Bizarre, Politics, Society

GOP Senate Candidate: McCain Was Dying To Undermine Me
225px-John_McCain_official_portrait_2009While the world was preparing for the devastating news of the passing of Sen. John McCain, Arizona Republican Kelli Ward was seeing the announcement of his suspending further treatment in an entirely different and personal light.  Ward, who has long opposed McCain and supported President Donald Trump, insisted the statements (coming just twenty-four hours before his death) were meant to run a “negative narrative” about her.  It appears that she was about to kick off her bus tour and was convinced that McCain was obsessed with derailing her media coverage.

Ward is running for Sen. Jeff Flake’s (R-AZ) seat.
The controversy began with the message below from the McCain family:

Ward responded by going to Facebook with: “I think they wanted to have a particular narrative that they hope is negative to me.”  Her aide Jonathan Williams then asked “I wonder if John McCain’s trying to steal attention from Ward’s bus tour by announcing his life is coming to an end.”  He also said “I wonder if it were just a coincidence that Sen McCain released his statement on the kickoff day of Kelli Ward’s bus tour or if it was a plan to take media attention off her campaign? I’m not saying it was on purpose but it’s quite interesting.”

Most would say quite disturbing rather than quite interesting.  Ward later deleted her posting.

Of course, if indeed McCain was so obsessed with Ward as to plan this scheme in his final days, he would have had the solace of knowing that Ward made a utter fool of herself.

102 thoughts on “GOP Senate Candidate: McCain Was Dying To Undermine Me”

  1. Besides hubris, what compels a person with aggressive brain cancer to keep his seat in the Senate where his judgement is required to carry on the nation’s business?

    1. That’s the bizarre part of it. His wife is a centimillionaire, she’s the chairman of the family business, and he indubitably had an excellent benefits package with 22 years under his belt in the military and another 34 years as a civilian federal employee. And, of course, he had Medicare. He didn’t need to remain notionally employed to finance his medical care. He was never going to recover and he’s not been in Washington in seven months. Contrast his behavior with that of Gabby Giffords, whose future prospects were uncertain at the time she was injured but who concluded after a year that the plateau she’d reached wasn’t enough to continue in public life. She and her husband had and have a much more uncertain future financially than McCain ever did.

  2. There is a saying that what most bothers you about someone else, is often something that you don’t like about yourself.

    Kelli Ward insisting that John McCain’s announcement that he was discontinuing medical treatment of his terminal illness, the day before his death, was made out of some sort of obsession with her is revealing.

    1. When she remarked on it, she didn’t know he would die the next day. HisTwitter feed has been full of commentary on public affairs for months (though not about the Arizona election). Someone in that house has been following the news. And no, she didn’t state or imply he was obsessed with her, just that she wondered if his household was throwing a dart at her.

  3. McCain has become a hero to the left and the left-leaning media (that savaged him during his presidential campaigns) precisely because of his hatred for Trump.

    Lest we forget…McCain was known as an “undisciplined troublemaker who broke rules” during his time at the Naval Academy, and had a reputation for being a “reckless pilot.”

    He ran around on his wife and had ‘girlfriends on the side’ after he returned from Vietnam –until he eventually left his wife and three children for a pretty blonde (and very wealthy heiress) 18 years his junior.

    He voted for the war in Iraq and called it a “mistake.” He gave us Sarah Palin – who he then kicked in the gut on his way out.

    In my opinion, John McCain and Donald Trump actually share some similar personality traits. Except Trump is not a politician, and he actually won his bid for president on the first try.

    If John McCain was such a national treasure and much revered statesman, why wasn’t he ever elected president? He had two shots at it.

    1. TBob “If John McCain was such a national treasure and much revered statesman, why wasn’t he ever elected president? He had two shots at it.”

      Because the people saw through him – much like HRC despite all of her “qualifications” and “experience”. Self absorbed, meglomaniac – legend only in his own mind and given endless “hero” PR narratives by the MSM.

      How much is going to cost the taxpayers while he “lies in state” and has a funeral ceremony fit for a king? Maybe McStain’s final FU to the American people he never did anything for.

      Agree with you about Trump sharing some of his characteristics.

      1. And isn’t it interesting how the media, et al, keeps telling us what a great man McCain was, a real ‘maverick’ who used his position as a politician to do what he believed was right even at great personal cost. How about pushing for that war in Iraq, John McCain? Please.

        A real maverick? Could not the same be said for Trump? He also does what he believes is right –even in the face of extreme opposition and criticism – such as actually moving the embassy to Jerusalem. Many decisions Trump has made took guts, grit and determination to do the right thing – as he saw it – even at great personal cost. But we will never ever hear this kind of praise for Trump’s ‘maverick’ tendencies coming from the media.

    2. I am not surprised that a member of the ilk composed of gullible rubes, dupes, klan-wannabes, pocket traitors and grifters on the make would disrespect a authentic American patriot upon his death. Yet again, you types prove that character matters.

      This is to “ya, my guy’s a draft-dodging, cowardly imbecile, but he keeps the darkies in line” t-hot bob

      1. I see, Mark M, so do tell…what is the appropriately-respectful-grieving-waiting-period before sharing one’s opinion about a recently deceased political figure on this here blog?

        1. TBob FWIW – I’ve seen this quote today all over attributed to a variety of folks – so not sure who said it but I think it’s right on

          “Only speak good of the dead.” John McCain is dead, good!

          A step closer to world peace.

      2. Mark M, I’d be curious to hear your opinion on how the media, Obama and his campaign, and many Democrats, etc all brutally and unfairly attacked McCain’s character during his presidential campaign, but now all sing his praises – respectfully, of course -now that he’s dead.

        1. If I may answer for Mark M, John McCain earned and deserved the respect from the American people and he got it in life and in death.

          1. No, he was not respected by those who knew of him. That’s why even Fox (allegedly) did not allow comments on their stories of adulation. Someone was bright enough to realize it wouldn’t be pretty.

            the funniest accolade came from John Lewis . Guess he done fergot that McStain tried to block making MLK, Jr. day a national holiday.

        2. But I’m not responsible for other’s behavior; I can only set the example. I vehemently disagreed with Senator McCain on many issues; I also determined to vote against him for President when he demonstrated the incredibly poor judgment in selecting an unqualified wackjob as his running mate. however, I never doubted that he loved America; and I always respected the fact that he was an authentic patriot and war hero. Moreover, America is the land of second chances. Senator McCain was the last bulwark against the total abdication of what once was the Republican Party to the un-American travesty of trumpism. So, anything Senator McCain did in previous years is ameliorated by his last true service to our country–as America will certainly need a sane Republican Party to arise out of the ashes–as well as his reflection of our better angels which he personified in the last year of his life.

          this is to “all I got left in this here bag is whataboutism” t-hot bob

          1. Well see here Marky Mark, we actually agree on some things.
            I didn’t vote for him either for some of the same reasons. And at this point, I have to say that the media gush-fest has reached overkill and we’ve still got five more days to go of the long goodbye. As one writer suggested (forget who at the moment): why not just go ahead and rename the country after him at this point and call it the Untied States of McCain? The media is, in part, using McCain’s death to bash Trump – their favorite thing –and in the process they have elevated McCain into the man, the myth and the legend that he really never was. Enough already.

              1. Did you see even Google put a tribute to McCain on their search page under the search bar? It says: “Honoring an American Hero, Senator John McCain”

                1. TBob – haven’t been out to Google today. Won’t now. 😉 Thanks for the heads up.

            2. Tbob,
              Until this Russia, Russia, Russia boondoggle has concluded, we should hold off on the Mt. Rushmore honorarium until McCain is proven not to be in on it or have aided and abetted it. Think Bowe Bergdahl.

      3. Marky Mark Mark – consistently wrong yet amusing. “An authentic American hero” ha ha ha. What I’d like to see is a tally of expenses that McCain cost us

        how many fighter jets did he crash?
        how much did it cost to restore the USS Forester after his wet start
        how much did it cost for his R & R
        how much has it cost in terms of lives and limbs of the US military active in this various wars
        how much has it cost in terms of lives and suffering of those who tried to get medical care at the VA in AZ?
        how much did it cost the Keating S & L victims

        and finally how much is it going to cost all the ceremony and lieing in state of this disgusting person?

        I think it would be much more appropriate to just quietly dump his corpse off a boat at night – just like OBL – his buddy

        Would save a hellavu lot on security too as there is a growing number of vets are looking forward to literally pissing on his grave site

        1. Trying to make sense while posting on meth must be terribly difficult. The name of the United States Navy ship which caught fire was the U.S.S. Forrestal. Even a wackjob-wingnut should heed the need to honor those who gave all by at least giving the correct name of their final duty berth.

          this is to “I’ll just sit here and post ’til I run outa ‘shine” spikey

          1. Marky Mark Mark – although McCain probably did not start the fire on the Forrestal, his last berth before being shot down was the Orinsky. He somehow dropped one or two bombs from his plane and then after claiming injuries that he did not have, flew to Hanoi on a chopper, without his commander’s permission. After some time off, he tranferred commands.

                1. Marky Mark Mark – the USS Forrestal fire was an accident caused by a fired rocket and probably one or two dropped bombs. The bombs were McCain’s. The deaths and injuries are partially McCain’s responsibility. The best thing he did was transfer to another ship.

  4. “While the world was preparing for the devastating news of the passing of Sen. John McCain,”

    Devastating? I doubt the citizens of Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Yemen, Syria, Russia and Vietnam mourned his death.

    On the home front many of the rank and file military certainly did not – Obama won bigly in 2008 in part because people who were woke voted against McCain.

  6. KELLI WARD IS A PARANOID CONSPIRACY MONGER

    NOT UNLIKE DONALD TRUMP

    After Kelli Ward was criticized for questioning the sincerity of the McCain announcement, she put out this statement on Sunday:

    “Over the weekend a coordinated attack to destroy my campaign was launched by the fake news and the NeverTrump establishment … and it’s no surprise these attacks were launched as new polling shows our campaign surging to a significant lead over Sanctuary Senator Flake.

    It’s true that I believe that if Senator McCain’s health prevents him from performing his duties as a Senator, that he should step aside. It’s also true that I’m dismayed at the Senate’s inability to pass the America First agenda. It’s not true that I demanded McCain resign so that I could take his place, I plan on earning my seat in the Senate by defeating Sanctuary Senator Flake”.

    Note that Ward refers to “fake news” and the “NeverTrump” establishment. The implication here is that even though Ward’s attack on the McCain announcement was presumptuously stupid, the ‘fake news’ media somehow stirred things up. Like they should have known her attack on the announcement was justified considering that McCain is disrespectful of Trump.

    Kelli Ward is an example of how Donald Trump is essentially a disease making America a much stupider country.

    1. Peter Shill, get back to us when you learn what the terms ‘paranoid’ and ‘conspiracy-monger’ mean.

    2. The elected President is a disease? False and defamatory

      Your opinion which says more about you than him

      1. Kurtz, the fact that you and Spastic can’t even recognize conspiracy theories proves my point. Both of you have been dumbed-down by Donald Trump.

        1. I can recognize that Ward is Ward and Cernovich is someone else, something you cannot seem to manage.

      2. If he’s not the personification of a disease in the body politic, he’s a symptom. For so many ostensible Americans to have gone so far off the rails as to imagine that a malevolent, demagogic imbecile like the day glo bozo would be anything other than the utter disaster of a president he is, shows that a fair portion of ostensible Americans think it’s peachy-keen to be included in a cohort of gullible rubes, dupes, klan-wannabes, pocket traitors and grifters on the make.

        This is to “ya, he’s dumb as a stump, but my man-crush hannity luvs him” kurtzie

    3. KELLI WARD IS TOURING ARIZONA WITH NOTED CONSPIRACY THEORIST

      Ward’s bus tour of the state features introductions by conspiracy theorist Mike Cernovich who was highly instrumental in promoting the Pizza Gate rumor that led to an actual hostage stand-off.

      https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mike-cernovich-steps-into-the-us-senate-race-in-arizona-a-gonzo-thing-he-says/2018/08/25/d0fe9ece-a7bd-11e8-a656-943eefab5daf_story.html?utm_term=.0b6286a04eea

  8. Mark Kaollar at CBS news is reporting that the flag at the White House is at full-staff this morning. No proclamation order was given by Trump to fly flags at half-staff until internment. Mark Kaollar @ Twitter.

    1. Is there a standing protocol to fly flags at half staff for deceased members of Congress?

  9. Ms Ward has the full backing of Trump, the republican party of AZ has lost their minds. Maybe now Trump will back away from her and support Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

  11. No one seems to want to mention the very short amount of time between the suspension of treatment announcement and Senator McCain’s death. It makes me wonder if there wasn’t some prearrangement with medical providers. An autopsy might be too much to expect given the circumstances, but a toxicology report? Does anyone know if euthanasia is even legal in AZ?

    1. Having experienced a love one that fought up to the last day, I believe Senator McCain knew when to stop his treatments.

  13. Dr. Ward’s remarks are tasteless and self-centered, but campaigns are so frenetic your mind can get lost in them. What Professor Turley doesn’t note is that the McCains being the McCains, that’s actually a perfectly reasonable guess as to their motives. It’s just impolitic to say this explicitly.

    1. Tasteless, sure. It would be difficult for President Trump to honor McCain after McCain delivered the Steele dossier to Comey back in December 2016. If McCain truly had any honor in him, he would have resigned his seat the moment he was unable to perform his duties.

      1. Olly,…
        – I don’t think there was any kind of a major feud between Trump and McCain prior to mid-2015.
        McCain made a comment about Trump and “the crazies” supporting him after a Trump rally, held in Phoenix ( I haven’t checked the exact dates and location, but it was long before Trump won the nomination and a Phoenix rally, IIRC.)
        Trump’s “not a war hero” remark came soon after that.
        These two may have been destined to clash in any case, but the bad blood between them started long before McCain turned over the Steele/ Russia dossier c. 18 months later.

        1. Tom,
          I don’t care if McCain dissed Trump or Trump dissed McCain first. They are not required to be best buds. We don’t require loyalty oaths to people. McCain is free to oppose Trump every step of the way. And that is between McCain and the state of Arizona. However, the moment McCain chose to forward the dossier to the FBI is the moment McCain became a pawn in the insurance policy scheme. 1 1/2 years later and with clear evidence of who paid for the unverified dossier, McCain said he would do it all over again. He also stated anyone who disagrees with his decision can “go to hell.

          McCain has had plenty of opportunity to reflect on what he did and he had no remorse. He may have actually been right, those that disagree with him, can discuss it with him further in the location of his own choosing.

          1. Excellent. Then you’ll be happy to know that there’s a tinfoil sale down to the piggly-wiggly this weekend.

            This is to “facts? Who needs facts? I gots hannity” olly

    2. Spastic: It sounds like you’re saying that even though Kelli Ward is an absolute fool, her presumptuous comments regarding McCain are somewhat justified. Because, after all, McCain has been disrespectful of Trump. Therefore Ward had good reason to question the sincerity of the McCain announcement.

      This type of thinking totally illustrates how Trump has dumbed-down conservatives to an appalling extent.

      1. No, Peter Shill, I’m saying Kelli Ward and her staff are immersed in their current tasks and making impolitic remarks as a consequence. Someone else wouldn’t think that way, someone else who did would have the self-possession to not say it in plain terms, (and someone else who did say this would not see it repeated in the morning paper because the reporters and editors would cover for them).

        Dr. Ward has practiced medicine since 1996, stayed married, and borne three children. She’s obviously not a fool, much less an absolute fool. You’ll begin to earn the right to call other people ‘absolute fools’ by mastering basic reading comprehension.

        1. DSS – Ward got like 40% of the vote to McCain’s 51% in the last primary. He barely won the primary. Ward is in a 3-way primary now. Ward and McCain do have bad blood between them. However, over 1 million absentee ballots are already in. A new record for Arizona, for a primary.

          1. Paul, FWIW The Guardian published a tribute to McCain – apparently all you Arizonians are in mourning? – too bad they didn’t interview you!

            “‘It’s going to be difficult to fill his shoes’: Arizona remembers John McCain:
            Residents pay tribute to a man they say represented the best of American politics, with a dignity and decency some fear is disappearing”

            https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/26/john-mccain-arizona-republicans-phoenix-tributes

      2. Shill,
        Reading comprehension remains one of your most evident weaknesses. TSTD said a perfectly reasonable guess. That does not equal justified, nor does it equal good reason. All it means is given the totality of the circumstances. it is within reason to question McCain’s motives.

        Try again.

    1. David Benson owes me nine citations (one from the OED) and the source of a quotation, after fourteen weeks, and needs to cite all his work from now on. – Yes, it is Arizona, where we have a dying man who would not retire so we would have two Senators in the Senate. Where we have a Republican Party that censured John McCain. Yes, that Arizona. The territory that allowed for the recall of judges so they would not make it a state. That Arizona. The state who’s governor was the first to back Obama for President. That Arizona. The state that gave the Supreme Court two justices simultaneously. That Arizona. The state with the largest university in the United States. That Arizona. The state that elected women to its top four offices all at the same time. That Arizona.

      1. With men like you, it is easy to see why women are necessary to run the state though some of the women have been bat guano crazy.

        1. Tony – it is not necessary to have women run the state, just that Arizona was willing to have women run the state. Arizona is on the forefront of women’s rights.

        1. Oops! typo:

          Let me guess, some of the people of Arizona forget & spend to much time in the sun & go at times a bit bat$it crazy & along with the vote rigging often elect Commie/Nazi American hatin Trash Tyrants like McCain….

          Yeah, just about like Oklahoma, but you have that Dry Heat… LOL:)

  15. Pingback: GOP Senate Candidate: McCain Was Dying To Undermine Me — JONATHAN TURLEY | tabletkitabesi

  16. Good choices and my favorite band almost too. I like wizadaboz just a touch better. That Funniest segment out to be causing some moon barking for sure!!!

  17. It could be true; McCain’s last move, unanswerable. However, that’s what comes to some minds. What is worse, the speculation focused on mean mindedness or the speculation focused on honor? What comes after accepting the speculation focused on mean mindedness? What comes after the speculation focused on honor?

    This mean minded woman and Trump, along with others of that ilk, not the America intended.

  18. Now back to reality.aha

    Governor is in a red leaning position into what was a toss up state in the Senate Races. He has for sure one Senator one Park who is conservative but I like the word Constitutionalist better. He has a second sure thing in a moderate Constitutionalist He can pick either one or if he’s really unsure appoint himself to McCainsi postion but stay in the governors’ race and if he wins that resign Senate and appoint someone else.

    Main thing is to block one seat for sure and that leaves a very strong candidate in McSally and what without McSally would be a strong candidate in Park. McCain and opinions of that are out of the picture. The Dems are completely out of the picture in replacing Mcain

    So the real issue for them is who for sure can beat whats her name. Sirene Cinema. The Dem has had a free ride so far waiting to see which of two front runners but whe that’s decided the bombs drop

    Still there is nothing to stop the present Governor from appointing himself So he’s got three good choices. and he has options.

    Governor to Senator win the race for Governor and appoint another senator.

    Stay strictly as Governor in the Governor race and appoint one of the two candidates leaving one to continue in the special election.

    Governor to Senator and keeping that if he loses the Governor race.

    Right now it’s hard to say who is the stronger candidate except in terms of funds. Park has next to none. McSally is flush with five million more coming in.

    If however he leaves the governor ship he cannot come back unless he wins. At present with a Latino but underfunded opponent the governor seat is listed as a tossup.

    The only real solid change is One of the Senators will be a Constitutional Republic Senator. But absent Arpaio and one of the two present candidates Cinema drops to last place except in a blatantly leftist poll. Not in the RCP averages though.

    No doubt if McSally is appointed the GOP five million will transfer to Park and with that she can bust Sinemas chops.

    The left has no options at all. Flake didn’t wait but resigned early but it’s too late for any more special electionis.

    Governor will not decide until after the polls.

    So… sociaist wishfu thinking aside thats the objective factual look at things.

    oh yes one more hispanic population is 30% and the foreign to AZ student population is closely monitored . No Acorns for Arizona.

  19. McCain did not have the decency to retire when he knew he was dying so that Arizona would have to Senators in Washington, D.C. His ego required that he die a sitting Senator. If Gov. Ducey selects Cindy McCain to replace him, I will vote Democratic for Governorship this year in Arizona for the last time since Janet ran the first time.

    1. Not likely as it’s a one for sure two unsure and only an undivided team will do . My advise to them is be Constitutional Republic Party using the two ladies to cover the entire spectrum of a non-RINO party. I don’t know many in AZ that appreciated that move of McCains that much except the left. That means ASU and UA campus and not much else.

      An advantage is the DINOs are broke and can’t say. Here campaigner in Arizona is an extra five million. The bankrupt party hasn’t enough to buy squat and the unions are sitting back waiting on the infrastructure contracts. They have no reason except for government unions to support the left anymore.

    2. Glioblastoma is a terminal diagnosis. He had three defensible choices as to when to depart Congress: when the diagnosis was confirmed in July 2017, when he was too ill to attend to business on Capitol Hill (as he was by January 2018), and at the point when the state’s electoral calendar required a special election be postponed so that the Senate seats would not have to be contested and filled simultaneously. That would have been in June 2018. He passed on all of them. Then he, his wife, and his daughter made use of the last several months to shoot spitballs at people, among them Sarah Palin. People very commonly die as they have lived, with their shortcomings spilling out all over. And it’s unedifying to watch.

      You do not want as an appointed Senator anyone who might be motivated to run for the office, so Cindy would be an imprudent choice (even if she didn’t seem from a distance to be Lisa Murkowski with more money and better manners). Calling Gov. Brewer out of retirement for one last rodeo might be the best choice. Marilyn Quayle might be a satisfactory idea, though I’d wager she doesn’t want the job.

      1. DSS – Joe Arpiao is going to lose the primary, he would be perfect for a place sitter as Senator to 2020. He loves the President. 😉

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