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I Hope Senator McCain Acts Heroically One More Time
George Washington stepped down after two terms as president. He was healthy, but thought it important that he demonstrate that America’s greatness came not from its leaders, but from its citizens and its underlying philosophies. Many of his colleagues wanted him to become king, but he wanted to prove that his presence was not as important as many made it out to be. He was just another citizen.
He was George Washington. John McCain, as I’ve said before, is a great man. But he is not George Washington. If this country can survive without Washington, it can survive without McCain.
In positions of power, it is easy to view oneself as indispensable. But one of the beauties of our system is that no one is that important. We survived Andrew Johnson, Jimmy Carter, Woodrow Wilson, Barrack Obama, etc. Our leaders do not determine the greatness of this country.
When Kim Jong Il is no longer in charge of North Korea, that country will probably change drastically. When John McCain steps down, the United States will continue on, largely unchanged. He will have done his duty, served his country, and will have been honorably discharged from his duty. Things will carry on as before. I can’t think of a downside to his stepping down now. His retirement will appropriately be praised as yet another act of selfless heroism — a capstone on a life well lived.
I can think of lots of downsides to him staying on too long. Check out that video of him in the comments of Docjay’s recent post, if you haven’t seen it. Goodness. Is that how he wants to be remembered? Does he want to be remembered as a courageous hero who served his country selflessly, or a babbling man too desperate for attention to leave the stage honorably?
There are very few reasons that I can think of that might make him decide to stay in office. None of them are good.
I don’t envy his situation. He’s in a tough spot. But he’s been in tough spots before. I’m rooting for him to step down as a hero. He’s earned the right to do whatever he wants. And I have no standing to advise someone of his stature.
But I hope he chooses wisely here…
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Someone without a terminal space occupying malignancy destined to corrode some already corroded thought processes. What a ridiculous statement.
As Goldwater was a Senator, he could not vote for impeachment. That power is reserved to the House of Representatives.
Goldwater could only vote to convict once the trial was held in the Senate.
Thank goodness we got to see for ourselves what a hollow threat that actually is.
Too bad President Nixon resigned.
Washington’s decision to step down was epic and heroic. But I’m not sure it should serve as an example for any office but the highest. It should probably be irrelevant to what McCain decides to do.
I’ve never been a fan of McCain. Election Day, Nov. 2008 was a sickening day for me. I don’t think ill of him personally though. I think he honestly loves this country and his stances have been consistent and relatively thoughtful. I just disagree strongly with many of his assumptions. I was so disappointed when he won his last election. I’m glad to hear that that will be his last. Yet, I feel bad for him and his family in this crisis. I’ve been too close to this with a couple of my grandparents. He is staring at a pretty ugly path ahead. I could see that familiar look in his eyes at the Sessions hearing. He looked like he was in a mindless fog. I remember telling a co-worker the next morning that he would not make it to 2018. There isn’t much worse than watching a loved one fade away from dementia or some other brain ailment. It seems like the first stage of dealing with this will be to fight and be the brave soldier. However, if this is anything like dementia, once the symptoms take hold, he’ll want to just get out and be alone with his family to enjoy every lucid moment he has left. Who would want to spend that time fighting with Democrats and Trump?
I think you meant “fighting with republicans and Trump.”
McCain is his father’s son. His father reluctantly retired from the Navy, and his grandfather died days after the Japanese surrender. Like him or not, and I happen to like him, he’s a warrior from a warrior family. They are men of duty and honor. They don’t leave their posts unless forced to, and I expect McCain sees his seat as his final post. He knows his limits, probably more than many of us do, and he’ll step down when he is ready.
Or he could mean “fighting with Democrats against Trump.”
Doc I think it’s a little late for him not to be considered an embarrassment and a disgrace.
Good thing he didn’t take your advise because then who would be the 50th vote to help Mitch push his healthcare bill (well one of them presumably) down the field.
To your point about voting for the Health Care Bill, this is why the current Senate doesn’t work as well with 99 as with 100.
I hope he steps down, but it is his choice. There are reasons to stay and reasons to go. I’m not a fan of McCain, my Grandfather never liked him because his friend and fellow Marine Aviator Jerry Marvel was in Hanoi with McCain and never trusted him. That bad blood was inherited.
Sadly the Senate needs every halfway republican vote possible. The fractured approach to health care is lacking in leadership, no one is out pitching a consistent plan or trying to change the parameters of the debate. I wish Trump would do for healthcare what he did for immigration. He moved the Overton Window there, why can’t he do it for healthcare? Why won’t he do it for healthcare? For taxes? Etc.
McCain meanwhile, my best to your family and prayers for an easy passing or more years of health. Thank you for your service, but I won’t miss your presence in Washington when you are gone.
There’s no reason to stay. Too many of these clowns cling to power. Healthy 80 year olds should step down. Ones with brain cancer definitely should step down.
McCain is certainly an American hero, and a great American. He is, however, not a great senator, to put it mildly. Mr. Maverick McFlopperpants was an almost constant source of frustration to Arizona conservatives. It looks like my fellow Arizonans have made that case pretty well. With a health problem like that, at his age, he should step down. On the other hand, Barbara Boxer has had a pretty good senatorial career without much evidence she even possesses a brain, so maybe he could ride this thing out. Even were he to end up in a PVS, he’d do no worse than most of them.
McCain is still needed to help Trump to be removed by resignation, impeachment or the 25th Amendment.