“It’s probably the last person I would have wanted to have write a letter for me,” sayeth Romney of Dole’s missive to Rush Limbaugh, explaining that McCain surely doesn’t want to be associated with the safe choice/lamb to the slaughter candidate of 1996. The “straight talk” translation: Romney doesn’t respect Bob Dole’s war service. It’s as cynical and dishonest a distortion as Maverick’s twisting of Romney’s point about timetables was, but unlike Mitt, McCain knows what this election is about. Anything he can do to drag the debate towards military service and the surge, he’ll do. Even something as stupid as this.

That said, after reading this, my position on the Limbaugh/Dole dust-up is decidedly more nuanced than it was yesterday. Deep breaths, Rush.

Update: Tangentially related, I’m obliged to say that it sounds like McCain is getting a bad rap on this. He’s using the reporters’ words to tease the other candidates, including his pals Fred and Rudy (who may have been sitting there next to him on the bus at the time). No ill intent as far as I can see.

Update: Mitt covers his flank from McCain’s moronic smear.