From maverick to rump swab: John McCain calls Rand Paul a “wacko bird”
Once upon a time John McCain was labeled a maverick Republican by the media for opposing President Bush and other Republicans. This was a label he cherished and it was a label he used while running against Barack Obama in the 2008 election.
John McCain failed to realize he was used by the media to push an anti-Bush agenda–once the Democrats had their candidate in 2008 the media abandoned John McCain because they had a new anti-Bush candidate and this one was a Democrat, so they had mo more use for him.
So, John McCain considered himself a maverick for causing waves within the Republican party, but that was then and this is now.
Now Rand Paul and several other young Senators are challenging the Republican leadership and this was evident two days ago when Rand Paul conducted a 13 hour filibuster on the Senate floor while John Mccain (maverick?) dined with Barack Obama.
Rand Paul may have initially done this to get an answer from Barack Obama on drones in the United States, but in his response to John McCain’s first attack on the filibuster Rand Paul admitted this also has to do with the Republicans who went along with the NDAA and labeled the United States a battleground on the war on terror.
This is what Rand Paul had to say:
They think the whole world is a battlefield, including America, and that the laws of war should apply
The laws of war don’t involve due process, so when they ask you for an attorney you tell them to shut up. That’s not my understanding of the way America works,” Paul told Fox. “I don’t think the laws of war apply to America, I think the Bill of Rights do and I think it’s a disservice to our soldiers that our senators up there arguing that the Bill of Rights aren’t important
So Rand Paul is in fact also challenging the Republican leadership and you would think that John McCain, being the maverick he is was, would appreciate Rand Paul for speaking truth to power, but that is not the case now that he is the one being challenged.
John McCain came out firing at Rand Paul again today, blasting the man who challenged his authority within the Republican party by calling him a “wacko bird.” (Whatever that is.)
When John McCain challenged Republican leadership he called himself a maverick, but now that the young guns in the Senate are challenging the elitist, ruling class Republicans he writes them off as nothing more than wackos.
While John McCain is busy chumming around with Barack Obama he still doesn’t understand he is being used by the president and by the media, and he doesn’t even realize that he is coming off as an angry old man who doesn’t think the younger politicians in Washington have any right to question him.
What a remarkable change in positions from the man who made his name challenging the leadership within the party a few short years ago.

In many ways McCain is now a champion of the old guard in the party. Time brings changes as it always does and the Maverick of old is the status quo of today. Change is often a bitter pill to swollow and John McCain is now having to face a reality that he doesn’t like. He must get on board or be left behind.
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I agree Ron, John McCain doesn’t want to accept the reality that a new brand of Republicans are on the scene. He still hopes he can “get them in line” with the old guard but I hope that doesn’t happen. John McCain and his ilk are what is wrong with the party and it is time for a change, the sooner he realizes it the better off he will be.
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I applaud what Rand Paul did because he, at least, brought media attention to the issue. I do not, however, agrree that with his claim of victory due to Holder’s letter. Holder;s letter answered nothing. It only said if an American is not an enemy combantant, they can’t detain without due process or kill. the issue that was not answered is if the President or other high official “thinks” an America is a terrorist, can they detain without due process or kill.
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I think the fact he brought attention to the issue is huge, many people probably didn’t even know about the drone program before this.
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The last remnants of thr Grand Old Party. May it rest in peace. Let the young bulls leave their mark.
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The changing of the guard is happening and McCain is still trying to hold on.
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John McCain needs to be careful. The shovel he is using to dig himself a hole may start to wear blisters on his hands, the way he keeps talking. Seriously, he’s sounds like he has lost it and forgotten which political party he is in.
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It does sound like he is losing it to me as well, I think age might be catching up to him and he is turning into a grumpy old man.
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McCain is a “maverick.” A maverick Democrat.
To think I supported him against Bush in 99 and voted for him in 04. Yuck.
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Well, there really wasn’t much to chose from in those elections.
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The only difference between two old whores and TheMcCain Graham duo is that Obama didn’t get a room after dinner. A maverick McCain never was but rather a used car salesman elected by those having pity on a war vet; an unqualified war vet. Upon closer circumspection his usual motivations become apparent. Not unlike most prostitutes its about performing for the highest bidder but this urchin of the night will not just dry up and go away. It is now up to the young guys in DC to recognize that McCain et al need to be ignored even while they marinalize themselves.
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There’s a lot of folks that I think would really enjoy your content. Please let me know. Many thanks
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