Another amusing drama with the Republicans. McCain didn't want Bush to speak. Even though he is Bush on Steroids, he is trying desperately to look like a *Maverick* (which in case means a Senior Moments With No Judgment character) and one way to try to fight the truth is to Not Have Bush At the Convention.

Alas. Bush Junior wants to party at the convention

and have his last hurrah in front of the Ones That Brung Him.

The McCain campaign and the Bush White House negotiated terms that unfolded as a script over the past several days, several sources told me. First, Bush announced he must oversee the preparations for dealing with the hurricane. He would not be able to attend the convention. Cheney, too, would drop out. In order that Bush and Cheney not seem to have been humiliated, McCain cancelled the entire proceedings for the first evening.

Almost certainly, Bush had to cancel his planned speech while Gustav loomed. But the sources say he didn't like the idea and felt pushed. Bush is described by sources as "furious" at McCain for being deprived of his last appearance before his party, which nominated him twice, as a sitting president. He believes he is being treated disrespectfully.

Sort of like "I will NOT BE IGNORED!"

Shuttering the convention for a night was probably inevitable given the hurricane, but to provide a cover-up for scratching Bush and Cheney it became absolutely necessary. But once the hurricane passed, Bush asserted his primacy as president and forced his way back on the schedule to deliver a satellite speech to the convention.

McCain is desperately seeking ways to pivot from Bush, whose in-person appearance on the first night of the convention threatened to obliterate his message as a "maverick" and "reformer." Even though McCain himself would not be onstage, Bush and Cheney would have dominated the opening and underlined continuity between their administration and McCain. The cancellation of the first night of the convention is a small price to pay for their absence.

Alas. Gone are the days of huggie-feelie-kissie with Bush and McCain. I guess this means McCain won't get any more kisses on his bald head.