Bush Saw McCain As "Guy Who Would Carry On His Legacy In Iraq"

GQ's Robert Draper has a long piece examining John McCain's Iraq War policy record and history in the upcoming October issue of the magazine. The article, titled "Prisoner of War," traces McCain's eight separate trips to the war-torn country. In one interesting anecdote, Draper recounts how Bush told McCain's friend and frequent surrogate Republican Senator Lindsay Graham that "he saw John [McCain] as the guy who would carry on his legacy in Iraq."

Even so, as the situation in Iraq had deteriorated, McCain had spent most of 2004 preoccupied with another mission: his political future. Knowing that any '08 presidential bid would require repairing the damage to his relationship with Bushworld that had occurred during the 2000 election cycle, he devoted himself to becoming the GOP's most loyal foot soldier. He made scores of campaign appearances, and even as he publicly bemoaned the horrors of Abu Ghraib and the insufficient number of ground forces deployed in Iraq, McCain supported the Bush administration where it counted most: on the Senate floor, where he helped push through $87 billion worth of supplemental funding for the war. Those efforts did not go unnoticed. On June 22, 2004, Bush took McCain's buddy Lindsey Graham aside during a White House function and, standing on the Truman balcony, told Graham that, as the latter would remember it, "he saw John as the guy who would carry on his legacy in Iraq."

Read the full story at GQ.

Comments

[emory]

McSavings and loan just said that he learned how to fix the countries economy after the savings and loan scandal of the 90s.

He is the savings and loan scandal of the 90's

MR KEATING 5

[StillAmused]

Junior's beginning to stiffen. He knows what's coming, 'cause he's been there before. In a few months, he'll wake up in a puddle of his own drool -- having blown it yet again -- only, this time, on a cosmic scale, and the whole effin' world will have watched.

[Ironquill]

You have to ask why Jeb Bush is suddenly showing up on our T.V. screens. In my opinion the Bush's saw anyone taking over in 2012 as the fall guy, thus shielding the so-called Bush legacy, and setting fhe stage, after "Bush Fatigue" wears off, for Jeb. Now Palin has a shot at the Presidency and it might be time for Jeb to perk up.

[JohnnieP]

If you think Palin has a ligitimate shot at the Presidency in 2012, Ironquill, you must believe in
the toothfairy, too.

[LouisianaLiberal]

Legacy?? Is he kidding?? Here"s a legacy for ya, Dubbya: Worst President Ever.

[DMcD]

If the title hadn't already been used , "Dumb and Dumber" would have been perfect for a Bush movie.

[nirek]

As a Vermont liberal I could not agree more, w is the worst in all our history. ( I hate the terms con. and lib. ) The cons. are anything but conservitive and libs. are much more conservitive of the environment and tax $ .Cons. like to spen and tax only the middle class, Libs. like to spend on social issues not wars and tax fairly.

VOTE OBAMA

[RobinSeattle]

Boy, the wingnut trolls have sure made themselves scarce, haven't they?

Maybe the trinkets offered for their points on the McCain website haven't made defending him and the GOP worth it anymore.

[RobinSeattle]

Deep down, Bush has to realize that he will be evaluated by historians as the worst president in the history of this country. The arrogance, criminality and stupidity will need its own wing in any library to properly capture it all.

And if Bush hasn't realized what a debacle all this was and what his lace in history is, he is mentally ill and should be forced to step down NOW.

[mshannon]

McCain pulled a McGovern. Sarah Palin is the Republican's Thomas Eagleton. The only difference is Pat Buchanan and Republican operatives ruined McGovern by pulling the "psycho" card out on Eagleton. McCain and Palin cut their own throats. I don't think there is any recovery here. Hillary and Bill.....step up to the plate and close this deal. Obama is moving ahead, Biden is legitimate and ready to attack....now if the Clintons would get on board, this would be over in a week.

[RobinSeattle]

Oh, she is both Agnew and Eagleton. So she is a twofer.

[AnnieinOR]

I'm watching a great old movie called Gabriel over the White House on TCM about a corrupt President who has a corrupt cabinet and changes radically (for the better) after a car accident. 1933 - history seems to have only changed the players... (CORRUPT) - too bad everythng isn't as simple as movies in correcting our politicians.

[LemonMeringue]

Seven soldiers died today in Iraq.

Everyone who ever voted for these Replublicans has blood on their hands.

[nirek]

Their blood is more on the hands of bush 43 and wannabe bush 44 and cheney. (please note , out of disrespect for bush/ cheney I do not cap. their names. It is a small thing but I have no regard for them.)

VOTE OBAMA

[RobinSeattle]

Yup Yup.

[AnnieinOR]

amen, no truer words - hope they are ready to meet their makers, being they are the "RELIGIOUS RIGHT"

[rolltide773]

a war they lied to the american people the economy going to hell 4$ gallan of gas its time to change dont be fooled the republicans are going to take this country down vote obama vote for change

[yorkie]

WOW!!! WHO'ED HAVE THOUGHT A FASHION STYLE MAG WOULD HAVE A BIG TRUTH REVEALING STORY LIKE THIS!!! BUT WITH PALIN FASHION CRAZE THIS IS PERFECT ANECDOTE!!! TRUTH OUT'S THE MIRAGE MAC BUSH ARE TRYING TO CREATE...NOW ALL LEFT IS VOTER SUPRESSION, TROOPER GATE COVER UP ... HOPE NO WILD STORY BLOWS UP OVERSEAS,,,TERROR ALERTS, BIN LADEN SCARES BS...... I WAS always somewhat suspicious in past yr or 2 over nice relationship being formed between thew Clintons and Bush,, esp ELDER BUSH ETC ....... I think they thought HILLARY would win dem nom and MAC the old party's nod.... Though elder BUSH was at MITT ROMMNEY'S side during HOUSTON speech on his Mormonism not sure if he would have been their real choice... an interesting side bar to look into..... may this BUSH be the last elected nationally ever in the US,,,, NO JEBS OR HIS son either!!!!! g.p bush........ NO MAC BUSH,,,,,,,,GET OUT THE VOTE FOR O IN EVERY PRECINCT!!!!

[scordsdu]

Is something Rotten in Denmark?

[pearlone]

Most likely to be unable to put his own Country First. Most likely to institute a draft.

[the964kid]

What else does a voter need to know?? Bush sees a McCain election victory as a 3rd Bush term too.

[HunterMR]

I believe that legacy may be the windfalls from all the no-bid contracts set up in Iraq. Who wants to bet most troops are more like security gaurds to protect the contractors ( aka Bush's 'friends') that are 'rebuilding' the country, that we showered with bombs 5 years ago?