Given that this is Thanksgiving week, wherein we inexplicably celebrate the massacre of Native Americans by stuffing ourselves with embarrassing amounts of food, I wanted to go ahead and thank you personally, John McCain, for all that you have done to our country.
More over the fold.
First, I would like to thank you for the inexplicable duality you have shown with respect to your stance on taxes and particularly on tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. Back in 2001, you voted FOR middle class tax cuts but AGAINST tax cuts for the wealthy. In an amazing and dizzying change in fiscal philosophy, apparently, you now favor extending tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. That's so Mavricky of you!
This about-face on tax cuts is even more interesting today because you are opposed to extending unemployment benefits on the basis that a proposed extension is not paid for. Yet you seem to have no qualms about the additional $70B annual unpaid shortfall that extending tax cuts for the wealthy will create. A six month extension of unemployment befits would cost roughly $33B, or $66B annually. I guess that marginal middle-classers aren't in your target demo for paid v. unpaid monetary benefits, huh? I'm sure the wealthy will say a special prayer for thanks for you over their Thanksgiving turkey on Thursday. Everyone else, not so much - probably because they can't afford a Thanksgiving turkey.
Second, I'd like to thank you for your amazing mental gymnastics on the subject of repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell. As early as 2006 and then again in 2008, you stated that you wanted the opinion of military leaders before you would "seriously consider" repealing DADT. Well, they gave that to you. And then you moved the bar in February 2010 and said that you wanted to hear the opinion of the troops before you would consider repeal of DADT. You were obliged - and the Dec. 1 report will show that the troops are ready for repeal of this homophobic and digusting policy. But now, as recently as Nov. 14, you're saying that you need review whether this study asked what you wanted it to ask before you will finally join the 21st Century and withdraw your opposition to DADT. Time has passed you by - but you seem oblivious to that fact.
Third, I'd like to thank you for once again putting politics before safety and the general welfare of Americans. You're indicating that you won't vote to ratify the START III treaty. Yet you had no problem voting "Yea" on both START I in 1991 and START II in 1993. But hey - Country First, dude! Rock on!
Fourth, I'd like to thank you for your efforts in totally backwards-izing Americans' tolerance of religious and ethnic minorities. As recently as 2005/2006, you offered legislation that provided immigrants with a path to citizenship and a more reasoned approach to immigration related issue. Now, however, you threaten to block the DREAM Act and you have staunchly defended Arizona's Draconian (and illegal) immigration law. Down with brown people, huh? You also helped urge along Islamophobia with your vocal opposition to the Islamic Cultural Center in New York City. Bravo!
Finally - and I've saved the best for last - I would like to THANK YOU for Sarah Palin. In your insatiable desire to win the Presidency in 2008, you plucked a shallow but shrill hater from obscurity and made her your running mate without even vetting her until the day before her selection. You opened ALL of us up to her hateful invective and allegation that Obama was "palling around" with terrorists (and the not-so-subtle implication that he was, himself, a terrorist). You introduced us to a whole new, previously unexplored level of both incomptence and ego, 'fiddle dee dee'-attitude coupled with breathtaking narcissism. You single-handedly elevated an incompetent rube to the National stage through your desperation. If nothing else, this is what you'll be remembered for, and I'm sure that makes your day - endless tweets and Facebook postings of trite slogans and colloquialisms that many seem to think suffices for experience and qualifications. This choice, made by you, despite your entire campaign assertion over Obama that experience mattered. Oh, the irony!
On the face of it, I really want to say "Fuck you very much" for these and other displays of your political schizophrenia.
But - being a silver lining kind of gal, I've realized that there are a few BIG bonuses to all of these smelly leave-behinds you've begotten over the past couple of years:
- You are totally marginalized. One of the last bastions of "principle" has now shown himself to be as small and petty as the most obvious and odious partisan hack. Your "brand", such as it was, has been destroyed. And you're too old to rebuild it.
So that's a plus.
- Long-term so-called "sane" Republicans are focused on defeating Sarah "The Monster McCain Created" Palin. It's already clear that Republicans are going to overstep whatever mandate they felt the midterms handed them - and because of Palin and the teabaggers, they have to try to pay homage to issues that Palin the the teabaggers feel are important - issues which, largely, run counter to the opinion of the RoA (Rest of America). Even if they aren't successful in preventing her nomination, then we have the bonus of watching Palin try to deflect speaking to the press when it matters and all the negative drama that will be shined in her direction. Take that, Half Governor!
The potential spoiler, of course, is the overall generalized stupidity of the American public - but it's a bet I'm willing to take.
So it's both - "Fuck you very much", John MCcain, and "Thank you very much", John McCain!