McCain's Ken Melhman moment - or "How I tanked republican elections from the top of the ticket".

[salin]

In 2006, when there was growing concern among gop reps and sens about their election hopes, the possibility of losing one or both houses of congress - and a big part of that concern was tied to how deeply W had tanked in the polls AND that he and his white house kept pushing them into positions that were deeply unpopular - ken melhman threw out an oh well... he told them that the GOP was the W Brand - and that they needed to stick with it as they public saw the party as bush and would until the next pres. candidate was nominated.

We know how that turned out for the capital hill elections.

Now McCain is pretty much doing the same thing with his VP ticket. Already the rationalizations coming from supporter/mouthpieces to justify the choice make those speaking the words look absurd, stupid, shallow, cynical and vapid. In just the past 24 hours some of these folks have had to say - on the record - absurd things such as:

She has foreign policy experience because Russia is so close to Alaska. Or

She has foreign policy experience because her son is in the military service. Or

She has MORE experience than Obama because hers is executive not legislative experience. Or

She should make a promise that if McCain were unable to serve she would nominate someone else - resign let that person become president and then be renominated as VP (er - that was the premise of a tv show - but at least one GOP pundit has used it already)

She would learn at the "foot" of McCain from his experience (er - patronize much?)

The list goes on.

In short, those running for reelection - those running down ticket - have to make themselves look absurd and weaken their chances to support McCain and his vapid choice.

Maybe the DCCC and its senate side counterpart should send a big thankyou to McCain.

It *almost* makes me feel sorry for some of the GOPers running for congress/senate. *almost* Nah - not really, it has me laughing hysterically.