Reply #4: It's part of the RW tag-team defense of everything bush!!!

[stopbush]

Here's how it works: if the wacko RW is against something like Portgate (ie: bush's base is getting uneasy), then the
"moderates" like McCain & Warner step in to defend him. If the moderates express concerns about something
(NSA spying) then the wacko RW steps in to defend him.

With this strategy - and believe me, it IS a strategy - bush ALWAYS has support from his party.

That allows the subtext to always be "Democrats and EVEN SOME Republicans" are questioning bush. That translates
as ALL Dems always question bush but only SOME Rs ever question him.

McCain might absolutely loathe the Portgate deal, but he is a team player and a party-over-country
politician, so he plays his role when the puppeteers demand it.