Bush Furious at Being Furtively Forced Out

[Torie]

Just when I thought I my list of reasons for disliking Bush was finally exhaustive, I realize it still falls short. The guy is a self centered egomaniac. In any event, I report and you decide, and if I have offended any of you Bush fans, I regret that.

From Huffington Post

September 2, 2008

Sidney Blumenthal

The Battle Between McCain and Bush; The Cancelled First Night, the "Furious" President and the Palin Gambit


The cancellation of the first night of the Republican National Convention marks the renewal of the rivalry between George W. Bush and John McCain. Since their bitter contest over the Republican nomination in 2000, they have taken years to make peace. But now McCain's last chance has collided with Bush's legacy.

Hurricane Gustav was "a big blessing," according to a source close to the McCain campaign. Facing a Katrina level wipeout--the landfall in St. Paul of both President Bush and Vice President Cheney--McCain felt trapped. How could he prevent the President and Vice President from appearing at the convention? Only an act of God could intervene. Suddenly, a hurricane whipped up in the Gulf and looked headed for New Orleans. Like a divinely inspired miracle, a storm to blow away Bush and Cheney had been conjured.

The McCain campaign and the Bush White House negotiated terms that unfolded as a script over the past several days, several sources told me. First, Bush announced he must oversee the preparations for dealing with the hurricane. He would not be able to attend the convention. Cheney, too, would drop out. In order that Bush and Cheney not seem to have been humiliated, McCain cancelled the entire proceedings for the first evening.

Almost certainly, Bush had to cancel his planned speech while Gustav loomed. But the sources say he didn't like the idea and felt pushed. Bush is described by sources as "furious" at McCain for being deprived of his last appearance before his party, which nominated him twice, as a sitting president. He believes he is being treated disrespectfully.

Shuttering the convention for a night was probably inevitable given the hurricane, but to provide a cover-up for scratching Bush and Cheney it became absolutely necessary. But once the hurricane passed, Bush asserted his primacy as president and forced his way back on the schedule to deliver a satellite speech to the convention.

McCain is desperately seeking ways to pivot from Bush, whose in-person appearance on the first night of the convention threatened to obliterate his message as a "maverick" and "reformer." Even though McCain himself would not be onstage, Bush and Cheney would have dominated the opening and underlined continuity between their administration and McCain. The cancellation of the first night of the convention is a small price to pay for their absence.

McCain's campaign is perfectly aware of the mortal danger of Bush's embrace. He has needed the president to rally the Republican base. But once he has the nomination his imperative is to project himself as an antidote to what has gone wrong with Republicanism.

McCain's political quandary is paradoxical. Bush has broken all parts of the Republican Party, as I document in my book, The Strange Death of Republican America. McCain's emergence as the party's nominee has been made possible by its crackup, which he must transcend. The primary field fractured the conservatives, none of whom were able to isolate the others and unite the whole movement. None could do what Bush achieved in 2000, running at the same time as the candidate of the party establishment and the conservative movement. McCain historically has represented neither.

McCain's selection of Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska reflected his impulse to reject Bush. As I explained in a previous article in the Huffington Post, he really wanted to name Senator Joe Lieberman as his running mate, but that option was a political impossibility that would have provoked an open revolt at the convention. Karl Rove tried to manipulate McCain into choosing Mitt Romney, endorsed by almost all members of the Bush family (except the president who had to remain above the fray). Rove organized a campaign against Lieberman and other potential choices. There could be little doubt that Rove was doing Bush's bidding. But McCain, resentful of Rove's maneuvering, outflanked him with Palin.

Bush is said to be dismissive of McCain's pick of Palin, according to the sources. Ironically, he is said to believe that now he will bear no responsibility if McCain loses. The old rivalry, supposedly buried, has come back to life.

[ChrisFromNJ]

He's the president of the United States of America.

He won two elections for his own party.

He deserves some respect. He deserves a speaking spot at his own convention.

[Torie]

Thanks for "caring" Chris.

[12th Doctor]

Thanks for "caring" Chris.

Yeah, at least all be honest and say I hope he stays as far away as possible.  In fact, if he never says anything again before Dec I'll be happy.

[opebo]

Certainly it is disingenuous of McCain to ostracise the BUsh while proposing to continue his every policy.

[Reaganfan]

He's the president of the United States of America.

He won two elections for his own party.

He deserves some respect. He deserves a speaking spot at his own convention.

Exactly. Clinton spoke in 2000 when he wasn't at the top of his game.

[memphis]

He's the president of the United States of America.

He won two elections for his own party.

He deserves some respect. He deserves a speaking spot at his own convention.

Exactly. Clinton spoke in 2000 when he wasn't at the top of his game.

Clinton left office with very high approval.

[Torie]

Certainly it is disingenuous of McCain to ostracise the BUsh while proposing to continue his every policy.

Except for  the ones he doesn't.

[© tweed]

He's the president of the United States of America.

He won two elections for his own party.

He deserves some respect. He deserves a speaking spot at his own convention.

Exactly. Clinton spoke in 2000 when he wasn't at the top of his game.

Clinton's approvals during the time of the 2000 DNC were about double what Bush's are now.

http://pollingreport.com/clinton-.htm

2000 DNC was held from August 14-17.

[memphis]

This is really a no-win situation for McCain. He damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.

[J. J.]

McCain brilliantly staged Gustav, I'm sure. [/sarcasm]

[Eraserhead]

I'm certainly looking foward to his speech tonight.

Will he be the headliner?

[ChrisFromNJ]

Thanks for "caring" Chris.

I would say the same thing if a 30% approval Democratic president wanted to speak at his own party's convention.

[Brittain33]

To be fair, I'm not sure Sidney Blumenthal is a reliable source for coverage of the internal machinations of the Republicans. He's an attack dog for Democrats on Salon.

[Sbane]

Certainly it is disingenuous of McCain to ostracise the BUsh while proposing to continue his every policy.

Except for  the ones he doesn't.

"OMGZZZZ HE ACTUALLY SUPPORTS THE SCIENCE ON GLOBAL WARMING" What a maverick eh? What else does he differ on? Will he not bomb Iran? Oh wait he already made a song about it. Hmm what about taxes? Well he has specifically stated he will continue the Bush tax cuts. Ok fine I will give you "torture" and I have always liked Mccain because of his stance there but is it really that courageous and "maverickish"? I would think any sane POTUS would not torture people.

Also I think a satellite feed of Bush is just perfect for the republicans. He won't be on stage so it won't be a huge deal and it still wouldn't look like he got snubbed.

[Sam Spade]

Ya, this is Sid Blumenthal, caveat emptor.

[cinyc]

Ya, this is Sid Blumenthal, caveat emptor.

More like caveat venditor.  The more stories there are about how Bush and Rove don't like McCain, the better the chances of McCain distancing himself from Bush getting elected.  Thanks Sid!

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

We need constant reminders that Bush is still President for the next 4 1/2 months. Perhaps a bill should have been passed requiring all former Presidents of a party to give a one hour keynote speech at their party's convention.

[angus]

"Like a divinely inspired miracle, a storm to blow away Bush and Cheney had been conjured."

Poetic language.  Strange concept.

What's the point of a party convention?  Mark Adams, the Dispassionate Liberal, says that the point is “to sort out who the assembled active and elite members of the party are willing to get behind.”  The Campaign Finance Institute holds that the point is basically to write a party platform and nominate candidates.  Weblogger Ara Rubyan of E Pluribus Unum has said that “winning the White House is what it’s all about.” 

Given Bush's unpopularity it seems to me that, although it is unorthodox that a sitting president doesn't give a real, in-person speech, it might not be a bad idea to nix him.  And historically the nominee gets to call the shots.  If Obama can have his main rival in a bitter contest give a high-profile, prime-time speech in order to unify his party, then McCain can have his erstwhile main rival in a bitter contest avoid giving a high-profile, prime-time speech.

I can't blame Bush for being furious, though, if he was really snubbed.  Charles Grassley, one of my two sitting US senators, was snubbed.  He's allowed to roam the aisles, but he's not a delegate this year.  Apparently he has differences with the party and with John McCain.  As I understand it he's ticked off as well.  It's understandable. 

Still, it's McCain's call to make.

[Torie]

Certainly it is disingenuous of McCain to ostracise the BUsh while proposing to continue his every policy.

Except for  the ones he doesn't.

"OMGZZZZ HE ACTUALLY SUPPORTS THE SCIENCE ON GLOBAL WARMING" What a maverick eh? What else does he differ on? Will he not bomb Iran? Oh wait he already made a song about it. Hmm what about taxes? Well he has specifically stated he will continue the Bush tax cuts. Ok fine I will give you "torture" and I have always liked Mccain because of his stance there but is it really that courageous and "maverickish"? I would think any sane POTUS would not torture people.

Also I think a satellite feed of Bush is just perfect for the republicans. He won't be on stage so it won't be a huge deal and it still wouldn't look like he got snubbed.

McCain still opposes ANWR drilling, and this global warming hysteria and cap and trade nonsense ain't bean bag. I don't think Bush and McCain agree on campaign finance reform either.  McCain should be more of a budget hawk. Of course, none of this would be enough to satisfy the Left.  Shocking!

[Lief 🗽]

I certainly sympathize with Republicans who don't want him to speak (and why would they?), but it really doesn't make sense not to allow the sitting President, who has been nominated twice, speak before the convention of his party. Maybe if he had been forced out of office or convicted for some of his crimes, they would have a decent excuse, but the Republicans obviously never let that happen.

[MODU]

I would question the source on this article.  Bush might be disappointed, but I doubt he feels forced out intentionally.

[Sbane]

Certainly it is disingenuous of McCain to ostracise the BUsh while proposing to continue his every policy.

Except for  the ones he doesn't.

"OMGZZZZ HE ACTUALLY SUPPORTS THE SCIENCE ON GLOBAL WARMING" What a maverick eh? What else does he differ on? Will he not bomb Iran? Oh wait he already made a song about it. Hmm what about taxes? Well he has specifically stated he will continue the Bush tax cuts. Ok fine I will give you "torture" and I have always liked Mccain because of his stance there but is it really that courageous and "maverickish"? I would think any sane POTUS would not torture people.

Also I think a satellite feed of Bush is just perfect for the republicans. He won't be on stage so it won't be a huge deal and it still wouldn't look like he got snubbed.

McCain still opposes ANWR drilling, and this global warming hysteria and cap and trade nonsense ain't bean bag. I don't think Bush and McCain agree on campaign finance reform either.  McCain should be more of a budget hawk. Of course, none of this would be enough to satisfy the Left.  Shocking!

Well even Mccain admits he didn't support Bush 10% of the time.