Opinion: Free at last, loser John McCain walks out for his own coffee

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On his first day of being an historical footnote, Arizona Sen. John McCain walked down to his neighborhood Starbucks for his morning coffee -- all by himself.

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Having lost the presidential election and conceded it generously in front of millions watching TV (see complete text here), the now-former Republican presidential candidate, who was late taking Secret Service protection because it cramped his style, had no cumbersome motorcade with flashing lights.

With his convincing loss behind him, no speeches to give and no White House transition to plan or even contemplate, friends described McCain as extremely happy.

He spent the morning in his Phoenix condo relaxing and joking with friends and family, who described him as eager to return to work in the Senate, where a fair number of other losers have already returned from their own failed campaigns.

McCain and close friend Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina are discussing possible legislative initiatives and planning a trip to Afghanistan.

Really! Who wouldn’t want to go there after a bruising political campaign?

Campaign manager Rick Davis said, ‘He didn’t even spend 24 hours lamenting the loss.’

Late today, according to our Swamp colleague Jill Zuckman, McCain left with family and friends for his rural home outside Sedona, where rib-grilling was reported high on the non-campaign schedule.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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