( - promoted by phillip anderson)
Not literally, of course, but in so many words.
And it's no surprise, really, since multi-millionaire lobbyist Tom Loeffler, McCain's campaign general co-chairman and finance chairman, has been a Bush gang profiteer and fund-raiser for 20 years or so.
For example, Loeffler presumably has other oily clients, but his Wikipedia page lists just one - the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Loeffler was in the Albany area to raise some money for Rensselaer County Republicans (whose Boss Bruno is facing a probable federal indictment and practically certain loss of his state Senate majority this year).
Whatever Loeffler said to the boss' kickback crowd was evidently off-the-record, since there's no story in any of the local papers (online anyway).
But Loeffler could not hide his Bush-love under a barrel, so he stopped by the Albany Times-Union before the dinner.
Details of unabashed Bush love, below. |
Here's the money quote about Bush and McCain, some of which might come in handy as the voice-over for an ad featuring the real hug:
They're both very similar. They're both American patriots. They love their country, they've served their country. They are givers not takers, they are both committed not to special interests or to such a doctrinaire philosophy that they cannot find a compromise.
It's hard to tell if this is true-believer delusion, willful suspension of disbelief, or just plain lying political propaganda.
Probably the latter, based on the rest of the interview.
For example, Loeffler promises that McCain will waste some time campaigning in New York:
He will be here. And New York could very well be a very key state ... there is no state that is written off today.
We are acutely aware of how many electoral votes there are in New York, as we are acutely aware of how many electoral votes there are in California. Both very blue states in the past. So keep your eye on it. He's liable to be here a lot.
Yeah, right.
Loeffler has the Iraq-war-forever, and the second-nature McCarthyite smears of anti-war Democrats, stuff down pat:
It is important to Sen. McCain that we allow our troops to return victoriously ... if we don't, we allow a sea of Islamic terrorists to grow, blossom and spread. John McCain doesn't believe in defeat and I view the Democratic party's perspective in regard to Iraq as being the party of defeat.
I wonder if he really said Democratic, or if the TU reporter helped him with his grammar.
Loeffler is asked about "recognition of challenges of global warming and cost of health care" and answers with a weird dismissal:
All of these things have not been issues in the past in the beginning of an administration.
I remember when health care, anyway, was an issue "in the beginning of an administration."
And, finally, Loeffler also gives away the game about the notional moderate maverick:
They're (the conservative part of the Republican Party) united with the Senator. Why? Because he's a very strong fiscal conservative ... his position with respect to foreign policy, free trade ... the more conservative party absolutely endorses ... being pro-life, being very much in support of morality, spirituality and patriotism.
Loeffler's high post in the McCain campaign is a sure sign that Bush is hugging McCain back hard -- partly to boost the legacy thing, but mostly to have the cover-up of Bush's war and other high crimes continue. |
