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The Bush ProblemJohn Dickerson takes readers' questions about how McCain should handle his ties to the president.

Posted Thursday, July 31, 2008, at 3:02 PM ET

(Continued from page 2)

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Re: St. Louis: The example of "buy-in" I've seen bandied about is the 1980 example. Carter and Reagan were even going into the debates, where neither side really 'won' but people overcame their doubts. So far, it seems like people lean Obama but have doubts rather than are split between Obama-McCain.

John Dickerson: Yes, this example has gotten lots of play. Makes sense to me except for the fact that these historical analogies usually have one huge flaw which we don't discover until after the analogy breaks down. The alternative is Ford/Carter. Carter was up by a big margin but then Ford chipped away and only barely lost because people were worried about Carter's untestedness.

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Green Bay, Wisc.: It seems that the latest Republican scandals (Sen. Stevens, in particular, but also the embezzlement mess with the Republican committees, etc.) have been breaking in time to affect the convention. How will they avoid the glow of indictments and inquiries affecting their big show?

John Dickerson: By holding it in the dark? It's a problem. The Republican brand is a mess.

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Ashland, Mo: The most popular regular TV program is American Idol, which is seen by less than 15 percent of the population. Even fewer people watch the evening news. Newspaper circulation is declining. Few people read many books. This isn't the '60s (or even '70s or '80s) any more. Is it possible political reporters and politicians assume more people are paying attention than actually are? That, in fact, politically-oriented people now live in a bubble or echo chamber instead of the "real" world?

John Dickerson: You can never go wrong questioning whether we all live in a bubble. I think people aren't paying much attestation-- certainly not now. But I think conventions play out in local papers and on the national news in a way the normal day to day doesn't play out. So I think conventions can punch through. Also, team Obama can work hard to make it stick.

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Baltimore: Love the Republican effort to tie Obama to Carter. Not only is Carter's administration ancient history for those 40 and under, but Carter (1) named Paul Volcker Fed chief with the mandate to choke off inflation, which Volcker did after years of its rise under Nixon/Ford (2) forged a still extant piece between Israel and Egypt after those countries had fought 3 wars and (3) correctly prophesied the coming energy crisis and actually began substantive work on alternative energy sources by the federal government, all of which were undone by the Reagan administration.

I would say that wasn't a bad record for four years. The fact is, if the Iranian hostage rescue had worked, Carter would have had a second term and Reagan would not have gotten 200 plus Marines blown to bits in Beirut.

John Dickerson: You make a good case though I think Obama won't make that case. He's also got to keep his distance from Carte on the Israel question. I wonder what they'll do with Carter actually. The hero of the convention will be Kennedy, if he's well enough, Carter' 80 primary opponent.

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Odessa ,Tx: Put a sack over his head & duct tape his mouth?

John Dickerson: The Secret Service discourages this behavior.

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Harrisburg, Pa.: I was just sitting at the bar with some of my fellow Pennsylvanians, debating whether today to turn to God or to our Gods to get out of our dispair, when we saw the new commercial where Britney Spears and Paris Hilton support Obama. We realized that if Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, whom we presume are Republicans, can support Obama, then Obama must not be all that bad afterall.

John Dickerson: I hear many people do still drink at lunch.

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Seattle, WA: Somewhat cynically, is there a way for Bush to speak in a way that's only covered by Fox News or other conservative outlet? That'd be my pick.

John Dickerson: I think it would only happen if Bush held up the Fox logo. It'll be interesting to see what the networks do though. Will they carry the president live?

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Dallas, Tx: Are there any updates on Debates or Co-Hosted Town Halls? Is it going to be a restrictive as 2004?

John Dickerson: There are supposed to be 4 debates but that'll shrink and the town hall idea seems dead for the moment. The Obama team kinda dinked out on it though part of the current back and forth is about whether the idea will come back

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John Dickerson: Okay everyone, I'm off. Thanks very much for your questions.