Rating John McCain

[vcczar 1,224]

I'm using Dr. Mayhew's criteria for Congressional "actions" to list McCain's consequential maneuvers during his political career. He has 17, which is among the most.: 

McCain, John	104	S	R	AZ	1995	1996	1	Co sponsors Line Item Veto Act
McCain, John	106	S	R	AZ	1999	1999	2	Took lead in pressing the use of NATO ground troops in Kosovo
McCain, John	106	S	R	AZ	2000	2000	3	pres candidate
McCain, John	107	S	R	AZ	2001	2002	4	McCain-Feingold campaign reform
McCain, John	107	S	R	AZ	2001	2001	5	Broke w/ party to vote against Bush tax cuts
McCain, John	107	S	R	AZ	2002	2002	6	Co-wrote legislation to create 9-11 Commission
McCain, John	108	S	R	AZ	2003	2004	7	Critic of Bush admins handling of the Iraq War
McCain, John	108	S	R	AZ	2004	2004	8	Defends John Kerry's war record from other GOP Election 2004 attacks
McCain, John	109	S	R	AZ	2005	2005	9	Led Gang of 14 that preserved Senate filibuster on judicial nominations
McCain, John	110	S	R	AZ	2007	2007	10	Leading Senator proponent of troop surge in Iraq
McCain, John	110	S	R	AZ	2007	2007	11	Breaks w/ base of party to help pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform
McCain, John	110	S	R	AZ	2008	2008	12	Pres nom
McCain, John	111	S	R	AZ	2010	2010	13	Leads successful fillibuster of attempt to repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell
McCain, John	111	S	R	AZ	2010	2010	14	vs. SC decisions on Citizen United v. Federal Election Commission
McCain, John	112	S	R	AZ	2011	2013	15	Leading Senate voice for intervention in Syrian Civil War
McCain, John	114	S	R	AZ	2016	2016	16	Refused to support Trump nomination
McCain, John	115	S	R	AZ	2017	2017	17	Deciding vote against his party's attempt to repeal and replace Obamacare

[SilentLiberty 219]

1 minute ago, vcczar said:

I'm using Dr. Mayhew's criteria for Congressional "actions" to list McCain's consequential maneuvers during his political career. He has 17, which is among the most.: 

McCain, John	104	S	R	AZ	1995	1996	1	Co sponsors Line Item Veto Act
McCain, John	106	S	R	AZ	1999	1999	2	Took lead in pressing the use of NATO ground troops in Kosovo
McCain, John	106	S	R	AZ	2000	2000	3	pres candidate
McCain, John	107	S	R	AZ	2001	2002	4	McCain-Feingold campaign reform
McCain, John	107	S	R	AZ	2001	2001	5	Broke w/ party to vote against Bush tax cuts
McCain, John	107	S	R	AZ	2002	2002	6	Co-wrote legislation to create 9-11 Commission
McCain, John	108	S	R	AZ	2003	2004	7	Critic of Bush admins handling of the Iraq War
McCain, John	108	S	R	AZ	2004	2004	8	Defends John Kerry's war record from other GOP Election 2004 attacks
McCain, John	109	S	R	AZ	2005	2005	9	Led Gang of 14 that preserved Senate filibuster on judicial nominations
McCain, John	110	S	R	AZ	2007	2007	10	Leading Senator proponent of troop surge in Iraq
McCain, John	110	S	R	AZ	2007	2007	11	Breaks w/ base of party to help pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform
McCain, John	110	S	R	AZ	2008	2008	12	Pres nom
McCain, John	111	S	R	AZ	2010	2010	13	Leads successful fillibuster of attempt to repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell
McCain, John	111	S	R	AZ	2010	2010	14	vs. SC decisions on Citizen United v. Federal Election Commission
McCain, John	112	S	R	AZ	2011	2013	15	Leading Senate voice for intervention in Syrian Civil War
McCain, John	114	S	R	AZ	2016	2016	16	Refused to support Trump nomination
McCain, John	115	S	R	AZ	2017	2017	17	Deciding vote against his party's attempt to repeal and replace Obamacare

I think if McCain doesn't run in 2008, or rather doesn't end up the nominee, I'd put him as above average. His failed Presidential bid and subsequent actions because of it in his later years carries more weight on my decision than not.

[vcczar 1,224]

I gave him "above average" which is probably about as high as I can give a GOP Senator that is also  war hawk. His bipartisanship, opposition to Trump, and his stand for Obamacare, saved him from being average or below average for me. I might ultimately change my mind, since I consider the Iraq War a fiasco. 

[Patine 469]

4 minutes ago, vcczar said:

I'm using Dr. Mayhew's criteria for Congressional "actions" to list McCain's consequential maneuvers during his political career. He has 17, which is among the most.: 

McCain, John	104	S	R	AZ	1995	1996	1	Co sponsors Line Item Veto Act
McCain, John	106	S	R	AZ	1999	1999	2	Took lead in pressing the use of NATO ground troops in Kosovo
McCain, John	106	S	R	AZ	2000	2000	3	pres candidate
McCain, John	107	S	R	AZ	2001	2002	4	McCain-Feingold campaign reform
McCain, John	107	S	R	AZ	2001	2001	5	Broke w/ party to vote against Bush tax cuts
McCain, John	107	S	R	AZ	2002	2002	6	Co-wrote legislation to create 9-11 Commission
McCain, John	108	S	R	AZ	2003	2004	7	Critic of Bush admins handling of the Iraq War
McCain, John	108	S	R	AZ	2004	2004	8	Defends John Kerry's war record from other GOP Election 2004 attacks
McCain, John	109	S	R	AZ	2005	2005	9	Led Gang of 14 that preserved Senate filibuster on judicial nominations
McCain, John	110	S	R	AZ	2007	2007	10	Leading Senator proponent of troop surge in Iraq
McCain, John	110	S	R	AZ	2007	2007	11	Breaks w/ base of party to help pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform
McCain, John	110	S	R	AZ	2008	2008	12	Pres nom
McCain, John	111	S	R	AZ	2010	2010	13	Leads successful fillibuster of attempt to repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell
McCain, John	111	S	R	AZ	2010	2010	14	vs. SC decisions on Citizen United v. Federal Election Commission
McCain, John	112	S	R	AZ	2011	2013	15	Leading Senate voice for intervention in Syrian Civil War
McCain, John	114	S	R	AZ	2016	2016	16	Refused to support Trump nomination
McCain, John	115	S	R	AZ	2017	2017	17	Deciding vote against his party's attempt to repeal and replace Obamacare

It's hard to sum up his "quality" as one term. I mean, on one hand, he opposed such plutocratic power trips as the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy and the legalization of outright electoral and lobbying bribery, effectively - aka, Citizen's United - and, for all it's flaws, voted against repealing Obamacare while no viable and workable replacement (relatively speaking) was on the table. And he refused to endorse Trump, even after Ted Cruz and Paul Ryan and others capitulated. But, his legacy of also a blood-stained warmonger is difficult for me to easily balance.

[vcczar 1,224]

5 minutes ago, Patine said:

It's hard to sum up his "quality" as one term. I mean, on one hand, he opposed such plutocratic power trips as the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy and the legalization of outright electoral and lobbying bribery, effectively - aka, Citizen's United - and, for all it's flaws, voted against repealing Obamacare while no viable and workable replacement (relatively speaking) was on the table. And he refused to endorse Trump, even after Ted Cruz and Paul Ryan and others capitulated. But, his legacy of also a blood-stained warmonger is difficult for me to easily balance.

That's the same problem I have. He wasn't alone in his support for warmongering, but the best qualities of him were often individualistic or solitary among GOP Senators. 

[vcczar 1,224]

McCain has 17 actions to Biden's 6.

Biden went about 16 years without doing anything of note. In truth Biden typically toed the party line or was a harmonizer, which isn't necessarily always bad. 

[pilight 237]

13 minutes ago, vcczar said:

McCain has 17 actions to Biden's 6.

Biden went about 16 years without doing anything of note. In truth Biden typically toed the party line or was a harmonizer, which isn't necessarily always bad. 

More actions doesn't mean better.  A great deal of what congress does can be done without.

[SilentLiberty 219]

9 minutes ago, pilight said:

More actions doesn't mean better.  A great deal of what congress does can be done without.

Less can often be more in fact.

[vcczar 1,224]

9 minutes ago, pilight said:

More actions doesn't mean better.  A great deal of what congress does can be done without.

I know. That's why I mention "which isn't necessarily always bad." Here's an example of someone with 10 actions, many of them bad.:

Gingrich, Newt	101	H	R	GA	1988	1989	1	Forces Speaker Jim Wright by leading ethics charges against him.
Gingrich, Newt	103	H	R	GA	1993	1993	2	Joins Pres. Clinton and leads the push of NAFTA through the House
Gingrich, Newt	103	H	R	GA	1994	1995	3	Leads Contract w/ America
Gingrich, Newt	104	H	R	GA	1995	1995	4	Becomes first GOP Speaker in ages
Gingrich, Newt	104	H	R	GA	1995	1996	5	Tangles w/ Pres. Clinton in two long government shutdowns that backfire on GOP
Gingrich, Newt	104	H	R	GA	1996	1996	6	Leads and negotiates GOP Welfare Reform; Clinton signs it
Gingrich, Newt	105	H	R	GA	1997	1998	8	Force Clinton to an agreement on Budget deal
Gingrich, Newt	105	H	R	GA	1997	1997	7	Reprimanded for ethics violation but keeps Speakership by narrow margin
Gingrich, Newt	105	H	R	GA	1998	1998	9	Resigns after admitting to a marital affair while leading an impeachment effort on Clinton's affair
Gingrich, Newt	105	H	R	GA	1998	1998	10	Leads inaugural stages of Impeachment effort, which backfire, and help cost him speakership

[Patine 469]

3 minutes ago, vcczar said:

I know. That's why I mention "which isn't necessarily always bad." Here's an example of someone with 10 actions, many of them bad.:

 

Gingrich, Newt	101	H	R	GA	1988	1989	1	Forces Speaker Jim Wright by leading ethics charges against him.
Gingrich, Newt	103	H	R	GA	1993	1993	2	Joins Pres. Clinton and leads the push of NAFTA through the House
Gingrich, Newt	103	H	R	GA	1994	1995	3	Leads Contract w/ America
Gingrich, Newt	104	H	R	GA	1995	1995	4	Becomes first GOP Speaker in ages
Gingrich, Newt	104	H	R	GA	1995	1996	5	Tangles w/ Pres. Clinton in two long government shutdowns that backfire on GOP
Gingrich, Newt	104	H	R	GA	1996	1996	6	Leads and negotiates GOP Welfare Reform; Clinton signs it
Gingrich, Newt	105	H	R	GA	1997	1998	8	Force Clinton to an agreement on Budget deal
Gingrich, Newt	105	H	R	GA	1997	1997	7	Reprimanded for ethics violation but keeps Speakership by narrow margin
Gingrich, Newt	105	H	R	GA	1998	1998	9	Resigns after admitting to a marital affair while leading an impeachment effort on Clinton's affair
Gingrich, Newt	105	H	R	GA	1998	1998	10	Leads inaugural stages of Impeachment effort, which backfire, and help cost him speakership

And his bizarre and wonky science-fiction novel series that's blatantly pushing a Social Conservative agenda (it's not just Progressives and Libertarians who push blatant political agendas through publishing science-fiction and fantasy).

[vcczar 1,224]

13 minutes ago, Patine said:

And his bizarre and wonky science-fiction novel series that's blatantly pushing a Social Conservative agenda (it's not just Progressives and Libertarians who push blatant political agendas through publishing science-fiction and fantasy).

Yeah. I’ll give Gingrich one thing. He has an authentic imagination. I remember Santorum chastised Gingrich in the 2012 debates as a guy who “likes ideas” as if the idea of ideas was something distasteful. I remember Santorum's face as he said it. He followed it back saying that ideas weren’t needed or something like that. Gingrich’s idea to allow the moon to petition to become a state was one of the crazier things, as he got the rules for statehood wrong and doing that would violate an international treaty. He also has a PhD in history. Somehow he didn’t know this. 

[Wiw 92]

Well, as far as I can see, McCain did possess great pragmatism; he knew where to draw the line. He might've had a chance at the Presidency if he hadn't picked Palin as his VP, given how unpopular she is.

[Patine 469]

2 hours ago, Wiw said:

Well, as far as I can see, McCain did possess great pragmatism; he knew where to draw the line. He might've had a chance at the Presidency if he hadn't picked Palin as his VP, given how unpopular she is.

I think his coining, or fervently and enthusiastically getting behind, even if he wasn't the one who coined it, the "it was a mistake, but it's a mistake we have to finish, and finish together," about the Iraq War, sunk his chances significantly as well, as war fatigue was already very tangible by 2008. And the economic downturn during the election obviously hurt him far more than it did Obama - in fact, it seemed to help Obama, as, of course, people weren't yet blaming him for it inexplicably in a deluded display of uneducated very-short-term memory loss.

[jvikings1 40]

Terrible Senator with a terrible record.  He's the very definition of big government RINO.  His voice in the Senate is definitely not missed.  Now, if we could just get Lindsey Graham out of there.