John McCain has been getting a lot of press coverage the past few months, for both good and bad reasons. He’s played a role in two of the most fascinating and disturbing congressional hearings this year, and both times, McCain has come across as… bewildered. Like, he didn’t exactly know where he was, but he absolutely knew that he was there to accuse Hillary Clinton of dumb sh-t and interrupt the only black female senator. Senator McCain has had some good moments this year too, like when he talked about missing President Obama, and when he publicly scorned Donald Trump’s attack on the London mayor. Well, now people are feeling bad about making fun of McCain’s WTFery during those congressional hearings. As it turns out, his doctors just discovered that he has a brain tumor.
John McCain has been diagnosed with brain cancer, days after he underwent surgery to remove a blood clot above his eye. The 2008 Republican presidential nominee’s office and the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona, released a statement on Wednesday evening revealing the diagnosis.
“Subsequent tissue pathology revealed that a primary brain tumor known as a glioblastoma was associated with a blood clot,” the statement explains. “Scanning done since the procedure (a minimally invasive craniotomy with an eyebrow incision) shows that the tissue of concern was completely resected by imaging criteria.”
The form of brain cancer that McCain had removed is the most aggressive. United States Senator Edward “Ted” Kennedy and Delaware attorney general Beau Biden, the son of former Vice President Joe Biden, also had glioblastoma. The Senator, 80, is recovering “amazingly well” and his current health condition is “excellent,” according to McCain’s doctors.
“He is in good spirits as he continues to recover at home with his family in Arizona,” another statement stated.
Because McCain has been in Arizona recovering, and not on Capitol Hill for next week’s vote on the Republican bill to replace Obamacare, GOP Senators were forced to postpone the vote until McCain can return, according to Politico.
Today I’m choosing not to think about all of those times McCain acted as a hack on behalf of his party. Today I’m choosing to think about all of the times McCain stood up to the worst people in his party, all of the times he was a thorn in the side of the Bush presidency, all of the times he was actually a good and decent and honest man. I hope he gets better soon, and perhaps has a come-to-Jesus moment about how every American should have access to the same kind of healthcare coverage that every congressman and senator receives.
John McCain is an American hero & one of the bravest fighters I've ever known. Cancer doesn't know what it's up against. Give it hell, John.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) July 20, 2017
Here’s Meghan McCain’s statement:
Statement regarding my father @SenJohnMcCain: pic.twitter.com/SMte9Hkwkq
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) July 20, 2017
Photos courtesy of Getty.
Bless his heart; this explains a lot.
He told the docs his thinking had been off for a few months. Explains how weird he was during the hearings.
After watching a family member die from this particular form of cancer, I wish his family all the best in the times to come. Senator McCain will more than likely not come out of this one. It does shed light on the Comey hearing.
Yes this killed my otherwise perfectly healthy grandmother very quickly and in awful fashion. My recollection is that the medical consensus is that this is largely inoperable and kills people rapidly – first taking away things like their ability to speak and walk, etc. Perhaps things have changed in the intervening years; but part of the problem is that it spreads so rapidly in microscopic pieces to other parts of the brain – like grains of sand in a bowl of jelly. I really feel for him and his family, it is an awful diagnosis.
My father died of cancer as well and I know first hand what is like to watch a person you love decline and pass away. My thoughts and prayers are with senator McCain in his family.
My Grandmother also died from this. She beat it the first time, went into remission and refused to go to her checkups for about two years. When we finally got her to one, it had come back very aggressively and she was gone within six months. Hopefully he follows through with his treatments, and any aftercare required. No doubt he has access to some of the best care in the country, perhaps he’ll share why he sees in the hospitals and use this opportunity to help sway his fellow GOPers to have some heart regarding the bill.
I have a friend who had Stage 3 Gioblastoma and survived. He was in his mid 40’s, went through radiation and chemotherapy, it was very very rough but he has now been in remission for 10 years. Although this is a very aggressive cancer, I have hope that there is some chance they can help him slow it down or keep it at bay, at the last. Although I know those odds, at his age, may not be good. However, it did break my heart when I read this. I was very much against him when Palin was his sidekick but he is definitely an amazing mouthpiece for the people and him stepping up to Trump the past few months has made me warm back up to him! Bless him. His family is in my thoughts today.
The irony is that McCain will be sure to travel to DC to vote to take insurance and healthcare away from tens of millions of Americans, then go back home to his excellent taxpayer-funded healthcare. No one is talking about the horrible hypocrisy of this. I can’t get past this.
My grandmother as well passed away 7 years ago from this. She was a very active, vibrant woman and within 6 months of finding the cancer she had passed. She lost her speaking abilities first, then walking and by the time she passed she was paralyzed from the neck down, it was a terrible disease.
It does shed light on his questioning during the Comey testimony. I wish him and his family the best, this must be very difficult for them.
A woman in my park in Arizona had this type of cancer. She was 66. She lived three months after being diagnosed. Every case is different. I wish him well.
What do you mean park?
Yes, it does make sense of the Comey hearing now. I wish him the best, however, I am amazed at the lack of discussion of McCain coming back to DC to vote to repeal Obama Care and steal healthcare from tens of millions of Americans, then going back home for treatment that we pay for. So while I wish him well, I am amazed and angry at the horrible hypocrisy of these people.
I hope he comes through it and recovers. I do think they should proceed without him or alimony someone in his spot until he is able to resume work. Surely they have a procedure in place for situations like this?
The process is that a Senator holds a seat until resignation, death, or election loss. A few years ago, a Senator who had suffered a stroke held his seat for a very, very long time. Should McCain resign or die, then the Arizona governor fills the seat with a member of McCain’s party until the state’s next general election (not sure when that is for Arizona). Every state has a different rule but I looked up Arizona’s last night.
2018.
So if McCain were to resign within the next year, both Senate seats would be up for election, which is actually a good thing for Republicans because there aren’t enough prominent Arizona Democrats (or money) to run two statewide races like that at the same time. They’re having a hard enough time as it is trying to find someone well-known and well-funded enough to run against Flake and he’s vulnerable.
I have a friend who had the same cancer. I wish this family only the best.
Everybody keeps saying ‘had this cancer’ Is this form of cancer a without-a-doubt killer, or is recovery possible?
It’s almost always a killer. Something like 3-5% of patients alive after 5 years diagnosis.
I’ve lost 2 family members to it. One elderly, one not; my aunt at least got to live a full life. The other close relative – it’s horrible and I think about her daily.
I certainly haven’t always agreed with him, but this breaks my heart. Say what you will about his politics, John McCain spent five years as POW. He is an American Hero.
I’ve always admired McCain, because until his presidential run, he was a moderating force in the Senate. After the whole Palin thing, his recent actions, I had lost faith in him, but never my admiration for a man who suffered at the hands of his captors as a POW. This diagnosis explains his demeanor at the Comey hearings. I wish nothing but peace and healing for him and his family.
I came here to say the same. I have always had a massive amount of respect for this man. I truly believe (this is an opinion people) that years ago before he ran for President, he was the embodiment of the Republican party. Unfortunately, that’s all gone to sh*t now. He was thoughtful and not afraid to challenge members of his own party. You don’t need to like him, but the man warrants a ton of respect for his sacrifices and service (military, elected, and otherwise).
I’ve always had a lot of respect for him as well, which is why it was always so much more disappointing when he would do something questionable (like Palin). But then he’d come back and straight up tell a voter that Obama wasn’t an “Arab”, and I’d love him again.
Not to be petty…but hearing Trump’s words of support yesterday made me so pissed. Trump said McCain wasn’t a true war hero because he was captured/POW, and now he is acting like he has respect for this man and cares about his health. It made me rage for a moment.
(Edited to correct voter comment)
Same here @Punkymomma
I may not agree with him 80% of the time but I have always had respect for his tenacity, bravery and taking a stand against anyone he agrees with. I was spitting mad at Trump (who lied to get out of the draft) for saying McCain was not a real hero. This man is in his 80’s and he can still kick your arse you coward.
I know he survived his last cancer but glioblastoma is still considered pretty much a death sentence with less than a year to live. I teared up when I heard the diagnosis. Dr. Gupta on CNN was equally choked up, he was trying to sound positive but he was so awkward doing it that you knew he was shocked and didn’t believe McCain can survive.
John McCain is not one of my favorite people because of the way he talks a good game but always votes with 45. However, he served his country well and for that I must wish him all the best in the fight of his life.
This. Cancer sucks so I don’t wish that on anyone. He’s a war hero. But that doesn’t negate the damage he’s done in recent years
He used to be different – straight up – I think he was called the Maverick. He changed, though but this is very sad. I wish him the best!!!
This is sad news. He is truly a hero. And although I disagree with him on many things I think he is a good man doing what he thought was best for our country.
Every time he sided with Trump to strip rights from the vulnerable, healthcare from millions and elevate the tragically unqualified to cabinet positions he was doing what was best for himself only. The American people could go f*** themselves as long as he keeps in with the Kochs and their ilk.
Hopefully he will have an awakening and use his available time to actually fight for the common man (and woman) and stop being “concerned” by Trump, then immediately rolling over.
I wish him the best in his fight, but cancer doesn’t erase the damage he has done.
Well said. Unfortunately, most people don’t have great awakenings nearing death at that age. Yes, he’s been doing what’s best for himself. It’s not going to stop now. I believe the Trumpeters want us to think otherwise, horrible, uncompassionate people that we are.
Kochs?
I feel the same way. I haven’t always agreed with him. But I’m choosing to admire his service and the times he has stood up and called out the worst in his party. Hoping he recovers. Also, Barack Obama’s statement made me tear up. I remembered when McCain called out a woman for calling Obama Muslim during a debate and I just can’t believe we have fallen so far.
She didn’t call him Muslim – the idiot redneck woman called him an “Arab”.
You could see in McCain’s face, right at that moment, he understood what kind of devil he was making a deal with as far as being the Presidential nominee for the GOP.
@Gibbee
I’m sorry you are correct. She did call him Arab. He did look mortified. I admired his response back to her.
No apology needed! Wasn’t trying to snark on you at all! It just shows the breathtaking dumbassery of that woman.
I’ll never forget the way he said “No ma’am, no ma’am!” People like her have only gotten worse in the age of Trump, ugh.
I was one of the people who thought something wasn’t right at the Comey hearing when he wasn’t making sense. I suspect that’s what pushed him to get checked out. Sad news, especially since his mom is still alive at 105!!
His finest moment in recent years was calling out a crazy anti-Obama person and crowd during the 2008 campaign.
Sorry for the same comment.
He did. He, as a gentlemen, as well as the candidate for President, said aloud the praises of his opponent President Obama, that he was a family man, a good man. That was his own description as well. I hate again to put trump in the paragraph, but can anyone imagine him praising the dignity of any opponent, or anyone for that matter. Take that courage into this battle and come out victorious Senator McCain.
Just came here to say the same. Seems a century ago that there was still a modicum of civility in politics. Best wishes for Senator McCain and his family.
I’m shook. I have so much respect for this man. I’m no republican- but his service to this country has (for me) super ceded many of his political faults. And his forthright decency when GOP supporters attacked Obama for being an “Arab” a “foreigner” is sorely missed in present situation. John McCain is a dedicated American and patriot. Please pull through, Sen. McCain! We need you 🙏🏼
I admire Sen. McCain and think a lot of Americans either don’t know or don’t care that he was tortured and held captive for five years. I campaigned hard for President Obama, and not just because I admired him and knew he would be a better president……but also because of Palin. That is the one thing I feared more than anything. That was the mantra of the day, she was one heart beat away from becoming the president. Imagine had he won and the brain tumor was discovered. Can’t do the wouldas, couldas, it will drive you crazy. We need someone like Pres Obama next election. I don’t even think trump wants it, look at him…raving lunatic, plus the man who preys upon seniors will be almost 75 if he makes it. Prayers up for Sen. McCain.
I almost cried at Obama’s response – THIS is what a President looks like. He could have just posted a trite, staid response, but instead he delivered something kind, inspiring and personal. I imagine that we won’t be hearing anything of the like from the big orange splot in DC.
I hope he recovers from this. I wouldn’t wish cancer on anyone – that is something that no one gets to buy their way out of.
Based on the absence of exclamation points, I’m convinced someone else wrote trump’s response.
I’m pretty sure a staff member wrote that and posted it hours after the news broke and other people, like Obama, had expressed their sentiments.
No way did Trump write that, especially after the failure of the health care bill. I’m pretty sure they had to straight jacket him just to avoid him tweeting “Uhhh, I like people that DON’T get cancer”.
I’m hoping he keeps the cancer at bay long enough to live out his natural lifespan, which might be rather long. He is otherwise quite healthy and will be able to afford the best treatment, but radiation/chemotherapy to get rid of traces of malignant cells is no picnic. They’re doing better these days to deal with the unpleasant and debilitating side effects, however.
McCain is actually a fairly reasonable Republican and it would be sad to lose him in the Senate. I can always hope his feelings about TrumpCare might be affected by all this, but am not holding my breath. He is quite rich himself, but he also benefits from very good taxpayer-provided insurance…. So at least he doesn’t have the financial stresses that are so difficult for people with cancer but without his resources. This won’t be a walk in the park for him regardless.
Pence cribbed Obama’s tweet.
Just had a look at both Trump and Obamas tweets. Obamas was sent 13 hours ago and has 1.1million likes. Trumps was sent 11 hours ago and has 54 thousand. Not that it changes the price of milk but you just know this is the kind of stuff that drives Trump insane.
That’s 3 million and 54 thousand in Demented’s mind.
Yep it sounded like someone for the press office wrote that for Orangino. If he personally wrote it he would include a congratulatory pat on the back for himself in the same tweet. It is always about Orangino.
Obama’s reaction hit me hard, too. It was such a reminder of all that we have lost. He was such a good President, especially during challenging times. He always knew the most comforting thing to say.
I’m sure he’s receiving top notch care. I’m also sure that his family won’t be left with devastating medical bills. How nice that he and his family won’t have to worry about things like this. And also a reminder that cancer can happen to anyone.
Sorry if I’m having trouble being sympathetic to someone who had no problem taking healthcare away from people. Actually, I’m not sorry.
It’s hard, isn’t it?
Hard to reconcile how this man could go through so much, and still be republican and vote against people. Considering what he went through and what he saw, to be complicit in this administration boggles.
I don’t wish cancer on anyone. He earned his healthcare, IMO, but that doesn’t excuse his complicity in taking it away from millions.
It is very hard to weight all sides of the McCain issue. Not this part, this part is just terrible, but the legacy of him.
Weighing the good with the bad, the good with the complicity, the good with the SARAH BLOODY PALIN.
Well he didn’t techically “take away health care” because he wasn’t there to vote on it. Turtleman postponed the voting because he was out. So as of now, we don’t know how he would have voted.
“Earned” his healthcare? So what does that statement say about the rest of us poor shlubs -32 million of us – who will be left without healthcare because of men like McCain?
Yes, poor choice of word on my part. I was thinking of trump when I used earned, not the 32 millions who will suffer and are suffering
Mea culpa
My grandfather died of bone cancer, it was brutal to watch him go. No matter anyone’s politics, I would never be unsympathetic to a man who has just been given a death sentence.
And I sat next to my mother’s bed for 3 days straight in her final days dying of cancer.
Still not sorry.
Also, we were very fortunate that my mother’s insurance covered all of her medical bills over a 5 year period of her fighting cancer. Everyone should have that same access.
I want to agree with you, I really do. But I’d have a hard time feeling sympathetic towards trump, for example, or putin. or sessions.
I can’t separate it. and yes, I have had family die from cancer, watched them suffer and know it was almost over for them.
Yeah, not feeling the love, just as he didn’t feel the love for 30,000,000 vulnerable especially children and VETS. How nice this millionaire has insurance on the taxpayer’s dime. His family won’t suffer destitution or homelessness.
Having said that, he is a human being, so I hope the horror is brief and his death good, though it kills me to say it. I guess he’s not a total monster, just another mean, money worshipping politician who supports a soulless freak and a fascist agenda.
“I guess he’s not a total monster…”
But apparently you are. I swear, you really do see the worst of humanity on this site. Unreal.
@Megan: yes, really disheartening.
@Megan,
I said I wished him a good death. How does that make me a monster?
Now I will be a ‘monster’. I don’t think much of him as a human being after reading this tweet:
“My friend’s husband died of glioblastoma in AZ. They wrote a letter to McCain begging for his help. He advised them to move”.
You so easily call me a monster who has not chosen to ally myself with fascists and death makers who revel in people’s suffering but it’s okay for him to do so. You have a strange notion of the ‘worst of humanity’.
@Hmmm, I’m with you! Totally agree, not an ounce of sympathy for a man who aligned himself with a party who are gleefully attempting to strip away health care from our most vulnerable citizens. I know many veterans who fought in war and apparently they didn’t “earn” there healthcare. Not sure what somebody has to do to “earn” the right to healthcare that will save their life…
I’m with you on this. A (likely) terminal illness does not wipe away all the terrible things he has contributed too. Lest anyone forget, this is the man who ran with Sarah Palin. He would happily deny other vulnerable groups the health care to which he has ready access.
This administration is really challenging my humanity. This is a terrible form of cancer, our neighbor died from it. Two of my family members are currently struggling with conditions that are hard to watch. One has cancer and my dad is only being treated for symptoms anymore. His condition means it’s a matter of time. Could be years, could be months. If insurance wasn’t affordable and mandatory here, we’d be dead broke on top of everything. I can’t even begin to imagine.
So while feeling nothing when a human being is diagnosed with a terrible illness worries me deeply, I also think “Well, YEAH. This is what happens if you push people far enough with your callousness, your cruelty and your inhumanity. While living a plush life.” I only have so much energy.
You can disagree with someone’s politics and still feel empathy for their suffering.
This is not disagreeing about their politics. It is about the consequences of their power. 30 million in jeopardy. Guaranteed premature deaths, needless suffering and bankruptcy and homelessness. And Nazis and Fascism. That barely scratches the surface.
It’s more than politics. You can’t diminish this through arguing false equivalence anymore. It’s happening. Get a clue.
@Hmmmm: being compassionate means you’re compassionate for everyone. You are making the choice-just like Conservatives-that some people deserve compassion more than others. He’s done plenty of other wonderful things for people-including staying a prisoner of war because he wouldn’t leave without his men. In real life, people are a mix of things. The person who’s “clueless’ and seeing the world in black and white is you.
Misinterpret my OP all you like.
We disagree and you called me “clueless”-just like Trump and his ilk. When people don’t go along with them, they name-call.
I agree. I wish him the best.
@CynicalAnn
Final comment to you: ‘Clueless’ is an adjective, a descriptor, not a name.
First you try to guilt/shame me by being the Arbiter of ‘Compassion’ (doesn’t work). Now you compare me to Trumpsters. The irony.
Fact is, my compassion, level of compassion, or lack of compassion is none of your business, nosey parker. There, I’ve now called you a name.
Done here.
ok I laughed out loud at nosey parker. We use that one a lot, it’s freaking hilarious.
A large part of empathy is putting yourself in someone else’s shoes and trying to understand why they feel the way the way they do, not judging someone for how they feel. CynicalAnn–you have a right to feel badly about McCain’s cancer and hmmm has the right not to. By calling hmmm “clueless,” you’re implying that she doesn’t have a right to her own opinion and feelings and that yours is the enlightened/better view. Come on.
Read a little too quickly–I see now that CynicalAnn didn’t call hmmm “clueless.” Sorry about that, CynicalAnn. But I did mean what I wrote about how empathy involves not judging somebody for how they feel.
@hmmm youre doing a real good job of making your compassion level everyone’s business.
The irony of a man who has excellent healthcare that may save his life, who will be sure to come back to DC to vote away healthcare from tens of millions of people is just head spinning. You can be a basically decent human being to those you love and a total ice cube toward your constituents. That is what I see with these Republicans. Maybe McCain and the other Republicans should practice some compassion, some concern about the 83% of Americans who hate Trump care.
We can do more than one thing at a time, and feel more than one thing at a time. I feel for him, feel for his family. Which is much more than he feels for any of us.
I am sorry that Senator McCain has been diagnosed with brain cancer. I am glad his family will not be bankrupted by his treatment. I just wish that every Republican could understand that every American deserves the same insurance and care that Senator McCain will receive.
You’ve articulated my point, Jenns. I’m a cancer survivor and I’d never wish it on anyone, but McCain hasn’t exactly spoken out against the more atrocious things his Party has done and said over the past few years.
Which boggles the mind. He has been subjected to heinous acts, and comes out of it alive and (relatively) healthy.
He goes into politics, and does he chose to run for the side with the people, to help and care for them, to help protect their rights and freedoms?
no, he is republican. ? as far as I can tell, that party has ALWAYS been about the advancement of the rich white man, at the demise of every minority there is. The lines this party has drawn are nothing new, though trump at the helm has made them even deeper. Was there ever a time the republican party stood for ALL people?
I don’t get it.
obviously, i wish him well and i hope his recovery is swift.
however, i cannot stop thinking about how fortunate he is to have the insurance that he has and the resources he has to fight this–Rand Paul isn’t going to have to cobble together a go fund me account to pay for his pal’s cancer fight. I really hope this leads to more self-awareness and connection of the dots by the right between the right to health insurance that mccain enjoys as the rights that everyone has to health insurance–but i doubt it.
It won’t because that requires awareness and ability to care about more than yourself. Can’t remember who it was but there was a senator that wheeled into the house vote after surgery that WE paid for…to take away insurance from millions.
This is the hypocrisy they engage in daily
@nicole–that is right! jason chaffetz was the one, who did that–SMILING. It is all coming back to me now.
Sigh. It is so tough to not be able to just feel the flood of empathy and sympathy that I want to feel as a human hearing of another person’s suffering–but in this case, the irony of their hypocrisy makes me feel like a monster for even thinking about what it would be like for someone without his stature and resources to go through this battle…
Yes Chaffetz, who just HAD to go into surgery to repair a very old injury even though he’s quitting his job early…you know, before he loses his health insurance.
Without question, I wish the best for McCain and his family, and am glad he will have the best care possible. His life has not been an easy one and it’s sad that after all that, he has to fight this now too. The diagnosis is bad, but i hope he can pull through.
But it is not lost on me, seeing so many people sharing stories of families and friends with similar cancers, how devastating the healthcare bill could be to people like them.
No it was my second thought too. First was “cancer sucks” second was “enjoy tax funded top notch care asshole” because he was all set to vote for that sh*t bill regardless of his empty talking points. Its the same thing I’ve seen on twitter. Doesn’t make you bad…my brother has govt healthcare through my dad (same plan as Congress) and without it we would’ve been bankrupt due to his illness. 3 surgeries in the span of 6 weeks. We’ve counted ourselves lucky every day that my brother shows NO sign of that time besides his maintenance drugs and that we could offset the million dollar care (not even an exaggeration) with insurance. Its why I will never get the callous nature of these people. And why I will NEVER excuse it. It takes a cold hearted person to do this to millions.
Amazing how people including politicians get all mushy and sentimental because he was a war hero, and conveniently forget the rest of his lengthy life and the callous and damaging choices he has made. He doesn’t deserve all the positive emotional outpouring, IMO. I’ll save that for true heroes, like Martin Luther King, or John Lewis.
@hmmm AMEN AMEN AMEN FOREVER.
Ain’t that the truth.
This truly is sad. I many times didn’t agree with him, but I would never have wanted him to suffer in any way. He’s a real American hero for being so strong and never giving up while being a POW. When Trump said the only heroes were the ones that didn’t get caught, and McCain was no hero, I couldn’t believe it. Anyone who serves our country is a hero. Trump was a whimp when he made up excuses so he wasn’t drafted. I hope McCain fights his cancer as hard as he can
I wanted to punch Trump in the face after he said that about McCain. The Big Orange Cheeto has no clue about duty to your country with his 5 deferments. No matter your politics, McCain’s sacrifice while a POW shouldn’t be discounted.
He’s a fighter. Hope he pulls through.
This is a man of honor. I remember trump making snarky comments about John’s time as a POW. He really did, damn him to hell. John McCain is of the old school where country comes first. I greatly admire him aside from the fact of that woman who was his VP nominee. For his tireless efforts for the rights of ALL people and his dignity and honor, some power from above must watch over this great man.
This man of honor supports Trumpcare, MAGA. Where does the country come first except to rape and pillage it and its citizens?
Did anyone else tear up at Obama’s tweet? God we are in such a messy place right now.
I DID!! Oh, President Obama–sigh.
It is all such a mess, it is such a sad smoldering dumpster fire of a mess.
I did,also. Obama is the very definition of “class act.”
Yup. That’s *my* president, not that clown occupying the White House now.
Yes.
I did. I had tears on my face hearing about McCain.Obamas tweet made me remember what a great president Obama was. Such a sweet gentleman, and now we have a monster as president
I did. I miss him so much. We’ve fallen so far as a country.
Same one that Ted Kennedy had……..
Mccain was such a handsome man when he was younger.
And I’ll always appreciate his response to that crazo who was gunning for Obama in those townhall meetings. Even though Mccain’s response stuck in the craw of his supporters.
I thought about that moment too. A lot of repubs wouldn’t have defended Obama, taking the easier, hateful way out instead.
Think about this: McCain said that Obama wasn’t a Muslim, he was a good family man.
See how that is offensive?
Good point, Sarah. Pretty telling for the sainted McCain.
John McCain is a decent, kind, heroic american and human being and a good reminder of what bipartisanship looks like, most of the time. I wish him comfort, peace, and healing in this time.
Thanks for the reminder of what it was like to have a true statesman in the Oval Office. POTUS, damn it, why did you leave us?
He was a flawed man as we all are. We strive to be good yet as humans we also have failures. When he failed, he had the power of privilege and wealth to soften the fall. Though outspoken and a one time “maverick” he lacked the ability to see how his votes and choices hurt his less fortunate constituents, including indigent vets.. He was fully behind the criminalization of undocumented people and involved in the Keating scandal as other examples. Those of us in AZ saw his last and most recent re-election victory as a move to secure a senate seat for the conservatives. When he vacates that seat, Koch owned governor Ducey gets to appoint the successor. Yet at times he was honest and straightforward in acknowledging his shortcomings.
I’m not sure where you are seeing that McCain is a kind man. It just doesn’t fit with voting away healthcare from tens of millions. I think he was very brave in the Vietnam jungles and has been very self-serving since then.
Look up Keating Five. I get that we are canonizing him now, but he is quite the flawed man.
McCain was a bomber pilot. He wasn’t in the jungles. He was shot down on his way to bomb a city… His life was saved by a Vietnamese civilian.
His father was an admiral, and he was able to use that fact to get the medical attention in the POW camp that he needed to survive. Other POWs didn’t seem to like him much, judging from what surfaced during the Presidential campaign, but I’m all for singing like a canary with useless information to survive in such situations. I do object to the way McCain as Senator used his influence to cover up some things about that period. I think he had been put into some propaganda films and didn’t want that to surface. But his actions in Congress affected other veterans, I can’t remember all the details. Again, I think POWs shouldn’t worry about propaganda films, everybody knows they’re done under duress and certainly aren’t effective for the target audience. Just do what you have to do in order to live through it, as long as you’re not hurting other prisoners.
I think McCain has done good things as he aged and certainly is a much better person than the likes of Ryan and McConnell. We really do need him for the Russia investigations. If it weren’t for Sarah Palin as his totally incompetent running mate, I would not have had any feeling of impending doom if he had become President.
But he was born rich, went to the military academy because his father got him in and helped him stay in despite doing things that should have got him kicked out, and likewise his father’s influence kept him flying when he kept crashing planes. He definitely suffered life-long consequences as a result of the POW experience, but I would suggest being a little more low-key about admiration for his service. It was an awful war and there was a draft and I’m sure his father wanted above all things to keep his son from direct combat mixed in with hopes of a military career. The military was careful not to give McCain any real command, however. They knew his limitations.
The McCain family may have been relatively well off, but the now-Senator McCain didn’t really have the funds or local power base needed to run for office at the beginning of his political career, at least not until he married his second wife Cindy, whose father was a stinking-rich beer distributor in Arizona. That’s how he ended up holding office there, his wife’s money and family connections did wonders.
That’s a particularly hard form of cancer to treat. Wishing him and his family the best.
This is one of the deadliest forms of cancer and the prognosis for anyone over age 65 is non-existent. A dear friend suffered from this form of cancer, as did our beloved MA senator Ted Kennedy. It is debilitating, it is fast. My thoughts when I learned this last night was of McCain at Kennedy’s wake. Despite their many differences, they were close friends. When McCain spoke at the wake, he was so overcome with emotion that he could barely get the words out. He stopped mid-sentence and abruptly walked away from the microphone, in the wrong direction while Vicky Kennedy reached out to embrace him. I suspect the Kennedy family immediately reached out yesterday.
I rarely agree with McCain but he dedicated his life to serving our nation and I respect that. I wish him peace and comfort and I wish his family strength.
Oh man that’s a heartbreaking anecdote.
I have great respect for the man eventhough he’s also guilty of some awful politics but he is a great American.
My husband died of the same form of Cancer. It’s very aggressive and fast. That would explain his behaviour at the Comey hearings. His personality is already changing. Maybe they can arrest it for a while, but Cancer has a mind of its own, that’s my experience.
My 52YO brother was diagnosed with glioblastoma in late February. It is a terminal diagnosis and only in rare exceptions does someone live longer than 2 years with chemo/radiation treatments. Without treatment, the cancer is so aggressive, patients die within months. The treatment is slowing the growth of my brother’s cancer, but he can’t do anything but sleep and lay around so he has to make the choice of when to stop it and let nature take its course.
I don’t wish it on anyone, no matter what their political affiliation. It’s hard watching someone you love suffer with cancer. Period.
McCain is one of the few R’s that been open in his criticism about Trump and Congress can’t afford to lose someone like him right now.
I’m so sorry, Bonzo. That’s hard. Hugs
So sorry to read about your brother, Bonzo.
Thanks, ladies. In a family that’s been untouched by cancer, it’s rocked our world. I have a whole new understanding of what it’s like to walk with someone who’s dealing with a debilitating, terminal illness.
I have known four people diagnosed with gliobastoma, and all four died (including a child). The rest were all under 65. I’m afraid this is going to be a terminal diagnosis given his age. Maybe seeing one of their own going through such a devastating form of cancer will wake up the GOP. Brain cancer doesn’t care what your SES is sadly.
Does that explain his choice for Sarah Palin as his VP? Because she normalised the whole ‘taking back our country’ bit, and it’s been all a bit Pete Tong ever since.
Actually, you can trace “take our country back” to Howard Dean’s 2004 campaign. He said it in literally every speech.
Context is key–and Howard Dean saying it in the early Bush years is a million degrees in the opposite direction, away from Sarah Palin and her dog whistles to the alt-right.
I read somewhere that the tumor had been completely removed during the surgery, and he would start chemo and all that after it healed. Considering he has access to all the best doctors, etc. he should come out okay? Can’t imagine he’ll run for another term after this is done though. Good luck to him.
With this cancer, removal, treatment, best doctors, etc don’t matter. He’s about to turn 81 and this isn’t his first time having cancer. 14 months -3 years survival
Prayers for John McCain and his family. Like many people I was surprised at his confusion during the Comey hearings. This explains it. I don’t agree with all of John McCain’s politics. BUT agree or disagree, he is a stand-up guy who says what he thinks and isn’t afraid to go against party. That aside, McCain is a true American hero for his five years as a POW in Vietnam and refusing to leave his comrades behind. Wish him all the best as he fights this deadly cancer.
Glioblastoma in older men is a death sentence. Just went through this with a business associate. He was told from diagnosis to death was between 8 – 14 months. He made it 14 months. And, unlike McNasty (his high school nickname–his temper was always legend–), my friend had to use Go Fund Me to cover most of his medical expenses. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone, least of all someone who’s lost his insurance. Perhaps this will give the Senator some personal reflection on choices he makes that affects so many others less fortunate. But, probably not.
He was shown in a couple of Kirby Dick’s documentaries-Outrage and The Invisible War. He was featured for his anger concerning military rape, and was a supportive friend to another politician who came out of the closet. He’s one of the good ones, despite some blusters in recent years. I remember when he was running against Obama think that if Obama wasn’t going to win, though surely he was, but it wouldn’t be a monstrous loss because he wasn’t exactly the archetype of evil that is usually put forth by the Republican party. Really, the worst thing he ever did was torpedo his campaign by bringing in Sarah Palin and bringing her into spotlight. I’m not sure I could forgive that massive faux pas, haha.
If you watch Game Change, it was really his team that found her and brought her on and began to realize what a mistake she was and kept many things from McCain about her so he could focus on the campaign. He will never admit how awful she was, though.
Yep I read and watched Game Change. Lyin Palin was handpicked by his team and wasn’t fully vetted. They took so long to make up their minds that they just grabbed whatever good looking lady (she was at that time. Now she’s the overbaked neighbor in Something About Mary) they can find.
Meagan McCain wrote in her book that Palin was a WTF appointment. She went to bed thinking it was someone else (Lieberman? I forgot who #2 choice was) and woke up and found that thing running with her dad.
President Obama said as much as a subtle contrast to disastrous Don. Obama basically said if he had lost to McCain he had no doubt that he would be an honorable president because he is an honorable person.
Obama made it clear at the convention that Trump was the only Republican candidate for President he remembered that he didn’t think was capable of governing. That matched my thinking as well, and I’m a lot older than Obama. Policy differences can be worked out, but Trump is simply totally unfit for the office in so many ways, and he surrounds himself with others who are unfit.
So sad. I’ve always liked John McCain. Aggressive brain cancer is a grueling fight and a hard way to go. Dr. Gupta said the prognosis is usually 14 months. Megan McCain’s post broke my heart. What a beautiful love letter to her father and showing so much heartbreak over the diagnosis. I lost my mother to cancer. It wasn’t primary brain cancer, but that’s when she was diagnosed when it had spread to her brain. It was a devastating time to watch what it did to her. My aunt was diagnosed with primary brain cancer and it was brutal. But that was decades ago with my aunt. Medicine and treatment has advanced since then. My thoughts really are with his children and wife, and most of all, with John. I hope he beats the odds and is one of those ten percent that live five years.
Doesn’t Trump look even more disgusting when he said John McCain is no war hero because he was captured?
That was one of the most disgusting things trump ever said. And god knows there’s plenty to choose from.
I knew something wasn’t right at the Comey hearings, but didn’t think of cancer as the issue. Lost a cousin to this form of cancer…it’s very aggressive. Thoughts and prayers to him and his family. Cancer sucks!
I told my mom (who works in the medical field) when they postponed the vote that I thought McCain had something more serious.
As someone who has lost a parent to cancer this is super devastating and I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy. Hoping he pulls through!
I’m hoping that early intervention, his underlying good health, and improvements in treatment (which keep getting better targeted) will put him at the long-lived end of the curve.
I am having almost as hard a time mustering up sympathy for JM as I did for the Scalise guy who got shot. Enjoy your taxpayer-paid health care and rest up before coming back to work and voting to deny the same to millions of other people.
Amen.
Sorry but this attitude is what’s wrong in our country right now. As angry as we are about politics we are all people. Our blood bleeds red. We can hold onto our anger or we can despite our righteous motives and disagreements build coalitions and work for making life better for everyone.
This. We accuse the other side of being unsympathetic, so in turn we have to rise above that and not lose our humanity. As Michelle Obama said, “when they go low, we go high.”
As much as I despise Trump and his cronies, I wouldn’t wish cancer on anyone.
no one in this thread is wishing cancer on anyone–we are all making the VERY VALID point of lack of self-awareness by the right. They believe that healthcare is something you earn, instead of something that is inherent to being a human on earth–and so, they see no problem with wishing for McCain’s recovery without connecting the dots between how lucky he is to have the insurance he has and the money he has and the ways he will be able to focus his energies and his time on his prognosis–instead of being buried by millions in bills.
it is entirely possible to say, cancer sucks and i hope he gives it hell AND that this sort of example should lead those in his party to think about the pain and suffering of millions of americans who are not as fortunate to be so fortunate when it comes to money and wealth and healthcare and so on.
Coalitions with sociopaths never ends well. Coalition with fascism gets you a Vichy government. Idealism can get you killed/
@hmmm i really want to cross-stitch your comments onto pillows. agree, again.
Thank you, kaye. 🙂 I agree with you, too.
@Luca
I agree totally. I hope Senator McCain recovers and I hope that the ACA stays in place so millions won’t lose health care. So far I haven’t heard anyone commenting that said they were a POW that wouldn’t leave their fellow soldiers behind. I’m choosing to follow the sentiment expressed so beautifully by President Obama to Sen. McCain. At some point, if we get through Trump, we are going to have to come together as a country again. None of us is perfect and yes, I have been frustrated when he says one thing and votes another way. But he has been one of the only ones to stand up to wrongdoing by his party. He was just in Afghanistan with Sen Warren.
Wow! What a nasty thing to say about both Senetor MCcain and Scalise.
i hope you don’t have a family member affected by cancer or being shot. What a nasty thing to say.
This was such sad news. God Bless Senator McCain.
When one person in the family is sick, everyone is sick. Two of my family members died of cancer (not McMain’s type) and that experience will never leave me. I wish him & his family peace and the best of all good things.
I have never been a fan of his politics, but I’m a huge fan of him as a person. He’s a hero in every sense of the word and I’ve always admired his ability to call b.s. when he feels it’s necessary.
Obama’s tweet made me tear up. I miss him so so much.
He’s one of the few GOP I respect and like. So sorry to hear about this.
It’s amazing that people continue to chastise Obama and his presidency yet he says some of the most beautiful things even now. I read that statement and it literally brought tears to my eyes. It was a very compassionate and kind thing to say even if they had history he put that aside and showed his true human side. John McCain hasn’t necessarily been my favorite as far as people go, but he has proven to stick up more so than other Republicans do. Everything happens for reason good and bad and I hope that he recovers from this and continues to speak up for people who don’t really have a voice .
Meghan is thirsty, my friends.
I’m amazed that she still has a grandma with an 80-year-old father. Lucky, lucky lady.
I feel so bad for Senator McCain and his family. I interned for him in DC when I was younger. At the Comey hearings he didn’t seem like himself. It doesn’t surprise me something has been medically wrong. Love to him and his family!
Senator McCain is fortunate enough to have excellent medical care coverage.
Glioblastoma is a bitch! My best wishes to Sen. McCain and his family and friends. Doesn’t matter how good your insurance is or how good a health care you can afford – it must be scary as fuck no matter what to get a cancer diagnosis.
I have mixed feelings about McCain. I disagree with him on alot of issues but I used to appreciate his candor and his willingness to stand to his own party. I’ve been very disappointed in him during the era of Trump though. Having said that, I thought I’d share something positive about the man. Everyone has mentioned the moment when McCain stood up for Obama but here is another good moment: Shutting down a pro confederate flag supporter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1IY-VNqx84
Some really classy comments here. This man endured something that I doubt anyone reading this ever did. And still some want to take swipes because of his politics.
Greed and selfishness are what’s wrong with this country… But it isn’t just the greed of the rich.
No greed here.
I don’t wish the man ill, but he is answerable to his actions as a public representative. The irony is not lost on many of us with preexisting conditions that this man is receiving care for a disease via health insurance of which his party’s healthcare plan would deny millions.
I’ll reserve my sympathy for the millions of people who have suffered and died as a direct result of the Republican party’s inhumane polices.
The clot was a symptom, and he was able to have it fully resected bc the clot alerted them of the presence of a tumor. Full resection is rare, good news. He will most likely have radiation to the site to kill residual disease, and then there will be a chance GBM will appear somewhere else in the years to come, but he should see survival if they did indeed remove all of the disease as stated.
-Radiation Therapist