It's time to unmask McBush...

I'm very hopeful for a number of positive outcomes in this year's elections. President Kerry, Majority Leader Daschle and Speaker Pelosi are all real possibilities, and each prospect is worth every ounce of energy we can devote to it.

There's another outcome I'm hopeful about, too. I hope this is the year that all Democrats can finally wrap their minds around the idea that John McCain is not our friend. He's not a GOP moderate. He's not a useful ally. Whatever his personal history with George Bush may be, when push comes to shove he's a Bush Republican, who will honor no principle that might interfere with the reelection of the man who he looks to for leadership.

Don't take my word for it. Take his.

...asked why he is not willing to use his leverage with the Bush campaign to force a condemnation of the anti-Kerry ad, McCain said, "I'm just not sure that in the grand scheme of things that should determine whether I support the president's reelection or not. If I threatened him with some kind of retaliation, that obviously would have some impact on his reelectability."

Oh, sure, he says he disagrees with Bush policies that are bankrupting America. He says he's uncomfortable with Bush's drive to put bigotry in the Constitution. He clucks disapprovingly when Bush slanders a man that McCain calls a friend.

But damned if he'll do or say anything that might have and "...impact on his reelectability.

Don't believe him? Ask his operative, John Weaver, who will tell you what he told the LA Times.

"He supported [Bush's] election in 2000 and campaigned very hard for him, and people don't seem to remember that," said McCain political aide John Weaver. "While he has some significant policy differences [with Bush], at the end of the day, he is a member of the same tribe."

"...the same tribe." The tribe whose chief must be defended regardless of the cost to the country.

John McCain is a shameless Republican hack, plain and simple. He is not our friend. And this year, it's time for every Democrat to face the facts.