While disagreeing with his party, I admire him for standing up for what he thinks is right, even if it is not popular with his peers.

Self-serving and untrustworthy. Bush's lapdog.

Like him or not, the man speaks his mind and is not afraid to swim against the tide of his own party. A true American hero as well.

I like John McCain. If not only because he stood up against those snakes of human beings The Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.

Another maverick--Not a Barry Goldwater--But he's stirring the pot that needs stirring. You know which one--The one that stinks when stirred. One of the few that shows any bi-parasitism.

My gut tells me we'd be on the best path to a stronger America, if we had been re-electing McCain in 2004 instead of Bush Jr. or Al Gore. McCain is certainly not perfect, but I give him credit for being the rare animal who often has the guts to criticize both political parties during moments when they are united in bull. Some would call this biting the hand that feeds you, but probably more of us could stand to think independently of political party lines.

Would have more respect for him if he quit fooling himself and declared his allegiance to the democratic party. Even though I am democrat, I could possibly vote for him for president.

John McCain is a man who sticks to his guns, is far more enviromentally friendly than the majority of the party, and most of all he fights needless spending wherever he sees it. The more I see him in interviews and on C-SPAN, the more and more I like this man and his policies.

I adore this man.

One of the most genuine people ever to grace politics.

MAYBE ONE OF THE ONLY BARELY HONEST POLITICIAN IN GOV. Changed my rating after he shot down the illegal imigration policy passed by the voters

A True American Spirit...

There is a reason why so many have rated McCain. Super visable and quite sensible. UPDATE: McCain in 2008!

This guy doesn't exactly float my boat. He's not really a Republican as much as he is a Democrat and can't make up his mind between unjustly degrading our President or supporting him!

I'm hot a cold on him. One minute he's bashing GW (my kinda guy) and the next minute he's kissin GW's ass. What's up? GW must have promised him a cabnit post in the 2d term, if elected.

wow. a republican that has his head on straight and isnt a tool of big business or the christian coalition??? who woulda thunk??? the only republican i can say i have any amount of respect for.

an honorable republican

I really hope he runs in 2008.

Confusing posture on where he stands in my opinion.

A decent and honorable man that should have been president. He has the distinction of being the only Republican I have voted FOR.

a honerable man

War hero. Very moderate. Makes both sides nervous. Should be President. Period.

I frequently disagree with McCain, but I think he is really attempting to serve his constituents, not just himself. McCain is a good man, and he got severely screwed by Bush and Rove in 2000. He was operating as a gentleman, but he was up against rogues.

Good convictions, sticks to his beliefs, however, does not fit into any category of the US political system. Often confused and just needs to pick a side of the political spectrum to stand on.

My favorite republican. Has too much integrity to ever go anywhere inside of of the Republican Party.

Although his political viewpoints are very conservative in most areas (thus, I disagree with him), he is passionate, and he never puts donors above constituents or money above integrity.

how bush beat him in the primaries in 2000 is beyond me. why he's supporting bush in 2004 is also beyond me.

Can we just hand the job over to McCain?

I don't understand how he can support Bush.

Why, oh why, couldn't more people have voted for McCain in 2000? This is a man of true conviction and honesty that even when you don't agree with him, you must admire his determination and ability for independent thought. One of the very few politicians I like....

One of few politicians who I consider to be honest and respectable. How can you say anything bad about a man who sacrificed what he did for our country. A true hero with impecable character who would have made a fine president.

I preferred him to Bush in 2000 and would likely do so again, even though I don't agree with his signature initiatives. I like politicians who don't always follow the party line and freely speak their minds. I like Zell Miller for the same reasons. With McCain, you also have a guy who served in Vietnam and spent five years in a Vietnamese Prison. Even though I didn't like his Campaign Reform bill, I appreciate his service to the country and would proudly vote for him for President if he were to run.

Though I disagree on a lot of his opinions I do respect his guts and conviction. He stood up for Kerry against his own party and I can respect that and his character. yes like Dean he is a bit of a firebrand but I will take passion and intensity over ignorance and indifference any day.

A maverick grade for a maverick. Keep going John!

I don't agree with him on social issues but he is honest.

I don't agree with Senator McCain on some issues, namely his ideas on campaign finance reform, which at best is an incumbency protection plan and at worst is a violation of the 1st Amendment Right to Free Speech, a candidates ability to advertise on TV is restricted with McCain's legislation. I don't agree with him on foreign policy, which echos by and large George W. Bush. I don't know however if he would have gone to war had he been President, he may have made a different judgement. I salute McCain for at least showing independent judgement as opposed to the rest of the GOP leadership, which is going down the path of big government, high deficits, a larger debt burden, and increased protectionism. I like his economically and even culturally libertarian views on things. The GOP should have nominated him in 2000. They wouldn't have had to resort to counting chads in Florida because he would have beaten Gore by a significant margin. He also has a great personal story, the guy has guts and I respect that.

the right winger I have the most respect for, truly independent. bad foreign policy-wise, though

a great american! god bless john mccain.

I rate McCain the same as I do all the Politicians, falling down on the job, why because they are not taking care of issues here at home and most importently these issues, Health care for Veterans, Seniors, and over hauling Social Security and the big fix is right in front of them which is undoing what President Ike had done.

A great senator who is responsive to his constituants. It is unfortunate that he is not more outspoken against the Bush administration.

MR PRESIDENT....SHOULD HAVE BEEN...BUT NO WE SELECTED DRAFT DODGER BUSH INSTEAD OF A REAL WAR HERO....GO FIGURE

While I'd never vote for him (I don't agree with his politics much, and his record on the environment is not good) I do respect his integrity and decency. If he were in office today we wouldn't have fanatical morons like Ashcroft or mean-spirited goons like Rumsfeld running the country. Look at all the racists on the board who hate him: this speaks volumes.

A dumb old drunk who used a smear campaign against his rival. Someone who never did a thing worthwhile. And he is the nastiest person I have heard talk. Using the vietnam war as an excuse to call a Chinese-American a "gook"? What the hell is with Mr. McCain? Personally, I think he needs to lay off the Bicardi.

Holds his ground with great tenacity, and will not bow down to whats popular.

GOP elected officials should endeavor to be more like this guy: it would be good for the party, both in terms of changing its retarded, illogical and assinine ideology, and enhancing voter appeal. McCain has the guts to question the ridiculous planks of his party's buttbackward platform right out in the open, and it's no wonder he strikes a very positive chord with the public as a result. Let's face it: the grassroots populi, excepting the droolers who make up only about 20-25% of the electorate, have had more than enough of the partisan bickering and extremist positions of the Conspiracy to Defraud The People known as the GOP (the conservative wing of this pukey enterprise) and the Dems (the liberal element of the same monolithic getover scam). Both parties are totally out of touch with the public's needs and don't give a rat's ass about the critical problems facing the nation: the s-bags on both sides are merely interested in raising money, getting re-elected and lining the pockets of their friends so that they can get some cushy overpaid job after the voters finally tire of their nonsense and turn them out. At least McCain has the guts to call a spade a spade and bolt from the lockstep herd of sheep when the GOP heads off into unsavory and brain-dead territory, which is quite often. Furthermore, he was essentially the only member of his party who pointed out, and honestly and accurately so, that GW Bush is one of the most unqualified, moronic candyasses ever to run for President. Right on target, John!!! Gotta give the guy loads of credit for that. Bush's people, bags of goosecrap that they are, countered by slandering McCain's wife, as if that anything to do with the cost of TV Guide in Havana. Shows you something about the ethics, spirit of fair play and alarming pettiness of those buttwipes. Also have to give the man major kudos for aspiring to reform the dirty-money graft and influence brokerage known as campaign financing. Long overdue, yet the GOP and the droolers have no problem with the unhealthy and pernicious effect this has on the political process, which indicates where those knuckleheaded, wrong-minded entities are at. Furthermore, he was right to question the appropriateness of flying the Stars and Bars over the State Capitol building in that backward and primitive toilet known as South Carolina. That flag is not only a symbol of human degradation and racism, but it also stands for the most overt, costly and severe act of treason in our nation's history. Yet all those redneck idiots affirm that the flag is part of their "proud heritage." I don't know why they're so proud of a heritage that considered human beings as property, as mere chattel. I don't know why they're proud of their long history of institutionalized and socially-binding racism, lynchings, Jim Crow laws, Klan meetings, cross burnings, etc. I don't know why they're so proud of their failed armed insurrection that spearheaded the prevading un-American sentiment that keeping darkies down on the plantation was more important than according all people, regardless of race, basic human rights. I don't know why they're so proud of that ill-advised war that killed off on the battlefield what little cream of the crop existed in terms of Southern men back in the days as the Yankees stomped the crap out of them. All I know is, if I were a Southerner, I'd be so mortified, so deathly embarrassed by the history and legacy of slavery, that "proud heritage," that 'traditional" Southern way of life, that I wouldn't want any part of remembering it fondly, enfranchising it, or pulling that revisionist history stunt the droolers are so fond of. Anyone who defends the flying of this crapsymbol of Southern degeneracy should have a bone hammered up his/her butt and then be dragged through the streets by a pack of mutant rabid dogs. I wouldn't even wipe my ass with that flag, as that would accord the symbol too much respect. So, well done John! Put those rebel subhumans in their place!!

This guy is the prototype waffling politician. He said all the right things back in the mid 90s and then promptly decided to sidestep the issues. No doubt McCain and Gingrich are golfing buddies. Leave the waffling and lying to the Democrats and screw your head back on straight.

Man of conviction and substance. Does not kowtow to anyone, especially the unelected president. Refreshing to see someone have their own ideas. Enjoyed seeing a tour of their home on HGTV.

One of the best conservatives I've seen in office. But still don't know enough about him yet.

As a Conservative Democrat, I really admire John McCain as a man and as a Senator. This man is a hero of mine for his loyal and brave service during the Vietnam War- and I do mean brave (see Aurielle's comment). He has alienated many members of his own party by supporting campaign finance reform and is not afraid to makethe American people aware of pork-barell bills that simply are a waste of taxpayer's money. He is also one of the leading advocates for the rights of Native Americans. In the last Senatorial election, he gained 40% of the Democratic vote. He is more centric than some of the other right-wing radicals out there.

The only one who fights for the only thing that really matters in an attempt to clean up the corrupt cesspool that is politics in this country, ie. CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM! These guys are all bought and paid for before they ever get elected.....that's the only way they CAN get elected! Fight on Big John!