Quote from: James J SkachThis is another example of why I am sometimes amused by people not of the US who insist they understand the US.

Bush and McCain are anything but friendly. If nothing else, Bush was frickin nasty to McCain in the primaries for the 2000 campaign - something for which no doubt the latter holds a huge grudge, no matter the intervening photo opportunities.

This doesn't even bring into the mix how different they are from a policy perspective. About the only thing the agree on is keeping troops in Iraq - McCain has been badgering Bush on screwing the pooch there for years...

Friendly, they are not...not even "pretty"...

You're very right about this; McCain and Bush despise each other, and have very different policies overall.

That said, McCain would possibly be more of a "war president" than Bush ever was; granted, he'd probably be a bit wiser in running it, but the fact is that there's never been a foreign problem that McCain hasn't wanted to bomb his way out of.

RPGPundit

Quote from: shewolfMcCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy...he's not one of ours.

No, ironically, he is. The question is, who's been running your party for the last 17 years?

!i!

Quote from: James J SkachThis is another example of why I am sometimes amused by people not of the US who insist they understand the US.

Bush and McCain are anything but friendly. If nothing else, Bush was frickin nasty to McCain in the primaries for the 2000 campaign - something for which no doubt the latter holds a huge grudge, no matter the intervening photo opportunities.

This doesn't even bring into the mix how different they are from a policy perspective. About the only thing the agree on is keeping troops in Iraq - McCain has been badgering Bush on screwing the pooch there for years...

Friendly, they are not...not even "pretty"...

Except, in an era where Bush has some of the lowest approval ratings ever, and those moderate and Democratic potential voters he says will come to his side hate Bush, he is all too happy to have Bush at his side, and talk about how they will campaign together, and etc etc.  I mean, he's really playing with fire here - the hardline neo-cons who love Bush won't think much of McCain, cause he doesn't play to their base, and attempts to do so by him will look painfully obvious.  Meanwhile, those moderates and swing Democrats see McCain in photo ops with Bush, and Bush talk about campaigning for McCain - and what, they're going to realize "Oh, wait - they hate each other."

Quote from: Ian AbsentiaNo, ironically, he is. The question is, who's been running your party for the last 17 years?

!i!

Well, he has an R next to his name, but he's not ours.

And McCain has been doing a lot to make the moderates and such happy during the campaign. I have no doubt if Obama wins the nomination some of the less hardline libs will join up with him. If he can shake the war thing.

Quote from: HackmastergeneralExcept, in an era where Bush has some of the lowest approval ratings ever, and those moderate and Democratic potential voters he says will come to his side hate Bush, he is all too happy to have Bush at his side, and talk about how they will campaign together, and etc etc.  I mean, he's really playing with fire here - the hardline neo-cons who love Bush won't think much of McCain, cause he doesn't play to their base, and attempts to do so by him will look painfully obvious.  Meanwhile, those moderates and swing Democrats see McCain in photo ops with Bush, and Bush talk about campaigning for McCain - and what, they're going to realize "Oh, wait - they hate each other."

That, sir, is called political expediency.

As I said, all sickly necessary veneer photo opportunities aside, they differ is too many ways (one possible interpretation of your "friendly" remark) and vehemently dislike each other on a personal level (the other possible reading of your "friendly" remark).

Quote from: RPGPundit...but the fact is that there's never been a foreign problem that McCain hasn't wanted to bomb his way out of.

I think that's about as accurate as saying Obama isn't qualified to deal with a Foreign Policy crisis, because he never has. McCain may be more hawkish than Obama, but he isn't with out reason.

And Mr. Skach is on the money in my book-there is little love lost between McCain, who quite obviously went to Vietnam, and Mr. Bush, who quite obviously didn't. Having spoke with just a few Vietnam Era vets, I can imagine some of what he must feel about Mr. Bush-and all of it would be negative.

Quote from: shewolfWell, he has an R next to his name, but he's not ours.

Let me put it this way.  McCain is more like the Republicans my dad always voted for prior to Newt Gingrich's "Republican Revolution" of '94, than the one's he grudgingly and reflexively voted for thereafter.

Sounds like your party is experiencing a taste of that "identity crisis" people are always pointing out about the Democratic party.

!i!

Quote from: Ian AbsentiaLet me put it this way.  McCain is more like the Republicans my dad always voted for prior to Newt Gingrich's "Republican Revolution" of '94, than the one's he grudgingly and reflexively voted for thereafter.

Sounds like your party is experiencing a taste of that "identity crisis" people are always pointing out about the Democratic party.

!i!

I take your word for the grunting and voting - likely people will be doing the same thing with McCain; something they had done for the years prior to Reagan. The fact that you or your father like republicans more like McCain and less like Gingrich is not necessarily an indication that it's a good shift.

Both parties are split. People talk about third parties, the middle, moderates. From strictly a "party" sense, IMHO, there are really four parties. Far Left, Left, Right, and Far Right. The two lefts, two rights, and middle two find places to agree with each other within those pairings. Outside of that, the ideological differences - valid, mind you - are too great.

Me? I like when they fight.  When they fight, they can't get shit done. Unless it's national security, I prefer gridlock at the Federal level...

Going back to the original quote. It's a classic sigh that someone is so very out of touch with the rest of the world.