On one longstanding meme about McCain in the "blogosphere" and what we now call "social media" as regards politics & news. The one where the media has always supposedly mysteriously suckered up to him, fell for his bullshit, gave him too much a break, treated him better than his opponents etc. On that meme, this tweet by Glenn Thrush just hit me like Bingo! That's it, that's why! That's the whole reason for that phenomenon.

Also made me imagine how truly awful being a pack reporter must be at times. Whether political or just general celeb type. The subjects don't really treat them like human beings and they return the favor. To deal with someone that acts like you are two human beings interacting must be kind of shocking in a way. Who could forget that? That eye contact/human interaction thing McCain does, and laid back teasing with a sense of humilty. that is the main reason for his charm, whether you think he uses it for good or ill. Humans are real susceptible to being treated with respect and as someone special, go figure!

He's gone, blessedly quick. Here's how he said he wanted to be remembered:

I've had a lot of policy differences with McCain but he was a good and decent man. I'll always remember him for this video. It's all the more poignant for how Trump would and did act in similar situations.

Former President Barack Obama, who defeated McCain in the 2008 election, issued a statement Saturday night praising McCain for viewing public service as a "patriotic obligation:"  @ NBC Chicago Channel 5

"John McCain and i were members of different generations, came from completely different backgrounds, and competed at the highest level of politics. But we shared, for all our differences, a fidelity to something higher-the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched, and sacrificed. We saw our political battles, even, as a privilege, something noble, an opportunity to serve as stewards of those high ideals at home, and to advance them around the world. We saw this country as a place where anything is possible - and citizenship as our patriotic obligation to ensure it forever remains that way.

"Few of us have been tested the way John once was, or required to show the kind of courage that he did. But all of us can aspire to the courage to put the greater good above our own. At John's best, he showed us what that means. And for that, we are all in his debt. Michelle and I send our heartfelt condolences to Cindy and their family." 

Anti-McCain statement which appeared on my twitter feed because it was "Liked" by NYTimes art critic Roberta Smith; offered without comment:

Note that it is a full thread with lots of replies

I add little to nothing here.

But...

I could not ever agree with 90% of the Senator's votes.

I think he said that his priorities involved:

His family.

His party.

His NATION?

But he was a good American.

How might one attack him?

Well just ask Spanky:

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/jacksonville-landing-mass-shooting-leaves-multiple-fatalities-suspect-dead-police/ar-BBMsGfd?li=BBnb7Kz&OCID=ansmsnnews11

http://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/26/us/politics/john-mccain-trump.html

That is all I got!

Stop listening to the bombastic loudmouths on the radio and television and the internet. To hell with them! ...our incapacity is their livelihood... Etc.

More from Obama, and from Biden (who, I learned today, knew McCain since he was his naval liason for travel in the Senate in the 1970's)

Barack Obama Reacts To John McCain’s Death: He Was Faithful To ‘Something Higher’

Joe Biden also lamented the loss of his friend: “America will miss John McCain. The world will miss John McCain. And I will miss him dearly.”

By Mary Papenfuss @ HuffingtonPost.com, Aug. 26

[....] McCain was faithful to “something higher — the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched, and sacrificed,” Obama said. 

For all their differences ― Obama and McCain ran against each other during the 2008 presidential election ― the former president said he and McCain both viewed their political battles as a “privilege, something noble, an opportunity to serve as stewards of those high ideals at home and to advance them around the world.”

Obama said few people have been tested as much as McCain was but that “all of us can aspire to the courage to put the greater good above our own.”

Former Vice President Joe Biden also honored McCain, saying he had been an excellent friend and had made unparalleled contributions to the U.S.

“John McCain’s life is proof that some truths are timeless. Character. Courage. Integrity. Honor,” Biden said in a statement. “A life lived embodying those truths casts a long, long shadow. His impact on America hasn’t ended. Not even close. It will go on for many years to come.”

“To me, more than anything, John was a friend,” he added. “America will miss John McCain. The world will miss John McCain. And I will miss him dearly.”

Read the full statements from Obama and Biden below [....]

Memory of McCain is benefiting from the reality of the man in the White House. The flag at the White House is at full mast. Trump has no class.