McCain knew damn well that he wasn't going to return to office, but didn't give up his seat. There is a reason behind that.
For the guest list, I could care less who was there or wasn't. I'm not a McCain fan because I do believe he is a RINO. 6 terms and he did nothing for our vets that he claims he cares so much about. He even stated in an interview that the current VA health system is good as it is. Then a year later, got cancer and went to the Mayo Clinic.
For his POW thing, I give him a break even if he did sing like a song bird. We weren't there and everyone has a breaking point. And when he did get to the Hanoi Hilton, he had a broken arm and leg. So he didn't show up in perfect conditions like how you start SERE. I do believe many of his medals were politically driven though. But when they were awarded, he wasn't thinking about a senate run. No one is going to turn down a medal, so they were out of his control.
What makes me go hmmm is that Soro's supported him and he had many democrats support him, even the ones he ran against in 08 who bashed him at that time. When that senator got shot at the softball game, it was crickets from the dems.