The Bush-McCain administration ... Did we miss something?

It was almost as if Vice President Cheney had already left the scene, riding off into the sunset like some cowboy to the Wyoming plains.

At last night's Democratic National Convention, Cheney was replaced by Republican nominee-in-waiting John McCain in the boo meter from delegates.

Countdown to Crawford has been cataloging the daily Bush mentions from Denver -- see here and here. Wednesday's tally shows that Bush has fallen from 61 mentions to 57, but McCain has shot up to 85. The biggest mentioner was Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, who used Bush's name nine times and McCain's 22. But Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh mentioned Bush 12 times, and vice presidential nominee Joe Biden used McCain's name 13 times and Bush's seven -- if you include the time he misspoke and called McCain "George ... I mean John McCain."

Many of the speakers took shots at the Bush-McCain administration, an attempt by Democrats to tie the Arizona senator to an unpopular president.

Even the White House took note of this development. Asked if President Bush was "surprised to learn that he has been head of the Bush-McCain administration," White House spokesman Tony Fratto said yesterday:

He is willing to -- he is supporting President McCain -- and he's aware of how ...

Told that he'd called the senator the president, Fratto said, "Did I say President McCain? Well we'll all be saying President McCain soon enough, don't worry."

-- Johanna Neuman

Photo: "The Goodnight Bush" chorus sings lullabies to a departing present from the Democratic National Convention in Denver. Credit: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Comments

[Dee]

For all of you who are working hard to promote Messiah Rush Limbaugh Operation Chaos A new cancer is growing within the Republican Party. It is a type of cancer that is trying to spread across the United States of America. The cells are easy to detect. Look closely and you will see desperation among the strongest cancerous cells within the Republican Party. They are fighting hard to retain the structure that keeps them alive – lost morals, values and ethics that once represented the Republican Party. The cancer promoted by special interest lobbyist has infiltrated the corridors of the Whitehouse, Congress, State Government, and is slowly weakening the foundation of our great justice system to promote the interest of oil companies, big corporations, Insurance and pharmaceutical companies, transportation and agricultural entities and endless others to promote their own growth over healthy cells within this great country of ours. Average Americans from all walks of life are becoming victims fighting for whatever life they can retain, yet growing weaker and weaker by this cancerous growth.

The other component of this cancer is the most dangerous! The self-interest of the most powerful Republicans has been promoting hatred, distrust, divisive division and strife among families, neighbors, ethnic and religious groups in order to firmly implant the cancer that’s destroying the body and soul of America.

The Bush Administration has given life to a powerful and secret cancer that Americans are not familiar with and ill-equip to fight. Erik Prince the founder of Blackwater military forces, served under George H.W. Bush as an intern. His father, a billionaire, was a prominent businessman in Michigan; his family has a deep history within the Republican Party. President Bush has used Blackwater troops in the streets of New Orleans, and in the streets of Iraq and Afghanistan. President Bush has rewarded the troops well, some making $1,000 per day. Erik Prince is an extremist. Ask yourself the unthinkable, the improbable! Can a private army within the United States gain enough strength and power to control Washington and this country? Could it eventually purify this country of what he and his followers consider to be undesirables living among his pure and conservative ideology. History has proven it is possible. Remember a man name Hitler

Listen to radical and extremist conservatives! Listen well! Many are being brainwashed to embrace the hatred of men like Rush Limbaugh, Karl Rove, Swift Boater’s, Jerome Corsi and Fox News!

History has proven that hatred; propaganda and brainwashing can destroy lives and countries. There are people in this country that’s promoting this cancer! Do you, can you afford to support those who promote this kind of cancer? McCain and his cronies have demonstrated how propaganda mixed with divisive tactics and rhetoric can influence the mind and opinions of men and women. Will his methods, tactics and disposition change if elected? Will he cease to try to destroy, discredit and demean those who oppose him? Can a leopard change its spots?

[aaron johnson]

Goodbye Bush/Mcain..Hello Obama/Biden

[joe]

I always love it when a comment is so much longer than the actual story that provokes the comment.

[Yippee]

Hey, I have a great idea: let's not talk about the issues.

Instead, lets keep making articles about what is Really Important, like how many times Bush or McCain were mentioned in a speech.

Good job.

[jeff777]

No, you didn't miss anything at all.

This is all very simple. The Democrats are finally doing what everyone should be doing: calling attention to the fact that McCain has voted with GWB 95% of the time. FACT

McCain supports the same agenda and approach that brought you a 12 billion dollar a month, trumped up oil war, almost total loss of American moral capital, and an economic crises like we haven't seen since '29. FACT

Given that he is almost as closely tied to Big Oil as GWB and Cheney, it's no surprise that McCain has chosen to kowtow to the neo-cons and transform himself from 'maverick' to Festus, 'sidekick' of the plutocrats. His flops on supposedly 'core values' like drilling, choice, health care etc tell the sad tale. All of these points are FACT.

Let's have lots more truth-telling 'freudian slips' like that of the sincere, erudite, well-informed butt-kicking man of the people Sen Joe Biden, too.

Watch this crack team squish all the Repub voodoo

Barack Wins in Nov 2008
Watch it happen, repubs!

[Dmitriy]

Obamabots are quick to call anybody a Bush. Just yesterday, Biden called former President Clinton President Bush. At least they not calling anyone racist.

O Rly?

[jefftb]

@Dee

Are you Dee Dee Myers? That was sure a nice, advance prepared, lovingly edited comment/post for this article. Hard to believe you just whipped that off the cuff.

Its almost like you were waiting in the bushes (hint, hint) for the article to post just so you could spring like a good democrap.

[Dreifort]

Dee,

How are Bush and/or McCain using propaganda to destroy Obama? Last I saw, it was liberals sporting hatred toward Bush and/or McCain. I don't see stories in liberal papers (who would want to show such stories) that cover republicans wishing ill-will toward any democrats?

By anyone (incl McCain's camp) pointing out FACTS, how is that propaganda? Telling ppl that Obama was ONCE associated with Resko is not propaganda. Telling ppl we feel Obama may not be ready to be president is not propaganda. It's merely stating an opinion.

However, telling ppl that George Bush kills innocent lives or wishing death or ill-will toward a current residing president -- -that goes beyond hatred and borderline threatening.

Calling Obama the "messiah" is not propaganda either. Have you personally been to an Obama rally Dee? If you had, then you would understand the nickname Rush likes to use. While ppl like Rush Limbaugh may get all bent out of shape or make too much noise over FACTS, the key point is they are basing their comments on facts. Regardless how relevant they may be. Who cares Obama will not let you attend the DNC unless you help fold chairs or volunteer in some sort. While I don't care, Rush did. That’s free speech. Not propaganda.

Again, I never hear conservatives wishing ill-will to any democrat - regardless if they financially support communist governments in Africa or not.

There is no cancer in the Republican Party. Just millions of ppl making their own choices. If someone in Obama's camp says an inappropriate comment about Hillary - it's one person who was wrong. If someone in McCain's camp were to say something inappropriate toward any democrat - it's the REPUBLICAN'S fault and a conspiracy? ha.

Dee, you're just one of many who are constantly trying to divide the United States with the new racism: Partisanism.

[Matooso Ferrara]

Dee,
It sounds like you get the same "tingling up your leg" as Chris Matthews when watching the Messiah Obama speak. You could just as easily be Osama bin laden's cave-maid with that hate-speak against America. You should take a deep breath and perhaps attend church. In fact, the Trinity Church-of-Hate sounds about right. They have a Reverend, Jerimiah Wright, who sounds just like you. Peas in a pod.

[Steve]

Dee: You either have a wonderful sense of humor, or utterly no sense of irony. I'm not sure which.

[Assistant Village Idiot]

Y'know Dee, it's just that sort of breathless exaggeration that causes normal people to look sideways at the Democrats. You're not doing your party any favors here. Why not just disagree with Bush and give a reason or two?

People from Eastern Europe, who know a thing or two about actual pitting of groups against each other, think Americans are drama queens when they talk like this. Get a grip.

[nancyO']

When the show is over we can all breathe a sigh, now for some clear thinking. This circus is a terrible way to elect leaders. When will we grow up? All this talk..
its "all wind and no rain"
As for these comments, they are also.
Obama is an nice well meaning young man but i cant trust my safety and security to a novice.

Disgracefull.
Is there a link between Hurricane Katrina and The Republican Party?
Yes, there is destruction, unpatriotic behavior and no remorse for the victims of house foreclosures.
Yes, look at the tax breaks for OIL companies and McCain.
It's clear to see the proud look of a party with links to dictatorship or global destruction. John, If you have a spare, share.

[Jake]

Preach on Dee. Let the hateful continue their name calling and cheating - it matters not to us. We know there is still a chance truth can prevail against all lies. This is America!

[P. Ingemi]

This dog won't hunt.

For 7+ years the media has lionized John McCain as the anti-Bush, as late as the Iowa Caucus the media was still talking up McCain when they were sure he had no chance to win.

Now much to their shock the American People have managed to absorb that over the last decade and thus trust him.

There is absolutely no way that in the next 60 days they are going to be able to reverse that perception and they won't be able to reverse themselves without losing the little cred that they have with those who are not already fully with the DNC.

This is a fact of life. II suspect our friends on the left will ignore this and it will be one of their many causes of frustration come the 2nd week of November.

[abby0802]

Cheney and his oil buddies cannot leave soon enough! Bush cannot leave soon enough!
They have ruined our country by starting a war for oil and Bush's ego in Iraq while ignoring the real problem in Afghanistan. They have taken the government's surpluses left by the Clinton administration and left us with record deficits. They have brought our country to financial disaster with record profits for the oil industry and tax cuts for the rich and corporations while leaving the rest of America reeling with mortgage foreclosures, job losses, failing banks, soaring inflation, failing schools, and a crumbling infrastructure.

Go Obama and Biden!!!

[mark gandy]

I am tired of seeing our brave young men and women dying in foreign countries and for what ?? Most of the world sees us as a bully...which I think we are . How can we cry foul when Russia acts against Georgia when we ourselves invaded Iraq on trumped up charges and thousand's of innocent people and soldiers die ??? And by the way....it was Georgia that attacked South Oesstia (where Russia had troops stationed) after she signed a truce. Also, let us be honest...if Russia wanted to install a Missile Defense System in Cuba...like we are going to do in Poland....What would the United States do ?? We nearly went to World War III over Cuba when Russia wanted to install missiles there in the 60's...I know the missiles then were Ballistic missiles.....but Russia sees this missile defense system as being just as dangerous..... no less than a knife at her throat.
I understand we must act together with NATO or with the United Nations to protect the weak when necessary....but...we must stop acting semi-unilaterally and work with Russia and China and the others ...they are not going away and they will get stronger. If Bush thinks he can pull a “Ronald Reagan” and out spend them on defense this time ...he is crazier than I thought he is. If we could scale back our military spending and start minding our own damn business a little more (among other things) ....just think of what we could do with all that money !!! It breaks my heart to think of what we could have accomplished as the richest nation in the history of the world over the past 50 years... if we had not seen ourselves as the main policeman of the world . Our schools are in sad shape...crime runs rampant..our infrastructure is old and failing and we are in debt up to our ears and then some !!! (how long will our children have to pay for the Trillions upon Trillions of dollars Bush has spent and is still spending ?) We are acting as if we have an unlimited supply of money to buy war goods and to give away or in Iraq's case ...rebuild after we blow up. Unless we change our ways and stop this lunacy we are headed for a very tough time. One step we could take ( I mean after all the obvious stuff) is to enact term limits of the Senate and the House seats ! This could reduce some Pork Barrel business and hopefully reduce the influence of campaign contributers and get some new blood in there every few years .
I fear that if McCain is elected....it will be a horrible thing for this country we cannot afford another Bush-like President.... It is obvious Bush is a rich man's son who has never had to make a dollar stretch and who loves to play war. We need someone who can say NO to our generals (when the situation calls for it) and the military Industrial complex. Someone who can balance reason against knee jerk reactions and look a little further down the road ....someone who is not so full of himself that he smiles on television when telling our country of the deaths of our brave service men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan !
Remember what President Eisenhower said when he left office !!! He tried to warn us .
Now I don't know if Obama is the right guy...but I do know that McCain is not the right guy . His “ Give me someone to hit” statement surely reflects his Hawkish ways or it may be it was him just trying to get a better seat on the “Ronald Regan Right Wing” band wagon.

[buzz]

Please. Dee is clearly crazy. Keep the tin foil adjusted, you should be just fine.
Jeff777, putting FACT after every silly statement doesn't make it so. Just the idea you could type "McCain supports the same agenda and approach that brought you a 12 billion dollar a month, trumped up oil war, almost total loss of American moral capital, and an economic crises like we haven't seen since '29." with a straight face pretty much invalidates the rest of your comment. Oil war? How IS that cheap gas these days from all that free oil we are stealing? Loss of moral capital? Please. And my favorite, the economic crisis like we haven't seen since '29? BWHAHAHAHA How old are you? I am guessing you were born after 1980 and have no idea what the 70's were like. Even the 70's didn't approach 1929. Cute talking point with no basis in fact. And I bet anything that if your guy gets in power, the economy can stay the exact same as it is now and you will be out bragging about the low unemployment rate and the 3.3% rate of growth.

[Tired]

It boggles my mind how people can be voting for McCain at this day and age. Were 8 years not enough for you people? I keep hearing the "McCain has oddles of experience" and "he's a war hero" and "he's a 'Maverick'". McCain is the same old neocon windbag thats currently in office. Please remember that Bush ran on a platform that included his level of experience as well. Look what that experience got us! McCain is not a war hero! He dropped a few planes out of the sky and released information to his captures. And he's been flip flopping on his own agenda for the past umpteen years. Obama DOES lack experience. Obama IS loved by many (since when is being adored by millions in a presidential election a bad thing?). Obama IS YOUNG. I feel he is more in touch with MY families needs. My own dad, a true republican, is voting for Obama because he feels 4 more years of the last eight years is WAY TOO MUCH! AND YOU SHOULD FEEL THE SAME!!!!!

[juandos]

Can someone please check on "Dee | August 28, 2008 at 12:06 PM" and see if she hasn't overdosed on her meds?

Thanks...

[Gekkobear]

Yes, McCain is a Republican partisan, crossing the aisle to vote against the Republican side a mere 8-12% of the time.

Whereas Obama is very bipartisan, he's crossed the aisle in something like... 2 or 3% of the votes. Very impressive numbers there.

So, if you want a candidate who will cross the aisles and work with both sides, you can have McCain's paltry 10% record, or Obama's impressive massive 3% record.

Obviously in Obama-world 3 is greater than 10... which I guess is fine as long as they aren't doing engineering for anyone. I don't want to walk on a bridge built by someone who thinks 3 > 10.