McCain wants Americans to forget his association with George Bush and overlook the failing economy

From the good old days, when they were seen together, John McCain waves as he anxiously awaits his good friend back in August of 2005, back when Katrina was wiping out New Orleans. Sure looks like McCain is the most excited to be Bush:

Like George Bush, John McCain has nothing to offer the American people. So, as predicted, the vicious, negative attacks against Obama are on their way. But, an AP analysis from Liz Sidoti, who has close ties to the McCain campaign (she used to ride on the bush with McCain and knows his favorite donuts) actually explains why: McCain wants all of us to forget about the bad economy. Easy for a guy who doesn't know how many houses he owns. Not so easy for people trying to hang onto their one home.

For all the talk coming from the McCain campaign about "associations," the one association that truly matters this year is the one between George Bush and John McCain. The McCain camp can't hide that one. And, they can't make people forget the economic crisis. McCain's attacks ring especially shrill and hollow when the country is worried about an economic collapse:

Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton counters that McCain will try to distract voters from the economic crisis by launching character attacks.

Clearly, McCain's campaign believes that focusing on McCain's biography and record isn't enough and making Obama supremely unacceptable in voters' eyes may be the Republican's best _ if not only _ shot at winning the presidency.

The risk: Voters could be turned off if McCain goes too far.

From his national headquarters to his campaign plane, McCain's staff has been discouraged by the difficult environment over the past two weeks in which the race dynamics were largely out of their control _ discouraged but no less determined to win.

Advisers contend that McCain is rebounding following Palin's strong debate performance Thursday that quieted GOP critics who questioned her qualifications after several TV interview missteps. Independent analysts say she improved her image and staunched the ticket's bleeding.

Congress approved the bailout plan one day later, and advisers hope the issue now will fade; McCain had struggled to strike the right chord amid the crisis. But there was no indication that other campaign topics would overtake the issue and more economic woes are possible; the nation lost 159,000 jobs in September and Americans will soon open their third-quarter 401(k) statements.

McCain is counting counting on Americans to be stupid this year. But, most Americans are too pissed to fall for the same old tricks this time.