US Senator John McCain proving to be thorn in Trump's side even before he assumes office

[corbe]

US Senator John McCain proving to be thorn in Trump's side even before he assumes office

Published Jan 7, 2017, 2:02 pm SGT

WASHINGTON (AFP) - At 80, Mr John McCain has begun his sixth term in the US Senate by proving to be a thorn in Mr Donald Trump's side even before the president-elect takes the oath of office.

The maverick lawmaker is a long-time national security hawk and he has positioned himself as less an adversary of Mr Trump, 70, than an enemy of President Vladimir Putin.

But that posture has put him at odds with the incoming administration and Mr Trump's coziness with the Kremlin, as Mr McCain blasts Mr Putin as "a thug and a murderer" and calls for stricter sanctions on Moscow.

Mr Trump, who takes power on Jan 20, has repeatedly cast doubt on Russia's role in cyber attacks against the United States, which intelligence chiefs say was conducted in order to help Mr Trump win the election.

Mr McCain by contrast minces no words, calling Russia's alleged hacking "an act of war".

During the bitter 2016 presidential race, Mr McCain was criticised by some Republican voters for refusing to formally support the Republican nominee.

In Washington, he offers a national security reality check to Mr Trump, who is often accused of being in denial about Russia.

On Thursday (Jan 5), Mr McCain presided over a closely watched Armed Services Committee hearing in which senators grilled intelligence chiefs about Russia's role in hacking the Democratic National Committee.

Several of Mr McCain's staunch political adversaries in Congress now look to him as a bulwark against Mr Trump's perceived naivete about Russia.

"John's in a strong position," number two Senate Democrat Dick Durbin said. "Many of the statements that have been made during the course of the transition do not reflect the reality of America's national security, and I think John has brought that point home when it comes to our relations with Russia and the value of our intelligence agencies."

Republican Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Bob Corker hailed him as "an important voice".

The political novice and the warrior-senator are polar opposites.

Mr Trump, a billionaire businessman, never served in the military, and has struck a condescending tone when discussing America's generals or Gold Star families.

Mr McCain is a US Navy veteran, a pilot who was shot down over North Vietnam in 1967, beaten by an angry mob and bayoneted.

He spent five-and-a-half years as a prisoner of war, and his treatment was so brutal he still can not raise his arms high enough to comb his hair.

And yet Mr Trump belittled Mr McCain's experience when he was asked in 2015 whether he considered him a hero.

"I like people who were not captured," Mr Trump said.

The disdain appears to be mutual. Mr McCain bristles when asked about the incoming president.

<..snip..>

http://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/us-senator-john-mccain-proving-to-be-thorn-in-trumps-side-even-before-he-assumes

[corbe]

McCain is going all Maverick (democrap) on us, again

[Wingnut]

Poor john.  He's the Harry Reid of AZ.

[Emjay]

McCain is going all Maverick (democrap) on us, again

I can't stand McCain but Trump should never have minimized his heroic service.

[corbe]

@Emjay
 

   Trump is the first Republican president since Herbert Hoover to not have served in the US Military.

[Bigun]

I can't stand McCain but Trump should never have minimized his heroic service.

What heroic service?  GRRRRRR!!!!

[Wingnut]

@Emjay
 

   Trump is the first Republican president since Herbert Hoover to not have served in the US Military.

In all fairness to Trump ...He fought his own private 'nam back here trying to avoid contracting STDs.

[Bigun]

Here's the truth about John Sidney McCain.  You can like it or not it is still the truth.

There are exactly two reasons he even managed to graduate from Annapolis.

The exact same reasons are the only way he ever found his way into the pilot seat of an F4 ov e r Hanoi.

Those reasons are his Admiral  father and grandfather. 

And lastly, within half an hour of his being pulled out of that l as ke in North Vietnam his captors knew exactly who he was because HE t old them.

[libertybele]

@Emjay
 

   Trump is the first Republican president since Herbert Hoover to not have served in the US Military.

But...but...  Trump told biographer Michael D’Antonio of his time at the New York Military Academy, a private prep school he attended during his teens. Trump said he received more military training in prep school than most actual soldiers did, and he had been required to live under the command of men who had gone on to careers as real officers and soldiers.

“I felt like I was in the military in a true sense,” Trump said. “Because I dealt with the people.”


....and there you have it folks ...

I so am hoping and praying that he actually listens to his military advisers!!

[corbe]

In all fairness to Trump ...He fought his own private 'nam back here trying to avoid contracting STDs.

   Yes in all fairness


    These were a lot heavier to wear and offered less protection in country

 

  Than These

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Here's the truth about John Sidney McCain.  You can like it or not it is still the truth.

There are exactly two reasons he even managed to graduate from Annapolis.

The exact same reasons are the only way he ever found his way into the pilot seat of an F4 ov e r Hanoi.

Those reasons are his Admiral  father and grandfather. 

And lastly, within half an hour of his being pulled out of that l as ke in North Vietnam his captors knew exactly who he was because HE t old them.

Another brave keyboard warrior disparages a man who served his country, honorably. Just like Trump.


You should be proud.

[Bigun]

Another brave keyboard warrior disparages a man who served his country, honorably. Just like Trump.


You should be proud.

Like I  said. You can like it or not it is still the truth. And BTW; I have done more for my country in uniform and out than you can imagine you frigin jerk!

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

I have done more for my country in uniform and out than you can imagine you frigin jerk!

Jerk? You're the one slandering a guy who spent years in a POW camp.


I have my difference too, but your post was out of line.

[Bigun]

Jerk? You're the one slandering a guy who spent years in a POW camp.


I have my difference too, but your post was out of line.

The truth is NEVER slander!  Not ever!

[Bigun]

@Weird Tolkienish Figure

I apologize for calling you a jerk. My temper got the better of me for a moment.

I should have just said that you are entitled to you opinion and that I stand by every single word I wrote.

[Emjay]

What heroic service?  GRRRRRR!!!!

Everybody hates somebody.  No matter what pull McCain used, he still served and endured horrific abuse in captivity.

For that little fop Trump to dismiss that was wrong.

[Maj. Bill Martin]

You're required to give name, rank, and service number.  As soon as McCain gave that, they knew who he was.  Dude came out of the camps a physical wreck, never made a propaganda video, etc..

The man served honorably regardless of good a pilot he was.

That being said, a President has more authority in foreign affairs than anywhere else.  There truly isn't much McCain can/will do about Trump and Putin.