The Democratic Convention seemed united in the view that McCain is “more of the same” — i.e., that McCain is running for Bush’s third term. Dick Morris assembles helpful list of differences:
1. McCain fought for campaign finance reform — McCain-Feingold — that Bush resisted and ultimately signed because he had no choice.
2. McCain led the battle to restrict interrogation techniques of terror suspects and to ban torture.
3. McCain went with Joe Lieberman on a tough measure to curb climate change, something Bush denies is going on.
4. McCain opposed the Bush tax cuts when they passed.
5. McCain urged the Iraq surge, a posture Bush rejected for years before conceding its wisdom.
6. McCain favors FDA regulation of tobacco and sponsored legislation to that effect, a position all but a handful of Republican senators oppose.
7. McCain’s energy bill, also with Lieberman, is a virtual blueprint for energy independence and development of alternate sources.
8. After the Enron scandal, McCain introduced sweeping reforms in corporate governance and legislation to guarantee pensions and prohibit golden parachutes for executives. Bush opposed McCain’s changes and the watered-down Sarbanes-Oxley bill eventuated.
9. McCain has been harshly critical of congressional overspending, particularly of budgetary earmarks, a position Bush only lately adopted (after the Democrats took over Congress).