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McCain’s past behavior cannot begin to cover current conduct.

I suggest that George Washington and the early adminstrators of our nation would do a great deal more than CALL him a traitor, at this point.

Samuel Adams – The liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil Constitution, are worth defending at all hazards; and it is our duty to defend them against all attacks. We have received them as a fair inheritance from our worthy ancestors: they purchased them for us with toil and danger and expense of treasure and blood, and transmitted them to us with care and diligence. It will bring an everlasting mark of infamy on the present generation, enlightened as it is, if we should suffer them to be wrested from us by violence without a struggle, or to be cheated out of them by the artifices of false and designing men.

I refer to McCain Feingold, and this SHAMNESTY bill, and the anti-torture bill he slapped our soldiers with, at the very least, if not a great deal more this creature has done to America.

How strangely will the Tools of a Tyrant pervert the plain Meaning of Words!
– Samuel Adams

Samuel Butler – Authority intoxicates, And makes mere sots of magistrates; The fumes of it invade the brain, And make men giddy, proud and vain.

Henry Clay – An oppressed people are authorized, whenever they can, to rise and break their fetters.

John Adams – Be not intimidated… nor suffer yourselves to be wheedled out of your liberties by any pretense of politeness, delicacy, or decency. These, as they are often used, are but three different names for hypocrisy, chicanery and cowardice.

Patrick Henry – Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect every one who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are ruined…. O sir, we should have fine times, indeed, if to punish tyrants, it were only sufficient to assemble the people!

Samuel Adams:
If ever time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in Government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin.

Clarence S. Darrow – Liberty is the most jealous and exacting mistress that can beguile the brain and soul of man. From him who will not give her all, she will have nothing. She knows that his pretended love serves but to betray. But when once the fierce heat of her quenchless, lustrous eyes have burned into the victim’s heart, he will know no other smile but hers.

Being a failure as a fighter pilot and getting yourself shot down does NOT make you a hero. It makes you a failure and a POW.

Actually, I would call his survival a MIRACLE.!!! North Viet Nam was the heaviest defended area in the world at that time. Thanks to the “Rules of Engagement”.
Rio
Semper Fi!

I just wonder if other Republicans “get” why McCain’s in a death spiral: amnesty. The base is in a foul mood over this and if candidates don’t address it in a satisfactory way, they’ll stay home in Nov. ‘08 and give the White House to Hillary.

Being a failure as a fighter pilot and getting yourself shot down does NOT make you a hero. It makes you a failure and a POW.

Oh BS. He was doing one of the most dangerous jobs on earth, for his country, against the densest anti-aircraft defenses in the history of warfare.

You might as well say ever soldier who has ever been killed in combat for this nation is a failure.

How about “campaign”?

we won’t even mention his attack on the first amendment.

Soon to be gone from the Presidential campaign… Bye John

I never would have voted for him for President. But that doesn’t mean you can’t admire him. John McCain is a difficult man to like. He’s prickly. He has a quick temper. But when I knew him back in the 80’s when he was a Congressman, he was one of the most generous people on the Hill. He treated everyone – staff, lobbyists, cafeteria workers – with respect. His staff was very devoted – a clear sign that he inspired loyalty in his people.

And why not? The compelling personal story of his capture, torture, and imprisonment can never be overlooked. It made him a very serious man who took the words honor and duty to heart. His positions on issues that we disagreed with – campaign finance and immigration – were not the result of political calculation or pandering to an interest group. He truly believed he was doing the right thing for America.

He was dead wrong in our opinion. But how can you call someone a “traitor” after this man has given his all to the country in his youth and served it in Congress by staying true to his own concepts of honor and duty? Shallow criticism indeed.

Did he fall in love with the idea that he was a “maverick” and that he cultivated that image in the press? I actually think the last two years when the Presidential bug bit him again (he decided after 2000 that he wouldn’t run again) that he did indeed start playing up this image in some ways. I think he probably thought it was the best way to attract Democratic voters – proving that he could buck the right on some issues.

But on the big issues of the war and immigration reform, he played it straight. That is, he followed what he truly believed was the right thing to do. We can certainly criticize his judgment. But I think we should stop short of impugning his motives.