McCain stars in 'Back to the Future 08'

After breaking new ground for cynicism and hypocrisy during three flag-waving days, the Republican National Convention closed with nostalgia. Presidential nominee Senator John McCain gave an acceptance speech that could have been delivered by any Republican going back to Richard Nixon, a nice fit for his running mate, Spiro Agnew with a beehive.

While tossing around the term maverick like it was confetti and recasting the four-term Arizona senator as an agent of change, the convention marked McCain's full-throated induction into the Republican establishment. To paraphrase his speech on Thursday night, McCain may have run to change the Republicans, but the Republicans have changed him.

Throughout the convention, there was barely a shred of policy revealed. Instead, speakers mocked Democrats, spouted platitudes, and gushed McCain hagiography. Few dared acknowledge President George W Bush or his eight years of misrule. You could count on one hand the number of times Bush's name was mentioned. The convention enjoyed the good fortune of having Bush absent due to Hurricane Gustav; burned by Hurricane Katrina, the White House bent over backwards this time to show it cared about New Orleans. The Republicans didn't rely on luck to keep Vice President Dick Cheney away; Bush sent him to Georgia and Ukraine.

In his acceptance speech, McCain covered the same points that Republicans have been making for the past 40 years. He said he'd cut taxes, shrink government, and promote business. Above all, McCain promised to throw the bums out in Washington. Never mind that he's been one of those bums for 26 years, his party has been in the White House for the past eight years (and 32 of the past 40), and that McCain says he agrees with the outgoing president on virtually all the major issues. McCain didn't give details of how he'll accomplish this political miracle, consistent with the convention's policy-light theme.

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