The Bush Legacy

No George Bush at the convention tonight. No Dick Cheney. Hurricane Gustav has thrown them, and a whole lot of conventioneers, right off the program tonight.

But the incumbent Republican president still looms large over the campaign of John McCain. In policy, on taxes and war. In photos, like the famous hug.

John McCain has fought George Bush and hugged George Bush, and now he must run both with and against George Bush.

This hour, On Point: Live from St. Paul, the Bush legacy and John McCain.

You can join the conversation. How will you remember George W. Bush? And if you plan to vote for John McCain, is it because you want more of the same, or something different? Tell us what you think.Guests:

Joining us from New Orleans is Mark Schleifstein, environmental reporter for The Times-Picayune. He's been following Hurricane Gustav's progress.

With us here in St. Paul is Michael Carey, columnist and former editorial page editor of the Anchorage Daily News. See the paper's coverage of Gov. Sarah Palin.

Also with us in St. Paul is Byron York, White House correspondent for National Review and commentator for Fox News.

We're joined here as well by Juliette Eilperin, national political correspondent for The Washington Post. Her piece in today's paper, co-reported with Michael Shear, looks at how McCain's choice of Palin as running mate has energized Republican evangelicals.

And from Washington, we're joined by Michael Gerson, former speechwriter and policy advisor to President George W. Bush, now a fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and a columnist for The Washington Post.