A couple of things I did not know about McCain.

[Ravy]

MSNBC had a documentary a couple of nights ago on McCain, and so I decided to watch it.

I did learn a couple of things that I did not know previously.

First, I did not know that he tried to commit suicide when he was in captivity. I had never heard that mentioned before.

I also did not know while in captivity, he signed a statement that he he committed war crimes against the people of Viet Nam.

I fully realize that what happened to McCain was done in service to our country. But this man was severely broken psychologically. Can you fully recover from that?

I know this will be a touchy subject. Young men and women risk their lives for service to our country, and sometimes horrible things happen to them. But in the days where admitting that you ever smoked grass is considered as disqualifying for the office (to some), or ever being hospitalized with a psychiatric problem, is it fair to ask about psychological issues in someone's past when they can start a nuclear war with the push of a button?

[saltpoint]

1. I hold McCain's service in high regard and excuse any actions under the

duress and torture by his captors. That's an enitrely un-judgeable zone, IMO.

My problem with McCain is his extreme Far-Right voting record.

[madaboutharry]

2. I think your right

I also think that this is an "un-judgeable zone."

What can be judged is that McCain is a phony and a fraud. He is a right wing idealogue who pretends to be something else.

[Ravy]

7. I hated bringing it up. I know there will be boundaries pushed

that will make everyone uncomfortable.

I agree that it should be excused as far as his "honor" and "integrity" on the issue are preserved, but should anyone pretend that it doesn't exist because it happened in service to our country?

[saltpoint]

10. I follow your point, Ravy, but all I can speak on for myself is the voting

record, which is appalling in and of itself.

I'm just completely unqualified to offer a clinical insight into McCain's stability.

I question the outward signs and symptoms of Mike Huckabee's, however. He behaves very suspiciously, IMO, although again, that's just a layman's perspective.

[MonkeyFunk]

17. I agree

thanks O.C.

[saltpoint]

18. Hi, MonkeyFunk. I'm out of ammo on the subject but just wanted to

say hello & Happy February.

:hi:

[no_hypocrisy]

3. Would McCain pass a psychological screening test for the military today if one were given?

I haven't been satisfied that McCain has fully recovered from being a prisoner of war with the physical and psychological torture, his being compelled to be a traitor to the U.S. military (which is a significant betrayal as the military demands lifelong fidelity to the point of chauvinism), and post traumatic stress syndrome.

One of my apprehensions about the prospect of McCain as "Commander in Chief" is McCain having a myriad of psychological and psychiatric scars, his "warning" that "there will be other wars", and in his mind using those "other wars" as transferred hostility against his captors in North Vietnam to seek his personal conflicts while a prisoner.

[demnan]

4. The Bush campaign ventured very far into this

as they had no shame, in 2000 they ventured the Manchurian Candidate theory. (If you don't remember that movie it was about a candidate for office who had been brainwashed by the Soviets circa 1962 or so).

I think McCain can be judged on his pschological health by the way he functions in society and I don't believe that he functions poorly in society or has violent tendancies or recurring problems. Therefore, I have to assume he had some psychological healing.

[jedr]

5. This is is swifboating...pure and simple!

If you can't see it , I can. I take offense to anyone who questions his service. I do not agree with his politics but I well never question his service. What this man endured makes anything in your life milquetoast!

[Ravy]

8. Swiftboating was a lie. This isn't.

And you don't have any idea who I am or what I may have been through.

So take offense all you want.

[H2O Man]

9. Right.

I agree.

[sam sarrha]

14. not swift boating, that is being in battle, getting a medal for following a hero, then getting paid

to call the real hero a coward... AKA: Judas

this is a discussion about facts...

anyone will sign anything under torture
..no problem

being mentally effected by his experience.. maybe, big maybe

the photo of him humping Bu$h's leg at the convention... absolutely proves beyond any doubt he is unqualified

[existentialist]

6. If not an unjudgable zone

it is clearly an unattackable zone.

People come through these things differently. Some it utterly destroys, some survive severely damaged, some get stronger.

There is no appropriate way to attack McCain for the facts you mention.

It seems to me, however that, although stronger in ways, it has left him damaged in other with traits that are far from desirable in a President.

But it is those traits that are attackable--not the influences that produced them.

[Honeycombe8]

11. Apparently he recovered sufficiently to serve his family & the country well for the 40 years after..

that.

Is there a remnant left in his soul? Of course. We are all the sum total of all experiences we have had.

An argument can be made by those who like what he's done with his life: whatever happened to him must have served him well, since whatever has happened to him in his life played a part in creating the man he is now.

[Ravy]

13. That isn't exactly accurate.

When he came back, he did not serve his family well.

I think there are plenty of things in his past where he has not served the country well, either.

I am not saying anything should be disqualifying. I am saying that these facts happened, and to what extent someone wants to excuse them and for whatever reason someone wants to excuse them is fine by me. Just don't expect them to go away.

[Roland99]

12. Maybe he is damaged goods. If Rush and Ann don't like him....

:)

[stray cat]

15. I'd rather have a survivor like McCain who has put his life back together

to a person who has been handed everything on a silver platter and never worked a day in their life or sacrificed anything. I suspect its not easy for an event to knock McCain down permanantly.

[screembloodymurder]

16. No, you can not recover.

The increased pressure could cause a breakdown. When you combine that with his age and violent nature, McCain is a heart attack waiting to happen. I predict the VP, whoever that is, will end up President. Look for a neo-con nomination.