Graham, has not only given up speaking out against Trump, but is willing to go along with Trump's plan to shut down the Mueller investigation by firing Jeff Sessions. For all McCain's faults, he was able to stand up for what is right even if the latest poll numbers don't seem to be in his favor. He knew that a leader sometimes has to show people how to act, not just react political winds, and that an election is not worth winning if it means we loose our sense of dignity as a nation. RIP, Mr. McCain.
8
May Senator McCain rest in peace. He was a sometimes admirable statesman. He was also a blatant misogynist. Take just as an example....during the 1986 campaign he thought he was so darn funny when he told a sick “joke” about a woman who was raped by a gorilla, beaten and left to die but when she survives she says to her doctor, ‘Where is that marvelous ape?’ Typical old school sick military sexist ha-ha? Of course it is not in the least bit funny. Senator McCain is on record for calling his wife by the “C” word in public and for belittling her in public. She may not hold this against him, but I do. As I said, may he rest in peace. I admire some of his accomplishments, but let’s not erect the statue just yet.
5
Message for Donald Trump:
If you have the LEAST bit of decency, you will not go anywhere near Senator John McCain's funeral services or memorials. You cannot sully - with your continual filth and lies - America's mourning at the passing of this man of integrity.
5
@Carol why would anyone go to his funeral
1
No need to make any addition to analyzing a complicated, courageous. sometime frustrating politician but total respect for a complicated, courageous, frustrating politician.
His departure leaves us to deal with a complete opposite that resides presently in the White House.
2
Perhaps Sen. McCain's service is not over just yet. I think he has the capacity to galvanise broad and decent Americans to push back and deviate from the dark road it seems bent on currently. To bring together people on the common good within them rather than the polemics of current America. I hope your Nation truly recognise this warrior in more than words. Vale McCain.
3
At this time of sorrow for his family and the country, I give my sincere condolences. While a flawed man like all of us, he had a sincerity about him that many politicians don't have.
As someone across the aisle, I have respect for him, in spite of Palin. At least most of the time I knew where he stood. And knew why, which wasn't usually for the moneyed interests.
He served our country with more honor than many do today. He tried.
I am sorry to see him die, esp. in such a manner. Rest in Peace John McCain. Your party didn't deserve you.
2
People should listen to the tape he made for his captors condemning the USA and praising his captors!!
@joe m.
What do you think you would have done if you were in such a horrible, agonizing situation? How long could you hold out under such torture?
6
Deepest condolences America. He was a good man. He was a decent man, not that many left among politicians.
War hero. That's setting the bar way high already.
And then politician.
It was regretful that he chose Palin as his running mate, placating the Tea Party, bending knee to 'campaign consultants' I guess. They have their way with words... I can see that happening to the best of us. anyone can make a mistake, right?
But he redeemed himself, he did. When push came to shove for his country, when it mattered, he put the poor and the needy above Party, he did.
Godspeed.
8
Fair winds and following seas.
Your integrity will be missed.
5
It’s hard after all these years to understand how the Senate will function from here on out. With the death of John McCain the Republicans will have few true statesman left. Now more than ever his firm grip and his stature are needed. The country will soon understand what else he has done for America.
4
Dave, we’ve already seen what the Senate is missing.
McCain would call things out— inaction, lack of dialogue, pettiness, a party blindness, and an unwillingness to just put a compromise together.
I did not agree with him all of the time (most).
But the man worked across the aisle with Feingold and, most special and exemplary, Ted Kennedy.
What is there now— on either side?
3
A good man. One of a generation of men who stood for what America ideally should be. While I did not agree with his political viewpoint, I admired his sense of fairness and respect for others which is something missing from today's politics and people generally.
4
A true war hero is somebody driven, determined, brave, and capable enough to confront their own country in order to prevent it from launching an unnecessary war.
Just imagine if the Habsburg Empire, Germany and the USA had somebody like that.
This world would have never experienced the WWI, the WWII, the Indochina Wars or the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Isn’t it tragic that humanity still believes the best way to solve the problems or end the mutual animosity is the armed conflict but not conversations, arguments, debates, negotiations and compromises…
More than a century after the start of the WWI in Sarajevo over an assassination of a politician by a teenager, the humanity still cannot figure out it was absolutely senseless to start the global conflict over a single murder.
As long as we don’t learn this crucial lesson, the dozens millions people that perished in those conflicts had died in vain.
Only if we finally learned something and changed our behavior those human sacrifices would be worth it.
The next wrongful conflict might be end of the human race because many nations are armed with the nuclear weapons capable of destroying the life on this planet.
3
Kenyan I get the historical precedents— I do.
But this is also a moment to recognize a man that also recognized those precedents.
1
As a lifelong liberal I agreed with John McCain on few if any issues. In the past year, however, I began to respect his integrity and refusal to compromise on his deeply held convictions and beliefs. Those who will now try to besmirch his memory out of a false sense of loyalty to the „incumbent“ will have thoroughly earned the name of „bunch of deplorables“ that they claim to bear so proudly.
12
I see McCain as the last of a dying breed of Republicans who, policy and politics notwithstanding, were still vested in the concept of country over party. After reading about his horrific time as a POW, an experience that would've permanently broken most men, it stands to reason why he was among only a handful of Republicans not afraid to "poke the bear". When checking trump's behavior, McCain was often the lone voice of reason in his party. His sense of decency and decorum was a repudiation of the nastiness that pervades politics in today's era of trumpism. I was firmly opposed to a McCain presidency when he ran, but had he won, I would've never doubted his motives, intensions or love for his country and what it represents. Who's left in the Republican party with the guts to uphold an oath to check the executive?
12
Rest in Peace John McCain.
A great writer died this weekend also who would have made the lead story: Neil Simon, a New Yorker through and through. The NYT wrote, in part: "Mr. Simon ruled Broadway when Broadway was still worth ruling."
6
I don't wish to speak ill of the dead any more than I wish to speak ill of anyone, but the rush to lionize someone just because they've died always annoys me. While I give McCain my respect and sympathy for his horrific wartime experiences, I don't wish to make him a post-war hero. For all his talk of being a maverick, he voted with his party almost 90% of the time. Some free-thinking maverick. And, as others have commented, he gave a national platform to Sarah Palin, which unarguably helped create the reality show politics we are now experiencing. While I am sorry for his family's loss and for the pain and suffering he endured, I don't wish to make McCain a hero.
10
@Brian nash
It really isn't up to you to make him a hero. For one day, we can honor him for the many good things he did in all the years he tried to serve his country well. We all know that he, being so human, made mistakes, and there is plenty of time later to discuss that. Today is a good day for thoughtfulness and compassion.
5
@Holly Thank you for your reply. It is, however, collective consciousness that determines if someone is remembered as a hero, and I am part of that consciousness; so, yes, it is partly up to me. I have the absolute most compassion for him and his family -- and he gets my eternal respect for his wartime experience -- but, as a liberal, I can't exactly embrace his legacy.
Libs now praise McCain, after doing all they could to destroy him in 2008.
4
@Dr. John
Running against his policies is not trying to ruin a man. I disagreed with what he saw as the way for america to go. But I respected him for standing for his convictions. He was more honest and fair than many republicans who have no idea of how to be decent.
Your party lost a good man that is desperately needed by the party.
3
What is the true story about John's actions aboard the USS Forrestal?
@Mike The truth is that John McCain was NOT responsible for the deaths of the 134 sailors on board. Here is a link. https://www.politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2017/aug/07/blog-postin...
4
McCain, stirred the pot and as a politician he did what he had to do to win. Underlying everything he had core values and integrity which few people, much less politicians ever have. Those were there regardless of whether you agreed with him on a particular issue or not. John McCain was a class act in every way. And then there is Trump. Not a notion of integrity, class, patriotism, respect in any measure. Amazing how small and petty Trump has been about a hero Senator ! Wonder how the Donald would have done if his jet was fired down in the Vietnam War? We will never know or could know because he cowardly protected himself from doing his patriotic duty. No one would make a mistake and refer to Trump a "hero"! Trump shows he lacks any decency in his increasing paranoid social media rages. Shame on you Mr Trump, Shame,Shame,Shame.! Maybe, as a tribute to Senator John McCain, Senator Jeff Flake should reconsider his Senate retirement and unite his and McCain's integrity by running for McCain's seat and represent Arizona, the American people and honesty and integrity in the Senate!
4
My condolences to his family and friends.
I've read that he will be honored with a "full dress funeral," I've attended a "full honors funeral," but not the former. Does anyone know what a "full dress funeral" is?
Today has been a real reminder of what is being lost, maybe forever. When you hear Biden, Clinton, Obama, and many Republican leaders talk so fondly about this man in spite of the differences they so clearly had. And when you see the sincerity in their comments and friendship with him, it gives me pause to wonder what is our future in the political climate that has now taken over. I don't know how this country's democracy can work in the toxicity of today's political world, especially in the White House. So today is a grieve for what may be permanently lost if we the citizens don't wake up.
6
I will say this. After the many ups and downs in his entire political career, which included several curious decisions and missteps; such as putting Sarah Palin on the national stage to secure the Conservative vote -- at least Senator McCain has the last word in not inviviting this president, who so ungraciously undermined the heroics of his military sevice to his country, to his funeral.
Well done, John McCain.
But sadly your party does no honor to your memory.
Rest in Peace.
10
He was an honorable gracious man..we need more like him.
Also, I think its interesting that Sen. Lindsey Graham referred to Sen. McCain as his mentor..if that was the case, Graham WOULD HAVE A BACKBONE AND MORAL COMPASS...clearly not the case.
12
I have never admired any Republican politician except for John McCain. The polar opposite of how I feel about Trump, though in that case, party affiliation has nothing to do with my contempt.
10
Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.
― Alfred Tennyson
Rest in Peace Senator McCain.
10
@Ophelia Chong Beautiful.
@f2usaciv thank you. Tennyson is one of my favorite poets, this was from "Memoriam"
Trump should keep his filthy mouth shut. He should be nowhere near services for Senator McCain.
12
Let's not get too carried away here. The most truthful obituary is in The Economist https://www.economist.com/obituary/2018/08/26/obituary-john-mccain
1
No. The Economist gave just snapshots as if his whole life. The coverage in NYT, WaPost and elsewhere is more of an accurate, full reflection of who he has been.
1
John McCain -- "Lion of the Senate"
Donald Trump -- "Liar of the White House"
17
William F. Buckley woke up during the 50s and drove all the John Birchers, Ayn Randists, and assorted other white supremicist, right wing, antisemitic, and other fascist spectrum groups and individuals to the fringes of the Republican party from whence they have slowly re-emerged in our own time.
Buckley had an intellect and a conscience, and though I rarely saw eye to eye with him I would dearly love to have him back.
I also rarely saw eye to eye with John McCain either but I will never forget the moral courage he showed on top of the mental and physical courage it took to survive all those years in a brutal North Vietnamese POW facility when he stood up to that ignorant, proto-Trump voter at that rally during the 2008 campaign, correcting her when she attempted to slur Obama with the "birther brush" wielded and kept dripping by none other than DJ Trump.
As an historian I've often noticed that, in hindsight, we can frequently mark the end of an era with the passing of some great person or other who, by virtue of their intellect or raw courage and willingness to stand against the torrents of change were able to temporarily hold back the deluge until their death.
John McCain was one of those people. He was, at bedrock, a decent human being who could not stand by and watch mendacity replace truth and outright greed and avarice replace responsible and bipartisanship governance. He will be missed.
Condolences to his family and his friends. History will not forget him.
15
McCain was flawed. He was a mediocre, careless and reckless pilot in the 1960s. He crashed 3 planes including one that he flew into power lines. He also dumped his wife Carol, who was crippled in a car accident when he was a war prisoner in Vietnam, and remarried after having several extramarital affairs. He might have survived in Vietnam as prisoner only because his father was an admiral(even the enemy respects elite and the privileged). Publicly, in 2008 he said that obama was a decent man, then went on to debase obama. His affordable care vote may have been inconsequential. Trump and his party have not stopped trying to destroy it. He chose to remain in a party that has become Trump's party, in the end.
10
Senator McCain never thought he was perfect but the example he set was often remarkable ... his great love and admiration for his family, serving the country with honor and dignity in a really difficult situation in Vietnam, a bright and thoughtful maverick politician with a delightful sense of humor, true leadership showing those in congress and the country how to reach across the aisle in a bipartisan way, his strength in speaking up when he felt a wrong had been committed, and so he was admired by many in this country and around the world.
3
Thank you, Mr McCain for a life great examples! You have a been a life long hero! You shared the greatest and winning grace in the face of adversity. May god bless your soul! I am sure you will continued to show the light to us. Sincere condolences to the family!
4
To honor the man, remember, admire, emulate the man. There are few like this. Unspeakable suffering, anguish, courage, love, success. The will to endure, survive, quietly carry on is beyond words.. John McCain was was name..
5
Sadly he didn't get the chance to help impeach Trump.
RIP Mr. McCain, you were a needed voice of sanity amongst the crazy that is today's Republican Party.
5
Trump said that McCain is not really a hero and there's some truth to that. Dropping bombs from a plane is not particularly heroic.
I've heard an argument that says you can't really be heroic in an unjust cause. So brave Nazis can't be heroic.
McCain is probably better remembered for his contribution to politics than to the war in Vietnam.
1
@Ambrose
It wasn't for dropping bombs that made McCain a hero. It was 5 yrs as a prisoner where when given the chance of an early release and thus taking someone else's place, he refused. It was for enduring injuries and torture that would break most people.
That was what made him a hero.
Trump the coward should never be talking smack about anyone else. He made sure to avoid the war with his 'bone spurs'.
3
@Skip Moreland
Did he have any alternative than to endure the torture? If I am tortured, that makes me a victim not a hero.
@Ambrose
Yes he did. He could have taken an early release that was offered to him. When the north realized who he was, they offered to return him to the US. He refused to take someone else's place. So yes he did have an alternative to the torture.
Even in death McCain shows his spirt by not inviting trump to his service's and having real President's speak Obama and Bush . Even Pence will be in the background .
17
As a RN I hated Obamacare,folding to big insurance companies, and big pharm.But at least people with pre-existing conditions could buy insurance.Was very brave of him to give the thumbs down,as the rich senate tried to deprive Americans of healthcare.I mostly disagreed with him,but always believed in his integrity and moral compass.I will miss him.Our country now led by a cheating con man, with the republican senate and house looking the other way.I hope our country and constitution survives.
16
Senator Mc Cain, a man among the boys. A man of bravery, integrity and unbridled courage. It brings me to tears to know about the life of service he lead and battles with cancer.
As a brain cancer survivor, I count my blessings every day, in spite of the trials that come with aging. However, ever since I found out Senator Mc Cain had cancer, there isn’t a day when i look in the mirror, and think of his sacrifice and commitment to our great nation.
I found myself looking towards the heavens and sigh. Like many Americans, especially Joe Biden, I hoped Mc Cain would beat cancer. Now, I wonder why God spared me and not him.
Upon reflection, I have come to the conclusion,
that I have so much to do to even come close, to Mc Cain’s contribution to our country. In fact, it might take two or three lifetimes, to even come close.
In the meantime, like most Americans, I mourn and send my thoughts and prayers, to the iconoclastic McCain Clan. Because of Senator Mc Cain lived and gave to the country he loved, in the way he did, America is a better place because John McCain lived here.
No one else on the current political climate, even comes close.
15
John McCain's funeral will be the perfect opportunity for Americans to honor the U. S. military with solemnity and dignity instead of a flashy parade.
16
One would hope that, after reading Senator McCain's obituary, that one Republican Senator would have the strength of character to initiate a Resolution rebuking the President of the United States---having himself never served and very well having evaded the draft --- for his reprehensible mischaracterization of McCain' s military career and his continuing belittlement of the honorable action McCain chose to taken in voting against the Obamacare repeal legislation.
9
I greatly admired your elegant concession speech in 2008; your truth and integrity in the senate will be missed.
10
R.I.P. Commander McCain! You represent the best of Naval Aviators during a difficult time of warfare. And, your heroic endurance and survival of 5 and one half years as a POW in N. Vietnam is more than admirable. Sad to abruptly lose your voice in the Senate.
3
R.I.P. John and thank you for everything. You’ll be sorely missed.
6
If “vitriolic crowds disparaged black people and Muslims” at McCain’s 2008 campaign rallies, the man mainly responsible for it was Donald Trump.
The woman who remarked to McCain at one such rally that she did not trust the Democratic Party candidate Barack Obama because “he’s an Arab” was only echoing the canard spread by Trump. Though a private citizen at the time, was out to destroy the Obama candidacy by saying that Obama was born in Kenya, to a Kenyan Muslim, and things like that.
The reply Mr. McCain gave to the woman proved to the whole world what a gentleman he was. “No, ma’am,” he said. “He’s a decent family man, a citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues.”
There is a message in it for President Trump who cannot describe his political opponents other than in words that only mafia dons and rowdies are wont to use.
McCain became a war hero not because he asked for it. The whole country bestowed it on him for his stupendous military service. For our accidental president, Donald Trump, “He’s a war hero because he was captured.” Even in captivity he did the country proud, draft-dodger Trump may please note. McCain just ignored the Trumpian stupidity.
But he couldn't sit idly by when Trump insulted the family of a Muslim Army captain who was killed by a suicide bomber, in Iraq, in 2004. He gave him a bellyful. Standing for the underdog was an article of faith with McCain.
The likes of him are a rarity in today's politics.
12
The junk presidency of Donald Trump cannot rise to any occasion that requires dignity or respect.
He is the junk President, offering condolences to the family of John McCain with his juvenile tweeting and exclamation points.
Trump's comments about POWs wont be forgiven or forgotten whether his followers support that or not.
15
John McCain is an American legend. He served with honor in the Vietnam War, our House of Representatives and Senate. Our President evaded the draft with heel spurs and can't remember which foot. He made this now infamous comment about McCain: "He’s not a war hero,” “He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured.” I hope Trump's soul is troubled over those remarks and he has trouble sleeping, I know John McCain is resting peacefully, he was a fine man.
6
John McCain is an American hero.
Not a Republican one or a Democratic one.
An American one.
He was a man who believed in Honor, Duty and Country.
Those values transcend political party. A point sorely lost on most politicians.
Godspeed John McCain.
10
A great man, though he sullied his reputation in picking Palin as a running mate. Either way, we could use a lot more like him.
4
JMC seems to have been a nice man, but I don't see for a moment greatness in his record. He is due respect for his military service, and for overcoming disability, but he was reckless, as the Sarah Palin choice showed, and in a life long career, its hard to see any leading accomplishment.
I wish his family strength in coping with his loss, but the US needs more able politicians than John McCain. The acceptance and eulogising of mildly talented politicians like him as national political leaders is part of our problem. We aim to low. We need higher standards, and you know what, John McCain might well have agreed.
2
We can all thank John McCain for his service. He stands in stark contrast to the trash we have in politics now - Devon Nuñez, Trump, etc.
But I have never accepted the McCain narrative - renegade. I would say - inconsistent and sometimes very wrong. It shows how one person born into wealth and status can succeed in America, compared to another, Trump, who was born into wealth, but no status, and feels compelled to destroy everything.
Bad grades, but gets into Annapolis - thanks Dad. Bottom of his class but gets to fly fighter jets - thanks Dad. But he goes to war - he was no coward. I only wish he had done more for Vets that were not wealthy and admired when they came back. In the end, McCain was another wealthy conservative, a believer in Reganism and the trickle down economic model, even if he didn't understand it. Thank God he found an appreciation for people's need for health care in his final year, and of course, he was no coward.
7
One of the few respectable politicians in D.C has left us. To look at what is remaining to guide this country is very frightening to say the least.
7
What is happening NY Times? For an honest obituary of Senator John Sidney McCain III, please read the Wall Street Journal’s. I think you would agree that the last two years of the Senator’s professional life comprised only a fraction of his accomplishments, yet your obituary dedicated over half of its words to his conflicted relationship with President Trump. Please do not allow your writer’s current political views to undermine paying respect for those who have helped to shape our world.
2
I didnt agree with everything he stood for but he was a man of conviction and i respected him. he left this world better than he found it when he could.
4
Despite what one feels about John McCain’s politics, what we can’t dispute is his sacrifice to country. The man served in Vietnam as a fighter pilot and spent 5-and-a-half years as a POW. And he lived the majority of his life with the physical scars of torture as a result of his service.
So in a week that saw Paul Manafort convicted of tax fraud and Michael Cohen plead guilty to campaign finance violation, while implicating Donald Trump as a co-conspirator, John McCain’s death serves as his final sacrifice to remind us that we must preserve dignity and democracy.
19
McCain’s speech after healthcare thumbs down....about working together, partisanship and collaboration....
Excerpt:
"I’ve known and admired men and women in the Senate who played much more than a small role in our history, true statesmen, giants of American politics. They came from both parties, and from various backgrounds. Their ambitions were frequently in conflict. They held different views on the issues of the day. And they often had very serious disagreements about how best to serve the national interest."
“But they knew that however sharp and heartfelt their disputes, however keen their ambitions, they had an obligation to work collaboratively to ensure the Senate discharged its constitutional responsibilities effectively. Our responsibilities are important, vitally important, to the continued success of our Republic. And our arcane rules and customs are deliberately intended to require broad cooperation to function well at all. The most revered members of this institution accepted the necessity of compromise in order to make incremental progress on solving America’s problems and to defend her from her adversaries."
“That principled mindset, and the service of our predecessors who possessed it, come to mind when I hear the Senate referred to as the world’s greatest deliberative body. I’m not sure we can claim that distinction with a straight face today."
https://www.npr.org/2017/07/25/539323689/watch-sen-mccain-calls-for-comp...
9
Unfortunately John McCain will be remembered as an unrepented warmonger. His unfettered support to the disastrous Bush war in Iraq which resulted in more than a hundred thousand civilian's deaths was revealing. Also he will be remembered as the promoter of one of the most aggressive NATO push towards Russia (Ukraine meddling) and Serbia (also resulting in a score of civilian's deaths). In the positive side he was able to oppose Trump, particularly blocking the dismantle of the Obamacare.
2
Words can't express the extreme feelings of loss. Forever indebted for your service Senator McCain. Thank you.
8
Thank you for honoring John McCain‘s life long service to this country with your lengthy, front page obituary. I am puzzled and distressed by your decision to dedicate so many column inches of the obituary rambling about his “relationship” with Donald Trump. Trump is inconsequential to this man’s long and honorable life, and fixating as you did on Trump is disrespectful to Senator McCain and hurtful to his family.
6
While I disagreed with many of his positions, I admired him greatly. A true patriot and a man of integrity. His moral courage will be missed.
Trump will be tainted forever, but one of his most offensive word vomits was the insult to McCain's time as a prisoner of war. Considering the fact that Trump is a such a coward that he lied and abused the system multiple times to avoid serving himself, the insult has added foulness.
Can you imagine Trump as a prisoner of war?? Would he have even endured one moment of torture and confinement, let alone years?? Can you imagine him TURNING DOWN release to remain there in daily torture as an example to the other prisoners?? The fact that this coward feels free to insult a true American hero BECAUSE people like McCain have fought and died for our country's liberties is a concept that will be forever lost on a sociopath like Trump. His stench of cowardice will foul our country and the Republican party forever.
7
I lost my mother to brain cancer and my condolences go out to his family. Let us not forget that Presidential Candidate McCain gave us Sarah Palin and through that helped to usher in the political circus we have now.
6
With the death of John McCain, I am concerned about who, if anybody, can and will temper the party-over-the-good-of-the-country positions of Lindsay Graham. We've already seen the change of position that Graham has taken regarding the replacement of Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Graham was, for a 1.5 years, generally, in respect to others who are part of Trump's Republican party, a moderate voice. Now, with Graham's good friend John McCain no longer bending his ear, Graham has once again got his panties in a bunch has given up any semblance of patriotism in favor of party/Trump loyalty.
While my respect for McCain diminished significantly since his legitimization of idiotic political behavior by choosing Sarah "I can see Russia from my house" Palin, he did show political courage with his last Senate vote, thereby keeping the Affordable Care Act (which red-state Republicans like much more than Obamacare!) alive. So, in death, I respect that John McCain lived a very good, yet imperfect life (after all, he was a human being) and that his presence in the, hopefully short lived, era of Donald Trump will surely be missed. He was one of the last decent Republicans of prominence.
9
Defines the term authentic!
4
Thank you for that wonderful video about John McCain. I learned a lot about him.
3
Will Trump desecrate his funeral by attending? Or will he limit himself to uttering platitudes and hypocrisy?
6
MR , and Senator John MCcain I hope what GOD revived to yo in you kigdom forever .
Thanks by had livin in this world .
Mr, McCain Q.D.E.P.
Pace to there in the Sky for you Dear Senator
GRACIAS su Estancia en este mundo Gentleman
Claudio Ibarra Veranezzi .
1
The Republican party officially died last night. With John McCain gone, there are only self serving politicians who place an R behind their name.
Honorable Republicans were an endangered specie yesterday morning, Today they are another extinct specie.
No one can question Senator McCain's honor.
7
I'm a Democrat and I voted for John McCain in 2000 presidential primary and 2008 general election. I think people will look back and realize that he would have been an excellent president. But we should think about our missed opportunities.
Had he won in 2000, I don't think the 2nd US-Iraq war would have happened. He was too pragmatic, too wary of war. That war has cost the US over $2 trillion and thousands of young American lives.
Had he won in 2008, DJT would have had to run against Obama in 2016. The outcome of that contest is easy to estimate.
I'm sure DJT (45) will have watched cable TV and the outpouring of respect for John McCain - even by people who disagreed with him politically. I cry today.
By the time all of the DJT's corruption comes to light, I doubt if many will feel the same when his time comes.
3
I can think if no political figure in my lifetime (I am 67) who embodied in one person the contradictions and the best and worst of what DC offered regular citizens.
He could be a patrician in support of policies that supported the dangerous consolidation of wealth, income inequality and the erosion of the American dream for millions.
Then he could be the face of the DC we needed: crossing party lines to protect health insurance and uniting with Senator Feingold to as least partially protect our fragile democracy from campaign finance.
Too often he was more often about style than substance, preferring to take an anti-group think stance than to truly defy convention. Nothing about his opposition seemed sustained as if he was fighting the same gravitational pulls acting upon the culture of the Senate. While like many, I find so much to admire, I am also left wondering what he could have had he consistently embodied the gravity flashed at critical times, but on a sustained basis.
Then maybe I am so disgusted by how our democracy has been literally sold out, that perhaps I expected too much of any one hero who I prayed might save us from a political system that, except for voting, was no longer by, of and for the people.
5
What a man! It is a shame that more was not said about what unbelievable trauma he suffered in Vietnam. Broken bones, pulled from the waters by the Viet Cong, beaten, POW, TWO YEARS solitary confinement as he refused easier treatment because he was an admiral's son (Vietnam wanted to use him as a PR pawn). 5 years, enduring tortures and deprivation. Yet he did not become embittered. He led the movement to peace and reconciliation with Vietnam, and perhaps a more balanced perspective in world affairs. A good, strong man who walked the walk in a way that few other Americans ever have. RIP Mr. McCain.
4
I totally agree with Zach below. McCain does leave behind a complicated legacy - a low point was certainly his choosing Palin as VP. That was a very bad decision. A high point was his vote on ACA. That was a high point.
7
McCain isn't a hero, he pushed very hard for the the war in Iraq, supported the war in Yemen, gave huge tax cuts to the ultra wealthy and put the Tea Party on the main stage.
Stop trying to find some 'honorable adversary' in the Republican Party. They don't exist.
This kind of hagiography makes it clear that after Trump is gone the MSM is going to let the Republicans slip right back into the polis as though they haven't been actively tearing apart the country.
McCain is as much a part of the Republican effort to reorganize America into a kleptocracy as Mcconnell, Ryan and Trump are. He shouldn't be celebrated.
4
To all the accolades and descriptors to John McCain: Honor, Honesty, Hero and Patriot, we may have to add "the last true Republican of The Party of Lincoln." He was a man, with many flaws, who truly gave, as Lincoln said, "the last full measure of devotion" to the Constitution and the democracy he fought to "preserve and defend" both in war and in peace. He has sadly left us in a perilous moment to deal with an anti-Constitutional Trumpulican Party that stands for everything he fought against: bigotry, corruption, racism, misogyny, white supremacy and, most frighteningly, a Trump autocracy of oligarchs. We can best honor Sen. McCain by standing with him in defense of the Constitution by voting this November so "that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
8
I humbly stand in awe of John McCain and the courage that he showed while imprisoned in Hanoi. He was an example to all of us. He would have made a fine US President and the world would have been a be a better and safer place had he been elected. He will be greatly missed in these troubled times that we currently inhabit. May God bless him and his entire family as we mourn his loss. RIP John McCain you have earned it.
3
Why do we need "war hero" in the title? His legacy is never tainted without it. It's about time to remove "war" from the keyword list of American politics.
2
Rest your oar, John McCain, USNA 1958.
We've got the watch.
"There is a port of no return, where ships
May ride at anchor for a little space
And then, some starless night, the cable slips,
Leaving an eddy at the mooring place .
Gulls, veer no longer. Sailor, rest your oar.
No tangled wreckage will be washed ashore."
- Lost Harbor / Leslie Nelson Jennings
2
We will miss the "maverick" in DC. Today I went to his twitter account and tried to link onto his statement about The Trump/Putin Helsinki meeting, and lo and behold, it's already been deleted in the records of his Senate office.
https://mobile.twitter.com/SenJohnMcCain/status/1018919182904299520
4
Here's to John McCain. A war hero in a meaningless war, a presidential candidate I voted against, a senator who saved health care for millions, and an American in the best sense of the word. The clouds over our country just got a little bit darker.
6
If you read the press and watch the morning news shows, it would seem McCain's career can be summed up as: 1) POW, 2) guy who obseqiously lost to Obama, and 3) guy who put his "Maverick" legacy ahead of party/country, by voting against Obamacare repeal he previously supported. He was such a good loser to Obama, that he threw his own Vice Presidential candidate under the bus and Obama is speaking at the funeral (guess that's what you get for turning on your party and supporting Obama's only remaining "accomplishment"). In the end, McCain dies as a useful foil for the liberal media, and an honorary Democrat feted by Hillary Clinton, Schumer and Obama. It's bizarre how he is being politically weaponized by the media and the left.
3
With the passing of John McCain, the number of Senate Republicans with any integrity stands at zero.
9
If Republicans want to really honor Mr. McCain, they should stand up to Donald Trump the way MCain did.
11
Let's not forget his early and consistent backing for climate change legislation:
https://www.bna.com/oncestalwart-backer-climate-n73014482016/
3
John, Please give our Best Regards, to Saint Peter!
2
An honorable, courageous man who loved his country and treasured the opportunity to think and act as his conscience demanded.
John McCain's cancer could not be removed. The most fitting tribute to the memory of this distinguished American would be to remove the metastasizing cancer now weakening the American polity, the cancer that McCain so despised.
We have lost a true leader. Now we must rid ourselves of the narcissistic pretender who daily sullies all of the decency for which John McCain stood.
6
John McCain was in the wrong party. His endorsement of Sarah Palin(he said 'she is qualified for the VP position because she can see Russia from Alaska') was only surpassed by Trump and Dubya Bush as low points. The Iraq war was a disaster and waste, as was Vietnam. US pilots like Mccain bombed naked and starving kids in Cambodian villages under Nixon and Kissinger's direction. The GOP is an evil party he should have left long ago. The party is white supremacist and racist , and very nasty to minorities and immigrants, even legal immigrants.The 1 percent of the wealthiest in America, white men, hold power in the party and serve only themselves. They brutalize and demonize the poor. A few billionaires in the party control the media, including Fox News, and mass brainwash whites with the sole purpose of keeping power and enriching themselves limitlessly. He should have instead served the disadvantaged, the sick, and the homeless,the people trying to better lives, the students stuck with big loans, and the planet whose climate is under severe strain from man made activity, amongst other things, in a frugal and compassionate way-like Jimmy Carter and unlike Donald Trump
3
Well said.
Senator McCain is and will forever be a great American hero of the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Senate! A leader like no other.
Is it not weird that mr. chumps praises as a hero manafort for "not breaking" during his recent trial and stated that he believed Senator McCain was not a hero because he had been "captured" by the North Vietnamese. Well, it seems that manafort has been "captured" by prosecutors.
It truly appears that the Great Unraveling of chumps is underway. The terrible trouble is that no one, not even mr. chumps, knows what's going to happen next.
3
Although anyone reading this article may be confused about its content, i'm not.
I'm halfway reading it and apart a mention of one paragraph ( 10 lines ) about his childhood and another ten about his militar years in Vietnam, the whole article is about the last two Trump-era years, as if they only would be defining a two-term representative and six-term senator, and a war hero like mr. McCain was.
That's deplorable and uncharacteristic even for liberal journal as the nytimes. If the political agenda has to prevail also for obituary i think there is no meaning in reading it at all anymore, for the rest of the Trump-era.
Mr. McCain set the record straight when during his 2008 presidential campaign he defended mr. Obama as a family-man with whom he was in disagreement over political issues, against the rising culture of the radical right.
It's remarkable a republican did that and a liberal journal can't display such equanimity in his final hour.
Solon, the political citizen of Athens, said the a life can't be defined until it comes to its end, it's misleading to interpret this caution for freedom to make a difference in our own or on others life as a topsy-turvy political vision based on the political momentum and liberal agenda of propping up mr. McCain life to mr. Trump presidency; too narrow and too shallow such as it is to bind an entire life and to sum it up in his last two years, even as much as always rebellious he was.
I think the nytimes is very wrong on this.
5
@Alex p
I'm with you. This is a disappointing display of the MSM still not able to admit that the Republican Party is completely rotten.
They still need to find someone 'across the isle' to justify the narrative that there are two, equally well intentioned but different, sides to American politics.
McCain is no hero.
@Alex p But, as is often the way with NYT obituaries, it returns to the earley years later on. Keep reading!
I admired John McCain for his humanity. His stubbornness to adhere to important principles of freedom and democracy, demonstrated by his naval service, dedication to speaking up for democracy across the world and sponsorship of legislation for financial reform in elections.
I also admired his ability to truly "tell it like it is" long before other politicians. He did so on the Straight Talk Express in the 2000 presidential campaign and throughout his career on Meet the Press and Face the Nation. We will not find a safe full of secrets about him.
At the same time, he was human, and when he made mistakes in judgement he freely admitted it without throwing others under the bus. He took responsibility for his actions.
All that said, I agree with you, Alex p, I wish this article was more about John McCain than anyone else. He was much more vibrant, admirable and interesting.
Head and shoulders above the rest, without need for comparison.
1
Yes let’s mourn for a man that advocated for war at every opportunity and even sang a poor joke about it. By all means let’s mourn him and not all the faceless victims of McCain’s war mongering.
7
One of his enduring legacies will be the $7.7million he gladly accepted from the National Rifle Association, making him the highest recipient of the NRA Congressional lobbying effort. We should also remember the following comment from Mr. and Mrs. McCain after the Las Vegas massacre:
“Cindy & I are praying for the victims of the terrible #LasVegasShooting & their families.”
2
It is hard for me as a veteran to disparage anyone who has served his country honorably. However, I didn't agree Mr. McCain on his politics and I cannot forgive him for his deplorable choice of running mate during his failed 2008 Presidential campaign. Sarah Palin awoke a ugly segment of society and John McCain's failure to denounce her and her message helped usher in the most vile and ignorant President in our history. R.I.P John McCain.
1
In 2010, I attended a fundraising breakfast for McCain's senate re-election campaign. When he introduced himself, I mentioned that my co-worker, Ron, was still undecided about his vote.
McCain grabbed a piece of paper and wrote: "Ron, I need your vote! Listen to Carissa (always and on everything)," and signed his name. Ron still has the note, but I never did ask how he voted.
Let's also give credit to Cindy for being McCain's #1 supporter and an excellent campaign surrogate. Two class acts.
3
McCain had a brain tumor; what can I say but, "God bless," and hope he had a chance to read Paul Selig's work: "The Book of Knowing and Worth: A Channeled Text" prior to his passing.
"The divine is implicit in every manifested being. You cannot be here, incarnated, and not be an aspect of God." ...Paul Selig
2
Godspeed Senator John McCain, a man of integrity,valor and heroism who truly loved our country and dedicated his life to America. He has left a prodigious legacy.
It is so good to see that many others who did not vote for Senator McCain for president, nonetheless, hold him in deep respect. Wouldn't it be restorative if the current Republicans could also find their way across the aisle on behalf of our great country and in tribute to Senator McCain?
1
Arizona and America have lost a great politician, a man who stood for his beliefs and a fighter all the way. I didn't always agree with his political views, but admire his leadership.
I felt this was a comprehensive piece by The Times; it is too bad that the editors felt the need to shoehorn a long attack piece on Trump into the narrative.
2
John McCain was the kind of statesman the Founding Fathers envisioned when drafting our government -- one who would join with those across the aisle to fight for the greater good. Let's hope he's not the last.
4
RIP Senator McCain...he was one of the last truly honorable Republicans. it's a huge loss to their party...they are leaderless now.
1
God please share your grace on John McCain and grant this true man a final resting place with You.
He always fought for the American people and for what was right, even starting back as a Navy aviator and being captured in Nam. He could have hidden behind his own Dad's Navy success like Trump did and got an exemption from the draft, but he didn't-he went and served America proudly and Americans love him for it. Trump, well, he avoided serving on behalf of our Country and other Americans, he played golf, bone spurs and all.
2
An era has passed with McCain. His biggest legacy of advice was regarding Citizens United. That needs to be overturned if our Democracy is going to survive. RIP McCain.
In less than a decade, however, the Supreme Court’s Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision opened the money floodgate and led to the rise of super PACs, which can spend unlimited sums, as long as they do not coordinate directly with candidates.
Sen. McCain called it “the worst decision of the United States Supreme Court in the 21st century.”
2
This "news" article continues to be outrageously inappropriate. While Mr. McFadden amy be polar opposite to Mr. Trump, his comments come close to Mr. Trump's outrageousness. Last night, I pointed out the most egregious comments (for example, the characterization of his motivations) but there are so many other ones. Just the very first description of the man: "the proud naval aviator" rather than the patriotic naval aviator or one hundred other ones. It issue very wrong to suggest that he was motivated by pride and not by patriotism.
Read the Boston Globe article by Victoria Kennedy with the appropriate headline: "For John McCain, it was always country first."
2
Unfortunately Mr. McCain tarnished his legacy with a recent terrible vote that helped pass the Republican tax bill / fiasco. His presidential bid, and his choice of Sarah Palin, was another black mark. Prior to that, he was somewhat helpful to the country as a Republican maverick who could occasionally shine some light into the dark corners of that Grand Old Party.
RIP
3
Before we deify McCain too much, and yes, he was a war hero, a pretty decent guy from everything I've read, let's just take a moment to realize a couple of things: (1) He gave us Sarah Palin and, with her, the total idiotization of the U.S. Political landscape. Actually, in a twisted irony of fate, Palin made Trump possible by trivializing knowledge, intelligence and common sense and (2) when all is said and done he participated 90% fully of the current republican't administration.
Let's not forget any of that.
5
Given his sense of honor, Mr. McCain must have suffered more from guilt over the disaster he unleashed on the nation, i.e., the populism he legitimatized with Palin, than from his illness. May he rest in peace.
1
We democrats will dearly miss John McCain, an all-too-human but humane adversary, of good will. We’ll never forget his gallantry toward Barack Obama, explaining to crowds insulting Mr. Obama that the vote addressed only political differences and that the opposing candidate was to be respected. Our most sincere condolences to the McCain family!
3
"Justice Gorsuch’s installation tipped the court’s balance in favor of a conservative majority that seemed destined to last for years"
That's a blatant lie. And it shows how much mathematical-ignorant the author thinks readers would be ( but they're not)
The confirmation of mr. Gorsuch, a conservative leaning judge, was following up the vacant seat left by justice Scalia, another conservative judge.
Now, explain how detract a conservative judge, and then adding one is equal not to zero, i.e. to leave the count as it was before.
The real factor here, not mentioned you know why in a bit, was that the retirement of half-liberal half-conservative justice Kennedy is the balance breaker of the supreme court. This has nothing to do with mr. McCain because it's clear he couldn't cast a vote anymore on the next justice confirmation.
If, by chance the author would imply a recursive method, seeking the reasons of the status quo of the supreme court, he can do a better job and interview mr. Kennedy asking him why he was retiring a year into a republican presidency, or even better ex-justice mr. Stevens, over nineties by now, and he can ask him why he retired over 10 years ago, since he was very active in conference and statement after his retire.
He can but of course he won't, because it's simpler to cast the blame over a decesead republican senator.
The question is: why was the treatment stopped and why did Senator McCain die so soon, almost immediately, after said stoppage. It would seem that the only thing keeping him alive from one day to the next was this treatment. How can this be?
Is the only thing between life and death one day's worth of some powerful drug?
Big Pharma and the drug industry merits a total top to bottom Federal Level National Investigation.
1
The passing of John McCain should cause us to remember that in politics as in nature when the lion moves on the hyenas and the jackals move in.
1
My dad was a veteran of WW2 and became a NYC Fire Chief.
He died of brain and lung cancer it was a long demeaning process and seeing the suffering he went through I only appreciate my dad more I treasure his memory.
I honor Mr McCain and grieve for his and his family's loss as well as the loss to our country
We need more like him...
1
Two most important battles were against Republican party's death wishes: W and Trump.
Very sad. A true American hero.
But Senator McCain’s failure to select a grownup as his 2008 running mate likely cost him the election. Furthermore, the empty-headed and truculent Palin seemed to herald the rise of the even worse Trump and the GOP’s descent into utter corruption.
1
John McCain made me proud to be an American. As a maverick and a true patriot, he will be remembered with admiration and respect.
1
Thank you, Mr. McFadden, for this beautifully written essay. I appreciated its thoroughness, eloquence, balance, and heart.
2
In spite of any shortcomings (real or imagined) I wouldn't be surprised if he's better remembered than some who managed to win the Presidency. May he Rest In Peace.
It's not very often that the passing of a political leader brings tears to my eyes.
I will greatly miss the strength and stability that John McCain brought to our country.
John, thank you for your service. Thank you for your support and contributions. You are already cemented in our national history as one of the true hero's.
Rest in peace.
1
If required to use one word in capturing the character of Senator John McCain, that word would have to be magnanimous--I.e., gallant, chivalrous, great-hearted, high-minded, mobile, sublime. Although no longer with us, he will continue to serve the country he heroically served by helping future generation to understand what Lincoln was talking about when alluding to the "better angels of our nature."
5
Thank you Senator McCain for your great contributions in normalizing the US-Vietnam relationship. You have been and always be a great friend to Vietnamese people. Rest in peace Senator, you will always be missed.
McCain had resilience. It's an admiral quality. It's also contagious. So what stops us from igniting a resiliency building movement? What is it about those of us who care, not coming together to create what Urie Bronfenbrenner's Ecological System's Theory of Human Development would describe as a macro level pro social movement? We are a product of our situation. So let's create one that unites us - I don't mean standing next to you, shouting my beliefs. I mean, let's bond. United we stand. We are allowing ourselves to be divided by antisocial activities.
What's that? You don't know how? Boy do I have good news. People do. In fact, one mighty resilient professor has helped 1000's internalize a peer based, 'critical reflection', resiliency building practice - one that is completely transportable. What I am saying is let's call on these thriving souls and ask them to show up and circle up with us at our coffee shops - and build an Army of Care made out of tiny support troops who come together each week and use five questions to tell a story in a way that builds critical thinking skills, broadens world views and generates a sense of belonging - belonging to something bigger than each of us.
This is what is needed now, more than ever.
Oh, it gets better. These grads come from the most diverse public U with the most first generation college students from immigrant families. See, they really do matter. We need them. Just ask. They will show up. They are resilient!
¿Por Que No?
I often disagreed with Senator McCain and thought that he was too hawkish , but i never thought that McCain was anything but a loyal an honorable man who cherished this country . With so few leaders in the Republican Party that put country over partisanship he will be missed .
4
John McCain taught us the meaning of freedom. We will never forget his courage, humility, and humor because he turned out to be the best a human being can expect in service to our country. We are proud.
Our condolences to his family and all who loved him.
We will always salute the meaning of his America.
1
I believe our lauding of this man warrants caution.
People die daily who have used their lives to do amazing things. The attention given this particular individual extends beyond adulation to the point where there's a state imperative to all solemnly nod and repeat: "he was a good man, and a great statesman."
And yet, he squandered his abilities at every turn, backing a political party as it pushed racist policies and undermined the fabric of society. He willingly participated in a racist war, in which he committed acts legally understood to be clear-cut war crimes today, and should have been obvious crimes at the time.
This is not to wish ill upon him in his death. But we should ask the question: why are we all told that his death marks the passage of greatness to be honored like the flag, when, arguably, his contributions were very dark and harmful, however well meaning he might have been.
In short, the mandatory good will that is seemingly imposed by every major media outlet operates as instruction: being a water carrier for power makes you good, regardless of whose water you carry and for what purpose.
There are at least fifty people in your hometown paper's obituaries over the last year whose legacy was, on balance, more contributory toward good than this man. It is only his proximity to power that has generated the troubling aggrandizement in his death.
That constitutes worship of power; not reverence for a good man -- or any man in particular.
1
As he himself said he made mistakes. He was flawed as we all are but he served this nation with honor and dignity, how many of us say that.
1
If required to come up with one word to capture the character of Senator John McCain, that word would have to be magnanimous--that is, gallant, chivalrous, greathearted, high-minded, noble, sublime. He helped all of us understand what Lincoln was talking about when referencing the "better angels of our nature."
4
A fitting obituary for a man who served his country. There's too much Trump in the story though; I'd want more on his political life in the 1980s and 1990s.
1
As others have said, I too am far in distance - here in Hove, England - and politically from Mr. McCain, and there are moments in your splendid obituary at which I wince. That said, he was a pragmatic man - and, surely, never more so than in enduring unimaginable events in Hanoi. If I may speak from a different level of the democratic spectrum, as somebody who surprised everybody here by winning a seat on the Council as a Green candidate, I found that the way our minority Administration needed to pass such proposals as a 20 mph speed limit was by prevailing upon some of the Conservative members (surreally, Labour was against it), and we did so - often with bantering good humour. What Mr. McCain's sad death has done is highlight that, in face of the Trumpian horrors being endured by America, is that some parts of the Republican Party should continue to find common ground with the Democrats (and indeed the smaller Parties who are frozen out of the current set-up) so that America can redeem itself in the gaze of a world that is itself widely troubled in a way that few can recall there being anything like it in their lifetimes.
I am sorry to say I send no condolences. McCain and Bush conspired years ago to deny military veterans their benefits while proclaiming their support for all military members. After Democrats restored benefits to the military members, especially education benefits, both Bush and McCain bragged that they had restored benefits themselves. We now have a GOP which routinely violates its promises to the military. Taxpayers supported millionaire McCain and his 2nd wife as they benefited from every American they harmed. The whole truth, please?
25
The Democrats are already treating him like JFK.
They want to rename the Senate building after him even though it is named after someone else.
It is sad when anyone dies buy lets not forget how many times McCain complained about Republican bill or action, and then went right ahead and voted for it anyway.
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/11/john-mccain-caps-career-by-...
10
@Rick
Have you never changed your mind after making a comment or observations?
Change is a part of growing and hopefully maturing, and no that's not a universal truth but an overall observation.
1
Is there a more pointed commentary on our current commander-in-chief than the fact John McCain - a true patriot, war hero, and person of unquestionable decency - doesn't want the president anywhere near his funeral.
All DonalD could muster was a one sentence tweet.
Sad!
8
Kelly Sadler:
Kelly Sadler told a meeting that McCain's opposition to CIA director nominee Gina Haspel didn't matter "because he's dying".
The White House refused to condemn her remark.
The words from the White House speak for themselves.
15
This is how modern American mythology is made. No thanks, not going there.
Reagan's patriot legacy is the worst.
16
The United States of America and the world has lost a very brave and courageous soul. Senator John McCain was an inspiration to many, and my deepest condolences to the McCain family. An American, a brother, a United States Navy Captain, a defender, a father, a fighter, a human being, a husband, a legend, a maverick, a patriot, a pilot, a prisoner of war, a United States Representative, a United States Navy Sailor, a United States Senator, Veteran, and a War Hero are just some of the few distinctions that made John Sidney McCain III the person he was.
Senator McCain was an exemplary individual who stayed true to himself despite stiff opposition at key points in his life, without losing sight of the fundamental principles and values of the United States of America. The selfless sacrifice and service Senator McCain dedicated his entire life to ensure a better tomorrow may exist for all future Americans and all future residents of the world is honorable and noble. We as a nation are forever in debt to you Senator John McCain.
Unfortunately the opportunity to meet you in person has passed, and it does sadden me. However, the memory of your life shall always remain a great source of strength and inspiration to people whom you have made a meaningful impact on their lives. Both directly and indirectly. Bravo Zulu for your Honor, your Courage, and your Commitment to a life greatly lived. May fair winds and calm seas guide your soul to peace and eternal rest shipmate. You earned it.
4
This is a sad day for the family for sure and I send them sincere condolences. McCain should have left office years ago. Sarah Palin is his burden just as Iraq is George Bush's. It is ironic that Bush is comfortably retired in Texas and painting.
6
"The best laborer dead, and all the shelves to bind."
--Yeats
4
A genuine American patriot. RIP, Senator McCain. Thank you for your tireless service to our country. And thank you for your unrelenting condemnation of our con artist/criminal president!
9
John McCain told us all everything we need to know about Donald Trump when McCain voted against the repeal of the ACA.
Thumbs down on Donald Trump.
5
Unfortunately, the many attacks from the ignorant suggest that it's be useful to note that no, John McCain did not set fire to the Forrestal. That's a fat lie that started showing up after McCain helped squash the attempt to repeat the PPACA.
https://www.politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2017/aug/07/blog-postin...
He also didn't pander to Bush on a torture bill that ended up being vetoed, though that's more complex. Look it up.
I disagreed with McCain on a long, long list of issues that included an abysmal VP pick and his snarling at Iran every five minutes. It's a Good Thing that a man like that was in the Senate, and we could use more like him on every side. ("Decent side," almost goes without saying; the long, long list of vicious racists and greedheads won't be able to come up with any, anyway.)
I recommend checking out your mirror, and asking if when you check out you'll have been as decent and honest and useful as John McCain.
11
@Robert
"He also didn't pander to Bush on a torture bill that ended up being vetoed, though that's more complex. Look it up."
There is a well researched piece by Jennifer Williams on this topic called "Sen. John McCain’s complicated moral legacy on torture". She relies on primary sources, which she cites. You'll find it at vox.com, which is a legitimate news site. Alas, McCain did indeed pander to Bush-Cheney on torture. As he himself might have put it, it's not complicated. It is, however, unfortunate.
1
Dear NYT:
McCain was a patriotic, brave, larger than life yet modest American politician whose many qualities -- and many flaws, including a sharp tongue -- cannot be contained in a political obit such as this one.
In the context of his political life, the liberal media had a love/hate relationship with McCain that is not reflected in this story. Indeed, the Times did its part in stabbing McCain in the back when it published a false story claiming he'd had a long-running affair with a lobbyist, and in the insulting way it treated his decision to suspend his political campaign to try to fix the economic crisis.
It is also deeply unfortunate that The Times cannot resist taking repeated pokes at their nemesis Trump in a column that should have been focused on McCain himself, and not devolve into yet another anti-Trump screed -- one of too many funhouse mirror distortions that come when the entire world is viewed through the prism of Trump hatred.
3
@Jorge
Trump is not the NYT's "nemesis." That lends far too much respectability to Donald Trump and obscures the grotesquerie, the calamity of this presidency. The man is a monster - not somebody's "nemesis."
1
Hagiography today, but will he be remembered in the future for any meaningful legislation bearing his name?
6
And this is the man Donald "Bone-Spur" Trump called a
"loser" and "no hero" for being captured when he was shot down over Hanoi.
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/19/us/politics/trump-belittles-mccains-w...
Donald Trump is the man who “always felt that I was in the military,” thanks to his time at a military-themed boarding school. When you read of McCain's time in Hanoi, and the torture he endured, these statements by Trump should not be forgotten.
I hope the press corps will take this up the next time they het a chance.
11
A universally respected man.
2
The best laborer dead, and all the sheaves to bind.
--Yeats
13
Fantastic allusion from a brilliant poet.
3
Hopefully a letter to Donald Trump can be sent, asking him to refrain from attending the services; any involvement by him would simply be yet another insult to one of America's finest statesmen.
13
I did not vote for John McCain in 2008.
I mourn for him in 2018.
Any sensible person would agree he was a person who helped make America great. Flawed as all humans are, he had character traits that we, as well as our political leaders, would do well to emulate.
3
@Feldman
It was all over the news months ago that McCain’s dying wish was to NOT have donnie attend his funeral.
After all, donnie “only likes hero’s who weren’t captured.”
4
@Feldman I think Mr. McCain insisted that Trump should not turn up at the funeral. I should also not wish Trump to appear at mine!
3
You mentioned that he opposed Clinton’s intervention in Somalia. I must point out that it was George H, W. Bush who sent troops to Somalia in December 1992.
7
Besides a war Hero America lost one of the last in Congress that was able to cross the aisle. I don't know how many like him are left, but I'm sure few. From what I read and hear he had friends on both sides of the aisle. Isn't that What America Needs today?
Back in 2008 he shut down that woman in a Town Hall in Mn, she was trying to say Obama is an Arab. No No! McCain said he a fine decent family man we have differences on issues that what this campaign is about. How did the Republicans go from McCain in 2008 to Today? Rest in Peace Senator.
4
"Gear, Hook, Ball." Keep it on the centerline.
Rest in peace, Sir.
2
Let us be rational and careful in our comments about this man, John McCain. His attributes overwhelmed his failures. But in the future we will find troubling aspects of his life. These should not negate his value to America.
3
@George Kamburoff
Some of these troubling attributes are mentioned in the article no one is perfect.
The total is greater than the sum of the parts is something I truly believe is true of all humans.
1
My all time favorite moment of John McCain's public life was during the 2008 presidential campaign, when he was confronted by a question about Obama not being "American". Instead of taking the low road, as we so often do in this day and age, McCain rose to the occasion and countered with a very simple, yet poetically eloquent answer.
This is the John McCain I am choosing to remember, a man that was as flawed and contradictory as the next man, yet with a fundamental sense of decency that guided him throughout his life.
John McCain was far from perfect and I did not always agree with his beliefs and/or his politics, but he was also self critical, willing to learn from his mistakes (the Keating Five to Campaign Finance Reform) and in his own way, tried as best as he could to make us both a better country and people.
I will miss Senator John McCain and he will most certainly be missed in the Senate in this time of perpetual crisis. His voice was one of the few that challenged the darkness that is overtaking his party and possibly this country.
We needed that voice!
Rest in peace Senator John McCain. You have served this country proudly and maybe there is still time to learn from your legacy.
4
@TE
That's a balanced comment on a human who tried to do well. Thank You.
I have admired John McCain for many years, even though I didn't always agree with him. In this crazy age of Trump, we really need more people like John McCain-- individuals with honor, integrity, and intelligence. So sad that he is gone.
4
An honorable,sharp,feisty man who always put country over party . How I miss that notion. Peace be with you John McCain.
4
I counted 111 paragraphs in the print edition of the obituary; 27 of them are devoted to belittling President Trump. Much of the general reactions to Mr. McCain's death are crocodile tears from people who never have, and never will, vote for a Republican if their lives depended on it.
2
@PoppiaeaSabima
Not sure how you know how many of the writers-in voted; unless, of course, you have some connection to the TrumPutin campaign...
As for critiquing your president in an obit about McCain, the only down side I see is that John McCain reportedly wanted trump nowhere near his funeral, so perhaps it’s too bad that trump’s name should appear anywhere in his obituary.
On the other hand, because John McCain himself was so opposed to trumputin presidency, withstood so many grotesque insults from your preferred president, and so rightfully sustained trumputin as a person,it might be a tribute to McCain to (rightfully) criticize someone who represents and enacts so much of what hero McCain spent his life bravely fighting.
1
@PoppaeaSabina
I have vote for Republicans but never will again. My life and the lives of many does depend on us all sending the Republican party where it belongs - on the ashheap of history.
2
John McCain was an American patriot, a hero and a leader who set the example of country and service before self. I do not blame Mr. McCain for unleashing Sarah Palin on America, I blame the sickness that has subsumed the GOP and given us Donald Trump. To see how far the GOP has fallen, you need only compare and contrast Mr. McCain with Trump. One goes down in history as a selfless patriot and a hero, the other will go down in history as a charlatan and a coward who selfishly placed himself before everything and everyone else. Republicans, take this moment to take a long hard look at yourselves. Thank you, Mr. McCain, for your service and the example you set. Rest in peace.
7
It's a shame that John McCain is gone. Now more than ever, we could use a couple-three Senators of his stature and his honor. And whatever his flaws and mistakes, he led a long, honorable life in the service of his country. Seems to've taken a fair amont of joy in his life, too.
One way to celebrate his long life of service might be to take stock, and ask after our own failures and indecencies and sanctimonies. Then try and do better.
4
If there are just a few words to describe him, it would be “strength of character.”
Losing him at any time is sad.
Losing him at this juncture history is the worst.
Now is the time that Americans really needed him.
Because total lack of character defines the current White House residents.
4
I know this about John McCain - he dropped bombs on men, women, and children in Vietnam. Most of them never lived to 81. I don’t consider that heroism. Real heroes went to Canada and said no to the killing of innocents in another war that was trumped (excuse the expression) up by our government.
8
@Ben
When serving in any part of the armed forces you can be ordered to do things you don't agree with.
I also have great respect for the folk who objected to the war in Vietnam that includes those that fled what they considered a corrupt war and strongly believed the U.S. Government was wrong.
5
A sad loss for our country. Stay strong, family McCain.
And when you are ready, Meghan, maybe we’ll see you on a ballot...
5
Senator McCain was the type of individual you could disagree with, respectfully. Godspeed sir.
3
I liked the man - to the point I would have gone out of my way to shake his hand.
3
I will never forgive him for bringing Sarah Palin into our political landscape and tabloids. What was he ever thinking?
8
He was our Senator. I did not vote for him once. I did not agree with him often. I respected him always.
Condolences to his family and to our diminished Senate and nation.
4
At a moment when we can least afford to lose that rare politician with integrity, one who puts country over party, perhaps a fitting tribute would be to favor those, regardless of party, who seek bipartisan solutions and eschew the sort of party gamesmanship best exemplified by mitch mcconnell that has so divided and weakened our country. The McCain approach writ large would have prevented a trump; the mcconnell approach encouraged it. Thank you for your service, John McCain.
2
In a companion article regarding lying in state and funeral services, it is said that VP Pence will attend, but not Mr. Trump. I hope that means that Trump wasn't invited. Trump's presence would be an insult to public service and self sacrifice to the nation, things that Trump doesn't believe in and knows nothing about.
5
John McCain appears to have been an honorable man with some worthwhile legislative accomplishments, notably in campaign finance reform.
Unfortunately, he was also a warmonger. He truly and sincerely believed in an expansionist, interventionist U.S. foreign policy. As a result, the U.S. became involved in a series of ill-fated, expensive conflicts and now has an unsustainable defense budget that is driving enormous deficits. His foreign policy wasn’t “evil”, it was just dangerously misguided, aggressive, and increasingly outdated. This is why, despite being a lifelong conservative, I could not vote for John McCain for president.
On a personal level, may John McCain rest in peace and may his family be at peace during these difficult times. On a national level, may the United States’ foreign policy finally evolve beyond its unipolar orientation.
4
He was the only republican presidential candidate I ever considered voting for since I became eligible to vote in 1988. As others have noted, his choice of Sarah Palin as a running mate was unfortunate, but more unfortunate is that the political climate gave him little choice. I knew I would be sad when he passed, but am surprised by how deeply I feel this loss. My sincerest condolences to his family.
4
Fierce independence and integrity is how I will think of Senator John McCain. What he advocated he believed was correct, politics was secondary. Any person who refused to leave his war comrades because of honor to country and honesty to themself is a man for all seasons.
4
A man, a life and a legacy come full circle.
Bravery of indescribable proportion.
A warrior, a patriot and an American icon.
Architect of an unwitting trajectory which changed the American political scene in a devastating fashion.
And in the end, a man who found himself again and in that finding, reminded us all that honor burns with an incandescent flame.
Lighting the darkness.
Godspeed, John McCain.
3
War hero? Enduring torture does not make one a hero, even if it deserves our profound thanks and respect. Politically, McCain looks good mostly in comparison to our so-called President. He was one of the very few Republicans willing to say the emperor has no clothes and willing to put country before party.
5
@David, please don’t question Sen. McCain’s heroism. Could you survive under those conditions for five years and not give up any information and demand not to be released until other prisoners are released first? You sound very naive.
4
@David
I believe you may want to rethink the meaning of hero.
4
A wonderful, admirable man. I suggest that everyone also read Robert Timburg's "A Nightingale's Song," a splendid look at five Naval Academy grads. John McCain, with all his flaws, and James Webb stand far above the others profiled with Oliver North, because of his shameful behaviors at the Academy and after, stands at the bottom. Regarding survivors, Senator McCain's sister lives in Annapolis and I believe his mother is still alive.
1
America has lost a great statesman. No one can replace John McCain, but my hope is that some young person (or people) will be inspired by his example to heal the great divide in our nation by bringing his grace and honor back to our political system.
I am a Democrat, and I, for one, will greatly miss this hero. His was a voice of reason and hope in a time of chaos.
Condolences to his family and friends.
2
Never liked him.
Hated his politics.
He has his place in the Hall of Infamy of the Republican Party for bringing a plainly divisive and ultimately incompetent character, Sarah Palin, to be his Vice Presidential running mate.
His vote on the repeal of the Affordable Care Act was, I would say, at least 2/3 politics (if not more so), and probably didn't reflect his true opinion on the matter.
I DO admire his stand when he was captured by the North Vietnamese, his endurance of that, and the accompanying privation and torture, and the fact that he could have been released much earlier due to the fact that his father was an Admiral, he refused, and chose to stay with his fellow prisoners. One cannot but admire this.
But in the end, his surrender to the corruption of politics, money, and power proved too much - and the good that he could have done, remains largely undone.
9
I left the GOP the day after Senator McCain selected Palin, thinking it was a serious lapse in judgement, even reckless. I’d been headed to the exit for years and had even voted for Gore in 2000. But the Palin choice was the final straw.
Three years ago I had a surprise encounter with the Senator in Scottsdale through a mutual friend. At one point in the conversation I asked him, respectfully but timidly, “was it really as bad behind the scenes like we saw in ‘Game Change’? McCain kind of glared at me and winked and said “never saw it”
Later on that night he brushed by our table, then stopped and leaned into my ear and softly offered “it was worse”.
Some really beautiful tributes in the comment section here today to match the accolades on the Sunday shows. A sad day brightened by uplifting words about an American hero and patriot.
21
The last decent Republican was Senator John McCain. A man you could agree to disagree with. He will be remembered for reaching out to others to try to resolve difficult issues. He also smiled often and was not rancorous ad the vast amount of Republicans.
6
Thank you, Senator McCain, for having the courage to save ObamaCare when no other Republican would step up. Because of you millions of Americans (including me) will keep our healthcare. Peace be with you and your family.
8
There are many words to describe US Sen. John McCain in life, like patriotic, dedicated, ferociously independent, courageous in war and politics.
There are no words to capture the sorrow of his death.
McCain was a man for all reasons. Amid the presidency of his antithesis, it seems the naval officer was never needed more. But we always needed men like McCain. There's one question now for our nation, Is there anyone to pick up his mantel?
The best way to honor the hero who honored our nation is for Republicans to show up. You can name any number of ships, airports and buildings for John McCain III, but if you don't pursue his mission against our naked emperor, Donald Trump, you have no voice in our politics.
3
Can the POTUS resist tweeting about this?
3
Donald Trump "showed a refreshing willingness to disregard political correctness." So did Adolf Hitler.
As a life-long Democrat, I never voted for Senator McCain for anything nor did I like most of his political policy choices - including Sarah Palin. But I deeply appreciate John McCain's lifelong service to his country and his basic decency, both of which are lacking in our present so-called president.
I am saddened by the painful end of the senator's life. But he leaves behind an example of his decency and readiness to embrace all of his fellow Americans for the betterment of all. This country owes him its respects.
22
John McCain was a hero and the world suffered a huge loss with his passing. My condolences to his family.
My ire is not for John McCain but for Mr. McFadden, the writer. Mr. McFadden, can you think of a word other than “horde” to describe the Chinese army? As you know this conjures up all kinds of racist imagery. You have a thesaurus. There is a thesaurus function in Microsoft Word. Use it.
10
Fair winds and following seas, Senator McCain.
13
You know someone was a decent man when a major newspaper allows the people to comment on his death.
15
I’m not sure comment makes sense or is at all respectful towards the departed.
Head over to Breitbart for a view into the beating hearts of Trump supporters. You will be shocked.
9
@Djt, why lower ourselves? Those haters will always be haters no matter what.
3
@Djt Those of us more fully informed on McCain's time as a POW and his complicity in allowing the Vietnamese to not comply with releasing the data on all Americans held by them, a fact clearly laid out by Pulitzer Prize winning NY Times reporter and author Sidney Schanberg(The Killing Fields) in a blistering expose 8 years ago, have a markedly different opinion of the man.
1
Ahhh... America lost a great one! Sending condolenses to his family.
6
Even though his plane was shot down, by any measure, John McCain is a winner.
6
Thank you Sir.
6
I had to admire Senator McCain and his many heroic acts, one of the last of which was how he stood up to Donald Trump when the latter tried to gut †he ACA.
His worst mistake was when he unleashed Sarah Palin on the nation as he chose her as his running mate. But he more than made up for it with his honorable behavior at the "Hanoi Hilton" in the face of horrible torture for 5 years.
I did not agree with much of what he stood for and never voted for him, of course. But I always understood where he was coming from and respected his opinions.
He will be greatly missed!
7
@JG
I agree 100%.
I was very impressed with McCain's concession speech after the 2008 Presidential election, which was quite eloquent.
I was even more impressed that he did not let Sarah Palin speak at that time.
2
Two Americans-Two America's! One a courageous war hero, maverick, respected and respectful, brave, sincere, leader-representing Americans who love this country and understand we are inclusive and accepting: the other, egotistical, bullying, self serving, draft dodger who got ahead by childlike behavior of name calling, disrespecting others, scamming and finding loopholes to sneak ahead-representing those who show hate, disrespecting those who don't share their views, liars, scammers, and basically the lowest of lows. You decide who these two Americans are-you decide which man to honor and respect!
3
Strange how a patriotic American who was the very image of a war hero, was demonized by Democrats, liberals and progressives for many, many years when he espoused conservative values, suddenly became a hero of the same Democrats, liberals and progressives simply because he had verbal battles with candidate Donald Trump. McCain was a Viet Nam war vet who spent 5 years in the Hanoi Hilton, and was repeatedly tortured. Yet he was spit upon by the anti-war left, and repeatedly demonized by the same Democrats, liberals and progressives who now write glowing comments here about his military and Senate service. The hypocrites on the left are out in force. How do they live with themselves?
3
How do you know they are the same democrats? I see many democrats in the comments section criticizing his stance on war (given his first hand experience), others are saying they may not have agreed with his politics but they respect the man, some are saying they respect him for standing up to trump and being true to his beliefs. The left is not a monolith.
2
Oh, by having enough decency not to use the man's death to score cheap little points, a knowledge of what actually happened, enough strength of character not slavishly to repeat Hannity, stuff like that.
I disagreed fairly bitterly with the Senator on a long, long list of issues. Basic approaches, too. Very few of the folks who'd agree with me ever went after the man's character and courage, which rather separates us from at least one current President.
We'd do well to find a few more John McCains.
2
Whatever one thinks of the Vietnam war, John McCain was not its architect, so it would be absurd to hold that against him. McCain served bravely and sacrificed for our country, for which we are all indebted to him.
Political differences are always with us, but so what. McCain served the Senate with integrity and he never hesitated to reach for bipartisan efforts. We respect that.
To see real hostility towards McCain, you need look no further than Donald Trump. Mocking McCain for getting captured? Saying McCain's "no" vote was due to illness? Failing to apologize for a staffer dismissing McCain's views because he was dying? Trivializing McCain's anti-torture stance? How does Trump live with himself?
In memory of Senator John McCain:
'Tis said that courage is common, but the immense esteem in which it is held proves it to be rare. Animal resistance, the instinct of the male animal when cornered, is no doubt common; but the pure article, courage with eyes, courage with conduct, self-possession at the cannon's mouth, cheerfulness in lonely adherence to the right, is the endowment of elevated characters.
RALPH WALDO EMERSON, Society and Solitude
4
The worst non-combat loss of life in the U.S. Navy was not the Forrestal incident. It was the 1944 Port Chicago munitions explosion, which took 390 lives, mostly of African-American sailors.
7
@Paul McBride
And the 1983 Marine barracks bombing.
Marines are actually the Navy's Army. Marines will take offence at that fact, but that's what they are.
As a longtime Democrat I did not vote for McCain in 2008. I didn't learn of his experiences in Viet Nam until recently. I grew to respect the man for his principles and solid sense of honor and patriotism . When looking at the abomination of a president and the rotten rabble of Republicans in congress we have now, I wish he had won the presidency in 2008. History would have gone in a different direction and Donald Trump may never have crawled out of his rat-hole on 5th Avenue.
2
John Mcain,a true American hero unlike the disgusting draft dodger who presently inhabits the White House,contrast and compare,one an honourable man the other who has debased the very meaning of the word daily,rest in peace John McCain a life lived with Honour.
4
People who bomb civilian targets are disqualified from the title of “hero”. The “just following orders” rationalization didn’t work in Nuremberg, and it shouldn’t work for McCain.
1
RIP John McCain, and with that, RIP the last vestiges of integrity the GOP still possessed.
3
"The best president this country has ever known" Ran a fraudulent " university" and had to pay 25 million dollars to settle a class action suit before he took office. " The Best President.........." Bragged about touching woman inappropriately. And has 19 women accusing him of that inappropriate behavior. " The Best President....... " said the free press was the enemy of the people. " The Best President........."
Insulted the parents of a soldier who lost his life in Iraq."The Best President......." who had five deferments insulted every prisoner of war dating back to the Revolution. Must I continue?
5
Godspeed, Sen. McCain. You will be missed.
1
God bless you, John McCain.
5
I sincerely hope that what's-his-name* doesn't even think about tweeting a single word about McCain, much less try to horn in on any commemoration ceremony.
(* I can't bear the thought of writing this man's name in the same sentence as McCain's today.)
2
The best way we could honor Sen. McCain would be to end the divisiveness in our Congress and country.
Can we be as interested in our country's welfare and work together as did this honorable man?
Perhaps we can, if the right leader comes along. Hope springs eternal!
John McCain was the first presidential candidate we donated to, and the LAST great Republican IN Congress! We, never voted Republican again.
Godspeed, sir. You are one of the good guys and an American Patriot!
1
I liked a few things McCain said very much, especially what he said against our policy of torturing people. In the meantime, you have to wonder how much of a media creation McCain was and still is.
Being a maverick doesn't mean you were a good person. Trump is a maverick in his tweets, but in his actions, DJT is very much a classic Republican, money before people (except your family and close friends).
If you look closer at McCain's career you can see some laudable actions and a few nonconformist utterances, interspersed in between a lot of very ordinary Republican politics as usual, and a warmongering in his later years which helped caused the death of millions (yes millions, just look at the numbers) of people. There was also that incident that he apparently lied about in which it appears his cowardice caused the the death of many sailors and airmen on the USS Forrestal?
As one insightful commentator wrote, as we make a paragon of virtue out of McCain aren't we encouraging future leaders to think it is OK, even laudable, to support the invasions of other countries? Who can forget McCain being a maverick by singing "Bomb, bomb Iran?" We helped overthrow the very popular Iranian President, Mossadegh, in 1953. Is that when one of our regime changes backfired? You have to ask how much did McCain's warmongering contribute to the death and suffering of our own soldiers?
Many decent human beings deserved to be honored a lot more than McCain.
3
Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet prince—And may angels sing thee to thy sleep.
1
A huge loss in America and in the world.
It is a shame that decency among politicians is no longer taken for granted.
Condolences from Norway.
4
This was truly a great loss for this country, few men have shown the honer, courage or dignity McCain showed throughout his life and in the era of polarization we need voices of men like McCain more than ever.
3
As a Democrat, I can say honestly, it's sad to see him pass. What's even sadder is there are few, if any Republicans that can fill his shoes. If McCain can be remembered for anything, it's integrity, a trait sadly lacking in the Congress on Red side of the aisle.
He was indeed flawed. Of course a war hero. Who was the last president we elected who was an actual war hero? Or even a veteran? Much as the military is worshipped, actual service by a leader doesn't seem to count for much with Americans in the end. Could be Eisenhower, whose decent and populist policies, in these times, would be hysterically mislabeled Communist.
I liked tuning in to the Sunday shows back in the eighties when he and Biden smiled away in their beautiful overcoats. Those days are gone. McCain said he wished he had chosen Biden for his running mate. He should have.
What I wonder is just how the Republican party can force someone like him into their heinous agenda. It can't just be money. What do they do to people? Make them complicit in treasonous money-laundering? What is it that makes people, even people of integrity, into lap dogs of the corporate elite?
McCain was flawed. I so wish he had also voted against this harmful tax bill. I so wish any one of the retiring dinosaurs who presided over this half-century transfer of virtually all wealth to the .001%—as a parting gesture—would at least—at the very least— get rid of the ridiculous oil subsidies.
3
John McCain may have been the last true Republican patriot, a man who placed service to country over party, Although I am a Democrat, I grieve his loss, but even more, the loss of what he represented : decency, courage, and integrity. His absence will now serve to emphasize how totally craven, hypocritical and self-serving the Trump Republican Party has become.
1
So many herein are using their praise of John McCain as an opportunity to slam the appalling Donald Trump.
Funny thing is, I’m old enough to remember when Democrats were posting venom against McCain. You know, back in the old days of the 2008 campaign against the revered Barack Obama.
In other words, spare those of us who’ve always appreciated Senator McCain the situational praise.
1
The death of Senator McCain is truly a great loss for the Senate and this country. I didn't think it was possible to have a lower opinion of Trump then I already have, but when compared to the life and Career of Senator McCain, Trump not only doesn't meet the minimum standards for President he doesn't even meet the minimum standards for a human being. R.I.P. Senator McCain.
1
Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet prince—And may angels sing thee to thy rest.
3
I did not agree with many of McCain's political positions but I respected him for his military service, his edgy candor, and strict adherence to the truth. His word was his bond and his reputation was unsullied by any scandals. If we had to have a Republican in the presidency I would have preferred McCain to the national disgrace residing in the White House today. RIP Captain McCain.
1
Though I frequently disagreed with Mr. McCain on matters of policy, I always thought him a man of integrity and honor.
I can say that of very few members of the current administration.
May he rest in peace and may his family be comforted among all mourners.
Obama unlike his successor said it and lives it best "?..all of us can aspire to the courage to put the greater good above our own. At John’s best, he showed us what that means.”
4
Although I disagreed with the positions John McCain took on some domestic issues, he was a patriot through and through.
He was a man who lived his values and was consistent in his thoughts and actions. He believed in honor and civility. He loved his family. He loved his friends. He treated people with respect. I'm not sure why these qualities made him a maverick.
We should all then aspire to be mavericks.
His politics and mine were mostly diametrically opposed, but as a brother in the USA warrior class he was both a hero and inspiration to me and so many others who have served this country in uniform. John McCain was many things both good and bad, but at his core he was about service to his country. The words duty, honor, country meant everything to him, and to me.
Before we get too overwrought and sentimental about John McCain, either in life or in death, let's remember just one thing. Based on his own tragic experience, McCain was opposed to use of torture. Yet when a bill came before the senate to ban use of torture by all US personnel, McCain opposed it and voted no. Not because he'd suddenly become convinced torture was the right thing to do, but because he wanted George W's endorsement in the presidential primaries he planned to run in. When the bill passed the senate anyway, he publicly called on Bush to veto it, thereby giving Bush moral cover for the veto.
This ethical compromise for the sake of political expediency, even in the face of his own beliefs and cruel suffering, reveals an unfortunate but unavoidable aspect of his character. There's no other way to put it. McCain was the country's most credible and authoritative voice in the matter of torture. But when time came to provide leadership in taking a stand against it, McCain didn't merely falter, he lent his authority to the other side.
I too am sorry to see him go, but let's remember him as he was, not as we would have wanted him to be.
7
Here was a man of courage, honor and conviction. He believed that the nation was more important than the desire for power of one man. His name should be added to Kennedy's PROFILE IN COURAGE.
1
Crossing the Bar by Alfred Lord Tennyson
Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
when I put out to sea,
But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.
Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;
For tho' from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crost the bar.
Rest in Peace John.
11
I recall he once said to have his honor questioned was in some ways worse than the torture he suffered in Vietnam.
5 and one half years of captivity.
He spoke out against torture. He was against Trump's harsh immigration policies and what happened on the border with families.
He seemed spot on that the intent of Trump's America First endeavor was a “half-baked, spurious nationalism cooked up by people who would rather find scapegoats than solve problems.”
He spoke up to support NATO. And referenced Trump's performance with Putin in Helsinki as a tragic mistake
He wanted to reform the system of campaign donations.
Yes, McCain had his hard right issues-- many have hard left issues as well. But he voted his conscience to not destroy Obamacare, as he was receiving advanced medical care for brain cancer. He came to D.C. against his own doctor's orders. That's a maverick indeed, to the end.
1
Let John McCain’s last act in a life of honor, sacrifice and service be to stand as a symbol of integrity in contrast to lesser men now occupying the leadership of his party. He stood above them all.
2
I disagreed with many of McCain's positions, but was never under the impression that he held his position due to money, power, lobbyists or dogma. He was truly independent.
1
I am deeply saddened by John McCain's passing. Although I may not have always agreed with his politics, he was a giant - in service, in public policy, in life. His legacy - as a man of courage, of honor, of sacrifice, of admitted human frailty - is something to admire, no matter where you stand on the political spectrum. More people in public service, more Americans, more of humanity - have much to learn from his example.
Rest in peace, Senator McCain. The torch is passed...
2
God Speed Senator McCain.
You are a true American hero, a national treasure, and the definition of patriot. You served your country with dignity, grace, courage and empathy for all. You are missed.
You will be forever remember as the definition of an American original. You showed as all--over and over--what was possible.
Thank you and rest in the peace you deserve.
1
We have never needed a man of his character and strength more than at the present time when jackals rule. Whether or not one agrees with his policies, he put country first and defended democracy. May his example inspire others to follow the same path. Thank you John McCain.
There are few Republicans I have admired. John McCain is certainly one of them. He lived a life full of hardship and had to endure the slights of those less qualified for the positions they hold. A true patriot. We will certainly miss him.
He was the last Republican.
2
While you mourn the man, please- Don’t forget the vast majority of his decisions have given us our sad fiscal government status and income inequality by cutting taxes for the wealthy like himself.
2
One of the things I appreciate about John McCain: As he grew older, he grew more mature, wise, and non-partisan. I wish this on everyone.
2
One of the last moderate lawmakers who understood the importance of balance in politics.
I wanted to vote for him in 2008 but I could not vote for Sarah Palin. It was clear to me at the time, and even more clear now, that a darker side of the Republican party was ascendant and pressured McCain into choosing her in order to gin up fear and hate about Obama. It didn't work and Obama won. So they got better at it in 2016.
That said, I found McCain to be an honest and honorable man, a true patriot, and a distinguished public servant. Rest in peace, my fellow American.
I didn't agree with all of his policies, but I wholeheartedly stood with him on country before party. I hope that there are others in Congress that can carry that forward. I am guessing here, but I think he would approve of that being part of his legacy.
17
I saw John McCain speak in the mid-1980's. He told the story of his incredible journey in Vietnam. And, despite being a democrat, I have always admired and appreciated his strong will and refusal to bow down to immoral political views simply because they were backed by the leadership of his party. This is particularly true during the last 18 months when he was often one of few that stood up for the things that truly made America a respected, moral and strong nation -- a nation that cares for and recognizes the contributions all of its people -- a nation built by immigrants and all races.
He will be missed, and I want to send my sincere condolences to his family and all others who recognized the bravery, strength and loyalty of this great man.
11
Gone too soon. I admired him so much. Rest in peace.
9
A life so informed by duty, sacrifice and courage should cause us all to reflect on the role we can play in improving civil society. May this reflection be his legacy to us all.
To his family I offer my condolences; to the senator, my thanks for a life so well lived.
11
It's always sad to see someone die. I'm sure that personally John McCain was a good guy.
Note that he mostly supported Trump. That was the problem with John McCain. He would denounce Trump , yet it was mostly talk.
Sure he was a war hero and all that, yet he had really just towed the line of the damaging Republican policy for the most part.
7
McCain's selection of the two men who stood between him and the Whitehouse- Bush and Obama- to give eulogies exemplifies what was best about him and what many of us cherished while we fumed at his tax policies and love if military spending and Palin.
What a contrast with the current Whitehouse occupant who could not even bring himself to thank McCain for his long years of public service.
27
Lying in state at the Capitol seems a bit much for this inconsistent, unpredictable “maverick”.
And because he occasionally “crossed the aisle”, we are hearing boundless praise from Schumer et al, especially as the midterms arrive.
We, Liberals, didn't agree with everything McCain did or said, BUT we recognize a GOOD man when we see one!
1
Mr. McCain leaves behind a complicated legacy. Surely he deserves to be remembered as a war hero and a man of integrity. However, with his nomination of Sarah Palin as his running mate he legitimized a kind of political rhetoric, one short on facts and intellect and aimed at the baser fears of the fringes of his party, that led at least indirectly to Trump's presidency. He may have become one of Trump's most outspoken critics, but he unwittingly cleared the path that led us to this precarious moment. Before we deify him as a paragon of political principle, let's stop to remember him as the flawed human being he was.
265
@Zach
Yes, he was human, and he did with hindsight say publicly that he regretted not following his gut and selecting Joe Lieberman. What a different world we would be in if he had taken a different path.
1
Absolutely, McCain was a flawed human being - we all are. The thing is, at least in the immediate aftermath of our passing, we should all be remembered for what was best about us. That doesn't make anyone's life or legacy flawless, but it's better to focus on the things which were right than wrong.
As for Sarah Palin herself, she was undeniably destructive for this country and should have been vetted more carefully. On the surface, it once seemed like she could attract two groups to McCain's campaign: the religious right who, to McCain's credit, were not sold on him, and women disappointed in Hillary Clinton's primary loss. Of course Palin was out of her depths and she just used the campaign to launch herself. Although McCain tried to save face by saying that he had to see Ms. Palin as the future of his party, I am positive that no one regretted the decision more than he did.
@Zach, let's try to remember, at this time of loss, not the imperfections of one who rose above the many in the forum he occupied. He strove for a more perfect Union, not a perfect unattainable Union.
1
In my first quarter at Northwestern University in 1999, I did an analysis of then Presidential Candidate McCain’s primary republican campaign for Freshman Seminar. I feel really lucky I got to have him on my radar from a young age. I think it speaks volumes that the two men who bested him for the Presidency - W and Obama - are giving his eulogy. He was everything America should aspire to be. It is up to all of us to replace his light.
4
(Full disclosure - in a pure emotional outburst, I sent a note that didn’t make it past the Politeness meter - it shouldn’t have. So, on a touchy subject, here goes:”):
John McCain deserved the title “hero” for his behavior in Congress - willing to buck the party and place his constituents’ needs first, and behave as if honesty, sincerity and politeness were still hallmarks of his party.
But this unusual behavior had a flip-side, an ugly one that led him to remain a POW, in violation of military law and tradition - because the alternative was to return home with Jane Fonda, who risked life and career, losing the latter, to trade a little bit of PR for POW’s captors to bring them - mostly fighter and bomber crews home.
Fonda, who remains Public Enemy #1 with a lot of volunteer fighters, admits she overdid the PR, but she did wha nobody else could do, and left Hanoi with a few dozen POWs.
McCain stayed, living a life of starvation and torture.
Why? The first duty of a POW us escape.
In lining himself up for court-martial, he instead became poster boy War Hero and the man who raised the status of Nam vets to heroes, particularly downed air jocks, who still insist Viet Nam keeps Our Boys As Slaves.
While I have sympathy for propagandized draftees who took the risk instead of losing family skipping to Canada, I will never find respect for volunteer killers who dumped millions of tons of explosives, Napalm and defoliants on people who wanted to vote for their leaders.
2
@Eatoin Shrdlu
Captain McCain declined early release in an act of solidarity with his fellow POWs and to deny the enemy a propaganda win. He did more than his country could possible expect of him.
3
You do John McCain's legacy a disservice by consistently discussing his political views relative to Trump. Can we, for once, not make this about our President and instead let this hero's accomplishments stand on their own?
McCain’s death has touched me in a way I didn’t expect. I am genuinely sad and really feel the loss. He wasn’t perfect, but somehow his integrity almost always seemed to shine through. I don’t follow politicians too closely, but this seems rare.
What he went through during Vietnam would break most of us, yet he went on to serve the country the rest of his life. They really don’t make ‘em like that anymore. He was a tough old bird, and we are fortunate to have his example.
2
I did not share his party, nor agree with his politics, but always respected his willingness to do what was best for his country (not withstanding his Sarah Palin misstep). But isn't it very sad that the sitting president will not speak at his services? Do you think it is because he is thoroughly unwelcome and may be booed, or worse, if he dare show up and attempt to grab the spotlight, as he inevitably would? That is also the tragedy in this.
John McCain was a singular patriot, and honorable man. He also was a great unifier: managing to alternately encourage and also exasperate Americans across the political spectrum, all the while maintaining a fundamental integrity and decency that are the highest of American ideals.
2
No mention is made of McCain's 1993 effort, in collaboration with Sen. Sam Nunn, to torpedo newly elected President Clinton's intention to allow lesbians and gay men to serve openly in the US armed forces.
On the evening news, McCain squeezed thru submarine gangways and aircraft carrier showers to instill gay panic in the public at large. His efforts resulted in the "compromise" DADT, the (real) witch hunts that followed and the ruin of thousands of military careers.
3
"The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interred with their bones."
- - - William Shakespeare, Julius Ceasar
In this, our beloved country's time of ultimate testing and crisis, please let it not be so. Not now, not for this great man. RIP, Senator McCain, knowing that as long as we continue to honor your unflagging spirit and courage, all will never be lost.
2
I disagreed with McCain's politics, but he had principles. More than can be said about the rest of the Republican lot.
I miss Ted Kennedy.
1
McCain wasn't only a war hero but also a war healer. Despite his cruel treatments in the North Vietnamese prisons, McCain and other Vietnam veterans actively involved in the normalization of diplomatic ties between the wartorn and Chimese-invaded Vietnam and the USA. McCain may be honored as one of the Vietnam war healers.
Our prayers for him, and loves to his family.
Like so many others, I admired Sen. McCain despite our political differences. He was a true, patriotic American who served his country faithfully and always upheld his oath to defend the Constitution. His loss is even greater in these trying times, but I hope other leaders of his caliber will step forward and pickup the standard of liberty, decency, and the true values for which this country stands. I wish you Fair Winds and Calm Seas, Sir. You will be sorely missed.
1
This just breaks my American heart. To me, John McCain is a Founding Father of the ideals and principles of our Country. It's not just sad we have lost Sen. McCain, it's sad we are losing our Country as well. With the most deep respect, I honor your courage, commitment and love for America! We should all hope to be the person you have taught us to be.
The photo of the Gang of Eight is so telling compared to today's politics. They actually look like their smiles are genuine while today we see grim-faced silence from the majority.
He was an honorable, courageous and patriotic man whose entire life was devoted to service to country.
My youngest son, who is in his last year at the US Naval Academy, heard him speak in Annapolis in his last public address. He was inspired by Mr. McCain's passion for service to our country.
Iillis quos amo iacturam faciam.
1
"I made a small place for myself in the story of America and the history of my times. … The bell tolls for me. I knew it would. … I hope those who mourn my passing, and those who don’t, will celebrate as I celebrate a happy life lived in imperfect service to a country made of ideals, whose continued success is the hope of the world. And I wish all of you great adventures, good company, and lives as lucky as mine."
John McCain
2
McCain is worthy of our respect. But I can never forget that he thought Sarah Palin was capable of being president. That puts a pause in the accolades.
3
Only regrets that he declined to step down with terminal illness ,losing a valuable Senate position due to his inactivity.In addition the no vote based on personal opposition to the President which has impeded the Republicans agenda immensely. The senator was also the main instigator to invade Iraq convincing 95% of all Democrats to join the push into the war of the century ,yet long from over ,in all respects.
What a loss for the nation. Rest in Peace John McCain. He has a lengthy legacy. For me, the one which looms largest is the countless lives he saved with his refusal to repeal the ACA.
Goodbye Senator McCain. You were an anchor for the American people. Our countrymen and women always felt that you had our backs. You were the poster of honor and decency, that our country could be. Thank you for your service to our country.
My condolences to Senator McCain’s family and our nation. A complicated man who I often admired, almost always disagreed with, yet came from a more principled position than most. Now how long I wonder before the Donald’s first ignorant and disrespectful tweet arrives? It’ll happen, maybe some time will pass but with Trump you can count on it. Then Senator McCain’s many conservative colleagues and “friends” will commit the final betrayal and shuffle their feet while muttering nonsense and looking away. Sad
6
Senator McCain differed with me politically on many issues. We did share this in common, however: he loved his country over party; he gave of himself in times of peace and war; his word was his bond, and I knew where he stood. I will miss him.
5
Integrity. Leader. Courageous. Great. Hero. With the passing of Senator McCain we loose an elder statesman whose ideals, courage and leadership are greatly needed in our world today.
3
Senator John McCain was a an American hero. He will be remembered for his bravery while serving in the Navy. And as a U.S. Senator who stood up for what was right for his country before politics.
2
The line by Mc Fadden: “In the years that followed, Mr. McCain reinvented himself as a scourge of special interests, crusading for stricter ethics and campaign finance rules, a man of honor chastened by a brush with shame.” appears strikingly similar to the line in the 2008 report by different authors:
“In the years that followed, he reinvented himself as the scourge of special interests, a crusader for stricter ethics and campaign finance rules, a man of honor chastened by a brush with shame.”
This is not acceptable without attribution.
6
From Vietnam to Trump, this man fought for us. I didn’t vote for him, I am no Republican, but I share in this grief with you all. As we have not just lost a true statesman, we have lost an American hero. Thank you John for your service, thank you for the sacrifice, thank you for refusing to run a dirty campaign in 2008 when it was easier to divide and conquer and for standing up for what was right even if it wasn’t convenient for you. You were our worrier, our hero and one of us. Go gentle into the arms of your creator and may your family and this nation find peace.
4
A hard life fought and won in the battlefields of war and politics whose maverick brilliance succumbed to a fatal disease.
America lost a true patriot and hero. John McCain deserves the honorable respect he gave to our Country.
2
McCain should be remembered for his service to the country.
In McCain, we see a symptom of a big problem in our government.
McCain held onto his Senate seat until he died at over 80 years old.
Too many of our politicians have no idea how to step aside gracefully and allow a new generation of leadership to guide the country.
A Senate seat should not be viewed as a lifetime job that you deserve to hold until you die.
For example: As Pelosi approaches 80, and her mental degradation continues, to the point that she is rarely even coherent, she is championed as the Democrat party leader - albeit with fuzzy vision.
Why do we want that kind of person having anything to do with deciding our future?
The saddest part is she is just one example.
2
I may not have agreed with all of Senator McCain’s positions, but I have always regarded him as a hero and the epitome of a patriotic American. His loss is deeply felt and will reverberate.
2
John McCain was a patriot, who served his country both in the military and in the Congress. You may not have agreed with many of his policies, and he was human and admitted to his mistakes, both in his personal and public life. He said he specifically did not want the President of the United States to attend his funeral. That pretty much says it all.
4
https://splinternews.com/the-myth-of-john-mccain-1828587230
The bar is very low for what we expect from our elected representatives.
6
The passing away of Mr. McCain is indeed a great loss to Mr.Trump. By going through the article and barring personal
animus between Mr.McCain and Mr.Trump, I could find that
Mr.McCain's harsh criticism made Mr.Trump to 'think and act' on his course to some extent. In my assessment, Mr.McCain served as a spoiler in Mr.Trump's 'presidential car'. It appears to me that the remaining part of Mr.Trump's four year term is conspicuous by the absence of Mr.McCain's constructive criticism on Mr.Trump's course of action.
Mr.McCain has proved the popular saying, "Where there is anger there is character". When we say the Vietnam war is a black mark on the tenure of John F.Kennedy, the sacrifice to the nation as a prisoner of war by Mr.McCain is praiseworthy.
McCain’s thumb down vote to save his Party and the American people from tossing aside Obamacare will forever define the man for me. It was the quintessential example of country over Party, a lesson, sadly, few of his Republican colleagues have yet to learn.
I’ve watched that thumb down vote innumerable times, and I’ve taken special delight in watching Mitch McConnell, a man without a spine, visibly slump as Senator McCain cast the deciding vote. He never said so, but I always felt that in that moment, McCain was rejecting a shockingly draconian health care proposal, but also all of his fellow craven Republicans for being such reckless political hacks.
McCain made some boneheaded decisions that furthered GOP hegemony, but in a moment of tremendous meaning, he cast a deciding vote for duty, honor, and patriotism, and against mindless, cruel and costly partisanship.
Rest In Peace, brave soul.
5
John McCain was a true hero and patriot and has earned the respect of every American, regardless of political persuasion. Senator McCain will be greatly missed; his passing leaves a terrible void in the Senate at a time where his patriotism and good sense are very much needed. I can only hope that present and future Republican senators will aspire to John McCain's moral standards and his unflinching patriotism. I pray that they will use his example to guide them to do what is right during these perilous times and to make decisions that are worthy of their fallen comrade.
1
John McCain has always been one of my hero’s . I am a Democrat,I was betrayed by my husband , yes ,John McCain disappointed me a few times but never did my admiration waver for the sacrifice that he made for our Country nor for his admirable self searching and self correcting .
We were blessed to have a great real man like him.He will be sorely missed.
I cannot express the emotions today that I feel toward the present leader for his statement about his not liking a captured soldier . He is not worthy to utter John McCains name .
1
Personally I think of Sen. John McCain as one of the best this nation ever produce since its birth. Witnessing the kind of defects today's voters chose as their leader, I don't see this country would ever produce anyone near to him in short future. Good Bye Sen. McCain. I am so sorry that this country miserable failed you returning your love and respect that you had given us with dignity and elegance that the cults of deplorable can't even dream of.
You will be dearly missed. Thank you. Rest In Peace.
1
There won’t be another John McCain
Who sadly lost his latest campaign
A hero to many
More fearless than any
Born to live life as Donald Trump’s bane
2
Pity Trump’s name has to be mentioned in this article about a true hero.
4
When Sen McCain picked Sarah Palin for a running mate and the revelations he owned 7 homes put an end to the good guy reputation he had. Since he was with and supported many of the GOP of today I am sure God will remember that and have mercy on his soul. I wouldn't.
5
It’s clear why Mr Trump failed to mention war hero, gentleman, respected leader, and role model for Americans by name in his required condolence tweet for John McCain. It’s because Trump has never been any of the above and he knows it!
5
There is only one real way to honor a man like John McCain. We must emulate him. We can do this.
In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.
2
Dear Senator, I hope you become the Obiwan Kenobi of our time. we still need you...
5
The GOP just lost the one and only back bone in their spine.
Rest In Peace Senator J. McCaine
3
smooth sailing, sir! God be with you. the last same Republican
1
Yeah. John McCain. Great guy. Too bad his final lasting legacy was a betrayal of the Constitution and of the interests of the people of this country.
American military officers take an oath, swearing to "..support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic..." Obamacare is utterly unconstitutional. The power of Congress to impose it on us is nowhere to be found in the Constitution. But McCain conspired with the Constitution's greatest enemies, the Democratic Party, and allowed it to survive. Thus he joins the ranks of the unforgiven.
@Henry Miller
Obama care was good for 44million people who did not have insurance thanks to the GOP who I presume you are. Stop smelling the coal dust you will get a better attitude.
1
@D.j.j.k. I'm a Constitutional libertarian, not a Republican. If the country wanted government-run medicine, it would have first been necessary to pass a Constitutional amendment to give the federal government that power.
Until we meet once more, here's wishing you a happy voyage home.....
1
Looking forward to NOT seeing donnie at this great hero’s funeral.
After all it WAS Senator John McCains dying request that donnie NOT attend.
Let’s be honest, he only likes hero’s that weren’t captured anyway.
8
My heart and prayers go out to the McCain family. No words will ease your pain or take away your loss. Just know he has been and will always be a hero to many.
1
Just saw a tape of Senator McCain, talking about a fellow prisoner in Hanoi, who was brutally beaten, along with the Senator, by their guards. "He asked how I was, Looked up at me and then he died," this American hero said, tears in his eyes. President bone spurs isn't fit to lick Mr. McCain's boots after a 50 mile hike through the mud.
4
I lived in the South when McCain ran for president in 1999-2000. I was shocked by the vile, racist and ignorant comments made about his adopted daughter. I now know that this was a foreshadowing of the rise of the trump base and its threat to our country. Thank you Sen. McCain for rising above it all and serving our country so long and so well.
3
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that one of the main entities to run propaganda and outright lies to support the illegal and murderous invasion of Iraq is now singing the praises of one of the most virulently heartless, brainless, conservative imperialistic war mongers of the modern era. All should be proud that this man got to die in peace while he directly helped cause the suffering of untold numbers of Iraqi children
3
Kind of a mixed bag - Keating Five escapee, War survivor but also unrepentant war criminal, sometimes maverick, Election reformer and trump resister. Even if you hated the guy it would be hard not to recognize that he had 100x the personal
Authenticity of Babyman Trump. We are less without him but would be so much more if he were the worst example of a politician or man that our country had to offer
1
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place, and in the sky,
The larks, still bravely singing, fly,
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead; short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe!
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high!
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
By Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD WW1
Rest in peace John McCain, the time has come for others to pick up the touch and fight the good fight.
6
What a tragedy! While senator McCain lived, suffered, and died a hero fighting for his country on the battlefield, as well as the Capitol, the ‘other fellow’ is well known for his condition of unindicted co-conspirator, big mouth and bigger spur ankle cowardice. Senator McCain will always be remembered for his courage, love of country, and his code of honor…the other fellow will not.
5
RIP Sen. McCain. Have great respect for you, though not agreed with you on many issues.
1
We will not see the likes of him. Republican, patriotic, plain talking (to the extent possible). Wasn't really into white christian talibanic supremacy at all, disdainful of organized religion, may have erred in judgment but honest to the core, not a lunatic at all, and therefore a glaring misfit in today's republican party of Trump and Fox.
As a liberal, was sure to vote for him over Obama (who I assumed wrongly was riding plainly on good looks and charisma) - that is until Palin revealed herself as impossibly unhinged and completely unlike McCain.
Not one decent person (who matters) left among Republicans today; and that is a bit of a national tragedy. RIP.
5
While I didn’t agree with him always and did not vote for him, for me he always represented what a leader should do and be. He was the epitome of his own man. When the underbelly of racism was exposed at a campaign rally, he defended Obama with class and dignity. He protected millions of Americans with his dramatic “No” vote on the repeal of Obamacare. And, who could ever forget his willingness to drink tequila shots with the junior Senator from NY?
I was raised to believe that character matters. Whether he was bred with it or learned it, he had it in abundance. And, now I fear we may have seen the passing of the nation’s last truly honorable Republican.
8
I was thinking about the last scene from the movie Mister Roberts, when ensign Pulver (played by Jack Lemmon), upon hearing of Mister Roberts' death finally showed some character and throws the evil, insane captain's beloved palm tree into the ocean, challenging him to do something about it.
Will the death of John McCain cause any of the Republican in the senate to develop a spine and stand up to today's captain?
I doubt it.
3
John McCain transcended political ideologies with his persistent moral compass. He is the antithesis of the qualities embraced by our current POTUS. We lost a great voice, statesman and hero yesterday.
But nothing is more telling about McCain’s character than his defense of Obama against racial stereotyping, while on the campaign trail. That said, it’s no wonder Trump IS NOT welcome at his funeral but Obama is. Graciousness defined John McCain.
Truly, the flag should be flown at half mast but graciousness is not something Trump embraces.
4
Safe travels John McCain, we're going to miss you.
Senator McCain:
...May flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest.
2
Mavericky McCain maverickly voted with Bush and Trump 90%+ of the time.
All hail the maverickiness of the pithy statement or sternly worded letter, followed by a capitulation on every issue including, of all things, torture.
Maverickulous! Now with more maverick!!
2
From one veteran to another. Rest peace Shipmate. Thank You for your service to the country....<Salute>
3
What a life. What a man.
Unbowed.
2
A true American hero in an age of sad and disgusting pygmies in the White House.John McCain epitomised the true values of the American people with honour and real courage in contrast to the aberration that currently demeans the office of President,May you rest in peace John McCain you were an inspiration to decency and honour in its truest form.
9
NYT: “Mr. McCain will receive a full-dress military funeral service at the Washington National Cathedral before his burial in Annapolis.” Oh, great. Now Trump’s going to want one.
5
One of a kind.
1
Every politician in America should use Senator McCain's example of "reaching across the aisle" as an example how government should work. Of course he was a staunch conservative, but he tried to breach the divide on issues that affected the American electorate by putting country ahead of party, something that is totally and completely gone in the current atmosphere.
Unfortunately the goodwill and courtesy being shown since the announcement of his passing will soon dissipate back to the horror show it was prior. The current POTUS is the antithesis of Sen. McCain and what he stood for. Once during a Town Hall meeting, Sen. McCain denounced a voter who inaccurately accused Obama of being a Muslim by saying "Mam, you are wrong. He's a good man" Can you imagine our current POTUS saying anything like that?! Instead, he said (I'm paraphrasing here), that McCain wasn't a war hero because he was captured. If this is not the definition of losers I don't know what is.
RIP Senator and thank you for your service to this country. Condolences to all of your family and friends.
3
I wish Senator John McCain could have lived long enough to see Donald Trump captured.
RIP.
16
I will NEVER forget the absolute surge of gratitude, elation & hope that filled my entire being as our very brave & morally courageous Senator John McCain turned thumbs down to the cowardly shredding of patients rights in the GOP's version of
Comrade TrumpCare.
Senator John McCain knew the full definition of "suffering." He understood exactly that glioblastoma would steal his life, but not before he suffered all the more.
As a man of the highest integrity and patriotism, John McCain did what his fellow Republicans refuse to do on a daily basis; John McCain chose to do right by his COUNTRY, not his cowardly political party.
Many thanks to our everlasting HERO, and may God hold you in the palm of His hand for all Eternity. Your pain has ended.
Rest well, Senator John McCain. You did your country proud.
4
R.I.P. John and thank you for everything. You’ll be sorely missed.
69
RIP. My deepest condolences to you and your family during this dark time. Please know that our family is keeping you and yours in our prayers and thoughts.
The writting above is not true:'a victim of horrendous torture and a tool of enemy propaganda".
1
John McCain was a remarkable man. I learned about his relationship with David M. Ifshin, a person I've never heard of before until today. If you query David's name, you will come across his obituary on the NYT website. I stop in at the Breitbart website and there are over 16,000 comments regarding the death of our war hero, senator, who put the country first. From the many comments I saw on Breitbart, most are negative and extremely toxic about Senator McCain. I hope one day, that Americans on both sides of the political spectrum can come together and find common ground, the same way that John McCain and David Ifshin did so many years ago. God bless John McCain, his family and the United States of America.
2
McCain’s most consequential “achievement” was his cynical selection of the utterly unqualified Sarah Palin as his running mate which served to legitimize and elevate the wacko right, bringing us where we are today. Hardly the act of a statesman or a patriot
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We lost a true patriot, a hero , beacon of virtue.
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My late mother was a lifelong Democrat but intended to vote for Senator John McCain for President, until he made one of his greatest political mistakes and chose Sarah Palin as his running mate. He was a great man who is especially missed because now there are no Republicans with the moral fiber to stand up to the creep in the White House.
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Never liked his politics, especially his immigration/ open borders policy but he was a great man and patriot.
Five years in a prison camp. Few of us would last five minutes. An extraordinary man.
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Remember Helsinki.
John McCain's response to Trump in July will be remembered in the history books as one of his finest moments.
We, the people, must remember Helsinki. We have a puppet leader and criminal in the Oval Office. John McCain spent his final years warning us about it. He foresaw autocracy and dictatorship...brought on, frankly, by Citizens United and a GOP Congress, which, excepting McCain, is peopled with self-dealing cowardly low-lifes.
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RIP Mr. McCain! One of the few Republicans I could actually stop and listen to because I always felt you ultimately led with your heart despite all else a politician has to do. Thank you for showing me a different side of white America.
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Does anyone else see the irony that those who served in Viet Nam like John McCain and John Kerry would never become president? Yet those who didn't serve in Viet Name like Bill Clinton and Donald Trump eventually became president.
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I didn't always agree with Sen. McCain but I always respected him. They should put his photo in the dictionary next to "statesman."
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John McCain is the reason why waterboarding and places like Abu Ghraib are a sin. John McCain is the path for turning around a moribund and corrupt Congress. John McCain is the bulwark against bigotry that allowed Barack Obama to win the presidency. John McCain is the ruler against which to measure the full cowardice of Donald Trump.
John McCain was not perfect. But all that he stood for, most of what he practiced and part of the reason we're now revering him is the hope we haven't lost our national soul.
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A great leader who served with class, dignity, and true strength.
It’s astounding how Mr. McCain represented everything the current White House is not.
Here’s to the people of Arizona replacing him with a Democrat. There could be no better revenge for a White House that treated him with such monumental disrespect.
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McCain War Hero
Visits every single town in NH to pull off the upset in 2000 primary
"Last Lion of the Senate"
Will receive full dress funeral service in Washington
President Trump mocking McCain art every political rally.
It's not deplorable.....it's despicable.
Rest in peace...your body of work will never be forgotten.
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What a cruel irony that McCain, a military hero who would have become an honorable and competent president, should predecease the draft-dodger who dismissed McCain's heroism and rigged his election to become president. McCain will rest in peace. Can't say the same for this sham of a president.
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McCain was a true statesmen and patriot, "a decent family man, a citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues.” R.I.P.
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"War hero"? Depending on perspective some might say "war criminal" considering the number of civilian deaths inflicted during the war by American aviators.
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The last honorable Republican....farewell, Senator McCain...rest in peace.
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Unfortunately, I am apprehensive about heaping praise on the heroism of any Vietnam veteran given what we now know was a widespread culture of Americans raping and killing innocent Vietnamese (read "Kill Anything That Moves" by Nick Turse). That being said, John McCain was more of a war hero and a tough guy than Donald Trump could ever hope to be.
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The writer of this article just couldn’t resist using John McCain’s passing to repeatedly criticize Trump and his voters? Put it aside to focus on McCain’s life. His long history of public service shouldn’t be overshadowed so there can be one more way to crowbar in insults about Trump voters.
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And your fearless leader, knowing McCain was on death's door, would not even say his name at a speech which included the defense bill with his name on it. If you are determined to support this vile man who currently occupies the White House, at least concede that no one in modern history has been so completely and pettily vindictive as Trump. Because, it is irrefutably true.
3
I’m not a Trump supporter, just sick of everything being made about Trump and insulting his voters. When a candidate is caught degrading a swath of the American public they’re called out. When the media does it they call it news.
1
My heart is broken.
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Of the same era as Senator McCain, (The Vietnam period), life and times and economy, two things were evident along the way: Racism was unacceptable and progressive social programs. Senator McCain, even though a war dog, was not a racist and became progressive.
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"The last American hero?"
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This wonderful tribute to John “Testosterone ” McCain (an epithet the piece lovingly suggests) is one of the more compelling Times obits. The colorful descriptions of his rogue youth and breathlessly daring conquests were the stuff of a true hero’s unforgettable legend. A long read, but worth every minute.
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The spirit, patriotism, love of country that were in John McCain's bones and blood will live on. He died and taught us in his life and death that a hero is invincible, even by death. We -- who were never of his political suasion or ethos -- honour him and wish his family and beloved countrymen surcease from the pain of living under the present American president.
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He served his nation honorably and well. The fact that he was able to survive five years of torture at the hands of the Viet Cong as a POW and then as a US Senator worked across the aisle with Senator John Kerry, a fellow veteran wounded in the war in Vietnam to urge for establishing a diplomatic relationship with the Vietnamese government shows the kind of men that we used to have in Congress as opposed to the majority of spineless dreck that inhabits it today as well the White House.
As the wife of a Navy veteran, I salute Senator McCain with the words "fair winds and following seas" as he leaves port on his final journey.
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He will be missed. He would've made a great president. I hope someone writes his memoir and then makes it into a movie/television series. RIP - America misses you!
2
With godspeed, John McCain.
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To Senator John McCain -Fair winds and following seas. May you have found your peace.
To Senator McCain’s Family - My sincere condolences. May this county’s love comfort you.
To all the commentators who have voiced despair- Look around. You are not alone.
Take courage from Senator McCain and step forward, even if just a small step, and fill the void.
God Bless the United States of America.
3
I have not always agreed with Senator McCain, but I have always, always, respected him. For his honor, courage, sacrifice and sense of purpose greater than himself.
He was what we ground pounders called a "zoomie." A fast mover, and they were always there when we needed them.
His sense of honor, duty and country will be missed. He symbolized what we need, now, more than ever in Washington.
Thank you for a life time of service.
Bravo Zulu.
3
Even at this time - the very DAY that Sen. McCain passed - the politicians running the NY Times cannot resist championing McCain for his refusals to vote with the GOP so many times - because, of course, they also despise everything about conservatism and anyone opposed to their progresive-socialist ideas.
What gets one called a ''Lion'' of the Senate? No, it is not being caught in flagrante delicto with a woman one is not married to, or showing up at places intoxicated, although those have been awarded to one or more previous ''Lions.''
Political committment to progressivism seems to be THE standard of excre - well, let's just say the top-rated skill of a Lion.
Vote to blow through budgets, empower the federal bureaucracy and whittle down our standing in the world, and you, TOO, can go into the books as such a commended person.
4
Rip me McCain, as a stranch liberal . I’ve respected him since my youth . America has experienced a tragic loss today. As well as the Republican Party for loosing one of its last moral pillars
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So, Trump, do you still "like people who weren't captured?"
7
And with his passing, the death of dignity.
7
Rest in peace, Senator... You were the last Republican in Congress with a conscious, and who hadn't sold his soul to big business and the elite. And you were a hundred times the man our draft dodging coward of a president will ever be. Thank you for all the sacrifices you made to keep our country safe, and for doing your part to keep the real Republican agenda of hate and elitism at bay. You will be sorely missed.
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True Profile in Courage: John McCain.
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Yesterday the United States of America lost one of its bravest and courageous souls. Senator John McCain was an inspiration to many, and my deepest condolences to the McCain family. An American, a brother, a United States Navy Captain, a defender, a father, a fighter, a human being, a husband, a legend, a maverick, a patriot, a pilot, a prisoner of war, a United States Representative, a United States Navy Sailor, a United States Senator, Veteran, and a War Hero are just some of the few distinctions that made John Sidney McCain III the person he was.
Senator McCain was an exemplary individual who stood true to themselves despite stiff opposition at key points in his life, without losing sight of the fundamental principles and values of the United States of America. The selfless sacrifice and service Senator McCain dedicated his entire life to ensure a better tomorrow may exist for all future Americans and all future residents of the world is honorable and noble. We as a nation are forever in your debt Senator John McCain.
Unfortunately the opportunity to meet you in person has passed, and it does sadden me. However, the memory of your life shall always remain a great source of strength and inspiration to people whom you have made a meaningful impact on their lives. Both directly and indirectly. Bravo Zulu for your Honor, your Courage, and your Commitment to a life greatly lived. May fair winds and calm seas guide your soul to peace and eternal rest shipmate. You earned it.
5
McCain personified the need for term limits.
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Stand down sailor ... we have the watch
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Fair winds and following seas to a patriot and one decent man.....
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Thank you for being one of the lead cheerleaders for the Iraq war, which was going to be "quick" and the US was going to be treated as liberators. Thank you for your "foreign policy expertise" and not knowing the difference between Sunni and Shia, before getting your pom poms out. Thank you for your cover of Barbara Ann, with new lyrics, " bomb bomb bomb Iran". Rest in peace.
4
Heroism in Washington DC is in short supply these days. Thank you for your service, John McCain.
2
I did not vote for John McCain, but I respected his valor, courage, patriotism, and his mavericky persona. He is probably the last Republican of decency who will be their presidential candidate.
But, I object to so much Trump, Trump, Trump here. Trump is morally reprehensible. A liar. A cheater. A man with no moral center. When Trump dies, tens of millions will rejoice and want to deface his grave.
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Yesterday I read that he had stopped treatment. This morning he is dead. He was one of my favorites. And that he opposed this Cretan in Chief in office now showed moral courage that most Republicans do not have nowadays. I send my sympathy via this comment to his family. You were touched by a great man. He was a hero, no matter what the anti-decency President says. God bless you and John McCain. He cared about America. Not about petty interests. He was not ruled by greed as so many in office are now. And he did not support such people, such as Manafort, either.
17
Will Americans have the nerve to go through the motions of mourning Senator McCain when they stood by and watched a cowardly cheap grifter vulgarian, not fit to clean McCain's shoes, insult and mock him at every turn?
Senator McCain served his country for 60 years. He endured torture for his country. McCain had a lot of flaws; he unleashed Sarah Palin, the Queen of the deplorables, on the country. But he deserved better than what he got from the American people. He's in a better place now.
11
If he should have been president instead of Obama; things would have been so much better
6
This is the headline even in all the news here in germany. I don't think there is another republican senator, that was held in such high esteem beyond the borders of america.
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John McCain had a lot to answer for — but he did not answer for it.
He, more than any other single person, is responsible for the election of Trump. His selection of Sarah Palin “normalized” the idea that an ignorant loudmouth could be President. And after that sunk in, Trump became electable.
He had ample opportunity to apologize, but did not, to his everlasting disgrace.
13
Please also remember the innocent victims of McCain's 23 bombing missions into North Vietnam.
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As 15 year old Vietnam War protester, Senator McCain personified a brutal, ill-conceived, and duplicitous war to me. I hated him. Now however, I wish I could talk to that kid - talk to him about duty, honor, love of country, and forgiveness. That kid is long gone though. All that remains on this sad day is this old, black lefty with a heavy heart. I am sorry that I wasn't as worthy an adversary as you proved to be Senator. See you soon my old friend and foe, see you soon.
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@mr isaac thank you mr isaac I agree and appreciate your sentiment and I’m sure Captain McCain does as well
3
Republicans who still support Donald should read the Twitter replies to Donald’s tweet about his passing.
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How is anybody who's been in Vietnam referred to as a "war hero"?
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He was imprisoned and tortured horribly. He was offered early release because if his celebrity, but refused it unless his fellow prisoners we're also released. That's what made him a hero.
2
@Anine, According to Wikipedia, McCain..."was flying his 23rd bombing mission over North Vietnam" (before being taken prisoner).
23 bombing missions? You are certainly a "hero" when you can do that! The fact that the Vietnamese let him live, shows they were a lot more humane than those responsible for that war in the U.S.
As of today, the Senate is both literally and figuratively a lesser body.
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Shame on trump for not mentioning the defense spending bill was named in his honor. Can you be more low life than that? You're a hero in my eyes Senator McCain, bless you.
12
Rest in Peace Senator McCain.
4
A lion is gone and we will miss him Now we are waiting out a weasel who will not at all be missed ny most of us.
1
He chose Sarah Palin as his running mate.
Hypothetically, she could have ended up being the President of the United States.......
Nuff’ said..............
11
As a life long liberal democrat, I am saddened by the loss of a real mensch who even in his dissents was always respectful and thoughtful. The tributes pouring in properly highlight his service and what he endured as a POW even refusing release until his fellow prisoners were freed. And then there's our president who could do no better than parrot a Hallmark card. Sad all the way around.
1
My thoughts and prayers are with your family during this difficult time. RIP.
I wish I could be sad, but I’m angry at how, his pride, maybe narcissism, prevailed and, he betrayed his voters and his party. My condolences to his family.
1
The nation has lost a true hero -- both in war and in peacetime, he unfailingly acted on the courage of his convictions. Rest in peace.
Life is a marathon, during which we sometimes stumble but always make it to the finish line. As we look back over John McCain's life it's important to see it in its totality, not just either the sprints or the falls.
I never voted for him but could clearly see that he loved America and risked his life in showing it.
We lost one of the last patriots and heroes we have in government today.
Thank you John McCain . . . you ran your race well.
3
John McCain had courage, a spine, and honor. I disagreed with many, if not most, of his opinions and actions. I would have walked 5 miles to have dinner with him.
Today, when no Republican senator, and certainly no Republican congressman, has any spine at all, it is a very sad day. I put my Flag at half mast this morning in the dark, looked at the stars, wept, and wished Mr. McCain following seas.
1
This man chose to say in 1992 that there was no compelling evidence that proves that any American remains alive in captivity in Southeast Asia.
Strange how 10 years later radio chatter and elint was enough to send boys off to die.
This man will never be a hero to me.
RIP John McCain, a man courage, honor, respect and reason. I may not have always agreed with you, but I always had respect for you.
Many will not like the following comments. While it goes without saying that John McCain was a war hero, that my deepest sympathies go out to his family, and that compared to his fellow Republican senators he was a "moderate" who sometimes tried to find common ground with Democrats, as a political figure he does not deserve the hagiography.
He only grudgingly acknowledged Obama's American citizenship. He selected a wholly unfit person, Sarah Palin, as his running mate; Palin lied repeatedly and cheapened our political discourse without McCain ever reining her in.
If you look at his voting record, he was consistent in ways that hurt, rather than helped, our country. Whenever there was a choice between sending in troops or exercising diplomacy, he voted 100% of the time to send in troops. He did not protest when Mitch McConnell subverted our constitution by refusing even to hold hearings on Merrick Garland.
While an active Senator, he did not use his stature and his megaphone to strongly challenge Trump on his vicious racist and anti-Muslim views. A wealthy (through marriage) person who lived in the lap of luxury, he never seemed to understand the struggles of everyday Americans, and was happy to endorse the Republican tax code re-write that benefited people like himself.
McCain knew what was right, but in his political life, too often ignored his moral compass aside for politically-expedient gains.
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@ALB you’re right I didn’t like this comment,. Today is not the day. Use the negativity towards the occupant of the people’s house
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Goodbye Maverick, I mourn your spirit and the loss of a true hero in government. God speed.
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