"But McCain is taking a calculated risk in aligning himself so closely with the Bush administration......."
Now one would ask, WHY would McCain be so over-the-top in aligning himself so closely with the Bush on the Iraq policies? Well if all goes through as planned (as some have proposed here), then it is absolutely no risk at all. For McCain, it was a no brainer. Bush would be the hero, and McCain the Prez.
We can only hope and pray.