Morning Jolt: The Fair-Weather Admiration of John McCain

John McCain loved his country, and his country was fortunate to receive that love.

No one could have begrudged McCain if after five years in a cage, in some of the worst imaginable conditions as a prisoner of war, he became a bitter, angry man. He had five years of his life taken from him, spent two years in solitary confinement, was beaten two to three times a week, refused an early release, and was left permanently disabled. On top of all that, many of his countrymen failed to properly appreciate the sacrifices of himself and his fellow Vietnam veterans. How many of us could even remotely resemble "happy warriors" after experiences like that?

McCain publicly catalogued his wild and crazy years after his return, and his failures in his first marriage, but he figured out that he had a lot more he could and should do with his time remaining on this earth. And what a legacy it is: two terms in the U.S. House, six terms in the Senate, nearly 800 pieces of legislation introduced, thousands of votes, six books, hundreds of speeches, two presidential campaigns, seven children.

But is it petty to remember all the times those who praise McCain today derided him as ...

August 27 2018

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The Fair-Weather Admiration of John McCain Jim Geraghty John McCain loved his country, and his country was fortunate to receive that love. No one could have begrudged McCain if after five years in a cage, in some of the worst imaginable conditions as a prisoner of war, he became a bitter, angry man. He had five years of his life taken from him, spent two years in solitary confinement, was beaten two to three times a week, refused an early release, and was left permanently disabled. On top of all that, many of his countrymen failed to properly appreciate the sacrifices of himself and his fellow Vietnam veterans. How many of us could even remotely resemble "happy warriors" after experiences like that? McCain publicly catalogued his wild and crazy years after his return, and his failures in his first marriage, but he figured out that he had a lot more he could and should do with his time remaining on this earth. And what a legacy it is: two terms in the U.S. House, six terms in the Senate, nearly 800 pieces of legislation introduced, thousands of votes, six books, hundreds of speeches, two presidential campaigns, seven children. But is it petty to remember all the times those who praise McCain today derided him as ... Read More ADVERTISEMENT Top Stories Experts' Hubris and the Public's Indifference: A Bad Combination Jay Cost Economic policy demands informed specialists to manage it, but also an informed public that can influence it. Some Constitutional Questions Worth Asking Kavanaugh George Will Tough constitutional questions the Senate should ask Kavanaugh. DNC Abandons Rule Requiring Gender Parity on Committees to Accommodate Non-Binary Members Jack Crowe "At the root of our diverse party is a commitment to inclusion and opportunity," DNC Chair Tom Perez said in a statement to CNN. ADVERTISEMENT The Exquisite Sensibilities of the Outrage Industry Kevin D. Williamson From one point of view, Awkwafina might be seen as lampooning black speech; from another, she might be seen as lampooning Asian Americans who borrow from black usage, which some do. Why Stay Catholic? Kathryn Jean Lopez A theologian who was sexually abused as a child recounts how she came into the Church during a period of scandal. We Need a Dignity Revolution NR Interview Rebooting with a Christian approach to politics and life. A Republican Underdog Fights for a Senate Seat in Wisconsin Alexandra DeSanctis Leah Vukmir just survived one of the toughest GOP primaries of the cycle. Now, she's aiming to upset Wisconsin's incumbent Democratic senator Tammy Baldwin in November. ACLU Defends NRA against Andrew Cuomo's Bankruptcy Campaign Jack Crowe The ACLU came out in defense of the NRA, accusing Gov. Andrew Cuomo of violating the first amendment by targeting the group's access to basic financial services. ADVERTISEMENT JOIN NRPLUS All Our Content. Fewer Ads. Members-Only Privileges. NRPLUS is everything you would associate with a digital magazine subscription, and a whole lot more ─ including up to 90% fewer on-site ads, access to our private Facebook group, full commenting privileges, and invites to our writer/editor conference calls. SAVE 40% TODAY Photo Essays Top-Paid Actors Russian Military Expo ADVERTISEMENT Follow Us & Share 19 West 44th Street, Suite 1701, New York, NY, 10036, USA Your Preferences | Unsubscribe | Privacy View this e-mail in your browser.