Here we go, folks -- "McCain Taps Former Bush Political Director "

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT/AP: McCain Taps Former Bush Political Director
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: March 18, 2006


WASHINGTON (AP) -- With an eye toward the 2008 presidential campaign, GOP Sen. John McCain of Arizona has hired one of President Bush's top re-election advisers to help run his political action committee.

Terry Nelson, political director of the Bush-Cheney campaign in 2004, will be senior adviser to Straight Talk America, according to several official familiar with the hiring. They spoke on condition of anonymity so as not to pre-empt an announcement by McCain's committee.

McCain is using the PAC to raise money and organize his travel on behalf of Republicans running in November's midterm elections.

The PAC is also a launching pad for what most Republicans consider to be a likely presidential race by McCain. Nelson's hiring puts him in position to play a major role should McCain seek the White House again....

***

McCain is courting Bush's supporters, major fundraisers and advisers. Mark McKinnon, the president's chief media strategist, has signaled his willingness to help McCain unless Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice or Florida Gov. Jeb Bush gets in the race....


http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-McCain-Bush-Aide.html?ex=1143349200&en=5c2fb04ad90c3b8a&ei=5070&emc=eta1

[mojavekid]

1. Both Rice and the president's brother have said they will not run.

(Above from the same article.) But what about either as McCain's running mate?





editededed fer gammar

[EST]

5. I bet you'd do anything fer grammer, huh?

She must be a nice person...

[pacalo]

2. Diebold is the key for a Repug to get "elected". Period.

McCain needs the boy king's cash man, not one of his re-election managers.

[Rob H.]

3. "Straight Talk America"

So if we go by the Resmuglican naming conventions that gave us the "Clear Skies Initiative," which actually allows factories to continue to pollute, and the "Healthy Forests Initiative," which lets logging companies into old-growth forests, I'm guessing "Straight Talk America" is just another way of saying, "Our campaign will be packed to the rafters with bullshit."

[July]

8. "BS America," it fits! nt

[flpoljunkie]

4. Terry Nelson bio with photo from googles images...

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=&imgrefurl=http://www.akerman.com/public/attorneys/aBiography.asp%3Fid%3D808&h=177&w=152&sz=13&tbnid=ky5w9D0rXCOB0M:&tbnh=95&tbnw=81&hl=en&start=2&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dof%2BTerry%2BNelson%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26safe%3Dactive%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den%26sa%3DN




Terry A. Nelson
Consultant

801 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W.
Suite 600
Washington, DC 20004

Main: 202.393.6222
Main Fax: [phone]

[e-mail]

Practice Areas
Government Relations

Experience

Terry A. Nelson is a consultant and member of the Policy practice group in Washginton, D.C. Prior to joining Akerman Senterfitt he served as National Political Director for the Bush-Cheney '04 Campaign and was cited twice by Roll Call newspaper as one of the “50 Most Influential Operatives in Politics,” Mr. Nelson has played a senior role in the last three national elections.

As National Political Director of Bush-Cheney ’04, Mr. Nelson is widely credited with designing and building the largest, most effective Republican grassroots campaign ever devised. Mr. Nelson was responsible for the Campaign’s grassroots effort, turning out the vote, coalition outreach and paid voter contact mail and phones. This effort produced a historic increase in turnout for President Bush.

Prior to joining the Bush-Cheney ‘04 Campaign, Mr. Nelson was Deputy Chief of Staff and Executive Director of Political Operations at the Republican National Committee (RNC). While there he helped craft the historic takeover of the U.S. Senate and gains in the U.S. House in 2002 and was responsible for television, voter contact mail and phones and get-out-the-vote programs. Mr. Nelson served as Political Director of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) in 2000. In this role he directed a $55 million political program to retain the Republican majority in the House when many political analysts and media pundits predicted a return to the minority.

In addition to his work with Akerman Senterfitt, Mr. Nelson has founded and is the managing partner of Crosslink Strategy Group, a firm that specializes in strategic public affairs campaigns for corporations, coalition groups and grassroots leaders.

[Clarkie1]

6. Where is the yawning smiley when I need it? n/t

[MH1]

7. A dkos post on this

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/3/18/112212/529

And you may not need the yawning smiley.

[DeepModem Mom]

10. Wow! McCain seems to have turned to the dark side, indeed.

Thanks for this Kos link.

[kentuck]

9. McCain is making big mistake hitching his wagon to Bush's star...

But he did it when Bush's approval was much higher and now he can't back down. He would have been much stronger if he had kept distance from Junior. McCain made a boo-boo.

[Neil Lisst]

11. Cheney resigns. McCain appointed VP. 2008 he picks Jeb veep.

is the play they will make

[karynnj]

12. There is another advantage to getting Bush's team

Anything they dug up on him in 2000 stays unused - especially if it can be destroyed now.