News Us politics - read first post before comment

[hodge]

I was also so sorry to hear about John McCain. I don't agree with him on everything, but I think he's a good guy and I wish he didn't have to go through this. He will be a real loss to the Senate, just like his old pal Ted Kennedy, who died of the same thing years ago (per the main CNN article on this).

It kind of reminds me of how our beloved senator Paul Wellstone was killed in a small plane crash just before the 2004 election. Sometimes it feels like we lose our best people at the very worst times.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

I do like McCain, and I feel so bad about this.

I do as well! Very sad!

 

[hodge]

Um, when the last time anyone saw the whole White House staff lawyer up due to fake news?

 

[hodge]

I heard Senator Amy Klobuchar say last week that if Trump fires Mueller, "it's all over." She said that on an MSNBC morning show. And so now, Trump has drawn a "red line" if Mueller starts investigating his family's finances. Mueller is starting to investigate the family finances, and with good reason. If Trump fires Mueller, it will just be more evidence that he is hiding big stuff. and, if he does, I hope and pray that this is what it will take the GOPS in Congress to start impeachment proceedings. People who are innocent of wrongdoing do not act like Trump and his family and associates are acting.

And if the GOPs can't find the moral compass to do it for the right reasons, they should at least do it for John McCain, who has been outraged by all this, too. I don't think he's ever coming back to the Senate. But they could honor him by doing this right thing right now in one of these darkest of American moments. And do it before he dies or slips into unconsciousness, so he knows he had some legacy. That's the least they could do. And not just for him, but for all of us. But it would be a really nice and good gesture if they did it before he passes on.

 

[Deleted member 541]

@hodge I agree that McCain is one of the better ones in the senate. I believe he has a moral compass. When he was a prisoner of war, they were going to set him free because of his father, but he told them that unless ALL of his men went free with him, he would chose to stay. He was beaten and brutalized, starved and suffered malnutrition. But he stayed for his men. That for me shows what a true patriot he is. I believe he really loves his country and cares about the people in this country. Just so sad, that we lose the good ones, and the ones that are truly evil get to live on.......

 

[hodge]

Yep, I read that, too, about him. It's exactly what I would want to do if I were in that position. He had the fortitude and moral compass to do it, and for that, he will always have my respect and admiration, as well as tons of other people. Thank God, there are still a lot of us who recognize good hearts and patriotism when we see it. I just hope he doesn't suffer. If his prognosis is not good, I would almost hope he forgoes treatment, which is miserable. I currently have a good friend dying of brain cancer. She gave up treatment after her tumors grew after intense chemo and radiation. The docs didn't give her much hope to begin with. She also has an extremely aggressive form, which was just detected in early January. But her docs call her a "walkie-talkie." They say she shouldn't be able to do either given their knowledge of her tumors. But she does both and hangs in there and still calls when she can. She is sick enough now, but would feel so much worse if she were still getting chemo and radiation which evidently have no hope of helping her survive. She still makes dinner every day and listens to shows she's taped. She can't watch because of how the tumors affect her vision. But she is still coherent, keeps up with the news, is a good patriot and appreciates good comedy, like Colbert, Trevor Noah, John Oliver.

 

[scout86]

I don't think he's ever coming back to the Senate.

He sounds like he's determined to try, and I hope he does. Just heard a piece on this type of cancer on the radio. Although most people live two years or less after their diagnosis, some now are living 10 years. Sounds like where his tumor was located may be a plus. His age is a minus. I would guess his determination will be a plus. I hope he cans serve out his term!

 

[anthony]

Americans can only blame Americans for putting him in that office. He didn't become the nominee for the party because he was the worst candidate. There are problems internally that caused all of this, and instead of focusing on Trump, people should be focusing on the real issues at hand that caused all of this to begin with.

 

[Friday]

, people should be focusing on the real issues at hand that caused all of this to begin with.

Preach.

I would add the resulting problems every damn election cycle, after 2 years of nonsense, with half the country so focused on bullshit that very little substantive gets done. Whether it's republicans attempting to thwart/impeach the democrat president, or the democrats attempting to thwart/impeach the republican president... It's no damn wonder the corporations are more and more doing the actual ruling of the nation. We're so busy fighting amongst ourselves, that we're getting jack-all actually accomplished.

If the billions of dollars and tens of thousands of man hours spent on 2 years of election-circus & 2+ years of tantrums were actually focused on ruling the damn nation & addressing real problems??? SMH. Crazy talk. I know. Heaven forbid we actually walked the walk instead of talked the talk, in sound bytes & selfies.

We're having the exact same problems modernly that we had 200 some odd years ago when the winner was president, and the loser was Vice President. Infighting = immobility.

***

ETA Just a note on the inevitable infighting of the past 30 years or so... It's usually a little more subtle (although just as divisive, as each side is equally determined, and feels fully justified)... But when both candidates could be reasonably charged with Treason before being elected? Something is rotten in Denmark.

 

[hodge]

Although most people live two years or less after their diagnosis, some now are living 10 years. Sounds like where his tumor was located may be a plus.

Oh, I hope you're right, @scout86!

 

[hodge]

There are problems internally that caused all of this, and instead of focusing on Trump, people should be focusing on the real issues at hand that caused all of this to begin with.

Totally agree, Anthony. I wish it was simple, but I think part of it is that people's wages have been stagnant or slipping for decades and the cost of living keeps going up. There is still a nauseating amount of racism in this country, too, and Trump opened the floodgates to make it okay to express that again, after all the progress we had seemingly made. It's awful but true that too many Americans are racist and he feeds right into that, also, with his Muslim ban and his talk about Hispanics. I think there must be a bunch else going on with some people's attraction to Trump, but I have not been able to discern what it is. But clearly it's something important, because of how many continue to support him.

I don't know how to "cure" racism, but I do believe it happens person to person. The more people get to know people of another race, the better. A couple or few congresspeople started a program last year of a kind of Sunday Dinner exposure. They encouraged people to invite a family of a totally different heritage to dine with them one Sunday a month. I haven't heard of any follow-up about that, but I think it's a great idea.

 

[Deleted member 41765]

don't know how to "cure" racism, but I do believe it happens person to person.

Racism in this country is systemic and generational. I don't think Sunday dinners are going to do it. Education, at least is one required key, beginning at the youngest age possible, teaching empathy and tolerance followed by a factual history of racism (as would never be taught in far too many states) (so sayith the educator).

Also, I agree that what we "should" do (the word itself is a precarious premise) is not that simple.