If McCain Is Nominee, Bush Will Help McCain (Interesting Colin Powell Comments)

The Los Angeles Times ^ | February 11, 2008 | Maura Reynolds and Peter Spiegel, Staff Writers

[truthkeeper]

WASHINGTON -- President Bush pledged Sunday to assist Sen. John McCain's campaign for the presidency assuming he wins the Republican Party nomination -- but acknowledged that the Arizona senator has "got some convincing to do" among the party's conservatives.

In an interview with "Fox News Sunday" at his retreat at Camp David, Md., Bush was careful to note that two Republicans are still competing for the nomination, and he did not express a preference.

But Bush made clear that he was willing to set aside the tensions he has had with McCain in the past, and he praised the front-runner as "a true conservative."

"I think that if John's the nominee, he has got some convincing to do to convince people that he is a solid conservative. And I'll be glad to help him if he is the nominee, because he is a conservative," Bush said.

"Look, he's very strong on national defense. He's tough fiscally. He believes that tax cuts ought to be permanent. He's pro-life. . . . His principles are sound and solid as far as I'm concerned," Bush said.

[seekthetruth]

“Powell has given money to only to the McCain campaign.”

It would not surprise me if McCain chooses Powell as his VP.

[BibChr]

That’d certainly make a bad situation worse. But I could believe it. McCain feels conservatives own him, and he’d believe the NYT if they urged him to reach out to the left.

[Dixie Yooper]

Bush created this mess. Well, Bush and Karl Rove

What you refer to as a mess is nothing compared to what would have happened if Gore or Kerry had been in charge for the last 8 or 4 years.

[Perdogg]

Powell says he is not interested in running for elected office.

[newzjunkey]

Beat me to it.

[AngelesCrestHighway]

President Bush pledged Sunday to assist Sen. John McCain’s campaign for the presidency assuming he wins the Republican Party nomination — but acknowledged that the Arizona senator has “got some convincing to do” among the party’s conservatives.

Jeez!.....that’s a good one Jorge!...you’ve already crossed that stream, right?

[RinaseaofDs]

It won’t help. Powell’s brand has faded a bit.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

It is hard to say what would have been. Perhaps 4 years of Gore would have made the right stronger, not weaker, and led to a better victory in 2004. I realize that compromise must happen in politics. I just think we have been leading with compromise, and instead of winning 80%, we get 20%....and usually go forward only to have even that snatched away. Compromise is a value of last resort, not a first principle. There are many times when compromise is not even a value at all. Where are the leaders who recognize that distiction? I can tell you this, you don't have one in John McCain.

[Names Ash Housewares]

“Is anybody surprised that he’s “open” to voting for a Democrat?”

Ann Coulter is.

Aren’t half the vocal Freepers here ready to vote for a democrat such their despise for rinos?

Powell is no longer trusted, but some people here seem to think it’s a good idea too for different reasons.

[Dixie Yooper]

Whatever lemons we are tossed, I will just have to make lemonade and hope for the best.

[End Times Crusader]

WOW! With that type of attitude you’ll end up with about four people in the entire party. If you have not already noticed, it’s people such as yourself that is the minority in the party. Look at all the endorsements from long time Republicans. This party is not yours to play with.

[stevio]

This party is not yours to play with.

You are correct, the party is not mine.

[Ramius]

...an inside deal was made that if McLame supported the war, Bush would push McLame. No suprises here.

LOL... Oh, please. The President, as the head of the party would be supporting the Republican nominee anyway: any of them. You'd expect him to come out in favor of Hillary? Don't think so...

[Salvation]

BTTT!

[DFG]

It would not surprise me if McCain chooses Powell as his VP. Not likely. Powell will turn 71 in April. For VP, McCain needs to choose someone younger that can be groomed to be the GOP candidate in 2012.

[Pinetop]

I don’t think Powell would do it, but it’s a good idea.

[MEGoody]

Naturally, a sitting President will campaign for the nominee of the party to which he belongs. Why would this even be news?

[puroresu]

Bush campaigning for McCain would probably hurt McCain at this point. Conservatives no longer trust Bush (at least on some issues) and the left still ferociously hates Bush, so I don’t see any benefits for McCain if Bush is out there fighting for him.

[penowa]

"...but some people here seem to think it’s a good idea..."

I'm not one of them. I won't vote for McCain, Hillary or Obama for the simple reason that voting for any of them is a vote for Soros' agenda. I just think it's interesting that Powell, who would be a retired nobody had the Republicans not shoved him forward during his entire career, is nearly as loyal as McCain to the party. Maybe he'll be McCain's VP since he's a "maverick" too.

[puroresu]

You call us crybabies for not liking McCain, yet you assert that his shift to the left was because he was peeved over not getting the GOP nomination in 2000. So because he lost the primaries to Bush, he contemplated switching parties, and teamed up with leftists to undermine the GOP for eight years, but it’s the people angry about that who are the crybabies? I don’t understand your reasoning here.