US News: Bush to Speak at Republican National Convention

by Jonathan Singer, Wed Jul 09, 2008 at 04:09:07 AM EDT

John McCain and George W. Bush might not share the same stage at the same time between now and election day, but that doesn't mean that McCain isn't going to allow the President to address the Republican National Convention.

Sen. John McCain's plans are gradually unfolding for the Republican National Convention in September as he tries to walk a tightrope between conflicting demands.

First is the question of how to give President Bush a forum as the party's two-time nominee but at the same time keep McCain at a distance from the unpopular incumbent. The answer, according to McCain aides, will be to have Bush give a speech on the first night of the convention--a Monday--and let him have the moment to himself. McCain isn't scheduled to arrive in Minneapolis-St. Paul, the convention site, until Tuesday at the earliest, after Bush leaves, which means that, at this point, the two men won't be seen with each other that week.

What a great plan -- having the most unpopular President in the history of polling address the Republican National Convention. With the networks trying their darndest to get out of covering the conventions under the theory that they do not constitute news (leaving aside, of course, the fact that the American public has given the networks the gift of free broadcast spectrum worth tens of billions of dollars in return for the promise to cover events like party conventions), an address from the stage of the convention by the sitting President of the United States (however unpopular) will have to get wall-to-wall coverage. Does anyone actually think this would be a good development for the McCain campaign?

Tags: George W. Bush, John McCain, Republican National Convention, White House 2008 (all tags)

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17 Comments

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Re: US News: Bush to Speak at Republican National

You can't keep a megalomaniac out of the limelight, no matter how reviled he is.

Bush is clueless.  

by Juno 2008-07-09 04:22AM | 0 recs
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they're in a bind

McCain still has trouble with some of the hard-core 28-percenters. If Bush stayed away from the convention, these people might take it to mean McCain isn't the right kind of Republican.

Anyway, it would look ridiculous for a sitting president not to speak at his own party's national convention.

by desmoinesdem 2008-07-09 04:35AM | 0 recs
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Definitely

Damned if they do and don't. This solution is probably the only thing they could do. Mind you it will be interesting to see what happens in Denver with Clinton (Bill).

by conspiracy 2008-07-09 05:45AM | 0 recs
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Hey!

Since we heard that McCain's speech will be given on the NFL Kickoff day, there's a good chance that more people will see Bush's speech than McCain's!

by vcalzone 2008-07-09 05:16AM | 0 recs
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we take these poll #'s too far

remember the people Obama needs to win this election:

voted for Bush twice
supported the Iraq War at one time

and

can easily change their mind back again.

Since Bush has been "unpopular" he has won on almost every issue:

fisa
war funding

We should use Bush as  a model of "using up political capital".

Bush has used up all the goodwill he had to do what he thought was right in Iraq and on national security.

I disagree with the particulars but ask, can we expect our side to do the same for our issues.

The dem congress' poll #'s are in the toilet, and they used their opportunity for what?

This is a warning to Obama, the country will turn on you at some point, make it be for something good and worthwhile in the long run.

Let's look at the last 2 President's.

Clinton used political capital to stay in office after impeachment

Bush used his to try to shape the world as he thought was right.

So as Bush stands at the Convention, he'll know he was consequential. If the Iraq War continues to get better, sooner or later his poll #'s will rise.

by yellowdem1129 2008-07-09 05:33AM | 0 recs
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NO it WON'T!

The American People DON'T CARE that "the surge is working" -- partly because of a just suspicion that it flat ISN'T to begin with). We've been fed one lie after another for 5 years now and nobody is buying it anymore. The entire "surge is working" B.S. comes simply from LYING media whores and the Pentagon spinners. There's ZERO sign of political reconciliation and all the factions are better armed than ever.

But, quite frankly it doesn't matter. Over 60% of the American people in poll after poll want the troops to come home whether the situation gets better or worse. IF the "miracle Pony" comes and the Iraqis actually make some progress towards POLITICAL reconciliation (unlikely) then we want the troops to come home.

If the situation deteriorates (very likely, especially since Cheney is going all out to provoke a war with Iran and may well get his wish), the American people want the troops to come home.

While Bush is desperately trying to lock his policies into stone so that the next President CAN'T change them, (creating a huge disaster that will force Obama's hand to keep the troops in Iraq), that's NOT going to make him more popular with the American people.

That ship sailed a long time ago. Bush's numbers haven't really changed all year, except a slow drip of Republicans who are distancing themselves from Bush because they conclude that (since he's failed) he can't be a real conservative.

Didn't you know that conservatism CAN'T fail? It can only be BETRAYED!

by Cugel 2008-07-09 06:08AM | 0 recs
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Re: "networks trying their darndest

to get out of covering the conventions under the theory that they do not constitute news"

Um, not quite. Bush will be speaking at the place networks have based many months of planning and budgeting on.

Obama has suddenly changed the plans for the Dem. convention, a move that negates all the time and expense networks have expended so far in preparation, and forcing them to start from scratch at considerable extra expense.

Obama isn't president yet, and everyone including networks are finding their financial backs more and more up against a wall. Why should they spend alot more money to cover an arbitrary and costly decision on Obama's part.

by phoenixdreamz 2008-07-09 05:38AM | 0 recs
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because it's their job

What, should he not campaign in Alaska because it'll cost them money?  Maybe he should just spend September in MD, DC and VA.

by Adam B 2008-07-09 05:59AM | 0 recs
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Re: because it's their job

Or, better yet, in the Big Brother house.

by howie14 2008-07-09 06:23AM | 0 recs
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Re: because it's their job

Here's the other important thing, which I mentioned above but I'll mention again: The networks have gotten billions and billions and billions of dollars in subsidies over the years in the form of free broadcasting spectrum. In return, they are required to provide the public service of news reporting (among other things).

The American people have held up their end of the bargain through the subsidies. Will the networks hold up their end?

by Jonathan Singer 2008-07-09 06:25AM | 0 recs
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Re: because it's their job

The networks DID hold up their end. I'll repeat what I said too: Obama has suddenly changed the plans for the Dem. convention, a move that negates all the time and expense networks have expended so far in preparation, and forcing them to start from scratch at considerable extra expense.

Why should they spend alot more money to cover an arbitrary and costly decision on Obama's part?

by phoenixdreamz 2008-07-09 04:06PM | 0 recs
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Re: My favorite part of the RNC

John McCain's acceptance speech is on opening night for the NFL season, where Super Bowl Champion NY Giants host my hometown Washington Redskins.  I now have an excuse not to watch McCain's acceptance speech.

by Brad G 2008-07-09 05:45AM | 0 recs
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Re: My favorite part of the RNC

I wouldn't miss it for the world. Think of the fun you could have with a ''My friends...'' drinking game!

by conspiracy 2008-07-09 05:52AM | 0 recs
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Re: My favorite part of the RNC

"Are you ready for some FOOTBALL! And Monday Night party! We're going to ignore McCain! And get this party started!"

by Cugel 2008-07-09 06:11AM | 0 recs
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Um...

Isn't the big Monday night speech called the "Keynote"?

McCarrion just named Scrappy Doo the Keynote speaker for the Gooper convention!

If that's not an endorsement of his policies, I don't know what is.

by admiralnaismith 2008-07-09 06:20AM | 0 recs
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Seriously, though

They have to have Bush speak, it's tradition.

Otherwise, he could just say he has some serious brush to clear on the ranch that night.

by howie14 2008-07-09 06:25AM | 0 recs
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Tradition's mandate

Exactly. Barring major security concerns (a la the Secret Service advising LBJ not to attend the '68 Convention in Chicago), it would probably be more of an embarassment for the sitting president not to address the convention however unpopular he might be. That's good news for Democrats in 2008.

by Practical Progressive 2008-07-09 07:30AM | 0 recs

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