"Off-Topic: Most stories about politics, or crime, or sports, unless they're evidence of some interesting new phenomenon. [...] If they'd cover it on TV news, it's probably off-topic."
If this is the new standard then it's a worrying incursion of US politics into HN.
Can someone make a convincing argument as to how McCain's death is of particular interest to hacker culture? My feeling is these topics are sticking around because they're honoring a guy that seems beloved by both sides of the political spectrum (no dispute from me there), but it doesn't change the fact that this doesn't fit HN guidelines.
Edit: And before someone mentions it, I'm aware that I myself am breaking the guidelines by questioning the appropriateness of this topic. I think it's a fair discussion to be had when neither the flagging mechanism or HN's moderation staff are enforcing what should be the principal rule of the site.