Former President Bush Backs McCain

GOP Patriarch Says Likely Republican Nominee Has A "Solid Conservative Record"

(AP)  Former President George H.W. Bush endorsed John McCain on Monday, a nod of approval from the Republican political dynasty's patriarch that sends a strong signal to a GOP establishment wary of the Arizona senator.

"No one is better prepared to lead our nation at these trying times than Sen. John McCain," Mr. Bush said, standing alongside the Republican nominee-in-waiting in an airport hanger. "His character was forged in the crucible of war. His commitment to America is beyond any doubt. But most importantly, he has the right values and experience to guide our nation forward at this historic moment."

McCain, in turn, said he was deeply honored by Mr. Bush's support. "I think that our effort to continue to unite the party will be enhanced dramatically by President Bush's words," he added.

Since effectively sealing the nomination when chief rival Mitt Romney dropped out, McCain has been working to convince the fickle and influential conservative base of the Republican Party to get behind his candidacy.

He's seen some progress, with several high profile Republicans from the party's establishment endorsing McCain in an effort to unite the party while Democrats continue to fight for a nominee. Still, McCain has much work to do to energize the party behind his candidacy to ensure that its people turn out this fall.

President Bush has spoken warmly of McCain, calling him a "true conservative." But he also has said that McCain might have to work harder to win over the support of the GOP's more conservative wing. Protocol demands that he not swing explicitly behind the candidate with a race still technically - and only technically - in progress.

His father's endorsement, which follows one from former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who is George W. Bush's brother, is a further nudge by GOP chieftains for conservative activists to get over their distaste for McCain and for rival Mike Huckabee to get out.

Without mentioning McCain's chief standing rival by name, the elder Bush suggested that he wasn't sending a signal to Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor. "I had not come here to tell any other candidate what to do," Mr. Bush said.

Still, he recalled his own defeat in the 1980 presidential race, and said: "It can take a while for any candidate to read the handwriting on the wall, and that certainly was true of me."

Mr. Bush also called criticism by the right flank that McCain is not conservative enough absurd and grossly unfair.

"He's got ... a sound conservative record, and yet he's not above reaching out to the other side," Mr. Bush said.

McCain has drawn the ire of some high-profile conservative pundits and others for what they call infractions against the party. McCain twice voted against Bush's tax cuts. He pushed a campaign finance overhaul that critics said restricted their free speech rights. And, he has worked across the aisle with Democrats on issues like an eventual path to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants - heresy in the eyes of many hard-core Republicans.

As he makes the transition into a general election candidate, McCain not only must rally the party but also must try to determine how to deploy the current president, whose job approval rating is at a low point.

While still popular among Republicans, many moderates and independents have turned from the president, and Democrats already have started casting McCain's candidacy as a continuation of Bush's eight years in office.

But McCain shows little willingness to distance himself, saying: "I'd be honored to have President George Bush's support, his endorsement. And I'd be honored to be anywhere with him under any circumstances."

However, he added: "Obviously, ... any president who follows one has different views on particularly specific issues."

[alburbooks]

This is a beautiful history about old politicians...
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/21/us/politics/21mccain.html?pagewanted=4&hp

[jheckerman]

Barrack Hussein Obama
He really does not represent the poor or the struggling. He represents the educated elite. He travels in high educational circles. Sweet talkin orator that likes to lead a bunch of sheep.
Picking Obama would be like having open heart surgery- and picking the new doctor that had new ideas and no experience. Not the seasoned veteran. Lots of luck! Obama is not bad-give him time to learn. Do you want him learning on the job like Bush.
Would not be good to lift someone elses speach and deliver it to the United Nations Mr. Obama. Think we are embarassed now with Georges lack of prodocol.
Barack Hussein Obama- does not have an exclusive on Change. Change fellow Americans will happen no matter who is in the White House. Make sure those words- "just words" are not too Rehearsed and just lines of an act. I think Hillary Clinton is the real deal and can win McCain.

[jheckerman]

Barrack Hussein Obama
He really does not represent the poor or the struggling. He represents the educated elite. He travels in high educational circles. Sweet talkin orator that likes to lead a bunch of sheep.
Picking Obama would be like having open heart surgery- and picking the new doctor that had new ideas and no experience. Not the seasoned veteran. Lots of luck! Obama is not bad-give him time to learn. Do you want him learning on the job like Bush.
Would not be good to lift someone elses speach and deliver it to the United Nations Mr. Obama. Think we are embarassed now with Georges lack of prodocol.
Barack Hussein Obama- does not have an exclusive on Change. Change fellow Americans will happen no matter who is in the White House. Make sure those words- "just words" are not too Rehearsed and just lines of an act. I think Hillary Clinton is the real deal and can win McCain.

[jheckerman]

Barrack Hussein Obama
He really does not represent the poor or the struggling. He represents the educated elite. He travels in high educational circles. Sweet talkin orator that likes to lead a bunch of sheep.
Picking Obama would be like having open heart surgery- and picking the new doctor that had new ideas and no experience. Not the seasoned veteran. Lots of luck! Obama is not bad-give him time to learn. Do you want him learning on the job like Bush.
Haven''t you wondered why the Republicans are delighted Obama is doing well? They know they can win the election if McCain goes against him. Would not be good to lift someone elses speach and deliver it to the United Nations Mr. Obama. Think we are embarassed now with Georges lack of prodocol.
Barack Hussein Obama- does not have an exclusive on Change. Change fellow Americans will happen no matter who is in the White House. Make sure those words- "just words" are not too Rehearsed and just lines of an act. I think Hillary Clinton is the real deal and can win McCain.

[jheckerman]

Barrack Hussein Obama
He really does not represent the poor or the struggling. He represents the educated elite. He travels in high educational circles. Sweet talkin orator that likes to lead a bunch of sheep.
Picking Obama would be like having open heart surgery- and picking the new doctor that had new ideas and no experience. Not the seasoned veteran. Lots of luck! Obama is not bad-give him time to learn. Do you want him learning on the job like Bush.
Haven''t you wondered why the Republicans are delighted Obama is doing well? They know they can win the election if McCain goes against him. Would not be good to lift someone elses speach and deliver it to the United Nations Mr. Obama. Think we are embarassed now with Georges lack of prodocol.
Barack Hussein Obama- does not have an exclusive on Change. Change fellow Americans will happen no matter who is in the White House. Make sure those words- "just words" are not too Rehearsed and just lines of an act. I think Hillary Clinton is the real deal and can win McCain.

[jheckerman]

Barrack Hussein Obama
He really does not represent the poor or the struggling. He represents the educated elite. He travels in high educational circles. Sweet talkin orator that likes to lead a bunch of sheep.
Picking Obama would be like having open heart surgery- and picking the new doctor that had new ideas and no experience. Not the seasoned veteran. Lots of luck! Obama is not bad-give him time to learn. Do you want him learning on the job like Bush.
Haven''t you wondered why the Republicans are delighted Obama is doing well? They know they can win the election if McCain goes against him. Would not be good to lift someone elses speach and deliver it to the United Nations Mr. Obama. Think we are embarassed now with Georges lack of prodocol.
Barack Hussein Obama- does not have an exclusive on Change. Change fellow Americans will happen no matter who is in the White House. Make sure those words- "just words" are not too Rehearsed and just lines of an act. I think Hillary Clinton is the real deal and can win McCain.

[jheckerman]

Barrack Hussein Obama
He really does not represent the poor or the struggling. He represents the educated elite. He travels in high educational circles. Sweet talkin orator that likes to lead a bunch of sheep.
Picking Obama would be like having open heart surgery- and picking the new doctor that had new ideas and no experience. Not the seasoned veteran. Lots of luck! Obama is not bad-give him time to learn. Do you want him learning on the job like Bush.
Haven''t you wondered why the Republicans are delighted Obama is doing well? They know they can win the election if McCain goes against him. Would not be good to lift someone elses speach and deliver it to the United Nations Mr. Obama. Think we are embarassed now with Georges lack of prodocol.
Barack Hussein Obama- does not have an exclusive on Change. Change fellow Americans will happen no matter who is in the White House. Make sure those words- "just words" are not too Rehearsed and just lines of an act. I think Hillary Clinton is the real deal and can win McCain.

[jheckerman]

Barrack Hussein Obama
He really does not represent the poor or the struggling. He represents the educated elite. He travels in high educational circles. Sweet talkin orator that likes to lead a bunch of sheep.
Picking Obama would be like having open heart surgery- and picking the new doctor that had new ideas and no experience. Not the seasoned veteran. Lots of luck! Obama is not bad-give him time to learn. Do you want him learning on the job like Bush.
Haven''t you wondered why the Republicans are delighted Obama is doing well? They know they can win the election if McCain goes against him. Would not be good to lift someone elses speach and deliver it to the United Nations Mr. Obama. Think we are embarassed now with Georges lack of prodocol. Old tradions of Honor, Respect, Humility should not be forgotten just for the hype of change.
Barack Hussein Obama- does not have an exclusive on Change. Change fellow Americans will happen no matter who is in the White House. Make sure those words- "just words" are not too Rehearsed and just lines of an act. I think Hillary Clinton is the real deal and can win McCain.

[jheckerman]

Barrack Hussein Obama
He really does not represent the poor or the struggling. He represents the educated elite. He travels in high educational circles. Sweet talkin orator that likes to lead a bunch of sheep.
Picking Obama would be like having open heart surgery- and picking the new doctor that had new ideas and no experience. Not the seasoned veteran. Lots of luck! Obama is not bad-give him time to learn. Do you want him learning on the job like Bush.
Haven''t you wondered why the Republicans are delighted Obama is doing well? They know they can win the election if McCain goes against him. Would not be good to lift someone elses speach and deliver it to the United Nations Mr. Obama. Think we are embarassed now with Georges lack of prodocol. Old tradions of Honor, Respect, Humility should not be forgotten just for the hype of change.
Barack Hussein Obama- does not have an exclusive on Change. Change fellow Americans will happen no matter who is in the White House. Make sure those words- "just words" are not too Rehearsed and just lines of an act. I think Hillary Clinton is the real deal and can win McCain.

[fibonacci_]

Dear former Ron Paul spammer (Prophet),

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

fibonacci_

[leftyintexas]

Who cares who bush sr. supports? They''re both losers.

[lorinkundert]

"I will fight every moment of every day in this campaign to make sure that Americans are not deceived by an eloquent but empty call for change." - John McCain

and we will remind the people about your sell out to the illegal aliens.

[alanrobisch]

Who cares what this almost senile ex-president thinks? He was ineffectual as a president and should go back to living in obscurity.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by ontheleft at 10:10 PM : Feb 18, 2008
Talk about ignorance, It seems to me that he created a multi national coalition and kicked iraq out of Kuwait while following every UN resolution at hand. He was far from ineffectual and note he had one more thing over clinton he had integrity and didn''t have problems keeping his pants on.

[bizzzz-2009]

Bob Geldof has parachuted into the White House travel pool here in Rwanda, and will join us on the flight from Air Force One to Ghana tonight.
Mr. Geldof has raised awareness about need in Africa and has raised money for debt relief for poor African countries.
Mr. Geldof has remained closely engaged with African affairs. Mr. Geldof praised Mr. Bush for his work in delivering billions to fight disease and poverty in Africa, and blasted the U.S. press for ignoring the achievement.
Mr. Bush, said Mr. Geldof, "has done more than any other president so far."
"This is the triumph of American policy really," he said. "It was probably unexpected of the man. It was expected of the nation, but not of the man, but both rose to the occasion."
"What''s in it for [Mr. Bush]? Absolutely nothing," Mr. Geldof said.
Mr. Geldof said that the president has failed "to articulate this to Americans" but said he is also "pissed off" at the press for their failure to report on this good news story.
"You guys didn''t pay attention," Geldof said to a group of reporters from all the major newspapers.
Bush administration officials, incidentally, have also been quite displeased with some of the press coverage on this trip that they have viewed as overly negative and ignoring their achievements.

[murph0318]

Poor John McCain. Every time he turns around someone hurts his chances, i.e. the support of 2 members of the Bush family. Now he has work extra hard getting the taste of that out or America''s mouth. Now, if George W (a perfect reincarnation of Napoleon) jumps on board, I could never, never vote for poor John.

[sigotratando]

Whatever happened to the Republican dedication to a small federal government? Posted by glossypan

I wondered about that as well & did some Internet research on what the guiding mindsets are for "liberal" & "conservative". For "conservative," the preponderance of even conservative sites refer to a belief in a strong hierarchy & a moral platform that comes ''from on high'' (so to speak), as well as a fervent belief that "tradition" (as an institution) defines the character of a people & creates a type of ''stability'' that need not trouble the majority''s minds. Combine hierarchy w/ tradition, & you get something of a cast system, a gentry, a priesthood, a ruling class. This is also where observers get the idea that conservatives are pro-corporation instead of pro-worker: the employers are the ones w/ the jobs to mete out, & w/ them in control, the pecking order is established & the top-down engine is running.

These are old & potent ideas that have been around since before the term "liberal" got its own definition (past that of ''sedition'', of course).

How I reconcile the apparent growth of the Govt is that, for conservatism to work, all of the components for conserving a hierarchy & tradition must be in place. One method of doing that is to exp& the govt (like boiling a mixture to nearly overflowing) & evaporate off the "liberal" elements until it subsides to just the right consistency.

(I am not only trying to underst& the governing core beliefs by addressing glossypan''s question.)

[hungry1968]

You''''re a dummy. And, you always will be one

Posted by poopusbuttus at 07:00 AM : Feb 19, 2008




A typical stupid response to yet ANOTHER excellent post. Go to your room insolent little child....

[hungry1968]

Posted by alphaa10 at 03:32 AM : Feb 19, 2008




Bush was also in cahoots with NY governor George Pataki and he had Pataki remove McCain from the ballot during the republican primaries in NY state.

[hungry1968]

So a failed president, backs a proven loser as a presidential candidate that lost to the worst president in our country''s history, that was fathered by the same failed president, and we''re supposed to care.....why?

[greeneyes222]

McCain favors amnesty for illegal aliens. That makes him a non-starter, no matter who backs him.