Thank you, John McCain
Yes, that John McCain. The Arizona Senator, who in recent years has seemed to veer so far off his “maverick” persona as to be unrecognizable (at least to the media), and who brought us Sarah Palin, this week took a big step toward redeeming his legacy, by becoming the clearest, most forthright voice against the people trying to bring torture back to America’s anti-terror toolkit. Read more
Politics at the water’s edge? McCain and Lieberman conduct parallel foreign policy on Libya
McCain and Lieberman in Tahir Square.
John McCain and Joe Lieberman gave interviews to U.S. media outlets during a trip to Egypt Sunday, in which the two neoconservative Senators seemed to be conducting their own foreign policy; criticizing the president from foreign soil, calling on him to encourage protests in Iran, and even saying the Obama administration should supply arms to the Libyan opposition. Read more
In op-ed, glimpses of the mythical John McCain
ver the last several years, many journalists have watched the John McCain we admired in 2000 — perhaps unrealistically — slip away, replaced by an increasingly angry, scowling figure who in 2008, gave the world Sarah Palin, complete with those frightening rallies, and lost the presidency. In an op-ed published by the Washington Post, however, that old, mythic John McCain seemed to return. Read more
Thursday clicks: old vs. new mavericks
New and old mavericks: Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Arizona Grump John McCain
The New York Times offers a detailed recounting of President Obama’s New START gamble, and how the treaty was almost derailed by DADT repeal.
Also at the Times: Senator Gillibrand comes into her own, and a preview of the Congressional battles ahead.
Nate Silver, meanwhile, throws some cold water on the Census shift and what it means for 2012. Sorry, GOP.
And Lloyd Grove says even President Obama’s GOP critics are grudgingly giving him credit.
But this could be interesting: Steven Spielberg advising Mother Nancy on rebranding the Dems?
Trending: Lisa Murkowski is the real maverick. Read more
Has John McCain lost it?
He tapped a clearly unqualified Sarah Palin to be his vice presidential running-mate, and now can’t seem to walk back from that disastrous decision … he veered so far to the right during his re-election campaign, few recognize him anymore … he’s increasingly incoherent on everything from climate change (he now doubts it) to immigration reform (he now opposes his own bill) to Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, even breaking from his best friends in the Senate (or is that his only friends) Lindsey Graham and Joe Lieberman, and now, John McCain blows of a 9/11 hero. Is it time to start questioning the Senator’s mental health? Read more
Thump: McCain serves Hayworth
Well that was interesting…
After all that… all the money John McCain spent (some $20 million…) and all he did to his reputation in his desperation to hang on to his Senate seat, it wasn’t even close.
Notes on Florida: Rubio’s sprint to the center, and the Empire strikes back
A few quick notes that I neglected to articulate on MSNBC this morning, on the Arizona, and especially the Florida primaries. The “Empire Strikes Back” theme, which I’d love to take credit for, but which actually comes from the analysis by the pollster at Quinnipiac, is very appropriate for both. So two things to think about headed into tomorrow:
1. The Republican establishment vs. the tea party
Clearly, the Republican Party establishment realizes the danger it faces from many of the tea party candidates emerging from the farthest reaches of its base. Candidates like Sharron Angle in Nevada, Rand Paul in Kentucky, and J.D. Hayworth in Arizona may sound good on right wing talk radio, and excite Fox News viewers, but they could be electoral poison for the party in November. 
Read more
McCain dumps Crist; Rubio, Florida GOP face federal probe
For Charlie Crist, with friends like these ...
How much does it suck to be John McCain these days? He can’t even enjoy back-stabbing Charlie Crist to glomm onto Marco Rubio (the way he glommed onto that young Palin gal) for a full day without his new ticket to right wing authenticity getting investigated by the feds. Damn you, law against spending donor money on pricey haircuts…!!! Read more
Grumpy old man: McCain buries the ‘maverick’
Matt Wuerker Illustration from Politico.com
No point waiting by the phone, John
John McCain tells The Hill he’d gladly campaign for Charlie Crist … if he asked …
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