text: Washington (CNN) Two former friends of Sen. John McCain say his daughter Meghan McCain's pointed criticism of President Donald Trump in her speech at the Arizona Republican's memorial service on Saturday reflected the character of her late father. 
   
   "She is her father's daughter," South Carolina GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham said Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union." "If you say something bad about her dad, you will know it, whether you're the janitor or the President of the United States. She is grieving for the father she adored. I think most Americans understand that." 
   
   Former independent Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, who joined the program with Graham, said he was a "proud uncle" watching McCain's speech at the memorial service. 
   
   "She was direct ... the way John was," Lieberman said. 
   
   In her remarks on Saturday, McCain contrasted her father's legacy with Trump's rhetoric, saying, "The America of John McCain has no need to be made great again, because America was always great." 
   
   The comment received applause at the service and highlighted the broad differences between McCain and Trump, who was not invited to attend. 
   
   Graham and Lieberman were two of McCain's top allies in the Senate and his close friends -- they were often called the "three amigos" -- and their praise for his daughter came after she posted a photo of herself with them online reflecting that bond, calling the two senators her "uncles forever." 
   
   During Sunday's interview, the pair looked back fondly on their time with McCain and their travels together. 
   
   "His own attitude, the way he faced death with characteristic fearlessness and perspective, really comforted me," Lieberman said. "But you know, we're going to miss him. He's irreplaceable." 
   
   Graham, who offered an emotional tribute to McCain last week on the Senate floor, predicted McCain would be remembered as a cornerstone in Senate history. 
   
   "John loved the Senate," Graham said. "He was a man of the Senate. He loved the institution. When you write the history of the Senate, he's going to be in the first chapter." 
   
   Later in the interview, Graham said the responses to McCain's death showed the appreciation people had for military service, and he outlined a "formula" for those who wanted to engage in public service. 
   
   "Work hard, know what you're talking about, and people will listen to you," Graham said. "Pick a cause worthy of a good fight. Fight hard, and be willing to forgive, and ask for forgiveness. And above all else, when you make a mistake, admit it, repeat, repeat until you die, and the next thing you know, the nation will hold you up." ||||| Former Secretary of State John Kerry ripped America's current political leaders on Sunday, describing them as “so-called leaders” who are “operating in a fact-less world.” 
   
   Kerry, appearing on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” said today's political climate contrasts with leadership seen under the late Sen. John McCain John Sidney McCainOvernight Defense: Officials rush to deny writing anonymous op-ed | Lawmakers offer measure on naming NATO headquarters after McCain | US, India sign deal on sharing intel Democrats up the ante in Kavanaugh hearings Lawmakers introduce resolution to back naming NATO headquarters after McCain MORE (R-Ariz.) who died last week after being diagnosed with brain cancer. 
   
   "You work to implement our democracy by reaching out across the aisle, by building relationships, by believing in the better angels of American value system. And I think John McCain did that. I did that, others have done that,” Kerry said. 
   
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   “But right now we have a culture divide that has been accentuated by political so-called leaders,” he continued. “And what they're doing is they're operating in a fact-less world.” 
   
   Kerry, who was the Democratic presidential nominee in 2004, has been a frequent critic of President Trump Donald John TrumpTrump: Lincoln's Gettysburg Address was ridiculed by the 'fake news' Trump thanks North Korea’s Kim for promise to denuclearize during his tenure No NFL players visibly kneel during season opener MORE and his administration. 
   
   Kerry recently has criticized Trump over his controversial summit in Helsinki with Russian President Vladimir Putin, his comments slamming NATO allies and his decision to revoke former CIA Director John Brennan’s security clearance. 
   
   Trump, in turn, has taken shots at Kerry. 
   
   In May, the president lashed out at Kerry on Twitter following reports that the former secretary of State met Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in an attempt to save the Iran nuclear deal. 
   
   “The United States does not need John Kerry John Forbes KerryJohn Kerry: Anonymous NYT op-ed means ‘we don't really have a president’ Kerry: US facing a ‘genuine constitutional crisis’ Election Countdown: Fallout from Massachusetts stunner | In Delaware, Carper looks to avoid next progressive upset | Dem 2020 primary already in full swing | How a Dem ex-governor hopes to take red-state Tennessee | GOP challengers hit Dems over tax votes MORE’s possibly illegal Shadow Diplomacy on the very badly negotiated Iran Deal,” the president wrote on Twitter. “He was the one that created this MESS in the first place!” 
   
   When pressed Sunday about the tweet, Kerry responded, “America and our democracy are more thoughtful than dishonest tweets.” ||||| “I think the most important thing that the Democrats could do is allow Bob Mueller to complete his work,” said former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta. | Alex Wong/Getty Images Panetta: Democrats should hold off on impeachment 
   
   Amid recent talk of possible impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump, former Defense Secretary and CIA Director Leon Panetta is urging Democrats not to make a move just yet. 
   
   “I think the most important thing that the Democrats could do is allow Bob Mueller to complete his work,” Panetta said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos,” referencing Mueller’s work as special counsel for the Justice Department and his role in the ongoing investigation into Russia’s part in the 2016 presidential election. 
   
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   “I think Bob Mueller’s report will ultimately determine whether or not there are going to be additional steps taken against the president and they ought not to get ahead of that report because that will be the key to determining what happens in the future,” said Panetta, who was also White House chief of staff under President Bill Clinton. 
   
   Co-host Martha Raddatz asked about public concerns that Trump’s legal team is working on a report to question Mueller’s legitimacy. 
   
   “Well, you know, Bob Mueller is focusing on several things right now,” Panetta said. “Obviously, he’s going after individuals and he’s gone after Russians that were involved in coming after our election system,” referring to Mueller’s indictments. 
   
   “They’re getting very close to making a case for obstruction of justice not only by the steps that were taken in terms of the president demeaning and attacking a ‘witch hunt,’ but also the fact that [Trump’s lawyer] Rudy Giuliani himself has said that the whole purpose of their effort is to undermine the credibility of the special counsel.” 
   
   “And then when you add to that the dismissal of those that were involved in the investigation, I think you begin to piece together the kind of case that could form around an obstruction of justice trial,” Panetta continued. “So I think they have to be very careful to use this tactic of trying to undermine the special counsel and the special prosecutor, because I think that could backfire.”
target: – On CNN's State of the Union, Sen. Lindsey Graham praised Meghan McCain as "her father's daughter" following her headline-grabbing eulogy to her dad that many said appeared to bash President Trump. Former Secretary of State John Kerry appeared on Face The Nation and bashed the country's current leadership while contrasting it to the late Sen. John McCain on the day of the frequently bipartisan Republican's burial. "Right now we have a culture divide that has been accentuated by political so-called leaders,” Kerry said, per the Hill. “They're operating in a fact-less world." Ohio Gov. John Kasich also appeared on Face The Nation and said that, should he choose to run for president in 2020, it would be as a Republican. Over on This Week, former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta urged Dems to hold off on impeachment, per Politico.