John
McCain In A 'Nutshell'-- Philanderer, War Pimp,
Bush Policy Clone, And Neocon Liar...
By Vincent L. Guarisco
26 August,
2008
Countercurrents.org
Back in April 2007, I wrote
a zinger about the foolish maverick John McCain after he returned
from his triumphant walkabout on the brutal streets of Baghdad. Johnny
Boy headed straight for the public airways, where he smirkingly gushed
that the streets of Iraq are now 'safe.' The foolish war pimp tried
to sell the lie that everything was cozy and secure, even as he strutted
around wearing his bulletproof vest, surrounded by a heavily armed
military entourage buzzing in air and on the ground all around him.
Indeed, according to McCain, Baghdad was safe then, and it’s
even safer today.
Gee, pass
the prozac! I guess we're supposed to forget about the scores of GIs
and civilians who have since met their brutal end in the very place
McCain pranced around. Funny how ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, FOX and the rest
of the sorry corporate media failed to do follow-up stories, to show
those same streets marred with puddles of blood laced with intestinal
tracks, brain matter -- clogged with body parts and various limbs
scattered about on those same safe streets. When McCain made his announcement,
more than 3,200 of his fellow servicemen and women had been slaughtered
in Iraq, millions of Iraqis had been displaced, forced to flee the
country or killed outright. Today, 4,147 Americans have been killed
and we'll never know how many Iraqis, because we don't do body counts.
Moving right along...
I am a long-time resident and ardent voter in McCain's conservative
home state of Arizona. I have lived near the banks of the Colorado
River for the better part of 40 years. I’m a proud progressive
liberal minority living among many hard-line Republicans in my local
area, although I gladly admit the times are changing. The economic
hardship under Bush’s leadership is quickly changing the political
landscape, moving my locals away from their once cherished right-wing
stewardship. Thank God for small miracles...
For me, the McCain saga began years ago. As a young boy, I still remember
hearing stories about John McCain’s legacy as a hero. He first
caught my attention when his plane got shot down during the Vietnam
war and he was captured by the Viet Cong and imprisoned as a POW in
the jungles of Hanoi back in 1967. At the time, being a young faithful
lad, I prayed daily, not only for McCain, but for the safe return
of all our POWs. Our teachers and parents, unlike those of today,
were diligent in keeping us updated on what was happening over there
during the war.
In 1969, I was ten years old. I was an impressionable school kid who
was encouraged by my parents and teachers to write many letters to
soldiers and POWs captured in Vietnam. I did this with great reverence;
I was proud to show my support. Looking back on it now, it seems like
a million years ago. When I first entered the political fray I was
very naive -- just beginning to learn about the worldly tribulations
of war and, with puberty factored in, I was also learning the value
of family morals, love and commitment. Heck, I had just barely held
the hand of my first girl friend and soon afterwards received my very
first kiss. Ah yes, It was an exciting, innocent time mixed with love,
war, hard knocks and many pleasurable moments. And I will never deny
I was an excited impressionable boy who deeply admired my war hero,
John McCain! He was an inspiration that guided my hand for many letters
written to him personally, and to other GIs as well.
To be fair, I agree with those who maintain that McCain deserves our
highest respect for his devoted service to our country, including
what he went through during his captivity as a POW. Sadly, however,
my respect for him abruptly ended when the mud wore off the bottom
of his combat boots soon after he returned in 1973. He soon shattered
that youthful admiration, which was replaced with a real lesson in
'betrayal' when I realized what he had done to his first wife, Carol
Shepp, after he returned from Vietnam. Having knowledgeable parents
is indeed educational, but not always pleasant to say the least. I
was completely thrown back to learn that John had several extra-marital
affairs and was often unfaithful to his loyal wife who had stood by
his side through thick and thin. For me, it was a shameful, dark lesson
that ultimately shadowed my view of him as I watched him heartlessly
divorce her in order to further his shameful political aspirations.
As an emerging student of current events and history, my admiration
for him was always a duel package. I sincerely admired Carol as much
as him. I took great pride and interest in her too. To me, she was
one of the most admired women of her day -- a sacrosanct patriot who
deserved to be seated in the front row of Fourth of July parades next
to Gold Star Mothers. She was a heroine, widely admired and loved
by all of us for her unwavering devotion to her husband who was held
as POW.
Carol was a rare, lonely soul who had the strength to carry on and
to faithfully await her husband's return. And she did this at a time
when many other wives and girlfriends were writing 'Dear John' letters
to those still fighting in battle while learning they had no one to
come home to. She was my revered role model from Philadelphia. I dreamed
of meeting that special someone who might be just like her -- a precious
angel. Unfortunately, Carol was thrown through the windshield of her
car in a terrible accident that changed her life forever, rendering
her permanently scarred and hobbling on crutches. As a result, Carol
was a not-so-pleasant sight for her young unsympathetic husband who
wanted to be seen on Capital Hill with a bathing beauty while stumping
the halls for a new political career.
John McCain totally destroyed my respect for him with the uncaring,
selfish, cold-hearted betrayal in how he dumped her. Indeed, I will
never forget nor forgive him for the cruel way he showed his true
colors. He quickly threw Carol aside and replaced her with Cindy Hensley,
his new rich sugar mama, with whom he was having an affair. Hensley
is a spoiled home wrecker, worth approximately 100 million, bred from
the loins of a staunch Republican father who conveniently helped elevate
Johnny boy within the DC realm. I'm not into Freud, but it's easy
to wonder who came so ruthlessly after McCain -- Cindy...or her father?
And this self-righteous, self-serving animal wants my vote? Well,
it will have to be a Hell's-Kitchen-burning-white-hot-winter November
day in Bullhead City, Arizona before I would even consider putting
a checkmark next to his pathetic name in the 2008 Presidential Election.
Catch my meaning? Good.
As a final note, after Carol suffered her horrible car accident in
1969, she unselfishly refused to allow her POW husband to be notified
of her serious injuries for fear it would not be good for him while
he was being held captive. You know, out here in the Arizona desert
we have an old saying -- if you put an expensive skirt on a fast moving
rattlesnake, political horn-dogs like John McCain will chase it all
the way to the Potomac River for a kiss, a hug and especially a vote...
I could go on about the many neocon atrocities McCain has performed
throughout his career as a Senator and war pimp for the Bush administration.
It’s an endless track record -- most of which is public record,
easily found for those willing to take the time. So, for all you undecided
skeptics, by all means, review his voting record for it is unbridled
proof of how he constantly sold us out to K-street lobbyists. His
record speaks for itself, the facts and figures are all there which
prove he’s not on the side of working-class America. In fact,
by his own admission, he does not even know how many homes he owns.
And keep in mind, McCain believes Americans are not 'rich' unless
they earn $5 million or more. Well, I hate to burst his multi-mansion
bubble but, take a quick pop-quiz and ask a few average citizens who
are now struggling to make ends meet -- how tough it is to hold onto
their 'one' home that many are just one paycheck away from losing.
Yeah, I’d say McCain is more than a little out of touch with
our bottom-feeding needs to say the least.
Or ask a dozen or so jobless Americans who have already lost everything, including their homes. No confusion there folks. In fact, after living in their cars for awhile or, worse yet, after sleeping on concrete sidewalks, most of them would probably consider any cheap apartment to be the equivalent of one of McCain’s many mansions. And, bear in mind that McCain's veteran 'brothers in arms' are at the top of the list of homeless. Brother John, can you spare a dime?
McCain
has 'arrived.' He's a real Bush kinda guy -- a marriage profiteering
elitist who seems content to suffer from mansion-memory-loss and wants
to be our next President. He is a pompous philanderer who dumped his
crippled wife for a new pampered rich one whose daddy got him where
he is today. Amazing.
Bottom line, many of you may have some reservations in supporting
Barack Obama or Joseph Biden but, compared to Baghdad (neocon) Johnny,
they are fricking saints. But at least no one can deny, they are both
loyal and totally committed to those they love. Is it really that
hard to believe they may actually share some of that proven compassion
with us in their new leadership? Well, if not, consider the alternative
choice. Yes, consider the harsh implications of placing another known
war hawk into the Oval office for four more grueling years. An old
stale nut who says he wants to keep us in 'safe' Iraq for another
hundred years. A musical maniac who loves to sing: 'Bomb, bomb, bomb...bomb
Iran.' And, oh yes -- while you're at it, tell 'Johnny Rich' how many
mansions and condos he really owns. But most importantly, and this
is crucial, let's remove this nut from his media protected shell,
for all the world to see.
Thanks. God speed to the polls.
Vincent L Guarisco is a freelance writer from Bullhead
City AZ., a contributing writer for many web sites, and a lifetime
founding member of the Alliance of Atomic Veterans. Reprint permission
is given as long as article content is not altered or changed and
credit is given to the author. The 21st century, once so full of shining
promise, now threatens to force countless millions of us at home and
abroad into a dark abyss of languishing poverty and silent servitude;
a lowly prodigy of painful struggle and suffering that could stream
for generations to come. I’m wishing for a miracle, before it
is too late, the masses will figure it out and will stand as one and
roar. So, pass the word — it’s past time to take back
what is ours — the American Dream where the pursuit of happiness,
the ability to live in a free and peaceful nation is a reality. We
bought it, and we paid for it. It’s time to take it back. For
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