McCain's big payoff?

[whometense]

Well, we knew this already, but somehow seeing it in print makes it all the more sickening. From the Scotsman.

McCain set to cash in loyalty for a tilt at the White House

ALEX MASSIE
IN WASHINGTON

ONE of the defining features of last year's presidential election was the sight of Senator John McCain turning his back on his old friend John Kerry and campaigning vigorously for his old enemy President George Bush.

As McCain spoke at no fewer than 20 campaign rallies, the sight of him praising the President was enough to drive Democrats to distraction.

Even some Republicans thought McCain's enthusiastic support for the President was the sort of media-friendly opportunism they have long suspected him of enjoying too much.

Now, however, McCain's decision to campaign for Bush across the country looks politically excellent. One of Bush's closest advisers and campaign figures has been in talks with McCain about working for the Arizona Senator if he runs for the White House in 2008.

Mark McKinnon, Bush's advertising guru and frequent mountain-biking partner, is prepared to end his association with the Bush family and work for McCain...


...Much to the dismay of many conservative activists, McCain has ensured that the President owes him a favour and not just because polls showed that a Kerry-McCain ticket last November might have beaten Bush-Cheney by as much as 14 points.

McCain turned down Kerry's offer of a souped-up vice-presidency and put in trenchant service stumping for Bush on the campaign trail.

Since loyalty is the cardinal virtue for the Bush family, McCain's efforts may not have been in vain...

[MH1]

1. McCain's a sh*t. EOM.

[whometense]

2. Yup.

Yup, he is. To think I once bought into that "maverick" crap. He's a completely soulless sellout, and, in fact, Kerry is the real maverick.

[karynnj]

3. Totally agree on both points

Kerry is a maverick and McCain has no soul left to sell or he would be determining the price. The more I see of McCain the less I trust him. I hope if he runs, Kerry resists any inclination to lift a finger to defend McCain when in the primaries, some Republican slimes him over VN and/or demands that McCain sign his 180.

Even in NcCain's second book, in the chapter on POW/MIA Kerry comes across as by far the better person.

Also, if Kerry didn't ever make an offer to McCain, he needs to stop being so much of a gentleman about the story and say clearly that no such offer was ever made. McCain seemed to have spread the story, even embroidering further each time - to flatter himself and to make Kerry look foolish.

Also, the Scotsman seems not to know that loyalty for W is a one way street. In this case, McCain's choices were not that good. If he backed Kerry or sat out the election, there is no way he could get the nomination. I think he gambled that the difference between helping Bush out in a small number of appearances and the actual huge commitment would not be obvious to the swing voters - so he keeps his "maverick" label and gains Bush's gratitute... for a least a few weeks. (I still think the single worst thing he did was to say nothing to the people wearing the purple band aids. Imagine he gets the nomination, if there were a similarly obnoxious attempt to question McCain's service, I can't imagine Kerry just giving his speech and ignoring it.)

[whometense]

4. That's true.

While I was writing that post I was wondering whether we knew definitively that an offer had been made or not. It's probably just regular sloppy journalism - it's now an acceptable thing to say that the offer was made, whether it's true or not.

It would be extremely painful to watch Kerry defend him at this point. I can't imagine he would. On the other hand, I bet Kerry'd walk through fire for Max Cleland, and rightfully so. Anyone who's willing to follow party over principles deserves the blowback they get.

[karynnj]

5. I really don't think we do know

I read one thing where there was a very informal conversation about whether a bipartisan ticket could work largely because the country was so divided. Supposedly the conclusion was that it wasn't possible. What I personally can't see is what the VP could get out of it - unless the President dies - ordinarily the gain is that if the President serves 2 terms, you have an excellent chance the next time. But the Democrats would never nominate McCain. Also, wouldn't Kerry worry that a RW nutcase (or cable show talk hosts) would assassinate him?

Kerry was so adamant that neither he nor anyone else discuss potential VPs. I think the media may have picked this up as gossip and McCain used it. The media stories that he was not only Kerry's first choice but only choice are inconsistent with every Kerry story of him always looking at a huge number of options for anything.

[Island Blue]

6. I will never, ever forget that sickening photograph

of McCain and Shrub embracing. I think that one is etched into to brains certainly of everyone who visits DU. I'm sure McCain followed Shrub around the country with hopes of a political payback in the future, but looking at it now, was that the best wagon for McCain to hitch his star to? (As the article seems to suggest it was.) I guess if you assume that the fixed voting machines go with the deal, then maybe I've answered my own question.

[karynnj]

7. You would think it would tarnish the maverick image as

I don't picture true mavericks letting Bush kiss their heads. Especially after al he said or did. (I still think it's weird and freaky.)

[MH1]

8. I saw a reference to a poll

That a Kerry-McCain ticket would have beaten Bush by 14 points.

As much as I loathe McCain now, back then I would have been happy to see it. Even knowing what I know now, I would still make that choice. Far better Kerry-McCain than *. And it would have been nice to see the friendship hold, even though I dislike McCain's politics more, the more that I know about them.

I agree that having McCain as his only choice seems unlikely for JK. I think that considering McCain as an option is not only possible, but would further prove JK's ability to think outside the box. That doesn't mean he ever was set on it though.

Another thought -
McCain will be 72 in 2008 (born 8/29/1936). That seems a little old to me, but I guess it worked for Reagan. If 72 is considered too old to run for the top job, then VP looks a lot better.

[karynnj]

9. McCain doesn't have Reagans healthy looks,

Reagan's alzheimers might may people more leery if he seems to have any mental decline. He looks healthier now than he did last year - might have been being too near Bush - but he looked very pasty then.

[TayTay]

10. McCain will never get that Nomination

the Rethugs hate him. Unless the entire power structure of the current Rethug party collapses between now and 2008 (which, I admit is a cheery thought) McCain will not be their guy. Too many people hate him for his maverick ways.

I honor McCain's service to the country. I honor him for working with Senator Kerry on the extremely difficult Vietnam normalization process and the POW/MIA issue. That was an enormous service to the people of both countries.

I am sorry that this friendship has ended. As I have said before, it was good for the country. The way in which it ended is so painful. John Kerry went out of his way to provide cover for John McCain in 2000 and he deserved better than what McCain gave him this year. (Kerry organized vets from both parties to write letters and appear for McCain when *'s vile, vile accusations were made that McCain was a sellout and had 'a black baby.' That McCain would work for and promote someone who pulled the racist card on his own daughter is beyond awful. (BTW, McCain's older daughter voted for Kerry and berated her dad for associating with *. Smart girl.)

[elshiva]

11. McCain will never win the nomination, is correct.