McCain and Bush have struggled so hard to avoid using the word "timetable" and have come only lately to supplant it with "time horizon."

At first glance, the words seem so similar. Why struggle so clumsily to differentiate? Of course, they can't be seen as conceding the issue. But is that all?

Then I realized: 

You can approach the horizon, but you will never, ever reach it. 

Their "general time horizon of aspirational goals" is like a never-ending rosary of beaded Friedman units.