My email boxes filled up this weekend with people wanting my take on the "censuring" of wealthy Republican John Sidney McCain III by the Arizona Republican Party.
The decision certainly attracted much attention among his chief constituency. The Wire reported, "Citing his 'long and terrible record of drafting, co-sponsoring and voting for legislation best associated with liberal Democrats,' the Arizona Republican Party passed a resolution attacking Senator John McCain for being too liberal." It added, "It remains difficult to be a maverick."
For the New York Times, McCain "has become known for his willingness to work across party lines" and the Gray Lady (using a Reuters story) took comfort in former Sen. Jon Kyl telling the Arizona Republic, "I've gone to dozens of these meetings and every now and then some wacky resolution gets passed."
Over at the Washington Post, the story noted that "McCain has been dogged by conservatives objecting to his views on immigration and campaign finance, among other issues, since he first ran for Congress in 1982. Republican activists were also turned off by his moderate stances in the 2000 presidential race."
McCain's constituency is the media and they just can't quit him, their make-believe straight-talk express "moderate."
The reality is very different. As a politician, McCain has always been most distinguished by his opportunism. Arizona best fit the bill for his desire to be in Congress, maybe even more, once he married the beer heiress Cindy Lou Hensley. Whatever "moderate" or "maverick" position McCain seemed to take could always be jettisoned for career advancement. For example, he was for torture after he was against it.
This is old news for anyone who has been paying attention. What is notable, and censure-worthy, about McCain is how little he has done for his "home" state in his nearly three decades in the House and Senate. As in, next to nothing.
It is also no new news that the Arizona Republican Party has gone insane. Exhibit A is the High Sheriff of Maricopa County, who has cost taxpayers $44.4 million through his incompetence, malpractice and brutishness — and he's beloved by people who would refuse to spend a dime on transit or "government schools." He will be in office for life.
Some of this madness is indigenous — Arizona was a John Birch hotbed as early as the 1950s and gave rise to Evan Mecham. Most of it is the ideological nationalization of state parties through organizations from the Christian Coalition and assorted "think tanks" to ALEC and FreedomWorks.
The revolution devours its children, so it should be no surprise that McCain would become a "RINO." Yesterday's reliable reactionary must be led to the guillotine under that murky if ill-understood charge of liberalism.
Otherwise, how can the masses of angry old Anglos be kept in a perpetual, malleable fury? New enemies must always be found. J'accuse!
As for Barry Goldwater, Paul Fannin, Jack Williams, Burt Barr, Sam Steiger, John Rhodes — they couldn't even come in fifth in a primary election for a school-board election.
The median age of Americans in 2010 was nearly 37. Thus a majority of people have no real memory of the GOP as a mass political party with real conservatives, liberals and "moderates," working in a system where compromise got things done. You know, things like the Central Arizona Project, and long before that, the Newlands Act.
Republicans live within their Fox "News" echo chamber where the facts have a well-known liberal bias. To be sure, GOP delegations in states such as Texas make sure they bring home the bacon and look after the interests of their state. But otherwise, the party stands for nihilism and setting people against each other. (And it's not as if I am a red-diaper baby).
Back in media-ville, there are many obituaries for this radical party. Here's a new Salon piece about "How the right destroyed itself."
The trouble is, we're living in the nation run by Paul Ryan, Rand Paul, Mitch McConnell, Darrell Issa et al and their corporate puppetmasters. Barack Obama just happens to be the elected president under this increasing charade called constitutional democracy.
They set the agenda. They mostly get their way, even if, to keep the troops ginned up, they must appear perpetually under siege by SOCIALISM (if this is socialism, or social democracy, where the hell is my free universal health care, university education, high-speed rail and month's paid vacation?).
Yes, gay rights are advancing. Otherwise, the reactionary right controls the agenda. This despite the fact that President Obama was elected and re-elected by comfortable margins and the Democrats (and two independents caucusing with them) hold a majority in the Senate (55 seats). Not only that, but Democrats won the House of Representatives in 2012 by nearly 59.3 million votes to 57.6 million for the Republicans.
Yes.
Unfortunately for America, the GOP has so successfully gerrymandered House districts that it ensured Democrats would get only 201 of the 435 seats in the lower chamber of Congress. These are the wages of the 2010 tea-party victory and redistricting that followed as Republicans controlled most state Legislatures.
So observers may dance on the graves of this party of dying old white men. But they will be with us — over us — at least until 2020 and perhaps long afterward. By that time, the sinews of constructive governance and civic practice will be long atrophied and forgotten. And do not assume Democrats can keep the Senate this year or win the presidency in 2016.
So let the east-coast media fret about McCain. The rest of us have much bigger problems.
Once a carpetbagger, always a carpetbagger.
Posted by: eclecticdog | January 28, 2014 at 09:57 AM
So who will the GOP pony up?
Posted by: cal Lash | January 28, 2014 at 10:56 AM
Jon, this line made me bust a gut:
"It is also no new news that the Arizona Republican Party has gone insane."
Posted by: Tina | January 28, 2014 at 11:13 AM
Phoenix was a Klan hotbed in the 1920s.
Posted by: Bob, late of AZ | January 28, 2014 at 11:29 AM
Sen John McCain has NOT accomplished anything for Arizona..he couldn't even save Williams AFB....
To his record...YES..I totally respect his Military Service and his POW status...but...that is NOT why I do not want him to continue as a Senator, representing Arizona and myself. I am a registered independent....not GOP....not Dem.....Not "Tea Party"...
Having said that, I do NOT feel that Sen McCain has done anything these past few years that would have me vote for him again. His latest "ideals" (for lack of a better phrase) are totally in line with Obama(whom I totally distrust and have NO respect for) and the REIDs/PELOSIEs of the Democratic Party. I feel this Country is in far worse shape because of these misguided, idiotic "leaders" who profess that they are right in all they do...and nothing they have done has shown me that we are better off today then when GW was in office.
The GOP has sent over 150 pieces of legislation that REID would not even bring to the floor for debate/consideration..I find it hard to believe that all 150+ were bad for the US, or, the Dems are the ONLY ones with good ideas.(yea...how about that "OBAMACARE"...you had to pass it to know what is in it...now you know....but you don't have to take it!!)... Anyway...I digress...Sen McCain....go home...RETIRE...your dementia is showing.
Posted by: Skip | January 28, 2014 at 12:31 PM
I covered John McCain's very first political campaign in Arizona as a reporter for the Chandler Arizonan. I spent a lot of time listening to him talk about his goals and his intentions. I respect the man's service to his country in a time of war. As a politician, he isn't fit to wipe the floor after Burton Barr tracked in mud.
Posted by: Sunny H. | January 28, 2014 at 01:41 PM
Skip - well said. I've been urging McCain to hang it up also, . . . not that he will listen to any of his constituents.
Posted by: toughteri | January 28, 2014 at 01:44 PM
This could be the funniest statement of the year and its not even February!!! "Citing his 'long and terrible record of drafting, co-sponsoring and voting for legislation best associated with liberal Democrats.'"
Just how far to the right do you have to be to associate McCain with LIBERAL Democrats????? Is it possible to be that far left without actually coming back around to your left???
Posted by: SD Mittelsteadt | January 28, 2014 at 02:02 PM
Great take, Jon! You don't need to have lived here all that long to learn about the true McCain.....but it takes a AZ diaper-baby to hit all the points like you do!!
Posted by: SD Mittelsteadt | January 28, 2014 at 02:04 PM
The consensus is in.
Now who do U suggest as a replacement?
Posted by: cal Lash | January 28, 2014 at 04:19 PM
"Now who do U suggest as a replacement?"
I was going to ask the same.
Posted by: 100 Octane | January 28, 2014 at 04:53 PM
Some choices for John McCain's senate seat, Jan Brewer, Randy Pullen, Russell Pearce, Joe Arpaio, Steven Seagal.
Posted by: cal lash | January 28, 2014 at 07:42 PM
Back in the Suicide for Dummies thread Mr. Talton wrote:
"9. Eliminate a common culture so elevating norms, such as education and civil discourse, are dismissed as elitist and exclusionary. A "civilization" and its demands sounds so snobby, so non "casual." Better for everyone to walk around dressed like adolescents and talking like characters out of Pulp Fiction."
I thought at the time it was funny (in a sad way) that he took a little flack for this. Reading the current thread reminds me why he is read: literate, educated, and compelling prose. I may not always agree with him, but there is no question that he is one of the most interesting opinion columnists out there.
The McCain column could have turned out so much differently had he taken the advice of his critics. We could have learned that "McCain is a m.f.! What's up with that?" Comment: "Fo shizzle!"
Still, urban slang occasionally has its amusing side. Could McCain be "a ashshit konkey wacker"? Get out there and do some investigative reporting, Talton! Enquiring minds want to know. Also, that suit in your photo is behind the times. Get some tats (preferably an arm-covering layer of monster-heads and spider webs) and start wearing your pants around your thighs. Just imagine the new audience numbers!
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=a%20ass%20shit%20konkey%20wacker
Posted by: Emil Pulsifer | January 28, 2014 at 07:50 PM
McCain was a mediocre soldier. Came home to dump the wife who waited for him while he was imprisoned, threatened to cut off the AZ Republic if they said anything negative about him, abused people with his explosive temper, subject America to the possibility of Sarah Palin being a heartbeat away from the Presidency, and whores himself left and right. What a guy.
Posted by: Diane D'Angelo | January 28, 2014 at 08:56 PM
Ok, u all convinced me John shouldn't be an Arizona Senator. Who do U think the AZ GOP is going to run that is a better choice? And who are the Democrats going to run that can win?
And do we need a urban dictionary ?
Posted by: cal Lash | January 28, 2014 at 11:19 PM
Palin for Governor! Arizona the non-stop laughing stock of the country.
Posted by: JMAV | January 29, 2014 at 12:05 AM
OBAMACARE Yes!
Posted by: JMAV | January 29, 2014 at 12:30 AM
Make sure U catch the McCain Censure by Lemmons in the New Times. A real chuckle.
Posted by: cal Lash | January 30, 2014 at 01:00 PM
Who could get elected here in McCain's place? Senator Arpaio? Senator Horne? The only sane choice is whatever the Demos run (Senator Sinema, Grijalva, Pastor?).
Posted by: eclecticdog | January 30, 2014 at 02:31 PM
I like Talton and Soleri but I hear they are running for the Mayor of Seattle and Portland!
Posted by: cal Lash | January 30, 2014 at 05:04 PM
2" of snow + Atlanta = IDIOCRACY
Posted by: Ruben, AzReb, Troll | January 30, 2014 at 05:48 PM
REB, Let me now when U escape snow
will by coffee.
Posted by: cal Lash | January 30, 2014 at 08:33 PM
John McCain deserves censure, but not for the reason the wackos propose. John McCain is completely lacking in moral character, and he is not qualified to go on the White House tour, let alone sit in the Oval Office.
He cheated on his physically disabled first wife, when she was no longer pretty enough, or rich enough, to be helpful with his political aspirations. He played the field, and then dumped her, so that he could marry a younger, richer bride whose father is alleged to have had connections with the Jewish mafia in Tucson.
The younger richer bride is a smart cookie though. She made the senile old lecher sign a prenuptial agreement, files separate income tax returns, and will not even tell him how many houses she owns.
John McCain slobbers and drools, throws a temper tantrum now and then, and sticks his finger in the wind so that he can determine which political position to abandon or endorse this week. When is someone going to persuade the senile fool to retire?
If he were President, we would be in a new war every other week, and the dingbat Sarah Palin would be just one heartbeat away.
Posted by: John | February 01, 2014 at 09:19 PM
Well said John
Posted by: cal Lash | February 02, 2014 at 01:12 PM