25 Comments

Knowing McCain's story isn't new. He was a class A dick. And you didn't even mention the S&L scandal, the Keating scandal. He was the perfect Reagan "man".

What that Raving Orange Lunatic said about him, nonetheless was, tasteless, cruel, and typical.

The Maverick had a shit load of skeletons in his closet.

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Yes. I lightly delved into those on the grounds I suspect the later bits of his history may be better-known.

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Riveting stuff, TC! I admired McCain, because he stood up for Obama once, but his story is typical of the advantaged white man.

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Well...it is always hard to learn all of these things long after the fact. Amazing how much is dressed in camo in order to keep the myth going. I'm sure his approach to life and living likely left him questioning himself, at least once in a while. Not enough of course to ever come clean. No one wants to. Let's face it. To reflect on those things that may have offered you a moment to re-evaluate and "repent" can be so painful, overlooking just is too easy. Never believe your own press.

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Nailed. It.

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Good write-up Tom.....I have been hawking your site on my Facebook page - not sure if it does any good, but for some insane reason Facebook says I am an "influencer"......Christ, who knew.....?

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I killed FB several years ago. F**k Zuckerberg and the horse he road in on!

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Biggest time-suck ever invented.....

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Yeah. I few years back I started a FB group for photography. If not for that, I would happily delete my account.

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I use it mainly for keeping up with friends around the world, and news - a lot of the people I connect with post news stories that I would never see on my feed, so I have a better view of what's happening. Other than that, ads, ads, ads, and truly lousy algorithms to run the place, and the worst search function in Christendom.....

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I laughed all the way through your story about John McCain. A self inflicted Joe Btfsplk. I expect no one was held responsible for the death and destruction on the aircraft carrier? Top brass rarely are, as I understand it

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The whole thing with the "Forrestfire" was the bomb shortage leading to those old bombs being there. That did become a "big deal" reaching all the way to MacNamara. You can read the whole chapter which is a lot more than what I put in this, in the book (the previous is a shameless personal plug). Inherently, a carrier is a dangerous place - lots of fuel, lots of explosives, etc. Even more than most warships.

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I bought the book a while back. Have been too busy fleeing Ukraine to Canada to read it. Am reading The Frozen Chosen

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I'll be interested to learn your thoughts on both.

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This one, Allen, is for you and Tanya I suggest that you see it yourself before sharing. 'Give Peace a Chance' sung by Ukrainian young ones in 2014. Very sadly beautiful. 🌿🌻🌿

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etYeu7gDlm8

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Nice. Thanks

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I'm small potatoes when it comes to social media, but when I amplify your writing on Twitter and FB, I know that about 1300 people are getting it. I hope some of your new followers are among them. This was fascinating, although I will confess, I am not all that surprised at his picadilloes. I'm not sure at this point in my life and given my age I could name a single person that I could put on a pedestal - male or female. There's something that seems to knock askew a person's moral compass (those who have one) when fame, money, power and sycophants enter their wheelhouse.

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I recall my late father, a Navy fighter pilot, having some reservations about McCain when I talked to him talking about the 2008 elections. There apparently were rumors in the Navy about McCain's flying service that your report explains. He still voted for him however.

Dad flew some of the first A-4's starting December 1956, when he was CAG of Air Group 7. It became his second favorite airplane - he preferred the FJ-3M that he also flew in the same period as it fit his rather large frame better. The small cockpit of the A-4 probably caused McCain's injuries.

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Yeah, very few guys got out of an A-4 with the seat without doing something bad to themselves.

Interesting about your dad's background.

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Thanks for this, TC. I love SS (despite his recent dismaying foray into campaign work for Starbucks' Schultz) and was fascinated by his revelations over the last few days. McCain has fascinated me since ready that 2008 Rolling Stone piece on him. Great to read your take on McCain's character and your truth that no one is perfect. Will be ever grateful for McC's thumbs up that historic day on the floor of the Senate. :)

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Yes, that moment may have been McCain's best ever.

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You and Billy Wilder, I believe. It’s hard for me to believe 100% in Steve Schmidt - despite his amazing, compelling, articulate voice that commands my attention every time. Why? Palin. I just can’t get that person out of my head - along with all those who enabled her. xoxo

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Go read his substack. He wasn't the one who chose her, though he admits to making the mistake of being the one who recommended her out of desperation to shake up the campaign. I think he's OK; in fact I wouldn't mind being his friend.

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Outside of maybe Jimmy Carter, who among us has always been unfailingly trustworthy and faithful to those principles to which we subscribe? "Let [s]he who is without sin cast the first stone." At least we are self-aware enough to have principles.

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May 11, 2022
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That would have been interesting.

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