Nemont,
When you started digging around on the voting I decided to do the same thing. My little brain was swirling so I went fishing to let the dust settle. After losing 3 set-ups and missing a Brown strike 3 feet away while reeling in. I decided to leave the river and go home. River 3, Fish 1, Me 0. On the drive home my brain finally settled sufficiently as to why this is a talking point. It's not about partisanship alignment, it's about guilt.
The RNC has obviously linked the names of Bush, Cheney, to those like Craig, keeping them at a 3 stalls length and daring not to speak their names. Now the DNC has done the exact same thing with Edwards. So we are all aware of the routine by both sides.
Edwards indiscretions are rather inconsequential since he is not a current office holder. Craig is just down right creepy and self-explanatory, but he just won't leave. When it comes to Bush the RNC is running like hell towards the light and not looking back in an attempt to escape their shadow.
Bush/Cheney are incumbents! Yet no homage to their leadership, no live address, no address at all by the V.P., their names left unmentioned throughout the convention.
This is exceptional since 183.694% x 4.16 of the time incumbents terms in office are highlighted and praised at the convention. The party pays honor to their leadership, and the base is energized. Just watching the RNC, one would be challenged to be reminded just who the President or V.P. currently is. No signs, nothing. This is historical, and will frame this entire 2008 election and the Bush Adm.
Get on with it man! O.K., the reason why this factoid has been a fully licensed talking point is 2-fold. The first of course is to attach "the names we dare not speak of" to McCain. The 2nd is to note the disparity between Obama's aligned votes with Bush and McCain's. If your opponent has rubber stamped failed leadership, and you didn't, it kinda of a plus for you.
As we know the 109th & 110th congress are polarized. The 109th which represent 3/4 of the Bush Adm. term did not have many bi-partisan bills. The 110th congress is stalled out due an historical amount of fillibustering on behalf of the GOP. Bi-partisanship has been deeply frowned upon by GOP. We witnessed McCain being repeatedly denegrated for being too moderate by many of his conservative peers for crossing the aisle.
For 6 years the Reps. dominated politics concentrating on Republican sponsered legislation, while rarely allowing the Dem's to ever get to the floor. This partisan division has created the high percentage of party alignment on votes, which has carried thru to our current congress.
The Dems point to McCain's voting record because Bush/Cheney are so incredibly unpopular to the point of being banished. Even McCain can only associate the word "failed" when he refers to party principles, the past congress, and the incumbency.
McCain has been a Senator during his party's current incumbency. Despite his efforts of bipartisanship on a couple of bills, McCain has been apart of self-admitted failed power structure. So McCain's alignment of voting with George does have significance.
The real difference is when you compare Obama, Clinton, Bush, & McCain. Clinton oddly enough has been rather center voting along with McCain 70.12679% of the time. Obama on the other hand has voted along with McCain only 30.129% of the time. I'll have to check the real numbers and post a hyperlink, but I'm close.
If the Reps and Dems both don't like Bush and believe the adm.'s failed policies have led to our economic slowdown, shrinking middleclass, high influx of illegals, stretched military, high-fuel prices, devalued dollar, well the list goes on etc. Then McCain is left defending vote and his alignment with such an unpopular adm., especially if he is going defend
his annointed "Maverick" status. McCain has recently recanted his support on some of his own well-known, Maverick inspired, bi-partisan legislation.
For me, it does make sense for Obama to highlight his clear opposition to Bush and the legislation or policies of his party. During the campaign Obama highlighted Hillary's voting record, and noted she voted with Bush twice as much as he did.
Where is JB when you need him?
McCain voted with Bush, Obama on the other hand rarely did.
Bush sucks!
Guilt by association, Reps must accept the blame by default, they are the party in power.
I hope I catch some fish tonight!
Tell me you didn't take a stone from the castles! No kidding, it's hella bad luck cuz! Hope you had a good trip! Not enough green over there...
