Free Republic

Via Ben Smith, John McCain will endorse his '08 rival Mitt Romney tomorrow: Arizona Senator John McCain, his party's 2008 nominee, will endorse Mitt Romney in New Hampshire tomorrow, a well-placed former McCain aide told BuzzFeed Tuesday. McCain and Romney were bitter foes in 2008, but Romney repaired the relationship after his defeat with a season of determined campaigning for his former rival.

U.S. Senator John McCain has expressed satisfaction at US President Barack Obama’s decision for the US to provide medical assistance to Libyan casualties of war. In a statement released in Washington this morning, Senator McCain referred to his meeting last month in Valletta with Maltese Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, who had proposed that the US would provide a hospital ship either off Malta or Libya to provide assistance to the many casualties of war. The proposal made by the Maltese Prime Minister was taken by McCain to Washington soon after his return from meetings in Tripoli with the interim government,...

WASHINGTON, Libya (AFP) — Senator John McCain called Sunday for urgent US medical aid to help thousands wounded in Libya, amid a growing humanitarian crisis as revolutionary forces battle the final vestiges of the Moamer Kadhafi regime. "They've got thousands and thousands of wounded. They say that they've lost 25,000 people killed, 3,000 have been maimed, 60,000 injured. That's their government figures," McCain told CBS television's "Face the Nation" program. "We should be helping them," said the influential US lawmaker, a Vietnam War aviator and prominent voice on US military matters who also was the Republican Party's losing 2008 presidential...

WASHINGTON (AP) — Two senators and former presidential candidates say Standard & Poor’s decision to downgrade the U.S. credit rating speaks to the need for more bipartisan compromise — but they also say the blame lay with the other party.

Former GOP presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, who this week referred to Tea Party lawmakers as "hobbits," publicly criticized Pennsylvania's Pat Toomey Sunday during an unusual unscripted debate on the Senate floor. McCain, who appeared to be having a great 'ol time during a back and forth with Democrat Majority Whip Sen. Dick Durbin, referred to Toomey and those who share his views as "terrible." (snip) "...the terrible obstructionists on this side of the aisle, the terrible people, their flawed philosophical views about the future of America..."

For McCain, the only viable Plan B, at this point, is the McConnell plan, a legislative maneuver that would enable President Obama to raise the debt ceiling via a presidential veto. Noting that the GOP leader’s proposal is “too complicated,” McCain emphasizes that it should be supported, however reluctantly........

McCain Warns Bachmann July 14, 2011 12:18 P.M. By Robert Costa       She is acting “sort of like Senator Obama did.” Over in the House, “I am told that it is very difficult,” McCain says. “There are Republicans who are committed, like Michele Bachmann, to vote against raising the debt limit under any circumstances.” Bachmann, he warns, is acting “sort of like Senator Obama did.” In 2006, then-senator Obama refused to lift the debt limit. Speaking on the floor, Obama ascribed his opposition to the “failure” of George W. Bush to address the country’s fiscal problems. McCain has little patience for such...

Too short to excerpt.

Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said on Thursday the survival of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's regime could spell the end of NATO. “Logically you can exact that if he [Gadhafi] outlasts NATO, the Arab spring is over,” said Graham. "…He will take it out on his people, I think it will affect the price of oil and would be the end of NATO because NATO taking on Gadhafi and losing -- its going to be very hard for that organization to go off to another war and be taken seriously.” Speaking on the Senate floor, Graham and...

WASHINGTON — Republican Senator John McCain, his party's 2008 presidential nominee, ripped into the current crop of Republican White House contenders, accusing them of breaking party tradition by preaching "isolationism." McCain said if former President Ronald Reagan were still alive he would have been disappointed in last week's Republican presidential debate in which candidates voiced impatience with U.S. military efforts in Afghanistan, Iraq and now Libya. "He would be saying: That's not the Republican Party of the 20th century, and now the 21st century. That is not the Republican Party that has been willing to stand up for freedom for...

WASHINGTON — Republican Senator John McCain, his party's 2008 presidential nominee, ripped into the current crop of Republican White House contenders, accusing them of breaking party tradition by preaching "isolationism." McCain said if former President Ronald Reagan were still alive he would have been disappointed in last week's Republican presidential debate in which candidates voiced impatience with U.S. military efforts in Afghanistan, Iraq and now Libya. "He would be saying: That's not the Republican Party of the 20th century, and now the 21st century. That is not the Republican Party that has been willing to stand up for freedom for...

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Waterboarding and other harsh interrogation techniques were not a factor in tracking down Osama bin Laden, a leading Republican senator insisted Thursday. Sen. John McCain, who spent 5 1/2 years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam, also rejected the argument that any form of torture is critical to U.S. success in the fight against terrorism.

(snip) MCCAIN: I think there's a lot there. I don't think there's any doubt. I mean, there's some 32 different bureaucracies that do the same job, for example, in, quote, "job training." And there's -- in Defense, there's outrageous cost overruns. Our latest fighter aircraft, the F-35, is almost double in original costs. That's true. But we also have programs that we should eliminate. Why are we subsidizing ethanol? Billions of dollars a year. There's no reason for it. Many of the agricultural subsidies -- why are we subsidizing sugar? So there's so many areas where we have programs that...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senator John McCain on Thursday urged President Barack Obama to help broker a deal that would restore valuable trade benefits for Colombia, a stalwart U.S. friend still reeling from recent severe floods. "We've kicked an ally while they're down and right when they need us most" by allowing the program to expire, the Arizona Republican said on the Senate floor. "The president of the United States and White House should be weighing in on this," McCain said.

The president has become more centrist, which makes him easier to work with, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said Thursday. Speaking with Bloomberg Television a day after a private meeting with President Obama, McCain said he could picture working with Obama on several issues going forward. "I think there's a number of issues we could work on together, and I think it's pretty clear that the president has really pivoted to a much more centrist position, which I think makes it much more for us easier to work with him," McCain said. (snip) McCain said he thought he and Obama could...

U.S. Sen. John McCain won’t be backing former running mate Sarah Palin in the 2012 presidential race. In fact, McCain told Politico.com he won’t be backing any other candidates as Republicans look to defeat President Barack Obama. “I think I’m staying out of this for the first time in many years,” McCain told the news website this week.

The tactic Republicans used to win the midterm election was to tie every Democrat in Washington, D.C. to Barack Obama. He and his liberal policies were so unpopular that identifying a Democrat candidate with the president delivered a Republican's victory. At the ballot box, the American people sent liberalism to the woodshed. The nation cast off Obama, as well as Pelosi and much of her progressive Congress. In January, the Republicans triumphantly arrived in Washington, D.C. promising to repeal health care reform, address out-of-control spending, and elevate conservative principles by making the U.S. Constitution the foundation of legislative discussion. It's...

WASHINGTON -- Two years after running against President Barack Obama, Senator John McCain says he sees a change. Appearing on CBS' "Face the Nation," McCain expressed optimism that Obama will lead Democrats and Republicans to find common ground on key issues.(snip) Asked if the push to repeal health care reform is a waste of time -- because Senate Democrats will block repeal and, should it pass, the president would veto it -- McCain said, "We need to have a vote on it because we promised the people we would. We campaigned that we would `repeal and replace'. We have to...

John McCain has extended a hand to his old rival. Writing in the pages of the Washington Post, McCain praises President Obama for his remarks at the Tucson memorial on Wednesday and makes his own commitment to not let his passion get the best of him. He also bears witness. Referring to the president, McCain writes: "He is a patriot sincerely intent on using his time in office to advance our country's cause. I reject accusations that his policies and beliefs make him unworthy to lead America or opposed to its founding ideals." McCain also defends Sarah Palin, though he...

(snip) I disagree with many of the president's policies, but I believe he is a patriot sincerely intent on using his time in office to advance our country's cause. I reject accusations that his policies and beliefs make him unworthy to lead America or opposed to its founding ideals.(snip)

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said Thursday he would work to help implement the repeal of the military's "Don't ask, don't tell" policy, despite his opposition to that legislation. McCain signaled he had made peace with the lame-duck bill to do away with the military's ban on openly gay and lesbian service members, which he had sharply criticized. "I think I have to do everything I can to make sure that the impact on the morale, retention, recruitment and battle effectiveness of the military is minimized as much as possible," McCain said on Fox Business. "It is a law and I...

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. John McCain says he would support congressional work toward an overhaul of the immigration system once "the borders have been secured."

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) was clear Sunday on what he wants in a 2012 GOP presidential nominee: "the most electable conservative." But the senator was pressed on NBC's "Meet the Press" on specifically which of the current names believed to be in the ring would deliver. "Probably [Mitt] Romney," Graham said. "He's got his problems as a candidate, but so does everyone else," he said.

What does he want? Revenge. For what? Being born. This is the way famous gunslinger Doc Holliday answers equally famous lawman and good friend Wyatt Earp’s inquiry - in their depiction in the movie Tombstone - into why their sworn enemy, Johnny Ringo, is such a misanthrope. Sadly, this description would be equally accurate in explaining the actions of another Arizona transplant filled with endless rage: Senator John McCain. I first encountered the seething side of McCain when I was writing my 2008 book, The Real McCain, which was critical of him while pointing out a then-controversial fact, one no...

(snip) Woods said McCain would be more helpful if the White House reached out to him, but "they haven't talked to him at all."McCain also voted no Saturday on the Dream Act, which would have granted citizenship to thousands of foreign-born college students. He initially sponsored the legislation. Gullett said McCain constantly faced voters on the campaign trail last year asking about border security and that affected his stance. His communications director, Brooke Buchanan, explained that on immigration, McCain believes the border needs to be secured above all else, citing the increasing border violence over the last four years. "His...

Republicans could relinquish a significant portion of the gains they made in the midterm elections if they "allow" the omnibus spending bill to pass, Sen. John McCain said Wednesday. The Arizona Republican said that Tea Party activists who helped the GOP make large inroads on Democrats are "enraged" about the $1.1 trillion measure to fund the government that contains nearly $8 billion in earmarks. "They gave us a second chance last November ... And if we Republicans allow this thing to go through, then I'm not sure they're going to give us another chance," McCain said during an interview with...

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator John McCain made the following statement regarding Brian A. Terry, a Border Patrol Agent who was killed in the line of duty last night in Rio Rico, Arizona: “My thoughts and prayers are with the friends and family of Agent Brian Terry after yesterday’s tragic shooting near Rio Rico, Arizona. This event is yet another reminder of the dangers the men and women of the Border Patrol face every day as they put their lives on the line to protect the American people. The increased violence in the border region demands that Congress provide the...

(snip) ALAN MURRAY: Sen. McCain, I wonder if you could tell us, from where you sit, what the message of this election in the United States is. JOHN MCCAIN: It was a revolt. It was not a revolution. Revolutions take a long time. It was revolt on the part of the American people who believe that their government has lost touch with them and they have lost touch with their government. And any Republican who thinks that it was a vote in favor of Republicans should look at our approval ratings. Last time I checked, it's around 17%. When you...

Michelle Malkin offers a scorecard of GOP Senators who remain uncertain as to whether they should oppose the nightmarish DREAM Act, a bill that has been kicking around for years, but now has the urgency of a liberal lame duck congress to pass what amounts to a 2.1 million future Democrat voter recruitment drive — before year’s end. Topping the list is none other than our own Arizona amnesty architect, Señor Juan McCain, now ditching the A-word for the focus group winner: “Guest worker.” Safely ensconced for another 6-year term, he is once again a-free-from-restraint, open-borders agent. His staff says...

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) does not regret his decision against campaigning with then-President Bush during the lead-up to the 2008 election, the senator said during an interview on Sunday. "It was a decision we made and I hope he respects it," McCain said on "Meet the Press." McCain said the choice to distance himself from Bush reflected the "realities of the political situation at the time." "President Obama was doing everything he could to tie me to President Bush," McCain said. He added that during the campaign, he called Bush "a friend."

Charles Town, WV (CNN) - As he stumps for a string of Republicans in increasingly bitter races, Sen. John McCain warned candidates against overconfidence and defended recent searing attacks on his Democratic colleagues. "These are harsh times," he said, in response to a reporter's question about his criticism of Sen. Barbara Boxer and a conference call in which he slammed Sen. Patty Murray over the use of earmarks.

Sen. McCain: Meghan Wrong on O'Donnell October 19, 2010 8:51 AM Meghan McCain got some buzz on Sunday by calling Christine O'Donnell a "nut job," but on "GMA" today her dad didn't take the bait. "My daughter and I have very spirited conversations from time to time and it’s a lot of fun," Sen. John McCain told me. "With all due respect to my daughter, the primary voters of Delaware chose Christine O’Donnell and she’s the candidate." McCain did, however, agree with his former running mate Sarah Palin's assessment that the "GOP is through" if they don't follow the Tea...

(snip) ...as McCain again said he supported his former running mate former Alaskan governor Sarah Palin. "I haven't seen anyone since Ronald Reagan that with certain individuals and large groups of individuals who really have this passionate belief and support for her," he said, "It's really a remarkable thing to observe." (snip) "I couldn't be more proud of the campaign she waged," he said. "I couldn't be more proud of her or her performance and her continued performance. So, I think, you begin to think about legacy and I think that Sarah Palin will play a very big role in...

A day after a tense exchange between two Arizona political heavyweights, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on Thursday formally offered to brief Sen. John McCain on the measures the administration is taking to secure the Southwest border.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican Senator John McCain expects many U.S. Republicans to seek the party's presidential nomination in 2012. "I think there's going to be 1,000 flowers bloom," he said Monday at the annual Washington Reuters Summit. McCain, who won the nomination in 2008 and went on to lose to Democrat Barack Obama in the presidential election, did not predict who he thought might run. "I think it's too early," he said. (snip) McCain's advice to Republicans: Keep your eye on New Hampshire. (snip) "For Republicans it seems to me that New Hampshire is still the very key place," McCain...

As Republican leaders assess a Tea Party movement that has both energized and polarized their ranks, John McCain takes a generally benign view of the political landscape -- but clearly comes down on the side of the traditional establishment rather than with the young rebels. (snip) ...he said, "I hope I'll have the opportunity to spend some time helping and mentoring the next generation of Republicans who are ready to move in here."(snip) It was only when McCain began describing his plans for the coming campaign and his hopes for the Senate that it became clear where his influence will...

Video at link. McQueeg goes back to his old, nasty, open borders habits.

(snip) WALLACE: Let's talk about a few specifics that have come out from some member of the House Republican Caucus, like Paul Ryan with his roadmap and some of the Tea Partiers. Do you support the idea of allowing those under 55 -- not talking about people near retirement now -- allowing people under 55 to put up to a third of their payroll taxes in private accounts? McCAIN: Frankly, I haven't seen that particular issue and in that detail, but everybody knows, all Americans know that we're going to have to fix Social Security and Medicare. And I notice...

<p>Sen. John McCain acknowledged his primary rivals during his victory speech after winning Tuesday's Arizona Republican primary, but not warmly.</p> <p>It took until the sixth paragraph of his acceptance speech, and his remarks notably mentioned his closest rival, J.D. Hayworth, last.</p>

Two days after being trounced in the Arizona GOP Senate primary, former Rep. J.D. Hayworth still hasn’t called Sen. John McCain to congratulate him. And it’s not as if Tuesday night’s outcome was in doubt for very long. McCain eviscerated Hayworth by 24 percentage points and The Associated Press called the race not even a full two hours after the polls closed. The four-term senator quickly took the stage at the downtown Phoenix Convention Center to declare victory and make it an early night. But the McCain campaign is still a bit surprised it never heard from Hayworth, a former...

Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) went after his fellow GOP Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) as the latter as faced reelection Tuesday. Inhofe, rated as one of the most conservative members of the upper chamber, attacked McCain's conservative credentials and said he only gets elected because of his opposition to earmarks. The Tulsa World wrote that Inhofe "attacked" McCain as a "closet liberal," then quoted Inhofe as saying he "gets elected because of one thing -- earmarks."

Sen. John McCain has raised and spent better than $21 million in advance of tomorrow's primary fight against former Rep. J.D. Hayworth, a massive amount of money that has helped to ensure that the Arizona Republican will win easily. McCain's eye-popping spending -- putting aside self-funders he has spent the most money of any Senate candidate this cycle --is the most obvious evidence of the threat that the 2008 Republican presidential nominee perceived in Hayworth -- a six term Congressman who lost a re-election bid in 2006. McCain spent millions (and millions) on television ads aimed at blocking Hayworth from...

Sen. John McCain may have a comfortable lead over J.D. Hayworth going into Tuesday's Arizona Republican Senate primary, but he didn't get there without a fight. McCain spent $21 million in an effort to bury Hayworth in the primary and shifted to the right on immigration and other issues, even shedding the "Maverick" label he once embraced. Hayworth joined CBS News' John Dickerson on "Washington Unplugged" Monday in this week's installment of "Behind the Ballot." The host brought up McCain's latest anti-Hayworth campaign ad tying the former congressman to convicted ex-lobbyist Jack Abramoff. The ad claims "Hayworth received $150,000 from...

A Senator’s journey from bipartisan maverick to right-wing ideologue—one flip-flop at a time. In theory, John McCain's right-wing madness could come to an end on Tuesday, when he is expected to prevail over former Rep. JD Hayworth in Arizona’s Senate primary. Faced with a stiff conservative challenge, McCain has spent this election cycle defying many of his long-held moderate positions. In fact, his transformation from aisle-crossing, party-bucking maverick (see this 1998 Mother Jones interview) to cookie-cutter conservative has been years in the making. During his 2008 presidential bid, he began to lurch rightward on a litany of issues in his...

John McCain holds a comfortable lead in the contentious Arizona Republican Senate primary, according to the most recent public polling, making him the strong favorite against former Rep. J.D. Hayworth on Tuesday. But it’s been a costly road to a fifth term for the 2008 GOP presidential nominee, and the experience is likely to leave a lasting and unsightly stain on his legacy. It’s not just the $20 million he’s spent already this election or the scorched earth campaign that he’s run. Rather, it’s the choices he’s made and the positions he’s embraced — and what it reveals about him...

PHOENIX (AP) - Arizona Sen. John McCain spent another $3.6 million last month in his bid to secure re-election. He's now spent almost $20 million on the race, nearly all of it since former Congressman J.D. Hayworth began challenging him in the Republican primary earlier this year.

<p>PHOENIX (AP) - Both were once considered vulnerable but recently have found stronger footing in their Republican primary races.</p> <p>Now, Arizona Sen. John McCain and Gov. Jan Brewer will campaign together at six events in five communities on Friday and Saturday.</p>

"Tea party" groups are planning a large rally on Sunday in Arizona, near the Mexican border, to support both the state's hard-line stance on illegal immigration and the political campaign of the local talk show host who is challenging Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). Candidate J.D. Hayworth, a former congressman turned conservative radio commentator, is one of dozens of scheduled speakers for the morning rally on a remote ranch about 100 miles south of Tucson. Others include Sharron Angle, the Republican challenging Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.), and Sue Krentz, the wife of a rancher killed near the rally...

Video at link.