Thoughts on a Cold Sunday Morning

This morning "Meet the Press" featured a long monologue that shouldn't have been a monologue from Sen. John McCain.  He  continued to talk over host David Gregory in what I'd call a disagreeable manner.  Remember, McCain recently said on Fox that Sen. Chuck Hagel was "disagreeable" or said certain things in a disagreeable manner.   My blood pressure was inching up with every word he spoke.  "When Sen. Hagel was a Republican . . ."  McCain said once again.  McCain is a leader in the effort to stall (and he'd like to defeat) his former friend Chuck Hagel's confirmation as Secretary of Defense. 

 

 Hagel still self-identifies as a Republican, last I heard.  Is McCain saying that anyone who disagrees with Party policy or doesn't toe the Party line on legislation is no longer a member of the Republican Party?  If so, should Colin Powell turn in his membership card?  Is McCain's daughter Meghan no longer a Republican?  She has disagreed publicly with Republican positions on social issues in the past.   So much of what McCain says is absurd, and I imagine the senator from Arizona knows his posturing is absurd.   He's just too bitter to stop his various forms of ranting.

 

Continuing to talk over Gregory — as I mumbled, "Cut him off, David"—McCain kept asking whether Gregory cared that four Americans died in Benghazi.  I was about to burst for someone to interject:  "Senator, do you care that more than 4,000 were killed in Iraq, the war of choice that Sen. Hagel opposed?   Chris Matthews was on the panel this morning, and I was hoping - for once - that' he'd interrupt.  But, hey, it wasn't his show.   Very frustrating.  More than ever, I'm convinced the core of McCain's objection to Hagel is personal bitterness over Hagel not supporting him in 2008.

 

What gets  me the most about Senator John McCain is the deference the media—across the board—shows him.  Seriously, he gets away with saying outrageous things, behaving like a bully, indulging in blatantly bad manners on a regular basis—l could go on and on.  But then I'd be ranting.    Okay, we know he was a POW in Viet Nam.  I cannot imagine what he went through there; certainly he must have learned what he feels like to be bullied.   I appreciate his military service.  I doubt there's any human in American who doesn't.

 

Nevertheless, Senator McCain has won elections and gotten away with way too much for way too long,  chiefly on the basis of his military history.  For sure his successes can't be attributed to personal charm and charisma.  McCain wasn't the only POW in that war or others.  Many POW's didn't survive to enjoy a life of financial luxury and considerable political power.   

 

I'm striving to speak my mind without getting mean about it.  Nevertheless, I'm really weary of seeing McCain cower people from television hosts to citizens testifying before Congressional committees.  Sick of his sidekick Lindsey Graham, too.  He's taking bullying lessons from his buddy.  We'll talk about him another time.

 

Is anybody else out there sick and tired of John McCain's bad behavior and sicker still of his getting instant absolution from journalists/media people who should be calling him out?  I'd like to hear from you.  Please leave a comment.  

 

Two other notes:  David Gregory ended today's show with Captain Mark Kelly, talking about his and Gabby Giffords' efforts to lessen gun violence in the US.  I was glad to hear him say they'll use organization (Americans for Responsible Solutions)  funds to elect pro-gun safety law candidates and to defeat candidates who oppose gun safety changes.

 

Important Date:  February 27 will be BIG day at the Supreme Court; it's about extending the Voting Rights Act.  If you've followed recent congressional redistricting manipulations and efforts of a number of states to restrict rights of minority voters in the last presidential election, you'll know the law is still badly needed.  Badly.  Needed.