Read this piece by Elisabeth Bumiller, overall a very good article on how McCain and Bush drink from the same tainted well:

WASHINGTON — The Democrats like to say that electing Senator John McCain would usher in the third term of George W. Bush, and they do not mean it as a compliment. The Republicans counter that calling the senator “McBush” is political spin and that Mr. McCain is his own man.

A look at Mr. McCain’s 25-year record in the House and Senate, his 2008 campaign positions and his major speeches over the last three months indicates that on big-ticket issues — the economy, support for continuing the Iraq war, health care — his stances are indeed similar to Mr. Bush’s brand of conservatism. Mr. McCain’s positions are nearly identical to the president’s on abortion and the types of judges he says he would appoint to the courts.

On the environment, American diplomacy and nuclear proliferation, Mr. McCain has strikingly different views from Mr. Bush, and while he shares the president’s goals in Iraq, he was at times an outspoken critic of the way the war was managed.

On the issues of Iraq, the economy and healthcare his positions are not only similar, they are in fact the same. The private market is to somehow solve our healthcare crisis, we must remain in Iraq indefinitely until we reach some arbitrary defininition of "winning," much like in Vietnam and he has now embraced Bush’s tax cuts hook, line & sinker.

On social issues, as Bumiller points out, they are 100% on the same page. Alito is a great judge to be emulated by future McCain appointees. Abortion is to be outlawed. Gay marriage is a travesty in a civilized society. You know the score.

But on the issues where Bumiller says they disagree, I would argue she is mostly mistaken. On the issue of diplomacy, just because McCain talks a good game about working with our allies, that doesn’t mean he’ll do it. Anyone can say anything, and if his tough talk against Iran and threats to kick Russia out of the G-8 are any sign of things to come, I wouldn’t exactly count on him to be very diplomatic.

On the environment, just admitting that global warming exists doesn’t make one different. Yes, he is against drilling in ANWR, but he made up for that yesterday by calling for removing bans on offshore drilling. His cap & trade system has now suddenly become "voluntary," which is exactly the Bush position. So, to be honest, he is about 80-90% Bush on the environment.

Finally, on nuclear proliferation, if he does actually follow up on what he’s saying, this could be one area of difference. He has talked about limiting the production of nuclear arms through treaties. That would reverse Bush policy. But again, I’ll believe it when I see it.

Again, overall this was a great piece. But the search for balance undermined it. McCain is about 95% of Bush, which just happens to be the percent of the time he voted with the President last year (so far, 100% this year).