Quote Originally Posted by daihashi
So you don't see using diplomacy rather than military tactics, in a country where our general population is sick of war and have expressed their desire to be out of Iraq, during an election year in which Republicans are behind in the polls; as a means to try to help the Republican party? I mean McCain has been criticized for his jokes about bombing Iran and the "100 year war" that dems have tried to label him as.

It's fairly obvious to me that this is a political move to help the Republicans. I do not see this helping or hurting Obama's campaign.
Look at what you just said. Yes, using diplomacy rather than military options makes Bush seem more reasonable, but it makes McCain seem less reasonable by comparison, like he is behind the curve. Bush softening his policy does not help McCain with his "100 years war" problem unless McCain softens his policy as well --- then he would be vulnerable to a flip-flop label on what he touts as his strongest issue.

Bush taking policy positions that he has in the past argued against, and that Obama has argued for bolsters the idea that Obama has been right and Bush has been wrong. It doesn not work in the favor of Republicans. They are left in the position of either saying Bush is right now, and Obama was right all along. Or Bush is wrong now and leading the country even further in the wrong direction.

I see these shifts in policy as positive for the country and very necessary, but I don't think they help Republicans politically, especially not McCain.