CNN's Mark Preston calls it analysis, I call it fluff...

Read this article intro:

Analysis: McCain's camp highlights differences with Bush

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- John McCain and George Bush have a lot in common, but these two Republicans have also had some high profile differences, and McCain's presidential campaign is more than willing to point them out.
John McCain's campaign wants voters to know that he and President Bush are very different people.

What would you expect the resulting article to contain? Maybe some examples of issues/votes where McCain and Bush didn't see eye to eye, perhaps?

No. You get this bit of fluff:

His open defiance of the Republican establishment has helped to bolster his image as a "maverick" lawmaker willing to shun party loyalty and obedience for personal principle.

 and some quotes from Nicole Wallace, who is part of the McCain campaign.

They're "Totally different people" she assures us, and since she's working for McCain's campaign - I'm sure she has the inside scoop. How can we doubt her?

Preston's article devotes 3/4 of the article to quotes from Wallace, fundraising disparities, and other items that do nothing to highlight the differences between McCain and Bush.

It's bad enough that the assertions of difference come only from a McCain campaign operative, but look at the whole sentence (emphasis mine)

We feel like that is a record that must be given attention every time Barack Obama falsely accuses John McCain of running for George Bush's third term," said Nicolle Wallace, a veteran Bush operative who joined Team McCain in May.

For crying out loud - if McCain's so different, how come his political strategists are Bush hand-me-downs?

You can write this kind of fluff, but putting it under that headline and calling it "analysis?"

Please.

If a McCain operative couldn't give Preston a concrete example of differing policy views - he might have bothered looking for one on his own. Not that he'd have much luck - but it might have turned this piece into something other than a headline-copy bait and switch.

I got a better headline, for you Mr. Preston:

Spoonfed: McCain camp says he's different than Bush. I add boilerplate copy until my editor says it looks long enough to publish.

I'm hoping this guy has other articles that justify his having a job at CNN.