McCain's Lament

To be fair this is probably the most gracious op-ed McCain has ever written. Most people are quoting the positive remarks he made about President Obama being a real American with the best interests of the country at heart. But much of it still falls into whiny old codger territory. Like this bit:

Political leaders are not and cannot reasonably be expected to be indifferent to the cruelest calumnies aimed at their character. Imagine how it must feel to have watched one week ago the incomprehensible massacre of innocents committed by someone who had lost some essential part of his humanity, to have shared in the heartache for its victims and in the admiration for those who acted heroically to save the lives of others - and to have heard in the coverage of that tragedy voices accusing you of complicity in it.

Yes John, let's just imagine. I'm sure the poverty stricken people whose safety net your party relentlessly attempts to shred will be able to relate to being falsely accused of being too coddled. All those unemployed Americans who listen to Republicans refuse to extend benefits to them on the grounds they're too lazy to look for work, or too proud to take menial minimum wage jobs, can surely empathize with unfair accusations. And the millions more who won't be able to afford health insurance once your party passes the repeal of "job killing" health care reform are just waiting in line to soothe your hurt feelings over the grossly insulting suggestion that perhaps false rhetoric which demonizes political opponents contributes to a toxic social environment.

On a vaguely related and lighter note, the Republican National Committee chose Reince Priebus as their new leader. I have a feeling he won't be nearly as entertaining as Steele was but the funny name lends itself to some dry humor. As pointed out to me by my friend Jeffram, who didn't originate it but passed it on; if you take the vowels out of his name, it spells RNC PR BS. Yeah it's a cheap shot, but it is kind of funny in a painfully apt sort of way.