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John McCain has Brain Cancer

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Currently my aunt has been facing aggressive cancer on two fronts for the better part of 3 years as it keeps coming back after having undergone treatment and surgery. If nothing else I hope McCain recovers and at least can can empathize after having seen the costs in person. I don't have much hope for that given his voting record, but that's all I can wish for now.

My aunt hasn't managed to work in those 3 years and is covered by the state at this point because she has no other choice for healthcare. Unlike McCain the coverage isn't anywhere near as extensive but all the same it's kept her going through her fight. McCain's past aside, his recent voting history would just savage people like my aunt, so frankly if he took a while to recover before he made it back to the senate and it sidelined McConnell's legislative agenda in the meantime, I wouldn't lose an ounce of sleep either.

I can only sympathize so much with a man who has been exceedingly unforgiving to people in dire straits. Again I hope he has some kind of epiphany but I'm not gonna hold my breath.
 
E-Cat said:
Through his actions? I mean, he's a Republican senator ffs. I doubt a single one of them supports universal health care.
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Im sorry this is just irrational. Painting your enemies as the devil is the opposite of faithful negotiation. Both sides are guilty of it.
 
rambis said:
Im sorry this is just irrational. Painting your enemies as the devil is the opposite of faithful negotiation. Both sides are guilty of it.
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What the hell are you talking about? Pointing out that John McCain doesn't support universal health care is "painting him as the devil"? It's just a fact.
 
rambis said:
Im sorry this is just irrational. Painting your enemies as the devil is the opposite of faithful negotiation. Both sides are guilty of it.
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Our enemies paint themselves that way by trying to enact laws that ruin our lives. Both sides do not do that in equal measure. One side is clearly worse than the other.
 
In 2006, McCain voted against a funding amendment (S. Amdt. 3704) to provide $20 million to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for health care facilities [source: U.S. Senate].

He voted against another 2006 amendment (S. Amdt. 3642) that provided the VA an additional $430 million in funding for outpatient care and treatment for veterans [source: U.S. Senate].

McCain voted against S. Amdt. 3007 in 2006, which would have provided an additional $1.5 billion in funding for veterans' health care in FY 2007 by closing tax loopholes [source: U.S. Senate].

In 2005, he voted against an amendment to provide an additional $500 million for veterans' mental health care for each year between 2006 and 2010 (S. Amdt. 2634) [source: U.S. Senate].

McCain voted for the successful passage of H.R. 2528 in 2005, which provided funding for veterans' benefits and service for FY 2006 [source: U.S. Senate].

In 2005, he voted in favor of providing emergency funding for veterans' services for FY 2005 (S. Amdt. 1129) [source: U.S. Senate].

He voted in favor of an amendment in 2004 (S. Amdt. 3409) proposing a guarantee of funding increases for veterans' health care adjusted for inflation and population increases [source: U.S. Senate].

McCain voted no on an amendment S. Amdt. 2745 in 2004, which would have increased funding for veterans' medical care by $1.8 billion by "eliminating abusive tax loopholes" [source: U.S. Senate].

McCain voted against an increase of $650 million for veterans' medical care in 2001 (S. Amdt. 1218) [source: U.S. Senate].

Also in 2001, he voted in favor of a yearly increase of $1.718 billion in discretionary funding for veterans' health care (S. Amdt. 269) [source: U.S. Senate].
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What a patriot.

http://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/john-mccain6.htm

Also

McCain voted against the Unintended Pregnancy Amendment of 2005 (S. Con Res 18), which increased funding for family planning services, expanded prescription coverage for contraceptives and expansion of teen pregnancy education programs [source: Project Vote Smart].
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He voted in favor of S. Amdt. 822 in 1989, which prevented federal funding for clean needle programs for IV drug users [source: U.S. Senate].
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rambis said:
Im sorry this is just irrational. Painting your enemies as the devil is the opposite of faithful negotiation. Both sides are guilty of it.
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John McCain doesn't believe that all people deserve healthcare. That's a fact. All Republicans think the same and it's the official position of the party. If you think that's what the devil would do, don't vote for them.
 
Oh and since people also invoke the horrific torture he experienced:


In 2008, McCain voted against the successful bill H.R. 2082, which banned waterboarding and other interrogation techniques not allowed in the Army Field Manual [source: U.S. Senate]. The bill was vetoed by President George W. Bush the following month [source: AP].
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platocplx said:
http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news...y-got-married-then-everything-changed-6433344

here is confirmation of it.

DFJz4J6UIAA-G65.jpg
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:(

It's the republicans "I got mine" attitude that kills me. If this was a movie, McCain would lose his insurance right about now and have someone in the trump administration tell him the exact same thing to make the audience feel good about that comeuppance, and then the twilight zone theme would play out
 
rambis said:
With this logic how is anything other than full single payer not evil?
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Indeed.

rambis said:
This makes no sense to me. Single payer is gaining more support but still its still only a 60/40 split in favor of. So you're saying almost half the country is evil because they don't support full single payer?
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Yes.

Or at least, they have been taken in with an evil idea because of propaganda, either through fear, ignorance, stupidity, or, yes, simply being selfish, greedy and evil.

rambis said:
Eh this is irrational to me. I believe there is a middle ground that helps make sure everyone in the nation is covered without the government necessarily footing the entire bill. I don't think seeking this middle ground is evil.
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There's no such thing, but hey, if you have a concrete solution for this magic middle ground, do share it with the rest of the world, yes?

rambis said:
Im sorry this is just irrational. Painting your enemies as the devil is the opposite of faithful negotiation. Both sides are guilty of it.
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What is irrational is assuming that "both sides" are equivalent when one side desires healthcare coverage for ALL Americans, and the other side is either denying it for millions, or is being wishy-washy about whether all Americans should be covered or not because "mah middle ground" bullshit reasons.

There is nothing inherently rational about seeking a middle ground. It depends on the situation. And when it comes to the lives and healthcare of people, there should be no ideological middle ground and no compromise.
 
rambis said:
Voting no on a bill as written does not mean that someone is opposed to the premise of the bill. I would love to see the proof of that tweet though.
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Voting no sure sounds like a rousing endorsement, you're right.
I'm sure those who are counted in the groups he votes against are warmed by his personal sentiments instead of his actual support.
 
It is possible to respect the man for his military service and still be critical of the decisions he's made since then. He doesn't get a pass for everything else just because he was a POW.

McCain once put his life on the line for what he believed were American interests. Now his life is put on the line after a history of undermining the interests of the common American. He might once have been a hero. No longer.

That said, I wouldn't have chosen this as a punishment for him. I would prefer public shame and the recognition of the lives he's damaged, the social turmoil he helped cause. Some understanding of the gulf between his military action and his action in politics.
 
Red said:
It is possible to respect the man for his military service and still be critical of the decisions he's made since then. He doesn't get a pass for everything else just because he was a POW.
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A former POW who voted in favor of waterboarding and other such torturous interrogation techniques no less.
 
excelsiorlef said:
As always folks try to reduce core fundamental atrocity as simple disagreement.
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Rational person - "I think everyone should have insurance so they can get treatment when they are sick or injured"
McCain and Republicans - "Nah, fuck em, let them die if they can't afford it, or if their insurance company decides it's too expensive to cover them"

Just a little disagreement you see, nothing to get upset about. Sure, McCain has the power to prevent millions of people from increased suffering and earlier death, but chooses not to. It's just like preferring hot dogs vs preferring hamburgers, no big deal dude.
 
Morrigan Stark said:
There is nothing inherently rational about seeking a middle ground. It depends on the situation. And when it comes to the lives and healthcare of people, there should be no ideological middle ground and no compromise.
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Especially when the dems are center-right and the GOP is far, far-right. Guess where a bipartisan agreement ends up in that case? Far-right, which is sure to fuck over most people, because that's what bipartisan agreements do. It is not twisting the facts or painting anyone in an unfavorable light, but a simple observation of reality.
 
E-Cat said:
What the hell are you talking about? Pointing out that John McCain doesn't support universal health care is "painting him as the devil"? It's just a fact.
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You just said there isn't a republican that supports universal healthcare. Thats paint them as the devil and its not even accurate.
Morrigan Stark said:
Indeed.









.
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There's no such thing, but hey, if you have a concrete solution for this magic middle ground, do share it with the rest of the world, yes?
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This is silly. The middle ground is now the current law of the land. Its a broken law as is but its absolutely a compromise.


What is irrational is assuming that "both sides" are equivalent when one side desires healthcare coverage for ALL Americans, and the other side is either denying it for millions, or is being wishy-washy about whether all Americans should be covered or not because "mah middle ground" bullshit reasons.
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This is bullshit. Not even Obama himself has always favored single payer. There has always been a debate and there still is. Please spare me the rhetoric.


There is nothing inherently rational about seeking a middle ground. It depends on the situation. And when it comes to the lives and healthcare of people, there should be no ideological middle ground and no compromise
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LMAO ok dude.
 
TomWaitsForNoMan said:
You said you wanted to thank him for his service, I'm saying his service was nothing to be thankful for, especially not for the people he was bombing. He wasn't in charge but he still participated, even requesting to be assigned to that theatre. "Just following orders" has never been a legitimate defence for mass murder, and that's what the Vietnam bombing campaigns were.

You might inherently respect American troops but there's a lot of people outside your borders who have very good reasons to feel very differently, and that doesn't make them edgelords

EDIT: and afterwards, did he ever reflect? Did he ever apologise? Or did he say "I'll hate the gooks for as long as I live" and continue to enthusiastically support American aggression abroad?
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I'm not gonna shit on a solider in vietnam for doing his duty. But whatever. Let's just disagree on that. Yea, I'd thank any soldier even when the suits make the wrong call to send them in harms way over bullshit.
 
Mammoth Jones said:
I'm not gonna shit on a solider in vietnam for doing his duty. But whatever. Let's just disagree on that. Yea, I'd thank any soldier even when the suits make the wrong call to send them in harms way over bullshit.
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He wanted to go to Vietnam though. He sent himself.

Like he wasn't drafted like so many others.

I still find it incredulous that someone who suffered like he did could vote decades later in favour of torture techniques.
 
rambis said:
You just said there isn't a republican that supports universal healthcare. Thats paint them as the devil and its not even accurate.
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Honest question: Are you from the US? Do you follow politics at all? Do you know how the lobbying system works? You do understand that the GOP is basically an arm of corporate America, right?

I said republican senator, btw. And I expect you to come up with any evidence to the contrary, because the onus is on you. Not to mention it would kind of blow my mind, which is a plus.
 
Hierophant said:
if this is your response to a dude saying "i do not think there should be an ideological middle ground regarding the lives and health of millions", your stance is already decided and nothing will change it
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The guy literally just said that there's no rationale for seeking middle ground where two sides fundamentally disagree.
 
rambis said:
The guy literally just said that there's no rationale for seeking middle ground where two sides fundamentally disagree.
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In some circumstances there isn't. Racism is a great example. For many, healthcare is one too. Everyone should have healthcare, period. There's no middle ground there.

Fetishizing "the middle ground" to be "logical" and "rational" is the most boring and trite opinion you can have.
 
hockeypuck said:
I have never heard of a "low grade glioblastoma." Low grade gliomas, sure, but IIRC glioblastoma automatically puts it in the "it's aggressive, doesn't matter" camp. You have a link I can refresh my memory with?
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you're absolutely right. I meant glioma (I was typing on my phobia)! In any case, I just read that in McCain's case it was a glioblastoma (meaning the fourth and most aggressive form). When I first read the news I was under the impression they were somewhat downplaying it.
The few patients with glioblastomas I've met had only a few months left to live. I do know they can start as low grade and evolve slowly over time and then become extremely aggressive.

Reeks said:
Did they remove the whole mass or was it something picked up serendipitously? I thought gliobastomas grow quickly and most often mean the end of the line... especially in the frontal lobe.
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I don't know if the location matters... I can't think of a reason why (at a cortical level). I'd say that anywhere is bad, but I'd hypothesize that having one near the brainstem would be worse (you could disrupt things like breathing, etc). Also it would be harder to operate on. In any case, the tumor is going to take up space and you could end up with a mass effect (lesions due to something taking up space in an inelastic environment like the skull) and even brain herniation (the brain ends up being pushed under some structure, like the cerebral falx). This is why they often need to operate again (if you don't remove everything, it'll start growing again... but if it's filling the hole left by the first procedure, the second time you'll most certainly remove less healthy neurons and mostly astroshites [sic])...

Personally I'd take any tumor over this... Today I met a new patient who had a relapse after 15 years. And now he suffers from a massive personality change (excessively cheery, massive mood swings, lack of inhibition,...)... and he's perfectly aware of it. Absolutely awful stuff.
 
rambis said:
The guy literally just said that there's no rationale for seeking middle ground where two sides fundamentally disagree.
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When its about important shit then no we shouldn't.

"We should prevent little kids from dying due to being too poor to get treatment."

"No we shouldn't."

How the fuck do you compromise this?
 
rambis said:
The guy literally just said that there's no rationale for seeking middle ground where two sides fundamentally disagree.
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No, he said "there's nothing inherently rational about seeking the middle ground." Meaning, don't expect pats on the back for having the bravery to just sit up on the fence. Sometimes, the "other side" isn't acting in good faith. The healthcare debate here in America is a prime example of one of those times.
 
benicillin said:
In some circumstances there isn't. Racism is a great example. For many, healthcare is one too. Everyone should have healthcare, period. There's no middle ground there.

Fetishizing "the middle ground" to be "logical" and "rational" is the most boring and trite opinion you can have.
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Yeah. Some things are just like that.

Take the evolution vs creationism debate -- giving 50% credence to "both sides" implies that the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

Now, while political opinions cannot be as objectively categorized as "true" and "false", there can be no compromise between "moral" and "immoral".
 
rambis said:
The guy literally just said that there's no rationale for seeking middle ground where two sides fundamentally disagree.
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"There is nothing inherently rational about seeking a middle ground. It depends on the situation. And when it comes to the lives and healthcare of people, there should be no ideological middle ground and no compromise."

Read the post again and try to understand what it is they're saying.
 
rambis said:
Voting no on a bill as written does not mean that someone is opposed to the premise of the bill. I would love to see the proof of that tweet though.
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While in principle that is very true it's extremely clear that the impeccable scrutiny skills that Republicans (and Conservatives all over the world) apparently have, that prevent them for voting for good causes, never seem to be present when it comes to them putting out their own terrible and disgusting policies.
 
Mammoth Jones said:
I'm not gonna shit on a solider in vietnam for doing his duty. But whatever. Let's just disagree on that. Yea, I'd thank any soldier even when the suits make the wrong call to send them in harms way over bullshit.
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maybe you won't shit on him, but there is no need to call him a war hero
 
benicillin said:
In some circumstances there isn't. Racism is a great example. For many, healthcare is one too. Everyone should have healthcare, period. There's no middle ground there.

Fetishizing "the middle ground" to be "logical" and "rational" is the most boring and trite opinion you can have.
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This is completely mischaracterizing the argument. The middle ground is not if someone should have health care or not, it's who pays for it in what circumstances.
 
rambis said:
This is completely mischaracterizing the argument. The middle ground is not if someone should have health care or not, it's who pays for it in what circumstances.
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But you see, this is the problem: you are either being wantonly obtuse or ignorant.

There can never be a guarantee that an insurance company will pay for your health care. Why? The profit motive. Because what you're doing is, essentially, leaving your life up to the whims of a private, price-gouging entity that has a financial incentive to weasel out of paying for your health care. And in the free market economy, whatever you incent, will happen.
 
ElFly said:
maybe you won't shit on him, but there is no need to call him a war hero
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I didn't call him a war hero. I was just thanking a dying man for his military service. God help me if I put down politics for half a second to do that, right?

Listen, his policies are shitty. I'm not convinced his policies are helping Americans. I'm all for indicating his blatant hypocrisy. I'm just saying it's ok to take half a second put that aside and be civil n shit. But if that's a no go for you so be it. I ain't ya momma.
 
rambis said:
This is completely mischaracterizing the argument. The middle ground is not if someone should have health care or not, it's who pays for it in what circumstances.
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But when the resulting proposition causes millions of people to not be able to afford that care, all while those same proposals give the top 5% billions in savings it becomes a little hard to believe the opposition are being genuine in their claims of wanting the best for people.

It's like the Conservatives here in the UK, they say they want a strong economy and how they have created millions of new jobs but they continually ignore that 55% of people in poverty here have jobs and a million people have to use food banks and wages have stagnated etc. How do you compromise with people who are disingenuous with their arguments and facts?
 
Arthr2ShdsJcksn said:
Obama is free to tweet whatever he wants and chooses to rise above and handle this news with dignity. I respect him greatly for that, and wish more would share in his level of tact.
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Obama's niceness, tact, and wanting for everyone to be good and nice is getting his entire legacy shat upon by the same people he tried so hard to work with.

I love the heck out of Obama but at some point civility becomes the same as "please walk all over me" and I don't expect anyone on this messageboard to share his civility.
 
crisdecuba said:
There was some stuff McCain did while a POW that I would call heroic. And please don't take this as an endorsement of the man's worldview, ideology, or political life.
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I mean suuure, but he was only put in that position by bombing civilians so that kind of negates everything

Mammoth Jones said:
I didn't call him a war hero. I was just thanking a dying man for his military service. God help me if I put down politics for half a second to do that, right?
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oh yeah I forgot to thank mccain

thank you mccain for killing those poor vietnamese

you really did a solid to us all

dunno what politics have to do with thanking him for his service. his service did _nothing_ for you
 
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