Ok, now this is just plain old fashioned scarey...

I spent some time, as long-time readers know, in Casino Land. There is a definite etiquette that you have to observe, or at some point, they don't let you play. So long as you are losing, they'll let you get away with whatever you're doing but they'll advise you and ask you to stop. Start winning, and they'll stop your play. That simple. If you've been watching the Oceans Whatever Series, they're a bit extreme but really not that much. Casinos go through a lot to avoid being scammed; they trust no one. And, getting violent on the casino floor is a bad idea...Hands below the table when the dice are in play is a serious violation. You could tap the table or slap it or do something else to alter the roll.

McCain doesn't sound like a real high roller or whale; Cindy is rich, but not whale rich. So, if he is that crazy in his play and over-reacts that much to a polite reminder, I'm thinking he may fit the degenerate gambler profile. I also have to wonder about obsessive compulsive behavior combined with some substance abuse. The guy is constantly in pain from his injuries--yet, he drinks? Odd combination. Gotta be on some pain medication. And he drinks. And gets uncontrollably angry.

So, this story is actually kind of scary. McCain seems to have real issues with women, particularly women his own age, touching him or talking to him. A lot of former military guys have issues with being touched unless they know it's coming. It is a reaction to the environment, a physiological manifestation of deeper psychological issues related in part to the experience. Former prisoners who've done hard time in tough places have the same reaction.  McCain is way, way over the top. He's actually fucking crazy.  His issues with Cindy are pretty well documented as well. I'm starting to wonder if he may be a deeply closeted homosexual, who pursues and abuses women to avoid confronting his deeper self. Wouldn't it be cool if our first openly gay president would be a Republican Macho Man?

Next, the whole, "Do you know who I am! I'm John McCain, bitch!" says volumes about his character. None of it good. Under stress, he becomes a dickhead. Ok, I was a grunt. I still have a grunt mindset. Under stress, I devolve to being a dickhead. In general, however, I don't like being a dickhead, so I work really work hard at not being an asshole, dickhead or panic-stricken  deranged guy screaming about "get off of my lawn. Do you know who I am? I'm Crusader AXE of the Lost Causes, bitch." If I find myself at that point, I change what I'm doing so as not to be stuck in that spiral to madness. Now, the temper is something we can't blame on the North Vietnamese. He brought that to the game himself.

A lot of people -- rich, famous, accomplished -- are assholes. Not a terrible surprise. But, McCain is very over the top...if I were coaching Obama for the next debate, I'd work him to psychologically get McCain to lose it. Which he could easily be goaded into -- I could picture a world class meltdown over the whole freedom fries thing. Obama may be too much of a gentleman to do this...interestingly, McCain has a piece of paper from Annapolis and the Department of the Navy commissioning him as an officer and a gentleman. Gentleman do no physically and verbally abuse little old ladies.

Seriously, I've been thinking that the guy has had a series of small strokes. Now, I'm starting to think that the guy is just revealing his true colors. He's probably a decent guy to joke around with and have a drink with. But, I wouldn't trust him with my animals, kids (if any!) and spouse. The significant other, if she were still in the picture, would knee him in the groin and kick him senseless, so that would be no problem, if he went off on here.

So, clueless, erratic, short-fused, unpredictable, violent and abusive. This guy could make us wish for more of the Bush presidency. I could see him taking a swing at Putin; and, Putin would take him out. Hopefully, we'd see it live. It also could be interesting the first time Vice President Bumpo crosses him on something...given that it doesn't seem to matter, trivial or major, he'll just go nuts...the first woman Vice President could end up in an emotionally, spiritually and potentially physically abusive relationship based on lies. Well, perhaps First Dude and Sis can help with that.

Comments

[TonyRz]

Two thoughts:

1) What the lady did at the craps table (HuffPost story) wasn't appropriate. She should have complained to the dealer and not decided it was her prerogative to manhandle a stranger. Because it wasn't.

2) The alternative to the occasional flash of anger that causes everyone to clutch their pearls? Keeping that steady (probably medicated) gaze? That frozen smile of the psychopath?

Honestly, this is weak, weak, weak.

[Agi]

Get off my lawn you fuckin' pinko kids!

[Crusader AXE]

Tony, you're absolutely right that the woman should have complained to the dealer. However, McCain's reaction to the woman is what's at question. He's the guy who wants to be president, and wherever he is and whatever he's doing, he's under examination. OK? "Excuse me ma'am. I understand...but, you know, it's hard for me to keep my hands that high because I have had multiple fractures and injuries. My name is John McCain, and I guess you've probably heard about what happened to me. I'll try." And, AXE and the HuffPo would be comparing him to St Francis, for Christ sakes. Instead, I'm thinking John Wesley Hardin.

[TonyRz]

Fair enough (yr response), but this is behavior (the lady's, that is) that I've been on the receiving end of increasingly since 2002 or thereabouts, usually at concerts, where people really need to be a little more used to the idea that they're going to be in close proximity to other human bodies, and those bodies might be in places that aren't terribly convenient for you.

Maybe I look as old as McCain, and I should just get used to this, and any day now boy scouts will be helping me across the street, but I'm a baby-faced 45.

When I first encountered it - shortly after 9/11 - I chalked it up to our medicated nation. I'm not talking about a tap on the shoulder or a momentary interruption when I'd rather be listening to whoever I paid to see on stage. I'm talking people who are apparently thinking - "I'm going to, out of the blue, grab your arm (or grab your sleeve or both your hips - swear to G-d I found hands on my hips giving me an unsolicited adjustment once) and put them where I want them - right *there*."

And I'm not too precious for mosh pits, either. And we're talking centimeters of difference. It's unnerving because it's so beyond what I think of as sane, civilized behavior, and it means I'm now in close proximity to what may be a nutcase. And - guilty as charged - it usually makes me as angry as it seems to have made McCain, and I'm no POW.

My only previous experience prior to 2002 with this type of behavior was from certified psychos who were medded to the gills and had apparently lost certain social inhibitions (not explained by, say, drink). Which is why it scares me. And if the person isn't pharmaceutically incapacitated, then it's just enormously disrespectful - Hey! I'm not your furniture! - which is why it angers me.

I'm not voting for McCain even with a gun to my head, but this tale is just HuffPost drama queen stupidity. YMMV. Thanks for letting me vent.

[Crusader AXE]

Yeah, in a lot of ways I agree. I dislike being touched and have to deal with my reflex to blow up at times. And, at times, I don't. Which is one of the many reasons I won't run for office for anything and wouldn't serve if elected. I don't do well kissing babies and patting heads and I'm lousy with names. However, McCain's imitation of Travis Bickle can give us all pause...although the Mohawk would be cool...