Great stories about McCain the man.

First, from Gerald about McCain's devotion to his dying friend and mentor, Democratic Rep. Mo Udall.

Second, an interview with his son, Midshipman Jack McCain. I'd like to have been a fly on a nearby cactus for this conversation:

In further defense of his dad’s health, Jack enjoys telling the story about how he and his dad hiked the Grand Canyon last summer.

“He hiked 30 miles…9 down, 15 across and 6 up in two days. We started out on the North Rim [of the Grand Canyon] and made it to the South Rim. If age is ever an issue [just think of] 30 miles, two days, in 115 degree heat…and carrying a back-pack as well. And my dad doesn’t have any cartilage in his knees.”

One of the most memorable parts of the excursion, especially for a political science major, was being able to listen to his dad talk about “any period in history.”

“…If you start in China and head all the way to the United States, he knows about it. We probably had a four-hour conversation about the Ottoman Turks.”

I'll bet the Senator has a favorite Byzantine Emperor. The cognoscenti usually do.

Just sayin'.