Am I the only one here who used to respect McCain?

I'm not saying I would've voted for him, but I find myself saddened at the way he's allowed himself to become part of the Repug machine. I can't imagine what he went through in Hanoi, 6 years in captivity and being tortured. That breaks my heart--for him as much as for anyone. And the way he got so beaten up by the Bush campaign in South Carolina--to the point that his daughter Bridget doesn't like to be involved in campaigning even now. And he did once used to cross party lines, work with Feingold, etc.

Choosing Palin, lying, running this nasty campaign...it all just makes me shake my head and wonder why he wants this so badly that he would walk away from principles he at least used to appear to have.

But it also means that I find him, now, a man with no sense of honor or ethical fiber. I used to respect him. What's sad is that I feel anything BUT respect for him now.

To me he is just a giant piece of shit.

I will admit to not having been up to speed on his consistently anti-choice views (although he'd once pummeled Bush on being too extreme in his views on abortion). I have some family from the area, and he used to be considered a pretty effective Senator and an ok guy.

And he sounded genuine when he had criticized the Swift Boaters in '04.

So, yeah, I used to respect him. didn't agree with him but I thought he was at least intellectually honest.

how can you respect a whimp who caved into the right.

Palin was chosen for him

Not real fond of people who respond to posts without reading 'em, either.

he makes me angry

She wouldn't vote again for him if he promised her a new Mercedes.

I hate him more than Bush now.

I've respected republicans before. Hell, I voted for one- Jim Jeffords, twice.

GE, but I detested Shrub from the first time I heard his surrogates speak about how he was guaranteed the presidency because of all the money he already had! I changed my registration so I could vote for him in the primary that year because you can never predict elections and I sure didn't want Shrub! Right after the election, I switched back to Dem.

I guess the McNut we saw back then really wasn't the REAL McNut!

conservatives. Growing up in the Vietnam era in New England, through Nixon, Reagan...I've nothing but contempt for them and am disgusted in how they go about their business.

I DESPERATELY didn't want Bush to be the nominee.

I sent this in response to one of the endless right-wing Obama fundie slimefests in which they tout "family values." I've even posted segments on a local news website that leans heavily to the right. No one has responded. Not one.


"So, if we're going to be honest -- and, please, let's be brutally honest here rather than gloss over the truth with distractions and innuendo -- for many of you, it comes down to how you feel about candidates, how you 'relate' to them, what type of moral fiber he/she may have.

That is the very reason I will not be voting for McCain-Palin.

I won't be voting for McCain-Palin because neither shares my idea of family values. Like most who put themselves on a moral pedestal (and, come on, that's largely the territory of the right; other than Edwards, most on the left don't put themselves on a moral pedestal because they know that, like their brothers and sisters on the right, they'll likely be knocked off). It's the hypocrisy, Stupid.

McCain-Palin have knowingly and strategically thrown their own children under the campaign bus.

We know Palin threw Bristol under the bus by surprising her with a place on the national stage, with no advance notice (the children were told they were attending a surprise anniversary party for their parents), as she copes with a personal drama. There was no reason to do that to Bristol, not in that way, at that time. As a mother, I can't conceive of putting my child through that. I am certainly not judging Bristol nor her parents with regard to her pregnancy -- I'm not judging it one way or another, as it is a personal family matter. I will suggest that you imagine the response by moral conservatives if this were Chelsea Clinton at 17, even if she planned to marry the father of the baby. Be honest.

Some of us may have forgotten that McCain has thrown his daughter, Bridget, under the Straight Talk Express by pandering to those who were afraid of his "black child" back in 2000. He is courting these same people as his base. He is pandering to them by keeping her as invisible as possible. How often has anyone seen Bridget, the adopted daughter from Bangladesh, for the last eight years? Not much; granted, it's probably for her sanity as much as anything, but still....

What kind of father or mother "makes nice" with the very people who destroyed them back in 2000 (The Bush crowd led by Rove) and, more importantly, ATTACKED THEIR CHILD, all for the sake of politics, and now is seeking support from the people who were frightened or repulsed by this same child in 2000.

That is unforgivable.

To me, John McCain has sold his very soul and I don't want a shell of a person leading this country.

Family values my ass.

For those of you who were turned off by the idea of McCain having a "black child" back in 2000 -- and perhaps still today -- I urge you to be honest about it. Don't disguise your hatred and fear of Obama in all the other BS going around. Aren't you the type of people who have always been proud of "calling a spade a spade," "call 'em like you see 'em" and all that? Hey, I applaud honesty and transparency, and I don't think we'll get far as a country if we keep pussyfooting around what's really going on. Isn't it the "wuss liberals" you have always chastised as being "politically correct"? Why are you being politically correct now? Lots of people who have been honest and even proud of their views about race are suddenly silent. I get all these emails about "I think he's a closet muslim," “he makes me uncomfortable,” “it’s his name.”

What???? Just say you don't want him in the White House because he's BLACK and you're afraid he will "get back at white people" in some way. Be honest for cryin' out loud. Geesh."

Hell, even 4 years ago.

desperate and sad shell of his former self. He sold out.

I knew he was a stooge.

Gore already got the Dem nomination, so dh and I voted for McCain in the 2000 open primary to fuck with the Republicans. McCain in 2008 is unrecognizable and this year's primary would have gone Ron Paul to fuck with their heads. As it was, California was still in play, so we both went Obama. I went into the polling place not sure which way I'd go, Obama or Hillary, as both would have been excellent. I'm happy to have chosen Obama.

Once you sell your soul, you have to get something to make the deal worthwhile. I disagreed with him, but McCain had integrity until he lost to Bush. Now he'll do and say anything to get himself in that White House.

When he actually looked like a maverick.

Now, he's just a whore for Bush/Cheney.

and certainly didn't expect him to firmly kiss the ass of
rightwing religious zealots with such certitude and relish

After the dirty smears Bush unleashed on McCain that year, to support Bush in 2004 against his supposed friend Kerry - I lost all respect for him

time has past.

:nopity:

I respect some republicans who keep true with their values even if I don't always agree, but most compromise them in the name of politics. McCain lost his running for president this elections.

In 2000 he seemed to be a straight talking guy, although totally conservative, it seemed he wasn't one of those who lived on divide and conquer and actually practiced what he preached. McCain has either gotten more mentally unstable, affected by old age, totally cynical and power hungry or all of the above. I think it is all of the above. he is a fucking POS now.

Unfortunately...he is towing the party line now, he has been fully assimilated.

I've never been a fan of his, but I'm kind of partisan that way.

There was always something about him that put me off, something that just didn't sit right with me. But, I know quite a few very smart Democrats who used to admire him, so you're in good company.

election and flip-flopped on things like at first being against tax cuts for the rich.

when he allowed chimp to slander is family and then kissed chimp's butt. I don't care you, don't allow your family to be attacked for political gain...that's contemptable. :argh:

My respect for him was much greater until he decided that one of the darkest chapters in his life was a legitimate foundation for Presidency. I will always respect those that protect our country, either in uniform, government or by volunteering in their communities but McCain went to far with the POW stories.