John McCain To Run For Sixth Term
Arizona Senator John McCain announced last night that he will run for a sixth term in the Senate:
Arizona Sen. John McCain (R) announced late Monday night that he will seek a sixth term in the U.S. Senate, acknowledging that he may face a primary challenge from the right but insisting he’s up to the task.
“I think I have the knowledge and the background to help this nation through very perilous times and I believe I can still contribute in many ways to the welfare and benefit of my state,” McCain told NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell in an interview released late Monday.
When asked about his age – McCain will be 80 years old on Election Day 2016 and would be 86 by the end of a sixth term – the longtime Arizona senator told O’Donnell that he still keeps a grueling schedule, and isn’t concerned.
“I’m happy to tell you my mother is 103 years old and she’s doing well,” McCain said. “Watch me. Take a look at my 18-hour days. Take a look at the hearings we have. Take a look at my legislative accomplishments. Listen, I’m just getting started.”
The onetime GOP presidential nominee acknowledged criticisms from members of his own party who have, at times, questioned his conservative bona fides. In 2014, the Arizona Republican Party formally censured himfor not being sufficiently conservative — which McCain readily dismissed during his NBC interview with a joke: “I was also censured by Vladimir Putin.”
As he did in 2010, McCain is likely to face a primary challenge from the right, although it’s unclear if the Tea Party groups that would seem to be most motivated in unseating him will be any luckier than they were the last time around. Back then, several prominent Republican Members of Congress who might have posed a difficult challenge to McCain declined to run and, in the end, he was left facing off against former Congressman J.D. Hayworth whose long record of bizarre statements, which continued through the campaign, combined with McCain’s ability to move to the right when he needed to, meant that the primary fight wasn’t much of a fight this time around. Candidate selection will be an issue this time as well, with Congressmen such as Matt Salmon and Trent Franks likely to be considered strong potential candidates on the Republican side. The question will be whether McCain has one more fight left in him or not.
I was hoping he’d retire to host a Sunday morning talk show.
A lifetime spent at the Government trough.
Possible Campaign Slogans:
“Get Off Every Lawn in America!”
“Lindsay and Me and a Dog named Bree”
“More Wars, Why Not?”
“Wait, Is the Video Rolling?”
@James Joyner:
“John McCain and Friends”, with permanent guests Lindsey Graham and Kelly Ayotte.
I refer to McCain as having “full spectrum” policy positions. Is there any position on any issue that he hasn’t held at some point? Almost as bad as Romney.
There goes my hope that he would retire and we would get a reality show based on him living in a house filled with unruly college kids.
@James Joyner:
But who would be the guest on this Sunday morning talk show if McCain is already the host? Is he supposed to interview himself?
@Gustopher:
Nice, idea, but I hired some script writers to rewrite it for you.
Camera rolling!
@Stormy Dragon:
A clone, a CGI McCain, or just a big mirror.
@PJ: That way he can take both sides of each issue at the same exact time!
@Stormy Dragon: He’d basically be Ed Schultz then, wouldn’t he?
@Surreal American:
““John McCain and Friends”, with permanent guests Lindsey Graham and Kelly Ayotte.”
And Joe Lieberman taking over the Jack Germond role from the old John McLaughlin show.
Since we are going to amend the Constitution we have to do something about these politicians who just won’t go away. Term limits must be imposed at all levels of government.
@Moosebreath:
And Sarah Palin as Elizabeth Hasselbeck?
@Moosebreath:
On his best day ever, Joementum could even begin to approach the awesomeness that was Jack Germond.
Well Damn! Both thumbs are highlighted on my post above (Wednesday, April 8, 2015 at 00:34). Should I upvote myself for being so clever or should I downvote myself since I disagree with my own remarks?
I’m certain I have not given the Dreaded Red Thumb to anyone here for well over a year.
Maybe it’s time…
@gVOR08: Yes, there is–on support for veterans not named McCain he’s been fairly consistent in his opposition.