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Absurd
Look, you can like McCain's energy policy, such as it is. Personally I see him voting so solidly with oil interests that his energy policy seems precisely like Bush's. But we can argue whose energy policy is better, if you like.
But... to call McCain a "progressive" is absurd. Patently absurd. And to compare McCain's pro-Bush policies on labor, tax breaks for the top 1% and subsidies for big business to Theodore Roosevelt is even more absurd. For the record, the current Theodore Roosevelt (IV, I think) has ebdorsed Obama. And his father (TR III, I think) was head of the League of Conservation voters, which rates McCain's voting record on the environment very poorly.
John McCain is currently doing all he can to endear himself to outright extremists. No progressive positions coming from his mouth now.
And let's look at McCain's voting record on progressive issues: (from Project Vote Smart)
He is rated from poor to mediocre by pro-farmer organizations:
National Farmers Union 0 percent in 2005-2006
National Farmers Union 44 percent in 2003-2004
National Farmers Union 25 percent in 2001-2002
National Farmers Union 11 percent in 1999-2000
Minnesota Farm Bureau 33 percent in 2001-2002
Nothing progressive in being anti-farmer!
Now let's look at education:
In 2007 National Education Association gave Senator McCain a grade of F
National Education Association 0 percent in 2005-2006.
National Parent Teacher Association 7 percent in 2003-2004
National Parent Teacher Association 40 percent in 2001-2002.
Nothing progressive in being anti-education.
On energy issues, he is rated poorly by the Campaign for America's Future: only 17% percent in 2005-2006.
Environmental issues (for which Theodore Roosevelt and his direct descnedents are best known):
League of Conservation Voters's: Senator McCain received a rating of 0 in 2007, 29 percent in 2006, 45 percent in 2005.
How about Civil Liberties and Civil Rights:
In 2007 American Civil Liberties Union gave Senator McCain a grade of 50, 33 percent in 2005-2006.
The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights gave McCain 15 percent in 2007, 15 percent in 2006, 6 percent in 2005.
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People gave McCain 7 percent in 2005-2006 and 15 percent in 2003-2004.
National Council of La Raza gave McCain 0 percent in 2005.
How about labor issues (another one of TR's big ones):
AFL-CIO gave McCain 0 percent in 2007 and 7 percent in 2006.
Service Employees International Union gave McCain 8 percent in 2007.
United Auto Workers gave McCain 0 percent in 2007 and 2006.
Utility Workers Union of America gave Senator McCain a grade of 50.
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers gave McCain 12 percent in 2006.
International Brotherhood of Boilermakers gave McCain 20 percent in 2006.
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 13 percent in 2005-2006.
How about Seniors Issues:
Alliance for Retired Americans gave McCain 0 percent in 2007, 20 percent in 2006 and 2005.
On Social issues:
NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby gave McCain a rating of 37% in 2007 and 11 percent in 2006 and 0 percent in 2005. Maybe this is why McCain sought out the anti-Catholic Hagee?
The Drum Major Institute for Public Policy gave McCain 25 percent in 2005 and 17 percent in 2004.
Mennonite Central Committee gave McCain 25 percent in 2005.
Let's look at Veterans issues:
Disabled American Veterans gave McCain 20 percent in 2006, 25 percent in 2005 and 50 percent in 2004.
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave Senator McCain a grade of D in 2006.
The Retired Enlisted Association gave McCain 18 percent in 2006 and 0 percent in 2004.
The American Legion gave McCain 50 percent in 2003.
So on all these progressive issues McCain does either poorly or, at best, mediocre. There is no way you can claim McCain is progressive in any way, shape or form.