EXCLUSIVE: John McCain unloads to Salon on Ted Cruz, ISIS and repealing Obamacare

Salon ^ | 11/11/14 | Elias Isquith

[DoodleDawg]

It’s been a career filled with highs and lows, but when John McCain looks back on the closing months of 2014, the former Republican Party presidential nominee and current senator will probably remember the time as one of long-awaited and welcome returns. There were, of course, the results of last week’s midterms, which gave the GOP majority status in the Senate next year and put an end to eight long years of wandering. Once the new Congress convenes next year, McCain’s chairmanship of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee is all but guaranteed.

In addition to the Senate majority, McCain teamed up with his longtime friend and creative partner Mark Salter to write a book about military service, American history and the value of an old-fashioned, martial sense of honor. The result is “13 Soldiers: A Personal History of Americans at War,” which looks at 13 men and women who fought for the U.S. — one for every major American war — and how the experience affected them.

Salon spoke with McCain over the phone about the book, the war on ISIS, what he thinks President Obama should do on immigration and what he hopes to see from the soon-to-be GOP-controlled Senate. Our conversation is below and has been edited for length and clarity.

[DoodleDawg]

Just retire already, McCain.

[SoConPubbie]

Ted Cruz Ping!

If you want on/off this ping list, please let me know.

Please beware, this is a high-volume ping list!

[Gaffer]

You people out there in Arizona need to get your sh!t together and dispatch this insane fool to his retirement.

[bgill]

Salon? Hahahaha, hitting the bottom of the barrel.

[skeeter]

McCain has always been happy to vomit his opinion to anyone willing to listen.

There are fewer of those types these days.

[Resettozero]

McCain: A Republican the press can abide.

(Why is that?)

[Texas Eagle]

Salon spoke with McCain over the phone about the book, the war on ISIS, what he thinks President Obama should do on immigration and what he hopes to see from the soon-to-be GOP-controlled Senate.

Forgive me for not clicking on the link.

Just tell me, did Salon ask McCain his thoughts on the Salon columnist who defecated on those who serve or have served in the military?

[Old Retired Army Guy]

As long as he is there, I hope he pursues the cancellation of Sequestration limits on the Defense Department and restores some badly needed DOD funding.

[armydawg505]

This is the same Salon that just said yesterday we should not honor vets just because they are vets. Way to go Crazy John. BTW, was Lindsey Graham sitting next to you the whole time holding your hand?

[DoodleDawg]

Salon? Hahahaha, hitting the bottom of the barrel.

And yet he gave them an "exclusive".

[Bob]

Wasn’t Salon the “magazine” that just did a piece denigrating the military to commemorate Veterans Day?

[detective]

McCain has nothing to say. He just attacks other Republicans. Or has his staff do it, like when they back stabbed Sarah Palin.

People of Arizona, we are need you to get this man out of the U.S. Senate.

[Paine in the Neck]

...the value of an old-fashioned, martial sense of honor.

What would this back-stabbing wretch know about honor?

[mulligan]

Go home John and guard the border. Your days have long been over.

[Texas Eagle]

Mr. McCain, what do you think of this article...

Salon.com: Soldiers Aren't Heroes

[Resettozero]

He just attacks other Republicans. Or has his staff do it, like when they back stabbed Sarah Palin.

Those were Romney plants mixed with the GOPe minions. McCain himself didn't do much of anything in that campaign.

Romney saw Palin's star on the ascendency (a major competitor to Romney) and ordered the star shot down.

[Servant of the Cross]

McQueeg, the "maverick", surfaces. He's so irrelevant to the gop that he needs to go to Salon(?!) to get any press.

ISIS ...

repealing 0bamacare ...

Ted Cruz ....

I'm hunting for "maverick" democrat imposters ....

[jmacusa]

Long time passed. The guys turned into the crazy, one-eyed uncle you hide in the attic.

[moehoward]

"Salon spoke with McCain over the phone about the book, the war on ISIS, what he thinks President Obama should do on immigration.."

Same "exclusive" he gave BOR.

[Don Corleone]

John on rare occasions says something worthwhile. This wasn’t one of them.