John McCain dies from brain cancer at age 81

[TheNig]

Sen. John McCain has decided to stop treatment for the brain cancer he has been battling for over a year, his family said Friday in an announcement that precipitated a rare moment of bipartisan empathy in honor of the Vietnam war hero and Republican political veteran.

Colleagues of McCain, 81, had been bracing for the worst for months as the Arizona senator retreated from public life to fight the disease. But Friday's news left them shaken nonetheless. It effectively closes a tumultuous Washington career that included two unsuccessful presidential runs and saw McCain emerge as a singular political figure, an icon of the Senate and latterly as a vehement critic of President Donald Trump.

"Last summer, Senator John McCain shared with Americans the news our family already knew: he had been diagnosed with an aggressive glioblastoma, and the prognosis was serious. In the year since, John has surpassed expectations for his survival. But the progress of disease and the inexorable advance of age render their verdict. With his usual strength of will, he has now chosen to discontinue medical treatment," the McCain family said in a statement.

The statement went on to say: "Our family is immensely grateful for the support and kindness of all his caregivers over the last year, and for the continuing outpouring of concern and affection from John's many friends and associates, and the many thousands of people who are keeping him in their prayers. God bless and thank you all."

Cindy McCain, the senator's wife, wrote in a tweet, "I love my husband with all of my heart. God bless everyone who has cared for my husband along this journey." The senator's daughter, Meghan McCain, said in a tweet, "My family is deeply appreciative of all the love and generosity you have shown us during this past year. Thank you for all your continued support and prayers. We could not have made it this far without you - you've given us strength to carry on."

Congressional leaders immediately offered sympathy. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called the news "very sad," while House Speaker Paul Ryan tweeted, "The whole House is keeping John and his family in our prayers during this time." Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer tweeted his "thoughts and prayers are with Senator McCain and his family."

McCain has not been in Washington since December, leaving a vacuum in the corridors of the Senate and the television news studios he roamed for decades. In recent weeks, he was not completely quiet, however.

I would like to see us recover our sense that we are more alike than different."

Speaking to CNN's Jake Tapper on "State of the Union" last September, shortly after he went public with his prognosis, McCain said he was "very happy" with his life and what he has "been able to do."

"I am able to celebrate a wonderful life and I will be grateful for additional time that I have," the senator said at the time.

As a fellow vet, this actually hurts. Even when he ran against Pres Obama, he was always classy and graceful. He could be a bit of a hard ass but I don't know very many vets who aren't.

 

[Berniewood Hogan]

he was a huge a$$hole who almost always voted in favor of republican bullshyt

 

[TheNig]

he was a huge a$$hole who almost always voted in favor of republican bullshyt

He was an equal opportunity a$$hole tho. He was dikk to Republicansv as well

 

[TheNig]

he was a huge a$$hole who almost always voted in favor of republican bullshyt

He was an equal opportunity a$$hole tho. He was dikk to Republicansv as well

 

[B!tchuoffendingme]

John McCain didnt hold many views I agree with, but he was one of the few Republicans you could reason with and stay in the realm of fact. He's not the bad faith actor that Trump is. When he goes, the last glimmer of decency in that whole party goes with him. Its pure black-hearted power, opportunism and evilness.

 

[ineedsleep212]

 

[Geek Nasty]

he was a huge a$$hole who almost always voted in favor of republican bullshyt

Exactly, I'm not getting on board this McCain ass-kissing tour. He wasn't a maverick. He was just a old ass salty, bitter a$$hole who would spite a Republican just as fast as he'd spite a Democrat. Motherfukker left his first wife while she was in the hospital, was a TERRIBLE pilot (wrecked 3 planes NOT COUNTING combat), and his whole career is based on his daddy being a high ranking Navy man. His ownly redeeming quality was how he conducted himself as a PoW.

 

[Rarely-Wrong Liggins]

There's much worse out there than McCain but I know cac caccity cac cac cac rethuglican yada yada yada blah blah booey.

 

[the cac mamba]

a couple years ago i wrote this dude an email complaining about how much money we piss away on the military, and he actually wrote me back. i still have it

dont agree with this dude on most issues, but he had a fair amount of integrity. let's not forget that he torpedoed trumpcare

 

[Jhoon]

Some of you guys would shed a strom too. Weirdos.

 

[88m3]

kinda sad because he's an institution in the senate but he's done a lot of damage

he's also one of the last "sane" Republicans but he was never near the center

 

[Professor Emeritus]

How much you wanna bet that Trump has said to someone, "too bad he didn't die earlier"?


And how much ya wanna bet that even if THAT tape leaked, it wouldn't affect his popularity at all?

 

[Jhoon]

kinda sad because he's an institution in the senate but he's done a lot of damage

he's also one of the last "sane" Republicans but he was never near the center

Sane?

Reminder: Voting Against the "Skinny Bill" Doesn't Erase John McCain's Record

 

[88m3]

Sane?

Reminder: Voting Against the "Skinny Bill" Doesn't Erase John McCain's Record

relative to the environment we currently find ourselves in

 

[Jhoon]

relative to the environment we currently find ourselves in

He is partly responsible for the dysfunction.