Big chill at big house: Bush, McCain not on speaking terms

For the record, President Bush has endorsed Republican John McCain for president. Heck, half his political team -- led by campaign strategist Steve Schmitt -- is on the road working for McCain. And his old political guru, Karl Rove, is said to be informally advising the Arizona senator.

And within hours of today's surprise announcement by McCain that he was tapping a little-known 44-year-old governor as his running mate, the White House issued a statement of praise. "This decision [to pick Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin] is yet another example of why the American people can trust him to make wise decisions and to confidently lead this country,"  Bush said.

But it turns out that Bush himself has not spoken to McCain since May, when the two met briefly for 14 seconds on a tarmac. And before that, not since March, when the two walked out onto the colonnade of the White House to announce the president's endorsement.

That's because, according to this coming Sunday's New York Times, the two sides have "a relationship fraught with bitter resentment, grudging respect and mutual dependence." In short, the two need each other.

Bush, smarting over McCain's criticisms of his handling of the federal response to Hurricane Katrina, needs a McCain victory to validate his legacy, says author Peter Baker.

And McCain, who hasn't forgotten how the Bush forces pelted him with negative ads in the South Carolina primary in 2000, needs the president's core supporters to go to the polls. Without them, the 72-year-old McCain has an uphill battle to beat a 47-year-old Democrat with lots of money and star power who is running against an unpopular president in what looks to be a Democratic year.

Of course, if McCain does pull this off, he and Bush will probably talk again. On Inauguration Day.

-- Johanna Neuman

Photo: Charles Dharapak / Associated Press

Comments

[Hamachi]

McCain lost me with this pick for VP. He has become nothing but a calculating panderer. There was a chance to create a strong ticket, and this is what he gives us? No thanks. I'm done with McCain.

[aaron johnson]

Hate to say it, but mccain screwed up, he was doing fine in the polls, I think Romney or Huckabee would have made it a dogfight..Palin, ehh, sorry, can't trust her if something were to happen to mccain.

[malach hamovess]

At least you don't have to worry that McCain is the kind of guy you'd want to have a beer with: He's a cranky, nasty, and resentful ideologue who has absolutely no core belief. He's married to a pill-popping beer heiress whose fortune he's protected while on the commerce committee of the Senate. He's quashed numerous efforts to break the stranglehold of exclusive beer distributorships, allowing them to exist under a vaguely broad interpretation of the 21st Amendment.

[BeeVee]

That is what I call crooks galore.

[pekopper]

Who cares what those two clowns have going on. If McCain pulls it off, as you say, the people of this Country will be a hell of alllot dumber than I already think they are...

[Mitchell]

This is such propaganda.
They are buds but can't be seen together until after the election.
JSM votes with the CIC >90% of the time

[Morro]

I just love the Dem comments--they are even nastier than this blog. Get over both Mr. Bush and Mr. McCain folks...one is our president and the other will be our president.

[corey]

Dream on Morro. One will be impeached and the other will be blown out the water.

[mitch pemberton]

"ideologue who has absolutely no core belief" malach hamovess (2)

Those terms may not agree!

[Dr. Dave]

Brilliant choice by McCain. I'm a fan of Biden but this woman's on fire and she's gonna make mince meat outta him. She takes no guff from anybody and she's been relentlessly hunting down and bagging corrupt Republicans in Alaska since she took office.. Her loyalties are to the people that elected her, not a party. That's the kinda change independents can believe in.

[no way, no how, no mccain]

in yer dreams morro........you're deluded this time...*lol*

[Michael]

It's going to be interesting to see how the Republicans handle Bush at their convention. Obama has been doing his darndest to tie McCain to Bush and there he'll be at the convention. Are they going to try to rehabilitate him? We wasn't really that bad now, was he?

Gosh, I hope a few million people watching Obama last night had the same thought I did--please let this man win so we can have someone articulate, intelligent and inspiring in the White House again.

[anlareader]

The point of announcing the controversial pick of Sarah Palin for VP was to distract the media away from the Democratic convention and its platform. Palin may drop out at the Republican convention and be replaced by someone else.

[Zaphod]

Oh, please. Once Palin's skeletons rattle out of the closet (she is an Alaskan Republican politician, after all), McSame will wish that he could exhume Richard Nixon for his running mate instead!

[Will Riley]

While this blog post informs the public of the political relationship between President Bush and John McCain, it does not inform the public of their corresponding legislative records. I think this blog post would have benefited the public more if it had put more energy into comparing Bush and McCain's policies and legislative records than their political needs. Reporting the horse race of this presidential campaign is entertaining, but informing the public about likely policy outcomes from the presidential candidates is journalism.

[ninan]

Sara Palin appears to be a sensible person who has achieved a lot by just rising to be Governor. But were there better people to run the country if something were to happen to McCain? This is a worrisome thought. I am told McCain loves to gamble at Vegas. This time he is gambling with our country and our lives. I worry about it. Next time it might be with our soldier's lives. Is this a desperate move - the "hail Mary" pass, all to achieve perhaps some short term advantage. Yes, I do worry about his judgment and temperament.

[beth]

Im not a democrat,,,Im registered as an independent...i was leaning towards mccain but not now...how could he even think of picking this woman as a VP
he has no idea what is good for the american people this election has become a joke. Even though i have never voted democrat in my lifetime i will this time.

[D]

I DISLIKE McCains pick for VP, Rice would have been a great choice for McCain if he needed a woman to get elected.....She is a woman, black and a very smart and respected person!!! I wish she was a write in vote!!!

[D]

I DISLIKE McCains pick for VP, Rice would have been a great choice for McCain if he needed a woman to get elected.....She is a woman, black and a very smart and respected person!!! I wish she was a write in vote!!!

[D]

I DISLIKE McCains pick for VP, Rice would have been a great choice for McCain if he needed a woman to get elected.....She is a woman, black and a very smart and respected person!!! I wish she was a write in vote!!!

[Bill]

I believe twins, Like McCain and Bush, often hate each other. The article indicates McCain and Bush are like Siamese Twins, right? Anyway, hope they have fun at the Twin Cities convention.

[Erick Blair]

Sorry guys but the New York Times is no longer a reliable "news" source, if it ever was. They have become a niche paper pandering to a liberal elite and good old New York provincial arrogance. Nothing they print about either Bush or McCain can be trusted in any way. They are literally in the gutter for the Democrats.

[Scott]

Of course their relationship is different than what's depicted in this article. That's how politics works, it's all public perception. It's very simple to manipulate the way people think of you. Especially if you're good at it.

If McCain was no good at "keeping up apearances" then he wouldn't even be able to do his job at all. Niether would Obama or Biden. Heck I know people who are the salt of the earth and the lead solitary lives. At the same time I know people who are 2x Felons who make friends galore.

It's a talent you're born with. I guess Bush has 'people', because....

[Tre]

This woman does not impress me. Notice the 5 letters of her name. Now we see the real truth of the Republican candidacy: McSame, McPlain

[michelle]

She seems a very cool girl and I like her. But scare the hell out of me imaging if somethng happen to Mccain. Mccain really freak me out big time.