McCAIN, REJECTED BY HIS SENATE COLLEAGUES, VICIOUSLY LASHES OUT AT SENATOR OBAMA

The overwhelming veto-proof approval of the bipartisan GI Bill is being looked at by the media as a slap in the face for Bush. And it was. But a far worse message was delivered-- by his Republican colleagues-- to John McCain. He was close to psychotic today when he found that the final tally, 75-22, had more Republicans voting with Obama and Clinton than with him. He had personally appealed to the Senate caucus to hold together on this and not let the Democrats make him look like an idiot. With the exception of a bunch of Bush Regime dead-enders and his own yippy-yappy gay South Carolina lapdog, the Republicans in the Senate caucus abandoned him in droves-- especially the ones who are up for re-election in November. They have all seen the value of his coattails writ large after the special elections in Illinois-- where he staked all his prestige on Oberweis-- and in Mississippi, where every single Republican household got an automated phone message from McCain. When Obama gently criticized McCain for trying to force fellow Republicans into filibustering a popular measure to give veterans a fair shake, McCain exploded in paroxysms of venomous psychosis. Before we go over his mental breakdown, here's what he was reacting to:

"I respect Senator John McCain's service to our country. He is one of those heroes of which I speak. But I can't understand why he would line up behind the president in opposition to this GI bill. I can't believe why he believes it is too generous to our veterans. I could not disagree with him and the president more on this issue. There are many issues that lend themselves to partisan posturing, but giving our veterans the chance to go to college should not be one of them."

McCain treated that like a declaration of war, which is exactly how he treats anyone disagreeing with him about anything. On a day when all the newspapers were talking about how his campaign is overrun with crooked lobbyists whose sleazy clients are paying them to get his favors, and on a day when McCain denounced the religious right again and severed his relationships with Reverend Hagee and Reverend Parsley, two avatars of modern day Republicanism, and on a day when the Senate voted overwhelmingly against him on an issue he (quite disingenuously) claims to be an expert on, McCain just lost it, lashing out at Obama and showing the two-bit thug side of his personality he is always trying to keep under wraps.

"It is typical, but no less offensive that Senator Obama uses the Senate floor to take cheap shots at an opponent and easy advantage of an issue he has less than zero understanding of... Both Senator Webb and I are united in our deep appreciation for the men and women who risk their lives so that the rest of us may be secure in our freedom. And I take a backseat to no one in my affection, respect and devotion to veterans. And I will not accept from Senator Obama, who did not feel it was his responsibility to serve our country in uniform, any lectures on my regard for those who did. Perhaps, if Senator Obama would take the time and trouble to understand this issue he would learn to debate an honest disagreement respectfully. But, as he always does, he prefers impugning the motives of his opponent, and exploiting a thoughtful difference of opinion to advance his own ambitions. If that is how he would behave as President, the country would regret his election."

UGLY! I wonder how many Republicans who have to run with him on top of the ticket are starting to feel some buyer's remorse about now. Many senators were embarrassed and one GOP solon said it was the most vicious personal public attack he had every heard in his 18 years in the U.S. Senate. McCain seems to be coming apart-- the campaign hasn't really even begun and he's already unhinged. But everyone knows, especially his wife (who he publicly called "a cunt") that he's on a hair-trigger.

As usual Obama was cool, calm and collected in his response to McCain's personal nastiness.

"I am proud to stand with Senator Webb and a bipartisan coalition to give our veterans the support and opportunity they deserve. It's disappointing that Senator McCain and his campaign used this issue to launch yet another lengthy personal, political attack instead of debating an honest policy difference. He should know that this is not about John McCain or Barack Obama-- it's about giving our veterans a real chance to afford four years of college without harming retention. Senator Webb's bipartisan bill will do this, and the bill that John McCain supports would not. These endless diatribes and schoolyard taunts from the McCain campaign do nothing to advance the debate about what matters to the American people."