I really admire his sacrifice for our country, and how he didn’t let some of his supporters disparage then candidate Obama. I do however struggle with my admiration because of how he ditched his first wife after she remained steadfast during his imprisonment. His final statement was beautiful, now let’s hope others take heed.
He said he was flawed. It takes a big person to admit to that.
@partyof5, I was surprised at how much Carol McCain, the first wife, figured into the HBO documentary. She had many good things to say about him. I found it unusual for a an ex to be so positive. I’m sure time has healed some of the wounds, but still it did amaze me.
@2VU0609 I didn’t see the documentary but read an article some years back. I must admit, she seems to have a very forgiving spirit. He did her wrong and while I may not have disparaged him, I definitely wouldn’t have gushed about him either.
The documentary is really worth watching. I watched it earlier this summer with my 21 year old daughter who asked me to watch it with her and watched it Sunday night when CNN (?) replayed it.
Reportedly he was quite candid in admitting to his first wife that he cheated on her. He was a playboy from his naval academy days. She was gravely ill at the time of their divorce. The story goes that he insisted that much as he could, his financial assets go to her care, and indeed her continued to provide for her for many years. They found peace in their relationship.
Well, IiRC, he was already dating the very wealthy Cindy, so giving up his assets was not a sacrifice.
Not a sacrifice, but many men would still do everything in their power to keep the money from their former spouse. I think they both knew the relationship was over, and it was time to move on. He changed while in captivity, and so did she. He did the right thing by continuing to support her - he still loved her, he just wasn’t “in love” with her any more. It would have been worse to remain married, with him continuing an affair with Cindy.
I have complicated feelings about McCain. He was 2 years behind my dad and 1 year ahead of my uncle at the Naval Academy. They both hated him due to his well-known bad boy behaviors at the time. They never could get over it as they, who grew up poor, saw him as a prima donna and getting away with things no one else could. Leaving his wife didn’t help their view of him. Although he defended wrong information about Obama at times, he allowed others in the campaign to do the 'dirty work." That way, he could rile a group up while still staying above the fray. But, I’m glad he was there, serving all of us in politics and war and I will always admire the man and sad of his passing. My dad and uncle, as they both have dementia, will never be able to see the reformed, brave, and ethical politician.
@GTalum , I think that is more a well rounded view of him. There is a reason he kept talking about his faults. His first wife also was in a horrendous car accident while he was in prison, and kept it from him. She lost 4 inches in height and was never physically the same. If he was a playboy before, coming home to a physically changed and disabled wife didn’t help. She said that more than anything, he was immature. A 40 year old that wanted to be 25. Just an ugly scenario all around. I get the feeling he did finally grow up and became the finest version of himself he could, which I admire that. As far as the naval academy…I did some really stupid things in my early 20’s, that are not who I am now. The same for him, the same for many.
I have a super tough time holding any grudges against folks who did things in the past - even within a couple of years, much less a couple of decades.
We all learn things (or should learn them) as we go through life and the intent is to become a better person. Very, very few are born great. Greatness comes from learning life lessons and adjusting accordingly.
“If he was a playboy before, coming home to a physically changed and disabled wife didn’t help.”
He came home physically changed and disabled himself. That should have made him more understanding if anything. There’s definitely stuff I don’t admire about him But, enough of the negative. He had his flaws but nobody is a saint. I do respect his service.
Watching his memorial service right now.
Joe Biden made a great speech, so did others.
Sarah Palin was also asked not to attend the funeral.* I’ve never heard of anything that she did to offend him. It was his choice to make her the VP nominee. Palin was gracious in her response to the snub. The guy sure seemed to have a vindictive edge and a desire to cultivate his image. A mix of good and bad, like most people, I guess.
*It’s not clear if this was Cindy’s decision alone, or if it was McCain’s wish via her or a surrogate. Everything else about the funeral was orchestrated by him so, imho, it’s not hard to believe that McCain sought to keep Palin away too. If so, I think that it was petty.
IDK. I just think these funerals for politicians, even for Presidents, are over the top. They are not Kings and Queens.
^^ Why do kings and queens deserve more than a President? Or why does a President deserve less?
I was thinking the same @abasket
I find this multi-day extravaganza to be nothing more than a distasteful posthumous ego trip. I also have mixed feelings about McCain, but his funeral/memorial plans are definitely on the negative side of my ledger. The coverage the major news networks are devoting to every minute of the events is also a negative to me.
Without getting into the politics, I agree that McCain’s death is getting more attention than it may have otherwise gotten.
But unlike you, I find it rather cathartic that people across the nation, and around the world are choosing to honor this person despite his faults and despite differences in political philosophy. He was a viable Presidential contender twice, and retained an outsized influence in the Senate. He is one of the rare people in Congress chosen to Lie in State under the Capital Rotunda. Excluding Presidents, this has only happened 20 times in the nation’s history.
Occasions like this also give a chance for history to be told. For parents or schools to share the story of this man’s life - which was actually the story that involved a lot of people’s life, history and politics. My only memory of MLK’s death/funeral is having the day off school, seeing the anguish but also the stories on tv and hearing my parents - who wouldn’t normally have really interacted with us talking about politics and such, taking the time to tell my sibs and I more about this man (MLK).