In recent days, we’re seeing more and more disturbing similarities between McCain and Pres. Bush, the sloppiness, the erratic and haphazard “gut-instinct” decision-making, the shrugging “hey, we really tried” attitude when decisions turn out badly, the centrality of political damage control as a day-to-day modus operandi, etc. The Palin selection has quickly gone from a “make-the-best-of-it” oddity, to a “dash-around-and-put-out-the-f­ire” embarrassment.

But the first night of the GOP convention (or what little there was of it) is showing some other disturbing similarities with Pres. Bush, in the McCain campaign’s penchant for seeking political cover in disaster (in this case, the petering-out Hurricane Gustav) to camouflage its problems and mistakes, and assume an artificial mantle of “leader.” Another such similarity is in the campaign’s cynical use of its own foibles and flubs to lower the standards and expectations for McCain’s performance – the “so what” attitude about Palin’s flimsy resume; the insistence that Palin was really, really vetted; the rah-rah portrayal of her as a “reformer” and a “game-changer;” etc.

So we come to the second night of the GOP convention, and we see that with the landing of Hurricane Gustav, the convention has adopted the unofficial theme of perseverance in the face of disaster. Unfortunately, the elements once again are not cooperating with the party’s plans, as the hurricane has been downgraded and has skirted New Orleans and other major population centers. Even so, the GOP has decided to use the hurricane as a pretext to scrap its entire convention schedule, and make it up as they go along. Keynote speaker Rudy Giuliani, originally slated for tonight, is out, maybe to appear at some point later in the week, maybe for the keynote, maybe not. The GOP apparently has decided that the strident tone that Giuliani is noted for isn’t the appropriate one for the new convention theme. In his stead will be those electrifying speakers Fred Thompson and Joe Lieberman. Pres. Bush also is expected to speak briefly, and mercifully, by satellite.

As for the rest of the convention, nothing is scheduled. Look at the GOP convention website (<link>), and you’ll see blank pages for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Presumably, McCain will decide to go ahead with his acceptance speech on Thursday.

But all is in line with the prevailing political approach of the Bush years. When you’ve got a mess on your hands, embrace the mess, deny/deflect any responsibility for creating the mess, and try to win points by expressing your “confidence” in being able to deal with it, your assurance that you’ve got the right people in place to deal with it, and your “resolve” that the mess somehow will get cleaned up. And along with that political “strategy,” if another mess comes along (like a hurricane) embrace that mess as a diversionary tactic from the other messes. When you’re incapable of running your operation, be it an administration or merely a national campaign, disarray is your friend. It covers for all of your shortcomings in being able to run things smoothly, effectively and efficiently, and if nothing else, it keeps attention focused on you.

Haven’t we had enough of this?

What we have also seen are conservatives lining up in lockstep unision, declaring that everything coming from John McCain is perfect: Just as they did, and continue to do, for George W. Bush.