John McCain–once considered a maverick Republican–stood today with George W. Bush and the Roadblock Republicans by voting against a Congressional ban on waterboarding. Think Progress has more:

Earlier today, ThinkProgress noted that Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), a former prisoner of war, has spoken strongly in favor of implementing the Army Field Manual standard. When confronted today with the decision of whether to stick with his conscience or cave to the right wing, McCain chose to ditch his principles and instead vote to preserve waterboarding

[...]

John McCain: He was against waterboarding before he was for it.

[Emphasis Added]

This is just the most recent example of McCain’s shameful Senatorial conduct. A few days ago, McCain skipped a key vote on the economic stimulus package, which would have provided much-needed fiscal relief to millions of Americans, particularly the unemployed and wounded veterans. What was John McCain doing that kept him from casting this crucial vote?

He was attending a campaign rally.

The stimulus package was filibustered by the Roadblock Republicans, and McCain’s absence sustained their filibuster by one vote; the final vote tally was 59-41. John McCain was the only Senator to miss that vote. Missed votes are nothing new for Senator McCain–he’s missed 55.5% of Senate votes this term, making him the most absent Senator in Congress (except for Tim Johnson, who spent months in the hospital after suffering a brain hemorrhage).

It’s clear that John McCain is a maverick no more. McCain’s willingness to put himself ahead of his country shows that he can’t be trusted to be our next President. The last thing America needs is another self-centered politician who to puts himself ahead of the rest of us; in other words, the last thing America needs is another George W. Bush.

Which is exactly what John McCain is shaping up to be.

Image from The Huffington Post