Donald Trump reportedly expressed an upset that the country was mourning John McCain too much. I might agree with that, though not for the same reasons. Unlike Trump, I am not bothered that all that love and respect is not going to me and is instead directed to a guy, albeit a dead one, who I didn't like because he wouldn't kiss my ass. I get the feeling some people are over-saluting McCain because it's yet another way to show one's contempt for Trump…and if you're a Democrat, you can even look fair-minded and non-partisan in the process.
As I already wrote here, I think Senator McCain did some good things. Did I also mention that it's hard to dislike a guy who could go on a talk show and be so funny and self-effacing and even at times, a little self-deprecating? McCain was that way at times and it was a skill that more politicians should have but which less seem to want. These days, especially if you're a Republican, "tough" is what it's all about…and tough guys never laugh at themselves. They're too insecure to do that.
But there were plenty of times when his votes in the Senate were the same as those of his right-wing colleagues…and the thing that really made it impossible for me to be more positive about him was his undying support for The War.
Which war? Just about any war — any time, any place, any reason. As Matt Taibbi notes: "Wherever America had a foreign policy problem, [his] solution was always to bomb the fuck out of someone."
Read this piece by Taibbi. That kind of thing cancels out for me a lot of charming, friendly spots with Letterman or Stewart.