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The Great McCain Story You've Probably Forgotten
Slate.com ^ | April 9th, 2008 | Michael Lewis

Posted on 04/09/2008 9:40:58 AM PDT by The_Republican

Mo reached out to me in 50 different ways," McCain recalled. "Right from the start, he'd say: 'I'm going to hold a press conference out in Phoenix. Why don't you join me?' All these journalists would show up to hear what Mo had to say. In the middle of it all, Mo would point to me and say, 'I'd like to hear John's views.' Well, hell, I didn't have any views. But I got up and learned and was introduced to the state."

Four years later, when McCain ran for and won Barry Goldwater's Senate seat, he said he felt his greatest debt of gratitude not to Goldwater—who had shunned him—but to Udall.

For the past few years, Udall has lain ill with Parkinson's disease in a veterans hospital in Northeast Washington. Every few weeks, McCain drives over to pay his respects. These days the trip is a ceremony, like going to church, only less pleasant. Udall is seldom conscious, and even then he shows no sign of recognition. McCain brings with him a stack of newspaper clips on Udall's favorite subjects: local politics in Arizona.

A nurse entered and seemed surprised to find anyone there, and it wasn't long before I found out why: Almost no one visits anymore.

In his time, which was not very long ago, Mo Udall was one of the most-sought-after men in the Democratic Party. Yet as he dies in a veterans hospital a few miles from the Capitol, he is visited regularly only by a single old political friend, John McCain.

"He's not going to wake up this time," McCain said.

It was one man saying to another, party political differences cut only so deep. Having made that step, they found much to agree upon and many useful ways to work together.

(Excerpt) Read more at slate.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008; arizona; friends; johnmccain; mccain; morrisudall; moudall; slate
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Some edits to keep it under 300 words.

McCain is a good man!

1 posted on 04/09/2008 9:40:59 AM PDT by The_Republican
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To: The_Republican

Their are lots of good men. McCain ought not be rewarded for his behavior in the Senate over the past ten years, with the Presidency of the United States. It will only beget more of the same kind of backstabbery from other “Republicans” that see his success, rightly figure that the partys’ base like abuse, and then behave accordingly.


2 posted on 04/09/2008 9:44:53 AM PDT by Grunthor (http://constitutionparty.com/join.php)
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To: The_Republican

And this qualifies McCain to be president? In what alternate reality?

McCain’s record is out there for anyone who really gives a damn what type of person lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

We are all men. We are not all qualified to be president, and that applies to John McCain as well.


3 posted on 04/09/2008 9:50:58 AM PDT by DoughtyOne (McCain is rock solid on SCOTUS judicial appointments. He voted for Ginsberg, Kennedy and Souter.)
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To: Grunthor

If I had to choose a good man with good character and wrong political philosophy (for sake of argument let’s make that assumption), or a deceptive liar with poor character and right political philososphy - me and most people would go with who they percieve to be a GOOD MAN!


4 posted on 04/09/2008 9:51:45 AM PDT by The_Republican (Ovaries of the World Unite! Rush, Laura, Ann, Greta - Time for the Ovulation!)
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To: The_Republican

“If I had to choose a good man with good character and wrong political philosophy (for sake of argument let’s make that assumption), or a deceptive liar with poor character and right political philososphy - me and most people would go with who they percieve to be a GOOD MAN!”

And IMO, McBackstabber is the deceptive liar with poor character AND wrong political philosophy.


5 posted on 04/09/2008 9:53:20 AM PDT by Grunthor (http://constitutionparty.com/join.php)
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To: The_Republican

You’re entitled to your opinion. I was once one of his biggest supporters. I thought he was a great man. If you had asked me twenty years ago what I would do to elect him president, I’d have told you anything.

John McCain was a terrific congressman, and an outstanding senator, my senator, until towards the end of his second term. Then he developed “Barry Goldwater Syndrome.” Goldwater spent his last six years in office and last several years on earth fighting his own side and cuddling up to the media. You couldn’t tell where he stood anymore. He was undependable for the very movement he helped found. It was tragic.

The John McCain of 1986 is miles removed from the man he is today. He nearly left our party. He has betrayed us many times. His friends are Lindsay Graham and Ted Kennedy. Vote as you will, but he’s the liberals’ and media’s favorite Republican for a reason. My best.


6 posted on 04/09/2008 9:54:22 AM PDT by Luke21
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To: Grunthor
It will only beget more of the same kind of backstabbery

(of course) You are welcome to that view, but I demur. McCain is who he is. No one is like him; he is one of a kind, not a precedent, not an antecedent, not a trend. He is the hand we've been dealt, let's play it as if we had aces-wired in the hole. He's the gift horse; let's not look it in the mouth (or up its other end); let's just ride it to the White House until the next go-round.

7 posted on 04/09/2008 9:55:03 AM PDT by Migraine (Diversity is great...(until it happens to YOU).)
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To: DoughtyOne

“And this qualifies McCain to be president? In what alternate reality?”

Really, most here before would be stomping up and down about a republican being so attached to a democrat.


8 posted on 04/09/2008 9:56:24 AM PDT by AuntB ('If there must be trouble let it be in my day, that my child may have peace." T. Paine)
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To: Migraine

I will not.

I am of the firm believe that we already lost this election upon McBackstabbers’ nomination. Now, no matter who wins in November, It’s going to mean unmittigated disaster for this nation.


9 posted on 04/09/2008 9:58:08 AM PDT by Grunthor (http://constitutionparty.com/join.php)
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To: DoughtyOne

More qualified and deserving than evil person like Hillary and marxist idealogue like Obama.

Not just more qualified, many million times more qualified.

ONLY qualified choice. Hillary should be in Jail and Obama should be a junior Professon in Law School working to get his tenure.


10 posted on 04/09/2008 9:58:43 AM PDT by The_Republican (Ovaries of the World Unite! Rush, Laura, Ann, Greta - Time for the Ovulation!)
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To: Grunthor

You should have read to the end of the article...”we disagree in politics, but not in life”....what other Predidential canidate can say the same?

McCain will make a great President...not a “perfect”...President

There have been NO perfect Presidents.

Sounds to me like you have a personal ax to grind.....


11 posted on 04/09/2008 9:59:40 AM PDT by HappyinAZ
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To: Migraine

Great post!

Just to remind everyone don’t forget the RON BROWN funeral. Aside from the fact that RB may have been murdered, Klinton did manage to attend his funeral.

He was yucking it up with his freinds. Laughing, telling jokes as he was walking away. He sees the Camera and IMMEDIATELY reaches for his eyes to wipe tears and pretends to start crying.

Limbauh played that clip 1000 times, when he had a late night show on Fox.

COMPARE THAT TO McCAIN.

Loyal to his mentor and freind. Only one!


12 posted on 04/09/2008 10:02:13 AM PDT by The_Republican (Ovaries of the World Unite! Rush, Laura, Ann, Greta - Time for the Ovulation!)
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To: DoughtyOne
And this qualifies McCain to be president?

Nope. It just tells me that McCain is a man of great character, but I already knew that.

He's also a man who co-sponsored legislation that's the worst attack on the First Amendment I've seen in my lifetime. He's not going to secure our southern border, either. And given his coziness with the Democrats up to now, I have real concerns about how he'll govern with a Democratic House and Senate.

A lot of good and bad there. I'll be voting for him, though. The alternatives are a lot worse.
13 posted on 04/09/2008 10:02:31 AM PDT by AnotherUnixGeek
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To: HappyinAZ
McCain will make a great President...not a “perfect”...President

No, he will suck. He will suck less than Obama or the 'Beast, but he will still suck. I'll hold my nose vote for him, but don't piss on my leg and tell me it's raining. The man is an unabashed RINO who take pleasure in screwing us at every opportunity.

14 posted on 04/09/2008 10:03:41 AM PDT by lesser_satan
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To: lesser_satan

Vote McCain - The Choice who Sucks Less!


15 posted on 04/09/2008 10:08:19 AM PDT by Always Right (Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?)
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To: Always Right

I think that will be my new tagline.


16 posted on 04/09/2008 10:14:04 AM PDT by lesser_satan (Vote McCain - The Choice who Sucks Less!)
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To: AuntB

We have spent the last nine years taking McCain to task for being the consumate ass as it related to conservatism. All of a sudden there is this massive group psychosis resembling amnesia. I certainly don’t get it.


17 posted on 04/09/2008 10:15:24 AM PDT by DoughtyOne (McCain is rock solid on SCOTUS judicial appointments. He voted for Ginsberg, Kennedy and Souter.)
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To: The_Republican

Yes. Very classy. Character counts.


18 posted on 04/09/2008 10:16:48 AM PDT by karnage
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To: Migraine
He's the gift horse; let's not look it in the mouth (or up its other end);

Tell that to the Trojans.

McCain might be good to his friends, but please remember that Mo Udall, like all McCain's really good friends, was a Democrat.

19 posted on 04/09/2008 10:17:41 AM PDT by slowhandluke (It's hard work to be cynical enough in this age)
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To: The_Republican

Well said.


20 posted on 04/09/2008 10:17:57 AM PDT by karnage
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