Damning with faint praise

I don't recall relations between Bush and McCain being particularly friendly after the slog through the 2000 primaries. Certainly, Bush isn't doing McCain any favor by calling him a 'conservative;' credibility of the source, and all that. The curious thing to me is whether he KNOWS he's more likely to hurt or help by doing so.

John McCain is a "true conservative," President Bush says, although the likely Republican presidential nominee may have to work harder to convince other conservatives that he is one of their own. ((wonder why that might be? -- Jemison))

McCain "is very strong on national defense," Bush said in an interview taped for airing on "Fox News Sunday." "He is tough fiscally. He believes the tax cuts ought to be permanent. He is pro-life. His principles are sound and solid as far as I'm concerned."

But when asked about criticism of McCain by conservative commentators Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter, the president said, "I think that if John is the nominee, he has got some convincing to do to convince people that he is a solid conservative and I'll be glad to help him if he is the nominee."

Bush said some of the criticism of the Arizona senator was the result of "probably, some personal animosity toward me. You can't please all the people all the time."

Given the current president's approval ratings, it's unlikely he's pleased many of the people, ever... So... who's up for more of the same from the next administration?