John McCain will never be secertary of defense under Bush.

I just heard Randi insisting this was the case. And no offense to her but think for a second. Bush is a neoconservative, Cheney is a neoconservative, the neoconservatives run the administrations foriegn policy. The man they put in charge of the defense department must either be a neoconservative or an empty suit. McCain would be a ticking time bomb waiting to explode and destroy thier entire foriegn policy. I would love to see it, but it will NEVER happen.

and has been fooling us for years pretending to be a mainstreamer. God, I would not put anything past any of them.

if he were one of them. McCain is loyal to his party to a fault, but not reliable as a tool for the radical neocon agenda.

...makes me believe a deal was made. There's no way Rummy would be sticking around in a (God forbid)second Bush Jr term.

First off McCain has always always in his career come back to the party. After the 2000 primary, where Bush treated him horribly, who did he support in the election?

McCain knows where his bread is buttered, he knows that the Bush's will tolerate him to a certain extent, but that if, at the end of the day, he isnt working to help them, they will run a hard right conservative against him with lots of money and maybe not unseat him but make his life a living hell.

Alot of liberals have the wrong impression of him. He didnt go off the reservation and then get lured back, not at all, he is like many republicans from liberal states or more moderate but popular who the party allows some leeway. There was no need for a deal, McCain is a republican and feels complete loyalty to the party.

As far as Rummy sticking around, thats an entirely seperate issue. If he leaves he will be replaced with another neo-con or an empty suit to front for the neocons.