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apogee
climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
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Topic Author's Original Post - May 21, 2018 - 07:26pm PT
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In his 2002 memoir, McCain invoked Hemingway’s definition of courage as “grace under pressure” as his ideal and described how the hero of For Whom the Bell Tolls, Robert Jordan, became for him “the man I admired above almost all others in life and fiction. He was brave, dedicated, capable, selfless.” Sixteen years later, in The Restless Wave, McCain quotes Hemingway’s final words in the book as Jordan lies wounded and doomed. “The world is a fine place and worth the fighting for,” Jordan says to himself, “and I hate very much to leave it.” Writes McCain now: “And I do too. I hate to leave it. But I don’t have a complaint. Not one. It’s been quite a ride. I’ve known great passions, seen amazing wonders, fought in a war, and helped make a peace. I made a small place for myself in the story of America and the history of my times.”
https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/05/18/john-mccains-last-fight-218404
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Fritz
Social climber
Choss Creek, ID
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May 21, 2018 - 07:32pm PT
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McCain is a true American hero! I would have voted for him for president in 2008, if he hadn't brought Sarah Pallin in as his VP candidate.
Having that religious-nut, know-nothing, white-trash person a "heart-beat" away from being president, convinced me to vote for Obama.
I do enjoy McCain getting even with Trump, since Trump's mocking McCain for being a prisoner of war, was just so wrong.
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zBrown
Ice climber
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May 21, 2018 - 08:12pm PT
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"I came to the conclusion long ago . . . that all religions were true and also that all had some error in them, and whilst I hold by my own, I should hold others as dear as Hinduism. So we can only pray, if we are Hindus, not that a Christian should become a Hindu … But our innermost prayer should be a Hindu should be a better Hindu, a Muslim a better Muslim, a Christian a better Christian."
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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May 21, 2018 - 08:41pm PT
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I appreciate him as a person of integrity and bravery. I would love to have him at my back, but, given his political views, I would never vote for him.
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apogee
climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
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Topic Author's Reply - May 21, 2018 - 08:58pm PT
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I did some serious seasonal window washing this week with the Ettore beta you gave me, Cosmic. Thought of you gratefully. Made the job faster and matching my high standards.
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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May 21, 2018 - 09:12pm PT
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A good man. I disagree with his politics, but he has the best interests of the country in mind.
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10b4me
Social climber
Lida Junction
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May 21, 2018 - 09:13pm PT
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Having that religious-nut, know-nothing, white-trash person a "heart-beat" away from being president, convinced me to vote for Obama. McCain has said he regrets selecting her as his running mate.
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Kalimon
Social climber
Ridgway, CO
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May 21, 2018 - 09:38pm PT
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This man has given much and suffered even more for the USA . . . his politics should be separate from his personal sacrifices.
Thank you John McCain.
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healyje
Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
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May 21, 2018 - 09:42pm PT
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He was very much an enabler of the decline of the discourse on the right that led to the demise of the GOP and it's decomposition into the fringe-right.
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dirtbag
climber
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May 22, 2018 - 05:54am PT
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We can find plenty of blemishes in anyone’s career, including his (keating 5 and palin) and while I didn’t agree with many of his policy positions, I believe he usually put service first. I can’t imagine anyone else inviting a president from an opposing party to deliver a eulogy.
Welcome back, apogee.
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mtnyoung
Trad climber
Twain Harte, California
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May 22, 2018 - 06:25am PT
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^^^
Agreed (on both comments).
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monolith
climber
state of being
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May 22, 2018 - 06:43am PT
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It was the bogeyman.
McCain was referring to Syrian rebels, not ISIS.
You define gullibility.
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10b4me
Social climber
Lida Junction
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May 22, 2018 - 08:41am PT
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xCon, if McCain did meet with ISIS, so what.
The Neocons, Zionist, and saudis all had a hand in the formation of ISIS.
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Fat Dad
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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May 22, 2018 - 08:59am PT
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While I do believe that McCain can change his views when it's politically expedient (his presidential run was proof positive of that), I find it troubling that a lot of folks out there are so quick to overlook his military service and sacrifice. Don't ask me how, but I recently stumbled across of a video on youtube of his cell mate in Vietnam, where he talked about their time together. There were thousands of comments posted claimed that the guy's testimony had been bought, McCain was a traitor, a "songbird", etc. I found it really, really despicable. My guess is mostly Trumpites who hate him for not backing up their fuhrer. If others who served in Vietnam have commentary on his time there, they are more than welcome to their opinion. I believe, however, and others who were not there, don't have a right to question the man about his service but only thank him for his sacrifice.
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Reeotch
climber
4 Corners Area
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May 22, 2018 - 09:07am PT
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Sacrifice for what, exactly?
What was it that McCain "won" for me over there in Vietnam?
People like this have a public persona that is usually very different from the actual person.
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Marlow
Sport climber
OSLO
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May 22, 2018 - 09:22am PT
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Top 5 Senators That Benefited the Most From NRA Funding:
John McCain (R, AZ) – $7.74 million
Richard Burr (R, NC) – $6.99 million
Roy Blunt (R, MO) – $4.55 million
Thom Tillis (R, NC) – $4.42 million
Cory Gardner (R, CO) – $3.88 million
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Fat Dad
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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May 22, 2018 - 09:35am PT
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Sacrifice for what, exactly?
What was it that McCain "won" for me over there in Vietnam? There was a war and people were drafted and sent over. He went and served, when he could have pulled a cush assignment like W, and been a malingerer like Trump.
Are you saying that because the war was a huge snafu without a clear victory that we shouldn't thank the people who fought?
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Reeotch
climber
4 Corners Area
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May 22, 2018 - 09:47am PT
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Maybe we should apologize.
McCain was an accidental hero. He was shot down and captured. He's more of a survivor than a hero. And, he has definitely leveraged the hero card.
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mtnyoung
Trad climber
Twain Harte, California
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May 22, 2018 - 10:26am PT
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It's also my understanding that the North Vietnamese offered to release McCain early from incarceration as a PoW. The thinking I've heard is that they made the offer because he was the son of an admiral. Such "special treatment" for the son of an admiral would have had great value as propaganda.
McCain refused and spent five more years in brutal conditions.
Argue what you want about the Vietnam war (pretty clearly a terrible mistake), but he did what our country asked him to do.
His stand against torture in recent years has been based on personal experience and principle. Admirable.
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