How much patience should a President have and does John McCain have enough?

Abraham Lincoln set the bar pretty high, managing an impossible situation with rivals in his own party and opposition without, through good humor, patience, imagination and sensitivity. One must point out that he still died by an assassin's hand, demonstrating how tough the job of President really is.

John McCain is on record many times for running roughshod over his colleagues, bullying his way to his ultimate goals. A few years ago, Dick Cheney, told Patrick Leahy to conduct an anatomically impossible act after Leahy had subjected Cheney to extensive character assassination and then sought to shake his hand as if nothing had happened. Cheney's response was impolitic, but probably appropriate.

McCain on the other hand, suggested the same act to John Cornyn simply because the Senator wouldn't buckle under to McCain's agenda.

At a bipartisan gathering in an ornate meeting room just off the Senate floor, McCain complained that Cornyn was raising petty objections to a compromise plan being worked out between Senate Republicans and Democrats and the White House. He used a curse word associated with chickens and accused Cornyn of raising the issue just to torpedo a deal.

Things got really heated when Cornyn accused McCain of being too busy campaigning for president to take part in the negotiations, which have gone on for months behind closed doors. "Wait a second here," Cornyn said to McCain. "I've been sitting in here for all of these negotiations and you just parachute in here on the last day. You're out of line."

McCain, a former Navy pilot, then used language more accustomed to sailors (not to mention the current vice president, who made news a few years back after a verbal encounter with Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont).

"[Expletive] you! I know more about this than anyone else in the room," shouted McCain at Cornyn. McCain helped craft a bill in 2006 that passed the Senate but couldn't be compromised with a House bill that was much tougher on illegal immigrants.

Cornyn's office declined to comment on the incident.

Cornyn's refusal to exploit the issue is what I would call presidential demeanor--he had the presence of mind to realize that he had to work with John McCain and nothing would be served in embarrassing him.

John McCain acted like an ass, and the implications of his arrogance, casual disregard for his colleagues and disregard for civil behavior are serious indeed for a man who would like to be president. Things are going to be very tough for the next president and we will desperately need someone with self-control and an ability to deal with his political enemies on productive terms.

At one point, even a few months ago, I said I could be happy with any of the main contenders for the Republican nomination. That is no longer the case--McCain is total unsuitable and should consider retirement instead.