McCain to Ensure Bush's Solitary Glory at Convention

This is, as Markos would say, hilarious:

Sen. John McCain's plans are gradually unfolding for the Republican National Convention in September as he tries to walk a tightrope between conflicting demands.

First is the question of how to give President Bush a forum as the party's two-time nominee but at the same time keep McCain at a distance from the unpopular incumbent. The answer, according to McCain aides, will be to have Bush give a speech on the first night of the convention—a Monday—and let him have the moment to himself. McCain isn't scheduled to arrive in Minneapolis-St. Paul, the convention site, until Tuesday at the earliest, after Bush leaves, which means that, at this point, the two men won't be seen with each other that week.

Can't you just picture the unnamed McCain aides selling Bush on this plan?

"Really, Mr. President. You're so important, so magnificent, so ... historical, you really shouldn't have to share a stage with anyone. Why, the nominee would be so overshadowed by your presence, he might as well not even be in the same building as you. In fact, we're going to make sure he's not even in the same city ... just so you have this wonderful moment all to yourself. Completely alone in all your incumbent glory.

"Rest assured, Mr. McCain wouldn't want to intrude on your final partisan bow in any way ....."

•  Solitary Glory is a euphemism for infamy.

  by BA BarackUS on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:26:00 PM PDT

  •  Actually

    it's a euphemism for masturbation.  Par for the course at the Republican Convention.

    by Tybalt on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:27:39 PM PDT

  •  I'll hold out for solitary confinement

    George Bush deserves nothing more nor less than a cell of his own in The Hague.

    Republicans can try to hide their crazy Preznit in the attic of the First Night, but those pictures of The Hug and The Cake will never disappear.  Bush appearing at the convention at all will likely convert McCain'ts post-convention bounce to a post-convention slump.  

    by Dallasdoc on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:30:20 PM PDT

    •  Bush in Exile?

      Not literally....though, he might deserve a Napolean like banishment, maybe to one of those Puerto Rican area islands where they do bioweapon experiments? But I digress....

      I'm thinking that Bush might become a GOP pariah for a few years/election cycles, the way Jimmy Carter kinda disappeared from Dem conventions after his loss to Reagan. Only Carter made a comeback by proving that the presidency isn't the be all and end all.

      Somehow, call me cynical if you will, I just don't see Bush pulling off a Jimmy Carter. Not sure he has it in him to prove his worth as a human being in the same way....

      by pmukh on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:47:44 PM PDT

      •  Question.

        Has this ever happened before.  Where the sitting prez didn't show up with the nominee?

        by Lava20 on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:53:00 PM PDT

        •  well, as we kept hearing all primary season

          This is the first time in forever that a sitting prez or veep isn't running, so it's a little different in that sense.

          I dunno....Truman wasn't very popular in 1952, anyone know if he showed up for Stevenson?

          Or LBJ for Triple H, was Johnson there in Chicago amidst all that war protestation?

          by pmukh on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 06:02:46 PM PDT

          •  IIRC, LBJ skipped in '68

            IIRC from my history books, LBJ skipped the Chicago convention. He and HHH weren't exactly on friendly terms at that point. Humphrey privately favored a deal with the peacenik wing of the party, but publicly expressed support for the war because he feared that brokering a deal with the doves would cause Johnson to show up at the convention to offer himself as a candidate.

            HHH did publicly break with Johnson on the war (in a speech in Salt Lake City just before the election), but by then, it was too late and HHH's fate was sealed.

            by pine on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 06:58:55 PM PDT

            •  McCain will have the Chump in Chief...

              ...speak on Monday evening, just as Jerry Lewis is concluding his annual telethon with a record audience watching Lewis set another record (gee, I wonder why that will happen?).

              by Randall Sherman on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 08:44:46 PM PDT

        •  They were afraid that

          Reagan would overshadow Bush I, so they had him speak first, meet Bush at the airport, and pass the torch. That was kinda the opposite of this, though.
          Ha.

          Si Se Puede!

          by T B J on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 06:08:10 PM PDT

        •  clinton and Gore in '00?

          I'm not sure they appeared at the convention together.

          by msn1 on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 07:24:40 PM PDT

      •  Bioweapon labs are closer than that!

        Check out Plum Island just off Long Island and next to CT.  They had a building housing ticks which was so dilapidated that it had holes in the roof.  The city across the water from it is Lyme, CT, where the first case of Lyme Disease was diagnosed.

        http://www.ars.usda.gov/...

        The link mentions:

        "We're equally proud of our safety record. Not once in our nearly 50 years of operation has an animal pathogen escaped from the island."

        Maybe they consider a tick an insect and not an animal?

        It's also mentioned in Hannibal Lecter's plea deal in "Silence of the Lambs".

        by rja on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 08:38:38 PM PDT

      •  Why do you think Bush bought that property

        in Paraguay?

        Maybe its 'dual-purpose'.

        by John Poet on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 09:08:35 PM PDT

    •  Remember, the Hague Tribunal Blew Milosevic n/t

      by Navy Vet Terp on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:51:40 PM PDT

  •  A minor 'logistical problem' for the GOP

    is solved.

    by John Poet on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 09:07:35 PM PDT

•  That is hysterical.

  The man has spent four years with his head up bush's backside and now wants nothing to do with him because he will lose.  Newsflash John: you are going to lose anway.

  by GlowNZ on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:26:07 PM PDT

  •  Glow...

    McCain can't read your comment.  He doesn't know how to work computers.

    by Lava20 on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:54:02 PM PDT

•  if john mccain isnt a 3rd term, why's he so

  scared of president bush?

  they practically write themselves this campaign

  by nokona on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:26:46 PM PDT

  •  Bush has been thrown under the bus!

    the RNC and McSame have rented the bus. It's pretty crowded under there.

    by MariaWr on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:53:36 PM PDT

    •  only he doesn't know it

      Bush is just like Bruce Willis in The 6th Sense. He's dead, only he doesn't know it yet.

      by pine on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 07:34:43 PM PDT

      •  There is quite a bit George Bush doesn't know.

        Including that he doesn't know anything

        by Demjenn on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 09:21:52 PM PDT

•  The real sadness is that

  Bush is stupid enough to agreee with that staffer.  

  by GOTV on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:26:53 PM PDT

  •  Jeez, for a split second I almost felt badly for

    him.

    by ablington on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:37:05 PM PDT

    •  Well, of course you did, you

      Republican.

      by GOTV on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:39:54 PM PDT

      •  SNAP! n/t

        by T B J on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 06:09:26 PM PDT

  •  bush believes he's relevant and popular n/t

    by timbuck on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 06:00:09 PM PDT

•  Tell G WB that JM thinks he's Stinky

  and georgieboy will DEMAND that he gets Monday all to himself.

  by ROGNM on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:27:44 PM PDT

  •  watch out for 'lil Georgie - he has cooties!

    not even his brothers will play with him...

    by CParis on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 06:07:37 PM PDT

•  Why don't they just put a nuclear hazard symbol

  on Bush's back and declare outright just how toxic he is.

  by duha on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:28:05 PM PDT

  •  Then we'd have to perform invasive surgery,

    wouldn't we? To keep the nuclear materials outside of the hands of madmen?

    by DemocraticLuntz on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:29:32 PM PDT

  •  They've already tried taping a Kick Me

    sign on his back, but he caught on after a couple weeks.

    by ROGNM on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:30:04 PM PDT

    •  only because Darth Cheney had his back...

      ...once the Sith Lord returned from his Undisclosed Location.

      by N in Seattle on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:33:10 PM PDT

      •  And me thinking...

        ...it was Darth Cheney who put it there.

        by Captain C on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 06:51:28 PM PDT

  •  Bush: Kryptonite for Republican Election Chances

    Bush is keeping a lower profile in this Campaign than Salman Rushdie would on a book tour through Iran.

    by Lefty Coaster on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:56:50 PM PDT

•  And to think...

  ..that Dubya was the guy folks wanted to have a beer with.  Now, they don't even want to drink with him - even if he's buyin'!

  by drchelo on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:29:21 PM PDT

  •  Sadly its us, The American People

    that have paid, and will be paying for a long time, that bill.

    by ROGNM on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:31:21 PM PDT

  •  They don't want a beer with McCain either

    Only survey done asking that question had Obama beating everyone, and that was during the primary.

    by Hannibal on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:35:54 PM PDT

•  On Hardball tonight, Chris pointed out

  that Monday night will be the Jerry Lewis telethon, and Thursday (the night of McCain's acceptance speech) is the first night of the NFL. Which led to the lines:  Barack Obama will fill a football stadium, John McCain will compete with one (from the Democratic strategist), and great advance work (sarcastically, from Chris). Another way they write themselves.

  by Tenn Wisc Dem on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:30:46 PM PDT

  •  What?

    Just, what?

    McCain's acceptance speech is on as the same time as the NFL season opener?

    What kind of lousy planning is that? This is nuts. Are the bleeding well trying to lose? I mean, come on. This is hard-core stupid.

    by Mal Carne on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:39:25 PM PDT

    •  They don't want any attention.

      He sucks at speeches.  The less they see of him, the better.

      Remember the high school speech with the green screen.

      by Lava20 on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:56:28 PM PDT

      •  It will help explain the low viewership too n/t

        by IamLorax on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 06:50:05 PM PDT

    •  Maybe they want people to NOT watch McC's speech

      knowing that it'll be soporific as all hell.

      by paintitblue on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:59:51 PM PDT

    •  Tough Choice: The Game or McCain't

      A no brainer for Football fans.

      by Lefty Coaster on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 06:05:19 PM PDT

      •  no brainer for non-football fans too

        I'd rather watch the Colon Cleanse infomercial on Channel 22 than watch McMaverick and the rest of the GOP turds pollute my teevee screen.

        by CParis on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 06:10:28 PM PDT

        •  That Colon informercial is McCain's favorite

          by Lefty Coaster on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 06:21:27 PM PDT

    •  Everyone already knows the speech

      "Hi, I'm John McCain.  I don't want anyone to make anything out of the fact that I was a POW in Viet Nam.  No one should try to get ahead by having been a POW in Viet Nam.  That being said, I don't think my opponent was a POW in Viet Nam.  I promise to never mention that I was a POW in Viet Nam.  I'd like to conclude by thanking myself for my service in Viet Nam, including my time as a POW.  God Bless America, and vets who happen to have been POWs in Viet Nam."

      Why would anyone need to miss an NFL game for that?

      by Darmok on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 06:13:20 PM PDT

      •  I hate football

        I hate football, and I'd rather suffer through two or three hours of that than hear McSame drone on about how the terrorists will win if we don't elect him.

        by pine on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 07:36:27 PM PDT

    •  Even worse McCain't is up against Laurence Welk

      by Lefty Coaster on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 06:24:22 PM PDT

    •  Game has been moved to 7:00 eastern

      It should be over before the speech. Cross your fingers for overtime.

      DemConWatch reported on this in April.

      by msn1 on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 07:27:08 PM PDT

      •  Link

        DemConWatch on Giants/Redskins

        by msn1 on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 07:28:38 PM PDT

  •  NFL opener...

    The NFL opener is the Washington Redskins vs. the New York Giants. Since only people from those "states" (Washington DC and New York) will be watching and the only ones in those states are liberal, they haven't lost anything. :) :)

    by naraht on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:59:59 PM PDT

    •  seeing as the Giants are the Super Bowl champs

      probably alot more than NYC and DC fans will be tuning in.

      by CParis on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 06:11:27 PM PDT

    •  Football fans will watch any game regardless of

      team. I will watch just about any game.

      Also, there are many Redskin fans from swing state Virginia that will be watching the game.

      It would probably be better for Obama is people watched McCain since he is such an awful speaker.

      by Demjenn on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 09:31:29 PM PDT

    •  KO?

      Is the football game on NBC?  Keith O. is supposed to be doing some kinda football commentary this fall.

      by Nellcote on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 11:20:39 PM PDT

  •  McCain is running a worse campaign...

    ...than I even thought if his speech is coming on the same night as the NFL season opener.  What the hell kind of idiotic people do you have to hire to do something that stupid?

    by stevedubya on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 06:03:13 PM PDT

  •  Maybe they'll go into overtime and all the major

    channels will automatically switch to the Republican Convention, infuriating the viewers?
    Can only hope.

    by orca43 on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 07:34:01 PM PDT

•  Great satire

  http://www.writeinbush.com/...

  At least, I hope it's satire.

  by Crisis Corps Volunteer on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:31:00 PM PDT

  •  Has to be satire

    And here’s the response we got back:
    “Recently you submitted a question or comment to Focus on the Family. Please know that we are currently experiencing higher than expected volumes of e-mail. Should your situation require a response, we ask that you please allow a few additional days for handling. We appreciate your patience.”

    If you read this carefully, as we did, you’ll see the subtle endorsement of our cause. It’s the last sentence, “We appreciate your patience.”. They understand! It’s not always easy to keep on, day after day, when so many Americans are oblivious to the opportunity we have to bless our great country with four MORE years of the great leadership we had for the past eight.

    That speaks for itself.

    by Hannibal on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:39:25 PM PDT

•  I figure it will

  be Monday at 6:00 Central time when no one is watching.

  by Mike S on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:31:18 PM PDT

•  Perhaps they should put Bush in

  the free speech zone?  That way hes guaranteed not to get to speak at all...

  by GlowNZ on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:31:26 PM PDT

•  and the reverse as well

  "Rest assured, Mr. McCain wouldn't want to intrude on your final partisan bow in any way ....."

  Nor does he want to bother you with sticking around to be seen with all the leading Republicans during the grand finale of the convention.

  "Enjoy a few days of clearing brush down at your ranch, Mr. President"

  by N in Seattle on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:31:35 PM PDT

•  And for more giggles,

  apparently McCain's big acceptance speech will go up against the opening of the regular NFL season.

  Whether this is an advantage or a disadvantage for McCain given his speech-giving skills is an open question.

  -dms

  by dmsilev on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:31:48 PM PDT

  •  game moved up to 7:00

    Hope for overtime.

    by msn1 on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 07:30:52 PM PDT

•  The best we can hope for...

  ... is that the MN state birds (mosquitos) will form flocks and dive bomb Georgie one night and Johnny McSame the second night.

  Otherwise, the Dems in MN (and probably a few Repukes) would prefer that neither one show up in this state.

  It's bad for tourism.

  by NonnyO on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:32:01 PM PDT

  •  I was attacked by the "state bird"

    I was in Minneapolis on business in mid-August and I thought it was a biblical plague.  
    Is there a nuke waste site in MN?  Those things are like something out of a 1950s horror movie.

    by CParis on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 06:14:25 PM PDT

    •  Might be one by the Cities

      I remember something quite a while ago about questioning where to put nuclear waste from a power plant... a pretty dangerous thing in MN since there's water everywhere and it could get into the water table if it spills.

      Yeah, those mothers do get huge, don't they?  Have to dress in three layers and put a veil over a wide-brimmed hat and tie it off so they can't poke clear through to the skin to suck out blood.  We had a long, cold, wet month in May and part of June, then it warmed up suddenly and all the mosquitoes hatched out and there are a LOT of 'em....

      I just don't know if they can be trained to go to specific targets!  ;-)  I don't do outdoors, so I'll have to let someone else figure that one out.

      by NonnyO on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 07:57:27 PM PDT

•  Nothing personal, Mr. President

  Rest assured, Mr. McCain wouldn't want to intrude on your final partisan bow in any way...

  We were going to put a giant condom over you, but Rev. Dobson wouldn't let us.

  by archer070 on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:32:25 PM PDT

•  Like a new flavor of toothpaste

  The same but different.

  Regardless, they won't be in the McSame place at the McSame time.

  by muledriver on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:32:42 PM PDT

•  I'm wondering how the RW Pundits Limbaugh etal

  are going to spin this.

  by JML9999 on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:32:50 PM PDT

  •  About the way a vampire would spin sunrise nt

    by archer070 on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:33:47 PM PDT

    •  Sunrise is for sissyboys? nt

      by JML9999 on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:36:17 PM PDT

  •  They don't spin.

    They stick to their delusions and their listeners buy them hook, line and sinker.

    Saddly, the press buys it too.

    by Mike S on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:34:22 PM PDT

•  McSame can't escape!

  by skywaker9 on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:34:36 PM PDT

•  On a Tangent I35W replacement

  http://www.startribune.com/...

  Any Wagers on it being completed by convention time?

  by JML9999 on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:35:23 PM PDT

•  So...

  ...Bush is doing soundcheck for the opening act, then?

  by Addison on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:35:34 PM PDT

  •  Ouch. Not even opening Act

    I like it but Ker-Snap!

    by JML9999 on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:37:35 PM PDT

•  Pity poor McCain...

  ...this convention's going to be a head case. I mean, seriously. If Bush is treated like toxic sludge, who else are they going to get to talk at this convention?  How on earth are they going to fill the hours?

  Well, there's Bobby Jindal. And, erm... what if Karl... er, no. Maybe Huckabee? Rush? Michelle Malkin? Boy, won't they fire up the audience for McCain. Yeah, that's some red meat for the audience.

  Meanwhile, The Democrats are getting headlines and sucking up all the media oxygen by simply announcing that they're holding their convention in a stadium.

  It's five months to the election. Obama's five points ahead. Nothing McCain says or does can shake that number. He can't even make headlines any more.

  And the campaign hasn't even started in any meaningful way.

  A 71 year old man should be playing with his grandkids, not dealing with heartburn like this.  

  by Mal Carne on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:36:26 PM PDT

  •  They're Busy Digging up Kate Smith

    and Irving Berlin to Sing
    God Bless America.

    by JML9999 on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:39:06 PM PDT

  •  I just hope...

    Larry Craig gets a primo spot to again remind the nation of his non-gayness.

    by blueyedace2 on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:41:29 PM PDT

    •  Craig is barred from the Minneapolis airport

      he'll probably have to arrive by stagecoach

      by CParis on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 06:16:28 PM PDT

      •  or drive in from Rochester

        One can theoretically get to the Rochester, MN airport (1.5 hours away) without having to connect through Minneapolis-St. Paul. So unfortunately, my guess is that the not-gay Senator will be gracing a new town with his appearance.

        by pine on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 07:43:28 PM PDT

  •  Lieberman will do it

    And he'll go out of his way to outdo Zell Miller's betrayal.

    Either that or they could get Stephen Colbert.

    by Hannibal on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:44:39 PM PDT

    •  they'd probably think Colbert was serious

      My uber-Republican aunt was so happy when "Comedy Central hired a conservative counterweight to that terrible Jon Stewart guy."

      by pine on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 07:44:24 PM PDT

  •  they will always have Joe

    mental
    2008's answer to Zell
    except joe is not a democrat

    by demnomore on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:46:23 PM PDT

  •  Watch for foley clapping

    Ya know, loud clapping added to crowd shots of no one clapping.

    by IamLorax on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 07:06:32 PM PDT

•  He braved the Vietcong but he's afraid of Bush

  Would the McCain of 1967 vote for the McCain of 2008?

  by ksh01 on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:37:23 PM PDT

•  Fine... we'll just go with the file photos then..

  

  by ThatSinger on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:38:03 PM PDT

  •  Come September if that picture isn't on

    every billboard in the country, there better be a good explanation from the Obama campagin, the DNC or somebody like that.

    by Red Bean on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 06:02:40 PM PDT

    •  DIY posters

      photoshop, inkjet printers and copy shops are our friends :)

      by Nellcote on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 11:34:22 PM PDT

•  It's not you, mr. president,

  it's me.  Really.  I'm just not ready to be committed, so let's just try out separate days for a while.  You know, see other people.  Let's see how that goes, ok?

  by oxon on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:38:45 PM PDT

•  Bush's response...

  "Whatever patsy. Dick won't make you kiss my ass again in public this time."

  by Skid on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:39:02 PM PDT

•  Won't work

  The MSM will still probably do at least a few comparisons of their speeches...

  by skywaker9 on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:40:27 PM PDT

  •  That'll be an interesting comparison.

    I wouldn't want to be the talking head deciding which speech is more "uplifting" or "inspiring".  I also wouldn't want to be either Bush or McCain when they compare that speech to Obama's speech at the Democratic convention.

    by Nate in IA on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:50:23 PM PDT

•  absolutely hilarious

  "the two men won't be seen with each other that week"

  Bush and McCain are like Superman and Clark Kent. No wonder you never see them photographed together. I can see the YouTube video now.

  by kaleberg on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:45:45 PM PDT

  •  what does that make Dick Cheney?

    Lex Luther?

    by pine on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 07:45:35 PM PDT

    •  Clark Kent's editor? n't

      by Nellcote on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 11:37:51 PM PDT

•  I will watch George's speech if, and

  only if, he wears his codpiece.

  by Patricia Bruner on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:46:58 PM PDT

  •  and I'll watch it

    if he wears it on top of his head.

    by sodalis on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 06:02:55 PM PDT

    •  More appropriate I'd say.

      by Patricia Bruner on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 06:07:21 PM PDT

•  Not in the same building, huh?

  Now, if we could just replace "building" with "planet", and make it permanent, then we'd be getting somewhere.  Even the right wing nutjobs don't want to be seen with Bush... and this is the man running our country?  After seven and a half years I should be used to it... but even still...

  by Nate in IA on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:48:32 PM PDT

  •  The Doofus has left the building!

    by Cartoon Peril on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 06:02:02 PM PDT

•  How about Dick Cheney? Don't forget the...

  ...republican party's TWO TERM Vice President.  He's arguably been the 2nd most important person in the party for the last 7 years...he really should get some time at the convention.  

  by stevedubya on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:50:16 PM PDT

•  Isn't this what Gore did to Clinton?

  I can't remember.

  by MSG Quixo on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:50:40 PM PDT

•  Okay, McCain is trying to distance himself

  from the Shrub, but this has to be the most destructive way to do it. George "More Toxic than Plutonium" Bush is given the opening night, which allows him to set the tone, & remind everyone that he a Republican. A few nights later, McCain accepts the Republican nomination.

  This tactic reminds me of the old story about the little girl whom the other little boys would give her a quarter if she climbed a tree. "Don't do that, dear," her mother warned her. "The boys are doing that so they can look up your dress & see your underwear." The next day, the little girl came home with a big smile. "I sure fooled those boys. Today when I climbed that tree I didn't wear any underwear."

  By putting the Shrub on Monday night, the Republicans decided not to wear any underwear before they climbed the tree.

  Geoff

  by llywrch on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:52:59 PM PDT

•  thanks for the special memories boys . . .

  

  by timbuck on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:53:41 PM PDT

  •  Reminds me of this

    A famous piece of the Berlin Wall had this on it...

    

    by oxfdblue on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 06:15:07 PM PDT

    •  damn that nasty

      thought was lieberman for a moment.

      by timbuck on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 06:21:21 PM PDT

  •  Eww!

    wasn't that special!

    by CParis on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 06:17:44 PM PDT

    •  LOL

      It is gross, ain't it?

      Yikes...

      by oxfdblue on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 06:19:49 PM PDT

•  McCain pales in comparison with W.

  Pales and quivers. He knows the comparison can and will lose him this election.

  by collardgreens on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:58:21 PM PDT

•  Have W. give speech from Paraguay

  by Cartoon Peril on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 05:59:13 PM PDT

  •  Better yet - Gitmo. /nt

    by CountArach on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 06:05:43 PM PDT

    •  that's Cheney

      by Cartoon Peril on Wed Jul 09, 2008 at 07:56:32 AM PDT

•  real conversation selling plan to Bush

  Mr. President, there will be a plate of cheese and pretzels backstage at the convention on Monday, but they'll probably be gone by the time McCain gets there.

  by AndersOSU on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 06:02:38 PM PDT

•  If memory serves,

  Didn't Gore do this to Clinton in 2000?  Clinton spoke Monday, and Gore spoke Thursday.  Clinton took off after his speech so there would be no photos of the two of them. So hardly unprecedented, is it?

  by shawesq on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 06:02:47 PM PDT

•  I am hoping that Bush forgets

  his glasses at the podium and has to come back at the end of McCain's acceptance speech. Seems unlikely, but you never know.

  by global citizen on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 06:06:46 PM PDT

•  Can somebody hack into

  the large-screen video feed at the convention and, while Bush is speaking, just play that clip of McCain hugging Bush over and over?

  by AggieDemocrat on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 06:08:49 PM PDT

  •  better...

    How about each time McCain announces some policy position, a clip is played of him stating his support for the opposite idea or his stand against what he just said.

    The next day, the papers can say, "Senator John McFlipFlop Accepts GOP Nod to Snoring Crowd"

    by oxfdblue on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 06:17:19 PM PDT

    •  Love it! /nt

      by AggieDemocrat on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 06:21:06 PM PDT

•  It's too bad

  that the McCain/Bush huggling picture exists.  Without that, this would almost work.  Almost.

  by kismet on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 06:26:41 PM PDT

•  how much you want to bet...

  ...it won't even be televised?

  by DawnG on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 06:40:34 PM PDT

•  This is standard

  It is nothing new.  Candidates don't come on until the last night.  I can't remember when a sitting president (of the same party) -- or a former president -- like Jimmy Carter -- speaks, but the first night rings a bell.

  Sometimes, the candidate who is running makes a brief appearance the night before, when the VP candidate speaks, but that's it.

  Remember 1992, when Clinton and Gore were running?

  by shell5960v on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 06:51:55 PM PDT

•  Just give him a "free speech zone"...

  by PeterHug on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 06:52:53 PM PDT

•  They can try...

  to hide Bush but it is going o look stupid no matter what they do at their convention. Invite him and they'll have pie n their face.... don't invite them and they'll have pie on their face.....

  " I love PIE on their face!!!!"

  by AquaBoogy on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 06:53:01 PM PDT

•  I'm surprised they're not having bush speak on

  Sunday night.

  by darthstar on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 07:23:35 PM PDT

•  Of Course, Dems Have to do something with Bill

  Not nearly as prickly a problem, to be sure.

  But should be interesting to see if/when/where the last Democratic Prez is featured at Denver.

  by BentLiberal on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 09:01:32 PM PDT

  •  Bill & Hill night?

    The have to consider where to put Hillary too.

    by Nellcote on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 11:48:49 PM PDT

•  I get it

  the two men won't be seen with each other that week

  No time for Love, Mr. President!

  

  How childishly naive of the McCain people to believe that separating the two men during the convention is going to stop us from visually linking them.  

  by Tenuous Leemployed on Tue Jul 08, 2008 at 10:11:31 PM PDT

•  Why not at Ground Zero this time?

  Why isn't the convention at Ground Zero this time?

  Protecting America's values...

  Standing tall next to the firepersons...

  Defending Americans from death and destruction...

  (Except for 4,116 military Americans.)

  by worldwidehappiness on Wed Jul 09, 2008 at 02:26:53 AM PDT

•  My girlfriend quips:

  "because they are, in fact, the same person?"

  by nvalvo on Wed Jul 09, 2008 at 03:59:55 AM PDT