It’s about time that someone reminded all of us that “being shot down” does not qualify a candidate on foreign policy… and on national television.

Senator John McCain has repeatedly used his “hero” status as to elevate himself to “expert” on foreign policy.  His supporters have reminded us all of his five years as a POW.  Once again, before the stoning starts let me say that no one is doubting or casting a shadow on Senator McCain’s heroism.

But, it took Wesley Clark to put it in perspective on national television. 

 “He has been a voice on the Senate Armed Services Committee. And he has traveled all over the world. But he hasn’t held executive responsibility. That large squadron in the Navy that he commanded — that wasn’t a wartime squadron,” Clark said.

“I don’t think getting in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to become president.”

Thank you, Wesley Clark!  It’s about time someone said it out loud.  In fact, Clark went a little farther than I thought he would in setting the record straight and leveling the playing field. 

On the same program, Senator Joe Lieberman, who apparently is playing the role of McCain’s wing man, made some statements that were misleading. 

 “Sen. Obama, unfortunately, like a lot of the Democratic leadership, continues to take a position that we ought to withdraw … even though the new policy is working,” said Lieberman. “If we had done what Sen. Obama asked us to do for the last couple of years, today Iran and Al Qaeda would be in control of Iraq. It would be a terrible defeat for us and our allies in the Middle East and throughout the world.”

Lieberman continued to say that Obama’s plan is to withdraw from Iraq with a total disregard for the situation on the ground, as if Obama’s withdrawal plan is set in stone.  That’s not what I have heard during the course of the campaign.  I understand that Barack Obama wants to bring our troops home, as we all do.  But, I also understand that he wants to do so responsibly. 

Additionally, Lieberman played the fear card, reminding all of us that the Al Qaeda attacks in our country have come within the first year of the past two new administrations.  The inference is that we can expect another attack sometime in 2009 and that McCain is the man who would be best prepared to handle the situation.  There are those who take exception with McCain’s preparedness.  Among those we would apparently find Wesley Clark.

Any way you look at it, or ever how you want to phrase it, Obama dumped Wright and McCain dumped Hagee.  Both have openly distanced themselves from their fringe pastor endorsements.  But, is Joe Lieberman undermining McCain’s denouncement of Hagee?

You can hardly see a picture of McCain without Joe Lieberman lurking somewhere in the background.  They toured the mid-east together not so long ago.  Remember the whispers from Lieberman into McCain’s ear, correcting McCain’s obvious errors on who the terrorist players are?  Since that time, old Joe stands in the background as often as not, looking over McCain’s right shoulder and watching his back.

According to the Huffington Post

Senator Joseph Lieberman is scheduled to headline Pastor John Hagee’s 2008 Christians United For Israel Washington-Israel Summit this July 22. In accepting Hagee’s invitation, Lieberman became the most senior elected representative confirmed to appear at the annual gala. Last year, when Lieberman spoke at Hagee’s summit, he compared the Texas televangelist to the biblical prophet Moses, dubbing him “an Ish Elochim,” or “a man of God.” Unless he rescinds his pledge to appear at this year’s summit, Lieberman can be expected to deliver another soul-stirring tribute.

In case anyone doubts Hagee’s stand on issues and non-issues…

Hagee’s vitriolic condemnation of Catholicism, his jeremiad declaring Hurricane Katrina divine punishment for New Orleans’ hosting of a “homosexual rally,” and his generally disturbing apocalyptic theology became national news last February when John McCain accepted his endorsement in a widely publicized ceremony.

A true nutcase!  But, at least John McCain recognized him for who he is, even if Lieberman doesn’t.  Or maybe, Lieberman has gone over the edge, too.

At the time, prior to McCain’s sweeping renunciation, Lieberman could have reasonably claimed to be unaware of the preacher’s repugnant views on the Holocaust. Now, he has no excuse for ignorance. As a key McCain surrogate who McCain may selectas his running mate, Lieberman must know why Hagee is no longer welcome on the so-called Straight Talk Express.

Well, we are all free to associate with whomever we choose… even Lieberman. 

It seems to me that while we all expect the Republicans to court the right wing fundamentalist evangelicals, the preachers… those who stand behind the Republicans and the Democrats… are seeking their fifteen minutes of fame.   

Politics and religion, a match made in heaven… or hell… can bring votes to candidates from the pastors’ followers.  Or, on the other hand, perhaps the preachers are the ones seeking the benefits.  Let’s face it, being seen and pictured arm in arm with a presidential candidate can possibly bring in more money for the churches.  People are fickle that way.  They love to be associated with the limelight.  So, when a preacher is seen endorsing a candidate that can work both ways… good for the candidate and good for the collection plate.

Now, the real question is will Lieberman keep his date with Hagee?  Or, will political pressure overrule the appointment?  It makes me wonder if it will become necessary for John McCain to ask Joe Lieberman to stand just outside the frame at the next photo op.

The good news first!  It appears that the Democrats are almost ready to crown Barack Obama as the party’s nominee.  As much as I have enjoyed the season, it’s getting stale.  Hillary Clinton is still claiming victory after victory and Barack Obama has now moved ahead in all categories, popular vote, pledged delegate count, and those ever elusive Super Delegates. 

We are down to the part of the drama where someone reaches out from behind the curtain and drags Hillary into the background.  She has fought a hard battle, but we are all getting a little fatigued.  Maybe this weekend, as she rests at her home in New York she will put together an exit strategy.  So far she has infused her campaign with $11.425 Million to no great avail.  Maybe Bill should close the pocketbook and the checkbook and tell her its time to go back to the Senate.

John McCain is wandering around in the desert, his wife Cindy refusing to release her past income tax filings.  I did notice that Joe Lieberman is still paying McCain’s wing man.  Lieberman has lost face with just about everyone except McCain.  Maybe he is auditioning for VP…. again.

Aside from the nearing end of the primary tunnel, the Republicans have taken hit after hit this week.  Senator David Vitter was the only of the named scoundrels to escape.  The Senate decided that they could do nothing to condemn the senator for his part in the Deborah Palfry D.C. Madam mess since he wasn’t in the Senate while he was cavorting with the ladies of the evening.

Of course, we must not forget that Ms. Palfry took her life last week, seeing no way to go on.  But, this week Senator Vitter, one of her clients was allowed to continue his life as usual. 

And, just when we thought the sexual scandals of D.C. were about over for a while, Representative Vito Fossella of New York decided to get drunk and then drive to see his illegitimate daughter in Virginia.  Drunk driving is bad enough, but I have to question the man’s judgment overall.  Not mentioning the DUI offense, one has to wonder what kind of a father gets drunk before going to see his daughter.  Luckily, Laura Fay, the mother of Rep. Fossella’s “out baby”, was willing to get him out of jail.  Unfortunately, it was not a “get out of jail free” card.  Fossella still had to face his wife and three legitmate children at home in New York.

The White House of Cards is beginning to crumble… seven years too late…. but still it is imploding.  We saw Scott Bloch, a Bush appointee to the Office of Special Counsel have his office raided by the FBI.  As if that were not bad enough, it was leaked during the raid and investigation that of particular interest were some “Bush people” suspected of having violated the Hatch Act.  Named among those were Lurita Doan and Condoleezza Rice.  It was on a week or so ago that Ms. Doan, the “I don’t recall” Congressional witness who headed up the General Accounting Office, resigned under pressure from her office.  Maybe that was a “heads up” to her.  Perhaps, someone had seen the handwriting on the wall… Scott Bloch had done everything possible to insure that we wouldn’t see the writing in the emails.  And, of course, Condoleezza Rice had a file in the OSC, opened amid questions of Hatch Act violations.  Mr. Bloch had closed her file, saying there was no evidence of wrongdoing.  (Do we trust that?)

The VA, Jim Peake and Ira Katz, were clobbered by the House for the cover up of veteran suicides.  At least, someone is beginning to pay attention to the vets… probably too little, too late, but we will continue to hope our veterans get the proper positive attention they deserve.  It won’t be from Peake or Katz…. hint, hint.

Oh… and Baby Bush is getting married tomorrow. 

All in all, the bulk of the week’s news surrounded not so much what Washington has been doing to help the country, but how they are policing their own.  I suppose based on that we should not wonder that the country is in trouble.  The foxes are fighting amongst themselves and no one is even noticing the hens in the hen house.

Well, it’s 5:00 somewhere… and after this week …