Bush hands McCain the baton
John McCain and George W. Bush have always had a relatively awkward relationship, especially given the Bush team’s willingness to smear McCain during their 2000 primary fight. (They got along far better in 2004.)
But this afternoon at the White House, with Bush formally endorsing McCain, the relationship took yet another turn.
In a press conference in the White House Rose Garden Wednesday, President George W. Bush was supposed to pass the baton, after a fashion, to presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain. But instead Bush looked very much like a man not quite ready to give up that baton and its attendant spotlight; on more than one occasion, he interrupted McCain, who could only stand and look awkward.
But Bush did manage to deliver his endorsement to McCain. “It’s been my honor to welcome my friend John McCain as the nominee of the Republican Party,” Bush said. “John showed incredible courage and strength of character and perseverance in order to get to this moment. And that’s exactly what we need in a president: Somebody who can handle the tough decisions, somebody who won’t flinch in the face of danger… [H[e’s going to be the president who will bring determination to defeat an enemy and a heart big enough to love those who hurt.”
In thanking Bush for the endorsement, McCain was similarly full of praise. “I’m very honored and humbled to have the opportunity to receive the endorsement of the president of the United States, a man who (sic) I have great admiration, respect and affection,” McCain said. “I appreciate his endorsement. I appreciate his service to our country. I intend to have as much possible (sic) campaigning events and — together, in keeping with the president’s heavy schedule. And I look forward to that opportunity… I hope that the president will find time from his busy schedule to be out on the campaign trail with me.”
At which point, Democrats everywhere quietly said to themselves, “I hope so, too.”
When the two opened the floor to questions from reporters, we actually heard a couple of interesting responses.
First, Bush assured everyone that McCain would keep his current approach to foreign policy in place.
Q I wanted to ask about the — the voters, according to a lot of the exit polls, seem to be searching for change this year. And I’d like to ask both of you — excuse me — I’d like to ask both of you how the Republican Party, which has been here for eight years, is going to make the case that you’re going to provide the change that the voters seem to want, both on Iraq and the economy?
BUSH: Let me start off by saying that in 2000 I said, vote for me, I’m an agent of change. In 2004, I said, I’m not interested in change — I want to continue as President. Every candidate has got to say “change.” That’s what the American people expect. And the good news about our candidate is, there will be a new President, a man of character and courage — but he’s not going to change when it comes to taking on the enemy. He understands this is a dangerous world, and I understand we better have steadfast leadership who has got the courage and determination to pursue this enemy, so as to protect America.
Shortly thereafter, a reporter asked McCain where he’d want the president to campaign for him. Bush barely let the senator get a word in edgewise.
McCAIN: Could I start out with —
BUSH: I’m focusing on, you know, protecting America, and succeeding in Iraq, and dealing with the North Korean [sic], and dealing with the Iranian[sic], and dealing with the issues around the world where we’re making a difference in terms of keeping peace. I want to get this in as good as a position as possible so that when John McCain is the President — and he will be — he can deal with these issues in a way that yields peace.
On Fox News, the National Review’s Rich Lowry said Bush was making the case that McCain would be just like him.
[Lowry said] Bush is framing McCain as embracing his old platforms, “someone determined absolutely to take on our enemy and someone with a big heart who cares for those who hurt.” Lowry said McCain was shaping up to be Bush’s “successor”:
Who does that sound like? A ‘compassionate conservative’ who wants to take on our enemies. It sounds like George W. Bush…. That’s obviously the way he views John McCain, as a successor to himself.
These guys are going to make tying McCain to Bush pretty easy, aren’t they?
Boy! I hope Hillary and Obama don’t screw this up!
I don’t know if I can take another 4 years of McBush.
Well, Mr. Lifetime of Experience already got Hillary’s endorsement, so why not Bush’s.
(sic) (sic) (sic)
What is up with this Kos thing?
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/3/5/131156/5021/187/469677
But instead Bush looked very much like a man not quite ready to give up that baton and its attendant spotlight
Didn’t Bill Clinton recently say he actually likes Bush? I’m beginning to see the similarity.
Didn’t Bill Clinton recently say he actually likes Bush? I’m beginning to see the similarity. -Danp
Because they are both engaged in a pendulum dynasty. It’s a parasitic relationship: they represent the corporations and we’re all the host.
What is up with this Kos thing?
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/3/5/131156/5021/187/469677 -Rick
That’s sick.
And I checked out the comments, and none other than our dear Swan was defending it.
I was wonder what that twit had been up to.
The more I think about this, the more I think we overestimate the benefit that Democrats get by McCain tying himself to Bush. Bush’s approval may be in the tank, but he’s the president and a lot of people respect authority. No one ever looks like the president until they are, but standing beside one and having him appear at selective events helps you look like one. If you don’t think voters are that stupid, consider how many people think electing HRC will bring back the economy of the 90s. Think about how many people are convinced that being married to the president qualifies as experience to be president. Think how many people support HRC because they liked Bill.
McCain will use all the exaggerated, simplistic characterizations and false claims of the right to paint Dems as wrong on everything and unfit to consume oxygen (he started last night). He’ll dismiss the negatives that the public associates with Bush as being in the past, and irrelevant to discussions of the future. Think of how Bush shamelessly attacks Congress for being partisan when he himself is the obstacle, or how shamelessly he attacked Kerry. That’s what Bush can do for McCain.
Then there’s the brilliance of McCain’s manufactured image of maverick and straight-talker. He can veer away from Bush anytime he wants, and it fits his maverick image. He can tell you things that you don’t like and it fits his straight-talker image. Those of us who recoil at irrational arguments and cognitive dissonance are in the minority. Most people don’t even know those things exist. All they want is someone to take care of them, someone to believe in, someone who they think they know stands for something.
With the head start McCain is getting thanks to HRCs victories yesterday, this ain’t going to be easy.
Let’s say it together 4 More Years!
Of course I am not sure that most Republican voters have figured that out yet. They may think McCain is “different” than Bush. Ha.
doubtful, Did you click on Swans blog? It’s a hoot. I copied a little for you (and CB) I think you’ll see why she’s gone. enjoy!
Wow!
Weird post from The Carpetbagger Report today.
Steve Benen (The Carpetbagger Report), Kevin Drum, and Matt Yglesias used to be three of the best bloggers out there. Now they’re each slowly getting less and less reliable over the past few months.
Here’s this gem from Steve Benen today about the latest Hillary Clinton ad:
Maybe I’ve become desensitized a bit, but this one didn’t really faze me that much. It feels like a regular ol’ Republican ad,
Get that? An ad that does nothing at all more than emphasize the difference in experience between her and her chief primary rival, in a race in which the greatest relavent difference between the two candidates is the experience gap, is accused of being “a regular ol’ Republican ad.” What? What does this ex-campaign adivsor want us to do? Not play politics effectively?
Like the commenters on the liberal blogosphere, who, unlike Democrats in general, have become inexplicably, over 90% Obama supporters, and often vituperatively so, like the worst of Rush Limbaugh talking smack about Hillary (and then when they are challenged about it in comments, they protest that it isn’t so and accuse the Hillary campaign and supporters of doing all the nasty stuff) Steve Benen has gotten straight-up weird lately.
What explains all that?
Even if he’s decided he strongly supports Obama, why does he want to set an example of how not to do effective campaigning and ads?
“Four More Years” needs to be the caption under The Hug.
The voters will know what to do with John McBush.
If it wasn’t for the aging SCOTUS, I would say let McNutjob take over, and let Obama rise again in 2012 after getting four more years of spotlight as an outstanding senator.
Oh, no! Swandiving in absentia!
doubtful, Did you click on Swans blog? It’s a hoot. -Rick
Yeah, actually, I just read that particular post you cited. Had me loling.
How sure can we be that the GOP’s secret PsyOps branch won’t be resorting to using agents provocateur, among other “dirty tricks,” for electoral purposes in the runup to Indecision 2008?
John McCain: “Stay-the-Course” you can Xerox!
It would be interesting to see what that woman who interpreted Roger Clemens’ body language would have to say about the Bush/McCain dance.
BU$H BACKS McCAIN!
THE “SKUNK” BACKS” ‘A N O T H E R ~ S K U N K’!
BEND OVER AND GRAB YOUR ANKLES FANS, APPLY LOTS OF VASALINE THIS IS GONNA DRAW BLOOD!
SNL should break out & update some old Admiral Stockdale skits for use on McCain. When the phone rings at 3AM, will they have to use the paddles on him?
Here’s a good argument why it is actually good that the contest between Obama and Hillary is still going on for a while..
http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2008/03/06/democratic_primaries/
That’s not a baton, it’s a stick of dynamite.
Oh yes. The ability to suck up to someone who once stabbed you in the back then fucked you up the ass takes real courage, character and perseverance. As for the intelligence of sucking up to the most unpopular president evar, how can one begin to describe such brilliance?
What a wonderfully ambiguous statement. Is the pResident referring to those who have hurt or those who have been hurt? If the latter, what the fuck does he know about it? That bastard wouldn’t know empathy if it stole his favourite coke snorting straw.
If the former, I smell an “Endorsement for Pardons” deal on the wind. “We’re best buddies, right Johnny? You n’ me. You know I was jest jokin’ when I said you had a black love child. Heh.”
whats this horrible stench?
ahsooooo, “BU$H & McCAIN”!
a hog farm smells refreshing.
*YUP*
“WE~THE~PEOPLE”, a herd of BLIND sheep being led to slaughter, YET, STILL!
and ‘SMOKING’ kills???
ROTFLMFAOOOOOO