McCain has never really earned anything. He is from a wealth pampered background and not fit to lead this nation.
A “war hero” doesn’t finished 894th out of 899 and still get stationed at a Navy champagne unit and promoted ahead of all but two of his 898 other classmates.
A “war hero” doesn’t crash three U.S. Navy jets out of sheer incompetence and ineptitude, including two during non-combat training sessions.
A “war hero” doesn’t get written up on drunk-and-disorderly, fraternization, disobeying orders, and insubordination charges more than two dozen times in less than three years.
A “war hero” doesn’t get promoted to squadron commander of the air field named after his own grandfather immediately after crashing his third airplane.
A “war hero” doesn’t have all the military records that cover his time in Vietnam and all disciplinary actions against him censored and sealed “as a matter of national security.”
A “war hero” doesn’t get 28 medals awarded all after-the-fact “for bravery” for no other reason than being shot down and captured and then go on a celebrity public relations tour because he’s the son of two acclaimed Navy admirals.
A “war hero” doesn’t repeatedly cheat on the wife who’s back in the states waiting for him, and then cheat on her more when he returns to the states, and then divorce and abandon her.
A “war hero” doesn’t systematically vote against every single pay and benefit increase for military and veterans throughout his entire political career, all the while claiming to be “the soldier’s Congressman,” and then take credit for the passage of a G.I. benefits bill he that voted AGAINST.
A “war hero” McCain III lost jet number one in 1958 when he plunged into Corpus Christi Bay while practicing landings. He was knocked unconscious by the impact coming to as the plane settled to the bottom.
McCain’s second crash occurred while he was deployed in the Mediterranean. “Flying too low over the Iberian Peninsula,” Timberg wrote, “he took out some power lines [reminiscent of the 1998 incident in which a Marine Corps jet sliced through the cables of a gondola at an Italian ski resort, killing 20] which led to a spate of newspaper stories in which he was predictably identified as the son of an admiral.”
McCain’s third crash three occurred when he was returning from flying a Navy trainer solo to Philadelphia for an Army-Navy football game.
Timberg reported that McCain radioed, “I’ve got a flameout” and went through standard relight procedures three times before ejecting at one thousand feet. McCain landed on a deserted beach moments before the plane slammed into a clump of trees.
McCain’s fifth loss happened during his 23rd mission over North Vietnam on Oct. 26, 1967, when McCain’s A-4 Skyhawk was shot down by a surface-to-air missile. McCain ejected from the plane breaking both arms and a leg in the process and subsequently parachuted into Truc Bach Lake near Hanoi.
For 23 combat missions (an estimated 20 hours over enemy territory), the U.S. Navy awarded McCain a Silver Star, a Legion of Merit for Valor, a Distinguished Flying Cross, three Bronze Stars, two Commendation medals plus two Purple Hearts and a dozen service medals.
“McCain had roughly 20 hours in combat,” explains Bill Bell, a veteran of Vietnam and former chief of the U.S. Office for POW/MIA Affairs — the first official U.S. representative in Vietnam since the 1973 fall of Saigon. “Since McCain got 28 medals,” Bell continues, “that equals out to about a medal-and-a-half for each hour he spent in combat. There were infantry guys — grunts on the ground — who had more than 7,000 hours in combat and I can tell you that there were times and situations where I’m sure a prison cell would have looked pretty good to them by comparison. The question really is how many guys got that number of medals for not being shot down.”
For years, McCain has been an unchecked master at manipulating an overly friendly and biased news media. The former POW turned Congressman, turned U.S. Senator, has managed to gloss over his failures as a pilot by exaggerating his military service and lying about his feats of heroism.
McCain has sprouted a halo and wings to become America’s POW-hero presidential candidate.

Amazing how vile and swarmy liberals are are using inuendo and judgement on a man who did serve his country, but clearly supports a candidate who has documented policies and statements that do NOT support our country. The more obvious it is that McCain is the most experienced and prepared person to lead our nation, the more they try to tear him down. Why? The other candidate is so ill-prepared. No matter how many advisors surround Mr. Obama, or how many years his VP nominee has serving special interests or self interests above the nation’s interests, he wil never be ready to lead. I want a battle-tested experienced president, and one who will not lead our country down the road to socialism.

I will plan to be at John McCain’s rally. I don’t agree with everything he’s ever proposed, but I do know this:

1. He is, and will always be, an American hero for his service.

2. Obama is the most dangerous candidate ever nominated by the democratic party. Why they let the socialists and extreme America-hating wing of the party take over is beyond me.

John McCain is a “war hero” by any reasonable definition. More importantly than any “hero” status he has is his love of country. John McCain knows that true patriotism isn’t just lip service. It requires action and sacrifice. He understands the hardships endured by us in the military because he’s been there and so he has my trust that of many others in the military.
On a political front, I am also encouraged by his “independent” streak. I like the fact he is not afraid of running afoul of party leaders by supporting ideas he believes are good for the country. Putting country above party politics is another example of his patriotism and LEADERSHIP.

^ noob

Amazing how the mere presence of a UNIFORM makes some men lose all capacity for reason and rational thought.

“War hero” is meant to stop thought, just like “you love Saddam” or “liberals hate the troops.”

Champing about “war heros” is MUCH easier than actually looking at McCain’s record, history, and ample demonstrations of character (lack thereof).

The “war hero” line reflects the thought process of sheep, not real American citizens.

McCain is counting on the votes of Pavlovian dogmen who salivate at the sight of certain articles of clothing. Queer when you think about it.

Maybe there will be a hefty turnout of people that do NOT support Senator McCain. I know that many a person in the area and some of us from nearby areas have less than a cult daze for his political or or personal record. The Republicans cast him aside in 2000. Maybe some of those same Republicans still think that someone else is better suited to be president. I wanted to learn more about him and what he plans to do as president. So far it seems to me that he will be just as weak of a leader that our current preisdent has been.

To Truth 1 libs 0. Ironic isn’t it?

Amazing how vile and swarmy conservatives are using innuendo and judgment on a man who did serve his country, but clearly supports a candidate who has documented policies and statements that do NOT support our country. The more obvious it is that Kerry is the most experienced and prepared person to lead our nation, the more they try to tear him down. Why? The other candidate is so ill-prepared. No matter how many advisors surround Mr. Bush, or how many years his VP nominee has serving special interests or self interests above the nation’s interests, he will never be ready to lead. I want a battle-tested experienced president, and one who will not lead our country down the road to fascism.
I will plan to be at John Kerry’s rally. I don’t agree with everything he’s ever proposed, but I do know this:
1. He is, and will always be, an American hero for his service.
2. Bush is the most dangerous candidate ever nominated by the republic party. Why they let the fascists and extreme America-hating wing of the party take over is beyond me.

It wasn’t the “vile and swarmy liberals” that passed out purple heart bandaids at the convention it was republicans. Did you share the same outrage for those “vile and swarmy republicans?”

Sgt Johnson, I don’t disagree with your statement that Sen. McCain is a “war hero” for his service. I am thankful that we have brave warriors that have served and continue to serve our great nation. Thank you for your service sir.

I do however disagree with your assesment of his independant streak. He supports the president over 90% if the time therefore based on his voting record he is a maverick, indpendant, rogue, wildman Senator a whopping 9% of the time.

His voting record has contributed to the many failed policies of the Bush administration.