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Comment by BoysenberryPi | Hacker News Reader

John McCain did somethings that I disagree with but the one thing I will always remember is when during the 2008 election there were multiple times during town halls and rallies that people would verbally attack Obama and McCain always shut them down without fail.

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His concession speech:

> I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together to find the necessary compromises to bridge our differences and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited.

> It's natural, tonight, to feel some disappointment. But tomorrow, we must move beyond it and work together to get our country moving again.

If I might add, ten years later: it seems "the necessary compromises to bridge our differences" were not found.

Of course he also said if Hillary won that he would refuse to confirm Garland for the entirety of her presidency...

I mean that's due to a disagreement in politics. He wasn't calling her a demonic satan-worshipping child trafficker like some on that side of the spectrum were.

Certainly, but that doesn't make it okay. In general things weren't rosy with his political career, his reputation for being a "maverick" that would buck party leadership was laughable since he ended up toeing the party line more often that not, even when he decided to speak out against {X} idiotic move they made he would still put a "Yea" in for the vote.

With that said I think he genuinely wanted what was best for the country, even if we never saw eye to eye on what "best" actually was.

Yep. There's good and bad in there. When people die, it's usual to recall the good more than the bad.

And? That's the entire point of checks and balances.

That isn't checks and balances. That's partisan bullshit.

His reason was not "because you're a democrat", so I'm not sure how you can make that claim.

“McCain spokesperson Rachael Dean later said that McCain "believes you can only judge people by their record, and Hillary Clinton has a clear record of supporting liberal judicial nominees."‘

There is a quote, (miss-)attributed to Voltaire: "I Disapprove of What You Say, But I Will Defend to the Death Your Right to Say It". I think McCain could have said it too. I don't think there are many people like that left in politics.

Given McCain-Feingold a more accurate representation of McCain's view is "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it, except for certain ads discussing political issues within 60 days of a general election or 30 days of a primary election."

You can saw whatever you want. What you can pay to have broadcast on television is another matter entirely.

Albeit, McCain had historical perspective.

Obama did a similar thing when Trump started to become a potential winner.

McCain was an honorable man. But not the only one. Guess who said these words:

> It will be a stirring sight to watch President Obama, his wife, Michelle, and their beautiful girls step through the doors of the White House. I know millions of Americans will be overcome with pride at this inspiring moment that so many have awaited so long.

George W. Bush for those googling.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIjenjANqAk

I've found 1 clip so far [1]; would you happen to have more? I'd love to be able to refer back to these in the future.

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIjenjANqAk

Well shit. I wasn't going to celebrate John McCain's funeral, but now I almost have to, after all he did to keep my country peaceful. I'll look him up, and be humbler in judgement from here on out. God damn it. :-(

it's celebrate the right for this in English? it sounds to me like you would be happy he has funeral, there must be better word than "celebrate", isn't?

Celebrate is the right word

Ie Celebrate his life

We often celebrate a person's life and accomplishments upon their passing. The exact phrasing of the above is a little odd, but celebrate can be the right expression here without necessarily meaning "I'm so glad they died."

He tried to do the right thing. Sometimes it came out a bit awkward like the infamous "He is a decent human being" comment, but his heart was in the right place

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIjenjANqAk

Unfortunately his party did not follow his example and instead went all in on the nutjobs.

He was truly one of our last great Republican leaders.

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