McCain takes time to thank Leno

While Senator John McCain’s constituents in Southern Arizona have been begging him to step up and help them save the A-10 aircraft, he has been busy with more important issues. On Thursday, he took the time to issue a statement on Tonight Show host Jay Leno’s final show.

“As host of The Tonight Show, Jay Leno has made us laugh each and every weeknight for the last two decades, establishing himself as one of the finest entertainers of his generation. I always greatly enjoyed the honor of joining Jay in Burbank, despite a recent study that found he made 426 jokes at my expense over the years! Jay’s signature brand of comedy and his infectious enthusiasm for entertaining every night endeared him to millions across America and the world. He’s left big shoes to fill for his successor, Jimmy Fallon, as Johnny Carson did for Jay. I’m sure we’ll see much of him after his final show tonight, but I want to say thank you to Jay Leno for 22 years of great laughs.”

The residents of Southern Arizona have not had many laughs these days as the reality settles in that if their representatives do not act soon, the A-10 and the Davis Monthan Air Force Base, which supports it, will soon be a thing of the past. The base, home of the 358FS (Fighter Squadron), is one of the few remaining economic engines in Tucson, in the 8th poorest metropolitan areas of the country.

Most Americans hate to see Jay Leno leave the public stage at the same time most of Arizonan’s republicans don’t feel the same about McCain.

Earlier this month, McCain was censured by his own Party. The AZGOP State Committeemen strongly censured McCain during their mandatory annual meeting. Maricopa, Apache, Cochise, Gila, Mohave and Santa Cruz County Republican Committees had earlier censured the senator.

In response, McCain himself, and his troops, went forth to bash their fellow Republicans on every media outlet at their disposal.

Responding to comments made by McCain backers at the time, MCRC Chairman A. J. LaFaro stated, “For many years, our citizens have attempted in vain to get the Senator’s attention. We’ve made countless phone calls, written letters, and attended town halls. But Senator McCain has ignored the people he represents. Washington’s power lure has thoroughly corrupted. But Arizona cannot be ignored any longer.”

McCain has ignored the A-10 since July. As a fellow member with A-10 champion Senator Ayotte on the Senate’s Committee on Armed Services, McCain has still not signed on as a co-sponsor legislation that is being forwarded to ensure that the A-10 does not go away until there is legitimately something in place to replace it. In the Senate, current sponsors/cosponsors of S.1764 are Senators Ayotte, Blunt, Crapo, McCaskill, Graham, Isakson, and Baldwin.

In the House, current sponsors/cosponsors of HR.3657 are representatives Barber, Bishop, Hartzler, Kingston, Miller, Scott, and Shea-Porter.

A review of the statements released by the senator shows his interest in celebrities, Syria, and cable television. Rarely does the senator mention the issues most pressing for the hard working taxpayers, and struggling families in his state:

2/6/14 Statement Senator John McCain on Jay Leno
2/6/14 Statement Senator John McCain on Syria and Geneva
2/5/14 McCain on the Last Voyage of the USS Forrestal
2/5/14 McCain Applauds Grand Canyon Quiet Technology Incentives
2/4/14 Statement Senator John McCain on the Resignation of U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul
1/22/14 McCain and Graham on Syria War Crimes Report and Geneva Conference
1/17/14 Statement Senator John McCain on President Obama’s Speech on U.S. Intelligence Activities
1/17/14 Statement Senator John McCain on the Retirement of Senator Tom Coburn
1/17/14 Statement Senators McCain and Murphy on Passage of Anti-Protest Laws In Ukraine
1/15/14 Senator McCain on Meeting with Iraq’s Deputy Prime Minister
1/14/14 McCain on Appeals Court Decision Striking Down FCC “Net Neutrality” Rules
1/14/14 McCain and Graham on Reported “Secret Side Deal” With Iran
1/11/14 Statement Senator John McCain on the Passing of Former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
1/9/14 Statement Senators McCain and Graham on Reported Afghanistan Prisoner Release
1/9/14 Senator John McCain on Russian Veto of UN Security Council Statement Condemning Assad Regime’s Indiscriminate Air Attacks Against Innocent Syrian Civilians
1/8/14 McCain Requests Vote on Repeal of Wasteful Catfish Program
*1/8/14 Statement Sen. McCain on Third Anniversary of Tucson Shooting
*1/8/14 Senator McCain Seeks Information on DHS Border Security Policies and Practices
1/4/14 McCain & Graham Reported Al-Qaeda Takeover in Fallujah, Iraq
1/3/14 Statement Sen. McCain on Near-Blackout of 3 NFL Playoff Games This Weekend
12/19/13 Statement Senator McCain Regarding Putin Remarks n Possible Khodorkovsky Pardon
12/19/13 Remarks Senator John McCain on Ukraine at the Atlantic Council
12/18/13 Senators McCain and Blumenthal Applaud Unanimous FCC Vote to Consider Eliminating Sports Blackout Rules
12/18/13 Senator McCain Introduces Obamacare Alternative
12/18/13 Statement Senator John McCain Condemning Assad Regime’s Use of Cluster Munitions
12/17/13 Statement Senator John McCain on Developments In Tunisia
*12/16/13 Statement Senator McCain on College Football Playoff Selecting Glendale, AZ for 2016 National Championship Game
12/13/13 Statement Senator McCain on New Ambassador
12/12/13 Statement Senator John McCain on Developments In Syria
12/9/13 Senator McCain on the Passing of Ambassador Rich Williamson
12/2/13 Statement Senator John McCain on Demonstrations in Ukraine
*11/13/13 AZ Delegation Calls For Refund for Grand Canyon Park Reopening
*11/8/13 Letter to U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell on Hunting Trailers In Arizona Forests
11/7/13 Statement Senator John McCain on ENDA
*11/5/13 Statement Senator McCain on Apple Expanding To Mesa, Arizona
11/5/13 Statement Senator John McCain on State Department Reward For Information Leading To Capture of Rafael Caro Quintero
10/21/13 Senator John McCain Seeks Information on Premature Release Of Rafael Caro Quintero
*10/12/13 Statement Senators McCain and Flake on the Reopening Of Grand Canyon National Park
10/10/13 Statement Senators McCain and Flake on Impact of Grand Canyon National Park Shutdown
*10/10/13 Statement Senators McCain and Flake on Efforts to Reopen the Grand Canyon
10/7/13 Statement Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham on Syria
10/3/13 Statement Senators McCain and Shaheen on Congress Passing Iraq Visa Legislation
10/1/13 Statement Senator John McCain on Firing Of Marine Corps Generals For Security Lapses At Camp Bastion, Afghanistan
9/23/13 Senators Schumer and McCain Urge President Obama Not to Let Up On Iran Sanctions
9/23/13 Statement Senators McCain And Graham Urging Repeal Of Medical Device Tax During Cr Debate
9/20/13 Senator John McCain Urges CA Governor Jerry Brown to Veto Bill Banning Lead Ammunition, Protect California Condor
9/19/13 Senator McCain Sends Letter Urging the Government to Hold Individuals Accountable In “London Whale” Debacle
*9/19/13 Statement Senator McCain On Nominations To The United States District Court For The District Of Arizona
*9/17/13 Senator John McCain Seeks Information on $12.8 Million Housing Complex For CBP Agents in Ajo, Arizona
9/14/13 Statement Senators McCain and Graham on U.S.-Russian Agreement On Syria
9/12/13 Statement Senator John McCain on Moscow Mayoral Election
9/10/13 Statement Senators McCain and Graham on President Obama’s Speech on Syria
9/9/13 Statement Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham On Syria Developments
9/4/13 Statement Senator John McCain on Syria Amendments Passed by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Today
*8/9/13 Senators John McCain and Jeff Flake Repeat Request for President Obama to Consider Federal Disaster Declaration for Yarnell Hill Fire
* 8/8/13 Senator John McCain to Participate in Discussion on the Endangered Condor at the Grand Canyon
8/8/13 Statement Senators John McCain And Lindsey Graham on Next Steps in U.S.-Russia Relationship
8/2/13 Statement Senator John McCain on Confirmation Of General Dempsey And Admiral Winnefeld
8/1/13 Statement Senator John McCain on Samantha Power Nomination
8/1/13 Senator John McCain Writes Attorney General Holder on Halliburton’s Deepwater Horizon Disaster Plea Agreement
8/1/13 Statement Senator John McCain on Russian Government Asylum for Edward Snowden
7/29/13 Remarks Senator John McCain on the Passing of Colonel Bud Day
7/28/13 Statement Senator John McCain on the Passing of Colonel Bud Day
7/23/13 Blumenthal Teams with McCain as Lead Democratic Co-Sponsor of “A La Carte” Cable Bill
7/22/13 Remarks Senator John McCain on The Coins Act
7/19/13 Senators McCain and Levin Seek General Dempsey’s Assessment on Syria, Afghanistan Policy Questions
7/18/13 Senators McCain and Cardin Respond To Naval Verdict
* 7/15/13 Statement Senator McCain On Air Force Decision To Restore Sequestered Air Units For Remainder Of FY 2013
7/12/13 Senators McCain and Levin Request Information on Data and Intelligence Sharing Prior to the Boston Bombings
7/12/13 Senator John McCain Expresses Concern about VA Appeals System

*Arizona related issue

Supporters of the A-10 have been encouraging the public to call their representatives in support of the aircraft, which provides the close air support so desperately needed by the troops on enemy ground.

Senate contact numbers are:

Alexander, Lamar (TN)(202) 224-4944

Ayotte, Kelly (NH)(202) 224-3324

Baldwin, Tammy (WI)(202) 224-5653

Barrasso, John (WY)(202) 224-6441

Baucus, Max (MT)(202) 224-2651

Begich, Mark (AK)(202) 224-3004

Bennet, Michael F. (CO)(202) 224-5852

Blumenthal, Richard (CT)(202) 224-2823

Blunt, Roy (MO)(202) 224-5721

Booker, Cory A. (NJ)(202) 224-3224

Boozman, John (AR)(202) 224-4843

Boxer, Barbara (CA)(202) 224-3553

Brown, Sherrod (OH)(202) 224-2315

Burr, Richard (NC)(202) 224-3154

Cantwell, Maria (WA)(202) 224-3441

Cardin, Benjamin L. (MD)(202) 224-4524

Carper, Thomas R. (DE)(202) 224-2441

Casey, Robert P., Jr. (PA)(202) 224-6324

Chambliss, Saxby (GA)(202) 224-3521

Coats, Daniel (IN)(202) 224-5623

Coburn, Tom (OK)(202) 224-5754

Cochran, Thad (MS) (202) 224-5054

Collins, Susan M. (ME) (202) 224-2523

Coons, Christopher A. (DE) (202) 224-5042

Corker, Bob (TN) (202) 224-3344

Cornyn, John (TX)(202) 224-2934

Crapo, Mike (ID)(202) 224-6142

Cruz, Ted (TX)(202) 224-5922

Donnelly, Joe (IN)(202) 224-4814

Durbin, Richard J. (IL)(202) 224-2152

Enzi, Michael B. (WY)(202) 224-3424

Feinstein, Dianne (CA)(202) 224-3841

Fischer, Deb (NE)(202) 224-6551

Flake, Jeff (AZ)(202) 224-4521

Franken, Al (MN)(202) 224-5641

Gillibrand, Kirsten E. (NY)(202) 224-4451

Graham, Lindsey (SC)(202) 224-5972

Grassley, Chuck (IA)(202) 224-3744

Hagan, Kay R. (NC)(202) 224-6342

Harkin, Tom (IA)(202) 224-3254

Hatch, Orrin G. (UT)(202) 224-5251

Heinrich, Martin (NM)(202) 224-5521

Heitkamp, Heidi (ND)(202) 224-2043

Heller, Dean (NV)(202) 224-6244

Hirono, Mazie K. (HI)(202) 224-6361

Hoeven, John (ND)(202) 224-2551

Inhofe, James M. (OK)(202) 224-4721

Isakson, Johnny (GA)(202) 224-3643

Johanns, Mike (NE)(202) 224-4224

Johnson, Ron (WI)(202) 224-5323

Johnson, Tim (SD)(202) 224-5842

Kaine, Tim (VA)(202) 224-4024

King, Angus S., Jr. (ME)(202) 224-5344

Kirk, Mark (IL)(202) 224-2854

Klobuchar, Amy (MN)(202) 224-3244

Landrieu, Mary L. (LA)(202) 224-5824

Leahy, Patrick J. (VT)(202) 224-4242

Lee, Mike (UT)(202) 224-5444

Levin, Carl (MI)(202) 224-6221

Manchin, Joe, (WV)(202) 224-3954

Markey, Edward J. (MA)(202) 224-2742

McCain, John (AZ)(202) 224-2235

McCaskill, Claire (MO)(202) 224-6154

McConnell, Mitch (KY)(202) 224-2541

Menendez, Robert (NJ)(202) 224-4744

Merkley, Jeff (OR)(202) 224-3753

Mikulski, Barbara A. (MD)(202) 224-4654

Moran, Jerry (KS)(202) 224-6521

Murkowski, Lisa (AK)(202) 224-6665

Murphy, Christopher (CT)(202) 224-4041

Murray, Patty (WA)(202) 224-2621

Nelson, Bill (FL)(202) 224-5274

Paul, Rand (KY)(202) 224-4343

Portman, Rob (OH)(202) 224-3353

Pryor, Mark L. (AR)(202) 224-2353

Reed, Jack (RI)(202) 224-4642

Reid, Harry (NV)(202) 224-3542

Risch, James E. (ID)(202) 224-2752

Roberts, Pat (KS)(202) 224-4774

Rockefeller, John D., IV (WV)(202) 224-6472

Rubio, Marco (FL)(202) 224-3041

Sanders, Bernard (VT)(202) 224-5141

Schatz, Brian (HI)(202) 224-3934

Schumer, Charles E. (NY)(202) 224-6542

Scott, Tim (SC)(202) 224-6121

Sessions, Jeff (AL)(202) 224-4124

Shaheen, Jeanne (NH)(202) 224-2841

Shelby, Richard C. (AL)(202) 224-5744

Stabenow, Debbie (MI)(202) 224-4822

Tester, Jon (MT)(202) 224-2644

Thune, John (SD)(202) 224-2321

Toomey, Patrick J. (PA)(202) 224-4254

Udall, Mark (CO)(202) 224-5941

Udall, Tom (NM)(202) 224-6621

Vitter, David (LA)(202) 224-4623

Warner, Mark R. (VA)(202) 224-2023

Warren, Elizabeth (MA)(202) 224-4543

Whitehouse, Sheldon (RI)(202) 224-2921

Wicker, Roger F. (MS)(202) 224-6253

Wyden, Ron (OR)(202) 224-5244

In Arizona call:

Related articles:

Time to save the A-10’s ass, after years of it saving ours

One of Robert Gates’ more real legacies

Air Force A-10 plans could cost Tucson up to $480 million annually

Flake drops A-10 bomb on constituents