McCain went frm being the spoiled son of admirals and shittiest pilot in the world to Gods gift to aviation and politics.
More than once. When he was Dubya's competition - he was nothing.
Until Dubya WON -
then he became the guy the left WOULD HAVE voted for.
They liked him, then. Oh if only MCCAIN had won the nomination - we'd have been good, with HIM.
Until he WAS the nominee. Then he was another term of Bush. Really. Among my few die-hard liberal friends - one of them, an exceedingly smart guy - STILL was surprised when I discussed with him how very different McCain was, because he was certain he was just another Bush.
He lost. Went back to the Senate. They hated him. And especially Palin, but they didn't like him.
Until Trump. Then they loved him.
Then he died. Then they beatified him and canonized him.
Of course, none of them could remember a single harsh word they ever said about him.