[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.