Because Bush KNEW McCain was on a mission to pay him back for the South Carolina primary in 2000. Only McCain could have pulled this off, because John is viewed my many as a "statesman" -- a man above party politics. Ole Maverick and his straight talk express.
Look who went with McCain: Snowe and Collins from Maine; Chaffee from RI; --- all three are barely GOP, and Snowe and Chaffee are up for reelection in '06. They're as GOP as their respective states will permit and elect.
DeWine is a runt and a wimp, but he's up for reelection in '06, so what does that tell you about his internal polling back home in Ohio?
Warner is another loose canon, but his seat is his until '08 and the public's memory is said to be short.
Graham was McCain's senate chairman for his run at the nomination and Lindsay remained angry with Bush for the South Carolina primary in 2000.
Personally, I think Lindsay Graham is looking to be governor of his stae, so his participation might even help him achieve his aim with democrats in his state. He can likely kiss the conservative vote good-by, but until his demicrat opponent is known, even their votes can't be thoroughly dismissed.
So what are you saying. Bush is powerless even though he is the President. The person who has the most power is the one who lost 6 years ago in the primary. I dont think so. I don't think Bush cares about his nominees at all. He nominates them hoping they would get confirmed. Makes conservatives happy. If they don't get confirmed, oh well. He has bigger fishes to fry, or bigger govt to propose.
If that's the case, then I believe that he is mistaken. I don't think this will help him win the governor's office in South Carolina.