Holy Fooking Shit!

These people on the teevee are bat shit crazy.

Jesus Gawd! I feel nauseous just reading this crap.

The world doesn't end in a bang or a whimper, it is the sound of vomiting.

The difference being johnny Mac only ever fights for or does what helps Johnny Mac. Fuck the rest of you.

"As I recall, McCain spent the year lying, flip-flopping, running cheap and ugly ads, and choosing a crazy person as his running mate."

And this differs from Obama's campaign in what way? LOL

Chicounsel--eat it. McSame LOST.

Simply put, McCain is a national disgrace in additon to being a sore loser.

how can mccain, who was the worst voter in the last congress...

be its legislative leader...

lol...

Isn't the biggest problem with this analogy that John McCain is only 4 years younger then Ted Kennedy. Ted Kennedy challenged Carter for the presidency when he was 48. McCain didn't even enter the Senate until he was about that age.

I would like to see a list of accomplishments of both Senators side by side. Is there any website that can do a comparison?

McCain could'nt carry Kennedy's walking stick. He is an amoral screw-up who was spotted the H-O-R-S in life's game of Horse and lost.

Kennedy in contrast was spotted the same advantages, but kept playing until he could when on his own.

Ted Kennedy was a progressive politician and a tireless champion of the poor, and John McCain is one of the most conservative politicians in the Senate and no friend at all of the poor.

This is another example of up-is-down conservative thinking; It is as if their brains are wired wrong. I am trying to think of a good analogy...The claim that McCain is like Kennedy because both lost a bid for the presidential nomination is like saying that the person who could pick up the mantle of Ronald Reagan is clearly Al Franken because both were good entertainers before they became politicians.

To me, to be the next Ted Kennedy you have to get the Senate at an early age and stick around forever, and thus get to know the people and program areas like the back of your hand. You also have to have inherent aptitude for deal-making and the energy to keep pushing.

I don't know who in the current Senate best fits that description (Ron Wyden?) but it isn't McCain, who has always been more of a lone-wolf, devil's-advocate type.

Perfectly stated, PTate!

And this differs from Obama's campaign in what way? -Chicounsel

Well, for starters, the lying, flip-flopping, cheap ugly ads, and crazy running mate. Also, there's teh one additional detail...oh, right, Obama actually won. Kind of a minor sticking point I know.

Have you ever had anything relevant or insightful to say? Your comment was nothing more that the grade school retort, "He started it." You don't even flesh our your disagreement with any support.

You're basically a zombie. You're there. You take up space, you draw breath. Like so many of your fellow travelers, you're human filler. The packing peanuts of our species; the evidence that through the benevolence of society we've eschewed the confines of natural selection. I pity you and those who know you more.

Mine that Maverick gold mine, there's got to be a few nuggets left in there!!

Remember guys. It's not what's true or not that matters. It's crafting a narrative. And the media already seems to have agreed to make McCain the new Kennedy. So when are we going to have someone on our side on ze teevee to lay to rest this crap before it festers?

McCain has an impressive personal background

Okay, if you call crashing a bunch of planes, spending time in a POW camp and marrying a millionaire impressive. Other than that all he's done is win congressional elections where the truth has always been absent.

There was a very good article on this on Wednesday in the Los Angeles Times about how the senator that Kennedy groomed for the past two years to take over his role, a senator who ran for the presidency, lost, and decided "You know what, my life's work will now be a senator" is the now-senior Senator from Massachusetts, John Kerry. The article pointed out how he has already started doing this, how he has Republican Senators over to his home for Sunday dinners, etc.

Since Kerry actually has a brain, as opposed to Wet-Start Johnny, and is connected to a constituency through his e-mail network of people who have positive-number IQs (as opposed to McCain's bozo brigade of negative-number IQs) this seems far more likely.

But considering that Wolfie The Moron works for The Cretins' News Network, such up-is-down speculation on his part is par for the course.

CNN - the other network for dumbass white people.

Don't bnlame poor Chicounsel for being an idiot. "The law sharpens the mind by narrowing it," as his hero Burke noted.

I am always amused by the ability of John McCain to find his way to the Sunday morning news shows. The SOB doesn't have a genuine concern for anybody but himself in his entire body. His principles are for sale to the highest bidder.

Long story short, Ted Kennedy's enemies respected him. John McCain's friends fear him.

for all this lionizing of Kennedy by the teevee "news" people as the "greatest", etc., etc. - just curious - we've seen McCain on Sunday mornings what, well over 10 times this year alone - the year following his getting his butt handed to him on election day... I'm not talking about this year because Kennedy's been sick - but how many times since, say, 2000 did the teevee people put Kennedy on the Sunday talk shows? I rarely recall seeing him, if ever. Wasn't he the "greatest Senator of our time", etc.? etc? You wouldn't know that from the Sunday teevee shows would you? What the hell is wrong with these people?

Notice that Blitzer and Tucker didn't suggest John Kerry? Kerry would be the obvious successor to Kennedy as such a legislative leader--also a failed presidential candidate who is now the senior senator from Massachusetts.

Wolf and Cynthia need to hop off the tire swing, wipe the BBQ of their mouths, and look around.

We will never forget...

McCain was a closet birther.
And he did his dirty work after Barack help lead a bill to overlook the fact that Johnny was born in Panama.

McCain doesn't have the integrity of a pile of dog shit. He isn't worth stepping on...

This comment just demonstrates Wolf Blitzer's hopeless shallowness and bias.

No wonder these cable news idiots have complete disdain for policy details and process. They don't understand substance, and they are completely obsessed with appearances.

And so, naturally, they can't discern between someone who actually has great legislative achievements and ... someone who appears on TV all the time, ACTING like they do.

"the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Cynthia Tucker also argued yesterday, 'John McCain could be the Senate's new Ted Kennedy'."

Cynthia must have fallen down and hit her head. I can't imagine her making such an argument.

Wolf Blitzer: “"A lot of people think . . .”( TRUTHOMETER ALERT!) ". . .that is Senator McCain.”

That ol' Blitzer has a wry sense of humor!

Cynthia Tucker: "McCain's reputation for a principled bipartisanship was intact"

What election were YOU covering, ‘reporter’ Tucker?

Steve Benen: “McCain has an impressive personal background”

Yes, of course. Legacy Plebe at Annapolis (bottom of class), shot down while bombing civilians in North Vietnam, oh, and there’s some ‘impressive personal’ stuff regarding a first wife. . .

The lot of you have been spending way too much time inside the Beltway.

Well, I'm glad someone saw the same McC I did last year: truly a disgrace in general -- the race baiting,the lying, the imminent Palin danger to country and world -- and to whatever reputation he had left, which was none in my opinion after he caved on the torture legislation before Bush/Cheney. McCain is no Kennedy, not even a little toe's worth, and commentators who suggest it have lost their minds or sold out in some out, even less honest way.

What is it with this Ted Kennedy, the great compromiser meme? What are Wolf Blitzer, John McCain, Orin Hatch, and the rest of these damned fools drinking? This morning, I heard Dan Quayle remark that Washington needs more of Ted Kennedy's kind of compromise and bipartisanship these days. BS!

Why are the networks devoting so much attention lately to what John McCain has to say and why are they tossing him softballs? John McCain was more than happy to let Sarah Palin do his dirty work for him during the campaign and now he is happy to let rabid mob protesters battle against their own self-interests to kill healthcare reform. Meanwhile, the America First mavericky hero has enjoyed a full lifetime of VA and federal health insurance benefits, the best there is.

Why isn't Wolfie asking McCain to outline the Republican healthcare plan? Why doesn't he ask McCain about the 61 Republican ammendments added to the House bill when he whines about Obama's lack of bipartisanship? How about asking him about the VA "death book" Bush implemented in 2007? How does McCain explain his deafening silence when a dozen men, one of them convicted of conspiracy to blow up federal buildings, showed up with loaded weapons at the townhall meeting in Phoenix? Phoenix is in one of McCain's many backyards, isn't it?

When Kennedy lost to Carter in 1980, he was in his late 40s i believe, still in the prime of his life. He had a life ahead of him to do his "life's work."

Even if you discount everything else about McCain, it's a little late for him to switch gears and become something of a statesman willing to work across party lines to get things done for the good of he country. Besides that, he's a member of a party that would not to tolerate such bipartisanship. the club for malignant growths would be all over him. I doubt he'd have the courage to take them on.

This is one of the most offensive things I have heard in a while, and that is saying a lot.

To even begin to suggest that McCain is, was or ever will be anything that even approaches what Ted Kennedy was is revolting.

Please call McCain's office and let him know that despite what the Mouse Circus says, he is not only no Ted Kennedy but he is a disgraceful, pandering shyster who isn't even good enough to lick the soles of Ted Kennedy's shoes.

besides, mccain has shown absolutely no inclination since the election of being anything other than a partisan hack ...

Wolf Blitzer is a damn idiot! If his only criteria for selecting the next Ted Kennedy is a senator who sought and lost the presidency, it would have made far more sense to select John Kerry. I mean really, Kerry, like Kennedy, is from Massachusetts, and if Wolf really wants to get in the weeds, Kerry has a full head of hair. John McCain fails on both counts.

But more importantly, you cannot compare a man who led the charge for the Americans with Disabilities Act with a man who shoved a woman in a wheelchair because she disagreed with him.

McCain is not fit to even be considered on the same level as Ted Kennedy.

Again, Wolf Blitzer is an idiot!

John McCain is *certainly* no Ted Kennedy. His conduct during the election, the choices he made, were abhorrent. The best that could have been said about him was that he may have been carried along, and that is a wretched thing to contemplate in a "leader", leaving us with the image of him as a doddering old fool. In my mind the only way the comparison makes even the slightest bit of sense is if McCain is secretly dying of an illness we have yet to hear about. *THEN* he could be compared to Kennedy. Then they could try to tout him as the Republican Kennedy, the way they try to tout Steele as the Republican Obama (ROFL).

Other than maybe working with a few Dems on curbing Pentagon waste and campaign ethics, the latter of which many in the GOP hate, can you define a core area of belief of McCain that would lend itself to bipartisanship? What other kind of common ground might he seek with Dems?

The age issue is a good counter-argument, as well. This role calls for someone way younger than 73.

Another counter-argument is the temperament issue. Ted Kennedy's success across the aisle had root in his basic niceness. McCain has a reputation of hot-headedness and even getting into fights, or near-fights, with his fellow party members. McCain may be able to charm as reporter or two because he can be fairly open -- at least when they don't challenge him as some did during his campaign -- but that does not match Ted's history of having been genuinely liked by those on both sides of the aisle.

Add all the preceding to McCain's light legislative legacy and lack of interest in policy details, and you have a great example of lazy, shallow thinking on Blitzer's part, as if that never happened before.

Not to mention the fact that McCain's legislative accomplishments are thin at best. Not only in quality, but in sheer volume. Comparing him to Kennedy is insulting to the man's memory. McCain would have to start now, and live to be 150 to even come close.

Ted Kennedy sponsored or led the fight for the following legislative acts:

The Mental Health Parity Act of 1996
State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP)
Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act of 2009 (Americorps)
The Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Voting Rights Act of 1965
Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993
Fair Housing Act of 1968
Handicapped Children's Protection Act of 1986 (overturning a SCOTUS decision)
Ryan White Care Act of 1990 (AIDS care)
Americans with Disability Act of '90
Civil Rights Act of 1991
Minority Health & Health Disparities Research & Education Act of 2000
National & Community Service Trust Act of 1993 (Americorps)
Mammography Quality Standards Act of 1990
Military Child Care Act of 1989
The WARN Act of 1988 (60 days notice prior to plant closings)
Employment Opportunities for Disabled Americans Act of 1986
Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986 (vetoed by Reagan)
Job Training Partnership Act of 1980
Refugee Act of 1980
Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act of 1980
Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act - 1975
Title IX of Education Amendments of '72 (bans sex discrimination by schools getting Fed $)
Establishment of Women, Infants & Childrens ("WIC") Nutrition Program at USDA
Low Income Heating Energy Assistance Act of 1970
Older American Community Service Employment Act of 1970
Occupational Safety & Health Administration Act of 1970
The Voting Rights Act amendments of 1970
The Bilingual Education Act of 1968
The Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 (War on Poverty: Head Start, Job Corps)

(thx to Jesus' General)

McCain is to Ted Kennedy as Wolf Blitzer is to Walter Cronkite.

"...I guess I was watching a different presidential campaign last year. As I recall, McCain spent the year lying, flip-flopping, running cheap and ugly ads, and choosing a crazy person as his running mate...." Benen

Exactly! How ridiculous to think that Senator McCain, who has been a self serving, every lobbyist's pet senator on a leash, who has not done one single thing for the good of the people but stands for corporate power could ever be compared to Senator Kennedy, a champion of the people. Blitzer's pathetic comparison show just how warped he has become in trying to promote a republican/conservative agenda. Too bad Cheney's not a senator huh Blitz? McCain graduated bottom of his huge class because he's not very bright and has survived by being a lackey of special interests and promoting guilt for his POW experience. McCain: "We are all Kennedys now".

Lots of folks have made excellent comments about the abject stupidity/vapidity of the idea that McCain could become the "new legislative leader" in the Senate.

Several things spring to mind here. Does McCain actually care about law-making? (That's a serious question, not snark. What are his accomplishments to date that would point his giving a rat's ass about law-making of any kind, not necessarily good law-making, of which neither party is especially gifted at these days.) When he ran for president last year, remember, he basically stopped work at his day job altogether.

Second, McCain is hardly a "maverick" to anyone who is paying attn. Clearly the media is either not paying attention or they're too blinded by their adoration for him. Whether it's the one or the other, massive massive FAIL. He is a conservative. He puts big business ahead of Americans. He does not care about Americans in need or even middle class Americans. He loves the military though. (& curiously enough, despite a certain amount of hagiography, his own military service wasn't what it could have been. I know someone who served with him when he was just starting out & he is not kind in his assessment of McCain's intelligence or Navy-related skillset.) Related to this, McCain makes something of a fetish about "patriotism" which he seems to equate with a vaguely authoritarian "our country right or wrong" attitude which is the last thing we need celebrated after eight ghastly years of Bush.

And finally -- you know -- whatever Kennedy's personal trials & tribulations, he has always been one thing: a forward-thinking liberal man who wanted parity and dignity for all Americans.

I'm honestly curious how anyone, however enamored of McCain, could equate Kennedy's fierce and life-long determination to make things better for all (& especially for those who need help the most) with any part of McCain's career.

America, sadly & tragically, has failed to live up to its post-WWII-era promise. First Vietnam, and then catastrophically bad policy making by both parties (though mostly by Republicans & merely enabled by Dems) have thrown us from leading the world in most categories to playing also-ran. But we sure do lead the world in Stupid, don't we?

chicounsel: "And this differs from Obama's campaign in what way? LOL"

Well, for starters, the Obama campaign didn't have people attending its rallies who were accusing John McCain of being an Arab, a terrorist and a subversive traitor, and calling for him to be killed. Not that you'd have ever noticed, because to paraphrase Simon & Garfunkel, you hear only what you want to hear, and disregard the rest.

Now, run along, numbnuts, your Mommy's calling you. I hope she bought you some new jockey shorts, because judging by your shrillness, the pair you're wearing is at least three sizes too small.

McCain is inconsistent, easily confused, and has no patience for details.

that makes mccain an instant star of today's corporate media; a totally fungible incoherent personality, easy for the media make him into anything they want.

Ted Kennedy's 'replacement' will need to stand for something far beyond himself and have a truly distinctive passion for representing those who cannot be there to carry their own message--and allow justice to convey a sense of hope.

Another critical distinction:

Ted Kennedy had friends on both sides of the aisle.

John McCain has enemies on both sides of the aisle.

In his DREAMS could he succeed Kennedy as a leader in the Senate.

Those of us who've observed St. John McCain from afar can see how petty, mean, angry and self-absorbed he truly is.

But he knows how to kiss ass, and he's done that to the media over and over again so that they now think he's a great guy.

Never underestimate the power of people to be persuaded that someone who's been kissing their your ass for 10 years is a great guy.

Rodney nailed it at 6:31.

One more demonstration that what passes for news these days has only a coincidental relationship with reality. They create their own memes and swat them back and forth like they were playing badminton.

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