Like many progressives, I have repeatedly had my share of disappointments with Arizona Senator John McCain. It\u2019s hard not to like him because he\u2019s self-deprecating, witty, rebellious, and about as \u201ccommon\u201d as anyone with over half-dozen houses can be.<\/p>\n
Then there\u2019s the elephant in the room. It\u2019s the \u201chero\u201d thing. That word may be the most overused one in the English language. In an era when we know how difficult it is to psychologically analyze anyone\u2019s motives for anything, a word like hero is truly hard to define.<\/p>\n
But to quote Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart on pornography, \u201cI know it when I see it.\u201d Despite the false analysis of Donald Trump, if anyone is a hero, it\u2019s John McCain who survived six years in a North Vietnamese prison camp and refused early release ahead of other prisoners who had been held longer than him.<\/p>\n
So, put simply, he\u2019s the guy you want on your side. And when it comes to politics, he\u2019s the guy who we would like to be a Democrat. Here are a few reasons why:<\/p>\n
So here are two questions about McCain and Axelrod:<\/p>\n
We have decades of information as to why McCain is not a Democrat. He was raised in family steeped in military service and experience. He always been a strong proponent of military strength and has risen to the position of Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee to reflect that commitment.<\/p>\n
His views on foreign policy have generally favored military intervention when diplomacy fails, although he is very protective of the well-being of combatants and civilians alike.<\/p>\n
He also a fiscal conservative. But think about what he could do with these values if he was a member of the Democratic Party:<\/p>\n
It just seems that it is a question worth asking, particularly now that McCain is an octogenarian and has acknowledged that he does not want to serve so long that he literally must be carried in and out of the Senate.<\/p>\n
There were times in the interview where there just seemed to be a disconnect with McCain; where he sided with Republicans for no particular reason. Consider his mixed messages about Hillary Clinton:<\/p>\n
David Axelrod:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 You got to know Hillary pretty well on that committee.<\/p>\n
John McCain:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Yes, very well. Very well. We traveled together. We went to Svalbard together. We did a lot of stuff together. I really enjoy her company. I really do.<\/p>\n
David Axelrod:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And you have a high regard for her?<\/p>\n
John McCain:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Oh, sure. Absolutely I have a high regard for her.<\/p>\n
David Axelrod:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Do you think she was treated fairly in the election?<\/p>\n
John McCain:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I don’t know. I think that the WikiLeaks thing was the most unusual thing I’ve observed, as you know. But I also, David, whenever you lose, I know this very, very well, you find out all the mistakes you made. When you win, you didn’t make any mistakes.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
This last answer by McCain ignores all the Trump shenanigans including \u201cCrooked Hillary\u201d and \u201cLock her up.\u201d It\u2019s clear from above that he respects Clinton. But just couldn\u2019t criticize Trump for his low blows, either towards Clinton or actually towards himself.<\/p>\n
It would have been a perfect time for David Axelrod to ask McCain if he wouldn\u2019t be more comfortable as a Democrat. But like so many who have interviewed McCain in the past, Axelrod chose to pass on that question.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m well-aware of the adage that one definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. I plead guilty to engaging in this perhaps misguided thinking for decades. Fortunately, I\u2019m not alone with this. Jesse Jackson reminded us to \u201ckeep hope alive.\u201d It may be getting a little late for that with John McCain, but as far as I\u2019m concerned, it was a good run. I would have liked a little help in 2017 from David Axelrod.<\/p>\n
You can listen to the interview by clicking here<\/a>.<\/p>\n