Amy I feel the same way. I’m dumbfounded by my brothers and sisters in blue who still support this sociopathic felon. He has already proven that he doesn’t care about the veterans or Law enforcement. How can people be in such denial? I will never understand it.
Very well written. Remember also that the present president denigrated brave servicemen and women who suffered after they were captured by hostile forces, and this persiflage came from a human who moved heaven and earth to escape the draft. You deserve blessings as you navigate the shoals of your writing.
Amy I am sitting upstairs in my little writing room here in PortTownsend looking out at the water in a puddle of tears. I am holding in my hands LCDR John McCain III 10-26-67 POW bracelet that I kept as a young girl. I am thinking the same thing. “For the love of God Dig up John McCain. I too cried when he was diagnosed with GBM. My husband Tom was in the Navy on a submarine in the 70’s. He died 10 yrs ago ironically of the same disease, Glioblastoma Brain Cancer. I feel as there is no life preserver for our country. I am scared.
Dena, I’m so sorry for the loss of your husband. Thank you for reading and sharing your experience as well. I did my low residency grad writing program in port Townsend at Goddard College that had an extension at fort warden. I also am just across the water from you on Camano. Hang in there. We’re in this together.
🥺These days I do feel our country is adrift. Sea otters hold each others hands so that they don’t drift away as they sleep. Our country needs more like you to lean into, for all of us to hold each others hands, to gather in community, to hold onto our Country. Thank you for your service 🇺🇸
We’re going to have to find connection across the aisle. We’re going to have to welcome in former Trump supporters as the grow frustrated with the administration’s actions. If we’re going to survive this administration and the crisis our country is in we’re going to have to be more resilient and more open to discussion. We have to lean in even more.
"Rubio sat like a glassy-eyed prisoner whose soul had been mercilessly scooped out of his body, and there was no sense in moving or reacting because nothing worth living for was left anyway."
This sentence here perfectly describes the soullessness of all the Republican syncopaths surrounding and enabling Trump.
TBH, I was shocked how "docile" Democrats behaved at the speech yesterday. ALL of them should have stood up and fought back with a unanimous voice like Al Greene did. Holding up paper signs and dressing in a certain color was not enough. They could've walked out and refuse to listen to his lies.
I agree with you that we need someone like John McCain to turn the tide. Unfortunately we don't have one right now.
I don’t have real tv so was watching clips on the internet after I got home from work late and only saw the highlights, but I agree I would have unanimously protested with force.
“I call on Republicans to dig up John McCain. Exume him. Grind his bone and consume it. Find the courage within you to save this Country before it’s too late.”
I’m going to take a few minutes to cry now. Thank you for a beautifully written piece. I loved John McCain.
Love your new title and wish all the best with wherever it goes. Also enjoyed this essay. I’m sure you’ve read The Restless Wave. If not, you should add it to your reading list. Enjoy your weekend! Cheers!
Well, as you might know, the title is drawn from a verse of the Navy Hymn. But more importantly, it was McCains last memoir, written after he was diagnosed with cancer. He wrote freely on a variety of topics, slamming the orange felon but also reflecting on his many years of service.
Well written. John McCain was one of the few Republicans who stayed true to his principles, consistently prioritizing the country over the party loyalty.
I agree with it all. And as a Canadian, I appreciate that you don’t mince words about Trump’s desire to overtake my sovereign nation, as well as Greenland and whatever else he can get his hands on. I was chilled by his address to the American Congress yesterday, especially with words re: Greenland - “We’ll get it one way or another.”
This is so well expressed. I hope someone has sent this to Marlo Rubio. He needs to see what we saw whenever he looks in the mirror and then reach down inside and find his courage.
John McCain was indeed an American hero worthy of comparison with Alvin York and Audie Murphy. But in his persona as a politician, I found him none too impressive. He struck me as a man too much enamored of his reputation as a maverick. But when he ran for president in 2008, what thanks did the maverick get from the Left? Zip. Zilch. Zero. He was reviled as just another GOP fascist.
And he has company. Just this morning, I found myself reviled here on Substack as a “White Christian Nationalist.” This of course is one of the Resistance Left’s standard-issue slurs: three unrelated words thoughtlessly bolted together. Leaving all other criticism aside, it’s grossly abusive of the English language. Mr. Orwell spotted this malign linguistic trend as long ago as 1946, and as usual he nailed it.
As a none-too-sympathetic observer, I find that the Resistance Left has no ear for itself. By that I mean that it speaks a foreign language of sorts, not realizing that it’s unintelligible to most Americans.
Hi Thomas. I welcome you to the conversation and appreciated our last exchange. I think John McCain would have been president and would have gotten votes from the left if he hadn’t been running against O’Bama who was just more dynamic. Any other election against any other candidate and we would have jumped at electing a moderate republican. There is rarely a black and white answer. Issues are complex and most people don’t fit into a single box. I hope you’ll stay in these conversations in my feed and offer perspective. And remember, if you’ve read my Zelensky article, I come from Republicans. I grew up debating my dad. I already know what issues matter to the right and what the sore points are. I do understand and can see your side. I just don’t always agree.
I don’t disagree that John McCain would have made a decent president. Indeed, I voted for him in 2008. I doubt, however, that he would have gotten significant support from the Left even if he’d been running against someone other than Obama. But that’s just speculation, isn’t it? Counterfactuals are fun to play around with, but history is what it is.
Just to clarify, I’m not an uncritical admirer of Donald Trump. In fact, I’m on your side in the argument over Ukraine. As best I can, I call balls and strikes, e.g. Trump has been good on border security, bad on Ukraine; good on combatting campus antisemitism, bad on tariff policy.
As it happens, I’ve written a good deal about Ukraine since 2022. This was my in-the-moment take on that low moment in the Oval Office:
yep, we do have common ground. And this is why the hope for America is not dead. We can disagree in some areas and find a path forward without losing our entire Country to the egoistic impulses of a man who is currently isolating us from the world and defiling what it means to be an American.
Amy I feel the same way. I’m dumbfounded by my brothers and sisters in blue who still support this sociopathic felon. He has already proven that he doesn’t care about the veterans or Law enforcement. How can people be in such denial? I will never understand it.
Same Lisa. I’m baffled. I only hope they wake up soon.
Beautifully written.
Thank you Rosemary.
Very well written. Remember also that the present president denigrated brave servicemen and women who suffered after they were captured by hostile forces, and this persiflage came from a human who moved heaven and earth to escape the draft. You deserve blessings as you navigate the shoals of your writing.
Thanks Bob. And yes this president has no respect for veterans and denigrates anyone who opposes him. We’re in dangerous times.
Amy I am sitting upstairs in my little writing room here in PortTownsend looking out at the water in a puddle of tears. I am holding in my hands LCDR John McCain III 10-26-67 POW bracelet that I kept as a young girl. I am thinking the same thing. “For the love of God Dig up John McCain. I too cried when he was diagnosed with GBM. My husband Tom was in the Navy on a submarine in the 70’s. He died 10 yrs ago ironically of the same disease, Glioblastoma Brain Cancer. I feel as there is no life preserver for our country. I am scared.
Dena, I’m so sorry for the loss of your husband. Thank you for reading and sharing your experience as well. I did my low residency grad writing program in port Townsend at Goddard College that had an extension at fort warden. I also am just across the water from you on Camano. Hang in there. We’re in this together.
🥺These days I do feel our country is adrift. Sea otters hold each others hands so that they don’t drift away as they sleep. Our country needs more like you to lean into, for all of us to hold each others hands, to gather in community, to hold onto our Country. Thank you for your service 🇺🇸
We’re going to have to find connection across the aisle. We’re going to have to welcome in former Trump supporters as the grow frustrated with the administration’s actions. If we’re going to survive this administration and the crisis our country is in we’re going to have to be more resilient and more open to discussion. We have to lean in even more.
Herd mentality. That is where Republican politicians find themselves right now. They’re no longer thinking for themselves.
It seems so.
Powerfully written and very inspiring!
"Rubio sat like a glassy-eyed prisoner whose soul had been mercilessly scooped out of his body, and there was no sense in moving or reacting because nothing worth living for was left anyway."
This sentence here perfectly describes the soullessness of all the Republican syncopaths surrounding and enabling Trump.
TBH, I was shocked how "docile" Democrats behaved at the speech yesterday. ALL of them should have stood up and fought back with a unanimous voice like Al Greene did. Holding up paper signs and dressing in a certain color was not enough. They could've walked out and refuse to listen to his lies.
I agree with you that we need someone like John McCain to turn the tide. Unfortunately we don't have one right now.
I don’t have real tv so was watching clips on the internet after I got home from work late and only saw the highlights, but I agree I would have unanimously protested with force.
“I call on Republicans to dig up John McCain. Exume him. Grind his bone and consume it. Find the courage within you to save this Country before it’s too late.”
I’m going to take a few minutes to cry now. Thank you for a beautifully written piece. I loved John McCain.
Thank you WallyFaye. I’m crying too.
Brava! This is so needed, Amy. Millions of voters revered McCain. Wrapped themselves in the flag of patriotism and morality.
They cannot all be cowed into submission to the MuskTrumpMafia.
I believe many are beginning to see they’ve been lied to.
Love your new title and wish all the best with wherever it goes. Also enjoyed this essay. I’m sure you’ve read The Restless Wave. If not, you should add it to your reading list. Enjoy your weekend! Cheers!
Thanks Dennis. Ya I converted to a publication! I have not read the restless wave. I’ll add it to my list but what did you find compelling about it?
Well, as you might know, the title is drawn from a verse of the Navy Hymn. But more importantly, it was McCains last memoir, written after he was diagnosed with cancer. He wrote freely on a variety of topics, slamming the orange felon but also reflecting on his many years of service.
Oh that does sound like a good read. Thanks for the recommendation.
Well written. John McCain was one of the few Republicans who stayed true to his principles, consistently prioritizing the country over the party loyalty.
American hero for sure.
Well said, Amy, well said.
As always, thank you for supporting Joseph. Good to have you here.
I agree with it all. And as a Canadian, I appreciate that you don’t mince words about Trump’s desire to overtake my sovereign nation, as well as Greenland and whatever else he can get his hands on. I was chilled by his address to the American Congress yesterday, especially with words re: Greenland - “We’ll get it one way or another.”
Yes if there’s one thing we’ve learned-Trump isn’t joking when he says outlandish things. He means every single one.
Well said. We need the right to grow some balls.
Yep. That would be helpful.
Your story is very inspiring. Thank you for reminding us that persistence and perseverance pay off.
Public Communication Line - (202) 647-6575 or www.state.gov
This is so well expressed. I hope someone has sent this to Marlo Rubio. He needs to see what we saw whenever he looks in the mirror and then reach down inside and find his courage.
*Marko Rubio
We need a woman President Now!!!!!
FDT FJDV FMagats FPutin
We need the Lioness and her team now !!☠️☠️☠️
John McCain was indeed an American hero worthy of comparison with Alvin York and Audie Murphy. But in his persona as a politician, I found him none too impressive. He struck me as a man too much enamored of his reputation as a maverick. But when he ran for president in 2008, what thanks did the maverick get from the Left? Zip. Zilch. Zero. He was reviled as just another GOP fascist.
And he has company. Just this morning, I found myself reviled here on Substack as a “White Christian Nationalist.” This of course is one of the Resistance Left’s standard-issue slurs: three unrelated words thoughtlessly bolted together. Leaving all other criticism aside, it’s grossly abusive of the English language. Mr. Orwell spotted this malign linguistic trend as long ago as 1946, and as usual he nailed it.
As a none-too-sympathetic observer, I find that the Resistance Left has no ear for itself. By that I mean that it speaks a foreign language of sorts, not realizing that it’s unintelligible to most Americans.
Hi Thomas. I welcome you to the conversation and appreciated our last exchange. I think John McCain would have been president and would have gotten votes from the left if he hadn’t been running against O’Bama who was just more dynamic. Any other election against any other candidate and we would have jumped at electing a moderate republican. There is rarely a black and white answer. Issues are complex and most people don’t fit into a single box. I hope you’ll stay in these conversations in my feed and offer perspective. And remember, if you’ve read my Zelensky article, I come from Republicans. I grew up debating my dad. I already know what issues matter to the right and what the sore points are. I do understand and can see your side. I just don’t always agree.
I don’t disagree that John McCain would have made a decent president. Indeed, I voted for him in 2008. I doubt, however, that he would have gotten significant support from the Left even if he’d been running against someone other than Obama. But that’s just speculation, isn’t it? Counterfactuals are fun to play around with, but history is what it is.
Just to clarify, I’m not an uncritical admirer of Donald Trump. In fact, I’m on your side in the argument over Ukraine. As best I can, I call balls and strikes, e.g. Trump has been good on border security, bad on Ukraine; good on combatting campus antisemitism, bad on tariff policy.
As it happens, I’ve written a good deal about Ukraine since 2022. This was my in-the-moment take on that low moment in the Oval Office:
https://unwokeindianaag.substack.com/p/peace-goes-to-pieces
yep, we do have common ground. And this is why the hope for America is not dead. We can disagree in some areas and find a path forward without losing our entire Country to the egoistic impulses of a man who is currently isolating us from the world and defiling what it means to be an American.