John McCain dies

[Rhiannon]

 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/25/john-mccain-influential-us-senator-and-ex-presidential-candidate-dies-aged-81

A huge loss.

[Steve H]

He's had his chips.

[Rhiannon]

 

[Roses]

McCain seemed like a good chap, especially as he marked Trump's card for him.

[Steve H]

Seemed like a decent bloke for a Republican, but don't forget that he made the appalling Sarah Palin his running-mate in his Presidential bid.

[Roses]

Seemed like a decent bloke for a Republican, but don't forget that he made the appalling Sarah Palin his running-mate in his Presidential bid.

That was a terrible mistake on his part.

[Steve H]

That was a terrible mistake on his part.

He must have had some idea of what she was like.

[wigginhall]

Yes,  I was just pondering on that, he criticized Trump, but picked Palin. Lack of judgment, there, but I guess he underestimated the right wing juggernaut,  or thought he could tame it.  But who knew its ferocity?

[Roses]

Yes,  I was just pondering on that, he criticized Trump, but picked Palin. Lack of judgment, there, but I guess he underestimated the right wing juggernaut,  or thought he could tame it.  But who knew its ferocity?

That ghastly woman seems to have disappeared into obscurity, thank goodness.

[Nearly Sane]

Bit too keen on war for my approbation.

[ad_orientem]

Bit too keen on war for my approbation.

As is most of the American right and left.

[Nearly Sane]

As is most of the American right and left.

'Left'?

[ad_orientem]

'Left'?

Yeah. Obama and Clinton were both warmongers.

[Nearly Sane]

Yeah. Obama and Clinton were both warmongers.

And again I will ask the question 'Left?'

[ad_orientem]

And again I will ask the question 'Left?'

Ok, I get your point.

[Steve H]

Yeah. Obama and Clinton were both warmongers.

But neither were really left, by global standards. The USA doesn't have a left-of-centre-by-global-standards party of any consequence: the Dems are the equivalent of our centre-right, and the Reps are the Thatcherites, or even worse. Individual Dems may be left wing by any standard, such as Bernie Sanders, but the Dem party as a whole isn't.

[ad_orientem]

But neither were really left, by global standards. The USA doesn't have a left-of-centre-by-global-standards party of any consequence: the Dems are the equivalent of our centre-right, and the Reps are the Thatcherites, or even worse. Individual Dems may be left wing by any standard, such as Bernie Sanders, but the Dem party as a whole isn't.

Yeah, I understand that point.

[Nearly Sane]

One different take on McCain


https://theintercept.com/2017/07/27/john-mccain-fake-maverick-horrible-record/

[Nearly Sane]

Though this is a bit self obsessed


https://eu.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2018/08/25/kelli-ward-john-mccain-statement-ending-treatment-timed-hurt-her/1100267002/

[Rhiannon]

Though this is a bit self obsessed


https://eu.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2018/08/25/kelli-ward-john-mccain-statement-ending-treatment-timed-hurt-her/1100267002/

Just a bit.

[Rhiannon]

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/26/john-mccain-sarah-palin-donald-trump

[Humph Warden Bennett]

Seemed like a decent bloke for a Republican, but don't forget that he made the appalling Sarah Palin his running-mate in his Presidential bid.

I think we need to remember that at the time the Tea Party was on the ascent in the Republican Party, think Mrs May trying to keep the Tory Right under control.

Let us not be too hard on the American Republicans, there are moderate Republicans too. In TX the Republicans are essentially the Anglo Party, whilst the Democrats are the Hispanic Party, and there are huge variations within both.

Also whilst hindsight is very easy, would McCain have been a better President than was Obama?

[Aruntraveller]

Also whilst hindsight is very easy, would McCain have been a better President than was Obama?

Not with Sarah Palin as VP. This alone suggests that his judgement was either way off, or influenced by forces unseen by the public. Either way, it shows a lack of thought for the consequences of his actions.

Don't get me wrong, there was a lot to admire about Senator McCain but his mercurial temperament was perhaps not best suited to the top job.

And then there's MR Trump...........

[jeremyp]

there was a lot to admire about Senator McCain

Well there were one or two things to admire about McCain but I think he only really looks good because his colleagues are a pretty spineless lot.