Report: McCain Doesn’t Want Trump at Funeral

6 May 2018

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) reportedly does not want President Donald Trump to attend his funeral.

Instead, those close to the ailing Senator have reportedly indicated that he wants Vice President Mike Pence to attend and former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush to be eulogists.

The New York Times reported on Saturday that McCain’s “intimates have informed the White House that their current plan for his funeral is” for Pence to attend while NBC News reported that Messrs. Obama and Bush are planning give eulogies at the service that will be held at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.

McCain is battling brain cancer and has reportedly said, “I don’t know how much longer I’ll be here.” His close friends from both sides of the political aisle have reportedly been visiting him in recent months at his Arizona ranch.

Trump escalated his feud with McCain during the 2016 election cycle when he said that McCain was “not a war hero” because “he was captured.” Trump’s critics and McCain’s allies blasted Trump after he made those remarks, pointing out that Trump received deferments for bone spurs.

Trump reportedly also upset some members of McCain’s family by mocking the “thumbs down” gesture McCain used to vote against a bill to repeal Obamacare, ensuring the bill’s failure.

McCain and George W. Bush also viciously clashed during a heated 2000 primary season in which McCain infamously lashed out at Christian conservative leaders who supported Bush as “agents of intolerance.” But the two eventually made up, and the Times reported that Bush checked in with McCain just last week and told the Arizona Senator that the country missed him.

Recently, Trump did not attend the funeral of former First Lady Barbara Bush “to avoid disruptions due to added security, and out of respect for the Bush Family and friends attending the service.” First lady Melania Trump attended instead.

https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/05/06/report-mccain-doesnt-want-trump-funeral/

6.1 earthquake strikes western Iran near Iraqi border

A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.1 has struck western Iran, near the border with Iraq, according to the US Geological Survey.

The quake struck some 31 kilometers from Javanrud, Kermanshah province, at a depth of 10 kilometers, USGS reports. There were no immediate reports of major damage, but the powerful jolt was reportedly felt as far as the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

A number of people suffered injuries in the quake and were rushed to hospital in Javanrud, Press TV reports. Meanwhile, reports on social media suggest that at least one person has died, and around 20 have been reported wounded so far.

People rushed to hospital after strong earthquake hit western Iran#IranEarthquakepic.twitter.com/t38tzPwyB5

— Press TV (@PressTV) August 25, 2018

Unverified photos of the aftermath have been circulated on social media, although witnesses have warned that some of them might have been taken during last year’s deadly quake.

Prelim M6.1 Earthquake western Iran Aug-25 22:13 UTC, updates https://t.co/Pglax0k33J

— USGS Big Quakes (@USGSBigQuakes) August 25, 2018

The same border area was rocked by a devastating earthquake last November, in which more than 600 people were killed and hundreds suffered injuries across Iran and Iraq.

People in Javanrud near the epicenter of tonight’s quake in Kermanshah province western Iran. Last November quake was in the same area, the epicenter was in Ezgeleh (see map) this area is near Halabja in Iraq pic.twitter.com/0mTckWuJ9X

— Fazel Hawramy (@FazelHawramy) August 25, 2018

https://www.rt.com/news/436859-earthquake-iran-iraq-border/

How to replace John McCain? Here's how the process works

It would be up to Gov. Doug Ducey to appoint the replacement for Sen. John McCain should he resign from the Senate or die in office.

On Friday, the McCain family said the senator is ending medical treatment for glioblastoma, a deadly form of brain cancer.

Arizona's Republican governor has few limitations on his choice, according to state law. The replacement must be a Republican, as McCain is, and would serve in the U.S. Senate until voters elect a new senator in the next general election.

Although there is a general election on Nov. 6, McCain's successor would serve at least until the following general election in 2020.The winner of that election would serve the rest of McCain's six-year term, which ends after the 2022 election in January 2023.

McCain's death, for the first time in Arizona's 105-year history, would require that a Senate seat be filled through gubernatorial appointment.

Sen. Jeff Flake's seat is at its six-year limit in 2018, and Flake chose not to seek re-election.

In July 2017, when McCain announced his brain cancer diagnosis, Ducey repeatedly ruled out appointing himself. Speculation has swirled ever since over whom he would tap: A placeholder who would not seek to run for a full term? Or someone who would intend to defend the seat in the next general election.

If Ducey were to tap one of Arizona's congressional members, the election schedule would get even busier. That's because a vacancy in the House must be filled by a special election and cannot wait until the regular 2020 primary and general elections.

"The really interesting scenario would be if the governor appointed a sitting congressman," said Eric Spencer, the state elections director. That would trigger a special primary and general election to fill the vacancy in the House of Representatives, Spencer said.

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2017/07/20/what-if-senator-mccain-leaves-office-how-process-works/494621001/