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Ed. Note: To mark the passing of Senator John McCain, we’re reposting this interview Jay Nordlinger did with him in 2015.
Jay’s guest today is John McCain, the senior senator from Arizona and the 2008 Republican presidential nominee. At Jay’s prompting, he covers the waterfront, or at least a fair stretch of it: Iran, Syria, Israel, China, etc. He talks about wars past and present (and possibly future). Did the U.S. betray the people of South Vietnam? Did McCain think he would get out of the cells alive?
He also talks some politics, including George W. Bush, the 2008 campaign, and Sarah Palin. McCain describes himself as the luckiest man alive. He says he wakes up grateful to God every day. Have a listen. Whatever your politics, you will hear a man who has had an extraordinarily big life.
Photo credit: Krista Kennell / Shutterstock.com
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A big life for sure. McCain consistently infuriates but manages to be deeply endearing in those times when he’s not infuriating, like here.
Great interview, Jay.
Lovely. Thank you so much. I already miss his strong confident voice.
This was a good interview to hear now. As much as his independent streak could be aggravating for conservatives, he was spot on regarding the international trouble spots and defense matters. Hope and change didn’t just impact America, so many Iraqi, Libyan, Syrian and Iranian citizens, among others, had to suffer due to the misguided judgment of our ‘JV’ president.
May he rest in peace.
He was anything but right on the international scene. A total and complete war monger always stirring pots that did not stirring, aggressive, weakening the US. Sen McCain: Pfooi. Like Jay Nordlinger – a despicable neocon.
This is not the time. The man just died.
This is not the place. Your words belong in Facebook, not Ricochet.
I’ve hung back on this stuff, but have finally reached my limit. And don’t take this as a knock at Sen. McCain. But this type of self-righteousness from someone who back several months ago was playing the dementia card on Trump is way over the top, and it’s not the first time in recent discussions about McCain. From your numerous encomiums over the last day or so, I think we get that you hold the Senator in high regard, but I missed your appointment as arbiter of good taste.
What a terrible butchers bill with cancer this summer, first Krauthammer and now McCain.
McCain’s farewell to his fellow Americans from his last book has been elevated to the Main Feed. I hope that you find it to be helpful and inspiring.