Bush Lite

Hullabaloo is rich pickings this morning. Dday notes McCain's absence from the vote on the economic stimulus package (which lost by one vote under Harry Reid's new "60 votes for everything" rule) -- a vote that both Clinton and Obama returned to the Senate for. He also brings forward Howard Dean's definition of McCain, which is choice and right on.

John McCain is a media darling, but don't trust his carefully-crafted image - he's worked for years to brand himself. From Iraq to health care, Social Security to special interest tax cuts to ethics, he's promising nothing more than a third Bush term.

If the Democrats don't stick him with the "Less jobs, more wars" slogan, they need to disband as a party.

Update: Scott Lemieux has some thoughts on McCain's potential for destroying the courts, based on this post by Jack Balkin.

From my perspective, at least, there is no small irony in Calabresi and McGinnis' call for restoring constitutional government, given the activities of the current occupant of the White House; if anyone has made constitutional restoration necessary, it is not the demon liberals but George W. Bush. But I suspect they probably don't see things the way I do.

In any case, Calabresi and McGinnis somewhat exaggerate the dangers of new Democratic appointments: Given the most likely retirements, the most plausible scenario is that a Democratic President will be able to ensure that Ginsburg, Stevens (and possibly Souter) are replaced by liberals, thus preserving the status quo. On the other hand, it is the Wall Street Journal editorial page, so a degree of foaming about the mouth about the liberal judicial menace and its imminent destruction of the country is de rigeur.

I shudder to think of John McCain as president.