Why is John McCain so revered?

Why is John McCain so revered?

Nearing his end after 82 years, the last 36 in Congress, John McCain is already being eulogized by many in government and the media while still alive. As a severe critic of McCain since he became one of the 'Keating Five' senators who took big contributions from corrupt S & L owner Charles Keating in return for Senate protection, I demur. McCain brilliantly played the tortured war prisoner and maverick cards to avoid Senate censure in 1989, won re-election five times and ran for president twice, once as the Republican nominee. During the ensuing 30 years McCain disgraced himself as being one of America's most virulent warmongers, cheerleading every senseless war and regime change policy. The number of innocents killed in wars he's promoted dwarfs the number he killed dropping bombs on his 23 combat missions over North Vietnam. McCain was a 'win in Vietnam' deadender, railing over civilian control that kept the military from killing enough Vietnamese to win the war. That alone made him unfit for Congress, much less the presidency. Aside from promoting self destructive war, McCain never advocated or achieved anything in domestic policy that helped Americans in need; opposing the Affordable Care Act, ignoring global warming and LGBT rights, among others. In what will be his last year, he supported Trump and the deficit busting tax giveaway to the rich, supporting the cruel, heartless Republican agenda to the end.

I mourn McCain's impending demise as I do every human, knowing the bell will toll for me one day in the not too distant future. I also mourn that any man squanders his opportunity to do good for mankind when given the privilege of public service.