McCain calls to lift U.S. oil drilling ban

[daihashi]

Now Bush has jumped in to back up McCain on this one --- so that'll probably kill it. McCain keeps trying to distance himself from Bush and counter Obama's claim that McCain is no different from Bush. And Bush keeps blowing it for him.

I can't stop laughing at this. Almost makes me feel sorry for old man McCain.

daihashi Reviewed by daihashi on 06-18-2008. McCain calls to lift U.S. oil drilling ban WASHINGTON â?? John McCain called Monday for lifting a federal moratorium on offshore drilling for oil and gas â?? a politically sensitive issue in such key states as Florida. States should decide for themselves whether to permit drilling, McCain said, but they should be given the option to combat what he called an "energy crisis" that saw gas prices reach an average of $4.08 a gallon on Monday. McCain's plan represents a shift for the presumptive Republican nominee, who supported the Rating: 5

[dragonrider]

I can't stop laughing at this. Almost makes me feel sorry for old man McCain.

It is hilarious. Poor McCain. At this point Bush wants the Republican party to win so that the election can be an affirmation of his presidency, but every time he pops in to support McCain, it makes it that much more likely McCain will lose.

Obama says, "McCain is running for Bush's third term."

Then McCain says, "That's preposterous! You're not running against Bush, you're running against me. Here's what I want to do."

Then Bush jumps in to say, "Yeah! That's the right thing to do! That's exactly what I would do if I had a third term!"

Hahahahaha! The same thing kept happening to Gore with Clinton eight years ago. These on-their-way-out Presidents just can't help making it all about themselves....

[Dave Byrd]

This is wonderfully funny to watch right now for me, too. My wife pointed the phenomenon out to me last night at the hospital in some of her various papers she'd managed to obtain and then explained what it meant for both sides. The McCain taint by association with Bush is marvelous. Hey, and here on these boards, it tickles me even more to watch how the former Bushies have distanced themselves as well. When the lame duck gets lamer and lamer, well, time to revise those loyalties...

Here's my thinking on the association with Bush, and this is really something Bird pointed out to me. Need to give credit to the sharper political eye here. The lady sees strategy and communications tactics behind the scenes. The association with Bush will harm the McCain v. Obama contest. That's clear.

As Bird explained to me, though, the Bush-McCain connection is going to raise the esteem of McCain. Meaning in the eyes of the stronghold arch-Republican donors and those Rs who're not fully convinced that McCain's conservative enough. That's going to help pull the diehard righties in and help reassure them. They'll persuade others. Those others'll hear reassurance in future Bush validation of McCain and bring subsequent R-side skeptics aboard. More money and support will pour in. So it's going to influence McCain-hating Republicans in a positive way. Birdie says this has all been plotted and calculated by McCain's and Bush's communications and fundraising staffs and is part of their grand plan. I don't know if that's the case or not but assume she's probably right.

[dragonrider]

This is wonderfully funny to watch right now for me, too. My wife pointed the phenomenon out to me last night at the hospital in some of her various papers she'd managed to obtain and then explained what it meant for both sides. The McCain taint by association with Bush is marvelous. Hey, and here on these boards, it tickles me even more to watch how the former Bushies have distanced themselves as well. When the lame duck gets lamer and lamer, well, time to revise those loyalties...

Here's my thinking on the association with Bush, and this is really something Bird pointed out to me. Need to give credit to the sharper political eye here. The lady sees strategy and communications tactics behind the scenes. The association with Bush will harm the McCain v. Obama contest. That's clear.

As Bird explained to me, though, the Bush-McCain connection is going to raise the esteem of McCain. Meaning in the eyes of the stronghold arch-Republican donors and those Rs who're not fully convinced that McCain's conservative enough. That's going to help pull the diehard righties in and help reassure them. They'll persuade others. Those others'll hear reassurance in future Bush validation of McCain and bring subsequent R-side skeptics aboard. More money and support will pour in. So it's going to influence McCain-hating Republicans in a positive way. Birdie says this has all been plotted and calculated by McCain's and Bush's communications and fundraising staffs and is part of their grand plan. I don't know if that's the case or not but assume she's probably right.

That's an interesting take. McCain has had trouble bringing aboard the hard-core conservatives, and has had trouble raising money. So maybe getting closer to Bush would help with that. He needs the orgainzation and the money to run his campaign. But they say the key to a national election is the middle and the independents who might be turned off by a close association to Bush. The balancing act is always to bring aboard the "true believers" who do the hard work of a campaign and raise the money, without going so far as to alienate the middle-of-the-road swing voters. Getting cozy with Bush will maybe help the one and hurt the other.

[rebgirl420]

McCain in my opinion is nothing like Bush.

McCain is in the middle, he is far from being a Conservative Republican (not that Bush is a real Republican, he's a bit Liberal in some of his stances). McCain has screwed Republicans left and right. He's not really getting cozy with Bush and I doubt he will. Taking a few pictures with him does not qualify as anything special.

He'll get money from the Conservative Republicans when it comes down to it however. Republicans don't like McCain but they hate Obama a hell of a lot more.

[dragonrider]

McCain in my opinion is nothing like Bush.

McCain is in the middle, he is far from being a Conservative Republican (not that Bush is a real Republican, he's a bit Liberal in some of his stances). McCain has screwed Republicans left and right. He's not really getting cozy with Bush and I doubt he will. Taking a few pictures with him does not qualify as anything special.

He'll get money from the Conservative Republicans when it comes down to it however. Republicans don't like McCain but they hate Obama a hell of a lot more.

I agree that McCain is nothing like Bush and is far closer to the middle. I'm more of a moderate myself, but a Democrat. So McCain appeals to me a lot more than other Republican candidates have in the past. But all that aside, as a campaign strategy, linking McCain to Bush has worked for Democrats so far, I think. From a campaign point of view, it's not as much about policy, it's about linking him to Bush's unpopularity.

[rebgirl420]

I don't think the whole McCain-Bush thing will stick THAT bad.

Though I do like the counter attack, the whole Obama-Carter thing. Though I don't think that will stick THAT bad either. Though I find this one a lot more suiting.

Well, it might stick but only for people who are already pretty much decided.

Just another bumper sticker political attack.

[dragonrider]

All the tricks come out of the bag in an election, fair or unafair. Neither comparison is really accurate. But if one or the other looks like it is getting any traction, then they will use it. The problem for McCain is that Bush wants to be part of the election, so it makes the charge harder to shake off.

[Psycho4Bud]

Since the opinion poll of Bush is low and McCain agrees on offshore oil people therefore won't like McCain. Pretty funny to say the least!

Now lets see...Bush is for the war in Afghanistan the same as the dems and republicans so they all MUST hate each other. Also, 67% of U.S. citizens want offshore oil drilling like McCain and Bush so that leaves quite the minority that hates ALL these people......along with McCain and Bush of course.

Hell, 67% agree with McCain/Bush? Doesn't that mean that McCain just won the popular vote by a landslide?

Have a good one!:s4:

[rebgirl420]

Hehehe this is for the Liberals