MEET THE NEW BOSS...

Politico reports that Bush-era all-stars Ken Mehlman and Karl Rove are set to join team McCain as informal advisers:

Ken Mehlman, who ran Bush’s 2004 campaign, is now serving as an unpaid, outside adviser to the Arizona Republican. Karl Rove, the president’s top political hand since his Texas days, recently gave money to McCain and soon after had a private conversation with the senator. A top McCain adviser said both Mehlman and Rove are now informally advising the campaign. Rove refused to detail his conversation with McCain.

Former presidential aides advising current presidential candidates is not unusual, of course. What is unusual is that McCain continues to embrace every aspect of the Bush administration -- policies, personnel, proposals -- without seeming to sweat the obvious liabilities of such a position. I don't feel foolish predicting that George Bush will leave office about as reviled as he is now, so what does McCain have to gain by association?

One could argue that McCain is simply mending the coalition that his very presence as the Republican nominee is helping to tear apart. But what does he do when the general election is in full swing? How does he appeal to the moderates he is supposed to appeal to? Is this bad planning or is McCain confident he can work the media refs until November? This is an election year with many abnormalities. But surely this unwillingness of a candidate to distance himself from a grossly unpopular incumbent ranks among the most odd. With morbid curiosity I wonder how long it can last.

--Mori Dinauer