The toughest job President Bush is facing.

[Platapus]

The toughest job President Bush will have is his speech tonight.

What can President Bush say?

He can’t endorse Senator McCain by telling people that Senator McCain will make a good president because he will continue the current administration’s policies as the current administration’s policies do not enjoy all that high a confidence level with the public. People, even Republicans don’t want a copy of President Bush.

He can’t endorse Senator McCain by telling people that Senator McCain will make a good president because he will change the current administration’s policies as this would be tantamount to admitting that the current administration’s policies are wrong and need changing. If the President is admitting that his policies were wrong and need changing, this will give the benefit to the Democrats.

So President Bush has to walk a fine line between painting Senator McCain as a change agent but still inline with the Republican agendas.

Stray too far in one direction and it will re-enforce the perception that Senator McCain will be Bush III.

Stray too far in the other direction and it will re-enforce the perception that the current administration was wrong.

I don’t think this is a speech President Bush is looking forward to making.

One way makes President Bush look good but Senator McCain look bad
The other way makes President Bush look bad but Senator McCain look good.

I bet the speech writers were sweating this one big time. It will be very interesting to see which way the speech goes.

I don’t think there is a way President Bush can “win” this one. Damned if you do and damned if you don't type of thing.

[Skybird]

First the storm blows the convention halfway apart, and reduces it somewhat.

Then Palin's teenage daughter pregnancy.

Then riots and violent clashes between protestors and the police around the convention.

Then the accusations of Palin having abused her authority in Alaska, and the revelation that an official examination of that is underway.

If I were McCain I would think that for the moment I've had enough to keep both my hands full, and I would hope that Bush simply would not show up, would disappear and remain silent, not one stupid word to hear.

Who needs rivals in the race for the WH if he has friends like Bush. The Hurricane was the best thing that could happen. It gave Bush an excuse to stay away and stay in the management centre instead.

The past 7 days could not have been the best week McCain has seen.

[Platapus]

If I were McCain I would think that for the moment I've had enough to keep both my hands full, and I would hope that Bush simply would not show up, would disappear and remain silent, not one stupid word to hear.




I agree. If there were some reason to justify the President being "unable" to make a speech, that would be the best of all worlds. Unfortunately, with today's technology, it is hard to be unable to make a speech.

As one of the commentators stated tonight during the Convention. "They have airplanes" when remarking that the President choose not to attend the Convention but to give a speech from DC.

[Subnuts]

Catch-22.

[Enigma]

Why the confusion? He'll say what he always says. Absolutely nothing.

[Reece]

If poor old Bush shows up for the speech his Hands & mouth could be referred to as "Weapons of Mass Destruction"!:lol:

[UnderseaLcpl]

He can’t endorse Senator McCain by telling people that Senator McCain will make a good president because he will continue the current administration’s policies......



From the paper today; "BUSH SAYS AMERICA NEEDS McCAIN"

[Jimbuna]

Whatever he says.....rest assured....it will have been written by a cleverer mind than his.

[Frame57]

What is REALLY scary is Bush may consider running the U.N. in the future. Yikes!:D

[joegrundman]

What is REALLY scary is Bush may consider running the U.N. in the future. Yikes!:D
you spell it r-u- I - n-i-n-g

[Blacklight]

EnigmaWhy the confusion? He'll say what he always says. Absolutely nothing.

Oh.. you forget... he'll say "Absolutely nothing" along with repeating the words "Terrorism", "911", "Saddam Husein", "Iran", "Terrorism", "911", "911", "Terrorism" over and over again.

[Platapus]

I like the part where he said that his duties forced him not to be able to attend.

As one of the commentators mentioned "they have airplanes you know".

The President choose not to attend and I think that was on the suggestion of the RNC. It is also convenient that Cheney is also "out of town" during the convention.

I wonder if the Republicans realize that there is more to the Presidential job description than just being Commander in Chief? That seems to be all they are talking about.

[Tchocky]

Doesn't the "Commander in Chief" moniker only apply in times of declared war?

Perhaps one of our resident Constitutional scholars can help. I mean, obviously parties use it because of it's military/patriotic/masculine connotations, but it would help if it was accurate.

[Digital_Trucker]

If I read it right, the President is the commander in chief of the military at all times, not just times of war.

[Tchocky]

Oh, ok. Just some half-remembered readings of mine.

Anyway, here's something interesting

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/09/bush-mccain-was.html

[Platapus]

Article II section 2

The President shall be commander in chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several states, when called into the actual service of the United States

So I guess the Air Force is clear? :)

[Digital_Trucker]

Article II section 2

The President shall be commander in chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several states, when called into the actual service of the United States

So I guess the Air Force is clear? :)
Great, now we have to have a Supreme Court hearing to figure it out:rotfl:Why couldn't those whacky founding fathers have forseen the Air Force (or the Marines and Coast Guard for that matter)?

[sunvalleyslim]

Well I guess everyone loves bashing the guy on his way out..........But he still will always be an ex president. Going in you know that 50% of the people like you and 50% hate your guts. You can make some of the people happy some of the time, but you can't make all of them happy all of the time......The guy tried his best, maybe we don't all agree on the way he did things, but I do believe he felt he was doing the best he could for his country.....................and so it will be for the next president too. Whoever that may be...........

[Happy Times]

Article II section 2

The President shall be commander in chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several states, when called into the actual service of the United States

So I guess the Air Force is clear? :)
Great, now we have to have a Supreme Court hearing to figure it out:rotfl:Why couldn't those whacky founding fathers have forseen the Air Force (or the Marines and Coast Guard for that matter)?

Wasnt your AF under the Army in the beginning?

[Enigma]

Well I guess everyone loves bashing the guy on his way out..........But he still will always be an ex president. Going in you know that 50% of the people like you and 50% hate your guts. You can make some of the people happy some of the time, but you can't make all of them happy all of the time......The guy tried his best, maybe we don't all agree on the way he did things, but I do believe he felt he was doing the best he could for his country.....................and so it will be for the next president too. Whoever that may be...........

This isn't little league baseball. It's the Presidency of the US. Doing your best, when your best completely sucks, doesn't excuse an awful president like it would an awful 8 year old 2nd baseman.

[Platapus]

Article II section 2

The President shall be commander in chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several states, when called into the actual service of the United States

So I guess the Air Force is clear? :)
Great, now we have to have a Supreme Court hearing to figure it out:rotfl:Why couldn't those whacky founding fathers have forseen the Air Force (or the Marines and Coast Guard for that matter)?

Wasnt your AF under the Army in the beginning?

Yes, the National Security Act of 1947 designated the Air Force as a separate branch of the military.

[Platapus]

Well I guess everyone loves bashing the guy on his way out..........But he still will always be an ex president. Going in you know that 50% of the people like you and 50% hate your guts. You can make some of the people happy some of the time, but you can't make all of them happy all of the time......The guy tried his best, maybe we don't all agree on the way he did things, but I do believe he felt he was doing the best he could for his country.....................and so it will be for the next president too. Whoever that may be...........

Good intentions don't cut the mustard.. in fact they don't even get the jar open.

A President of the United States is a lot like the Captain of a ship.

1. Anything good that happens, he takes credit for

2. Anything bad happens, he takes responsibilty for.

Both of these are completely independent of what the President/Captain did or did not do.

It is the nature of the job.

If things had gone great in IZ and AF; if the economy were great, you can bet that President Bush would take full credit for it. Well you can't just take credit for the good stuff, you have to take responsibility for the bad stuff too.

Don't like that? Don't be a Captain or President.