Mark of McCain

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Today's blatantly orchestrated Republican scheme of smear against Barack Obama and diplomacy before war now leaves a clear trail in its wake. And it has the stench of a Rovian plan. Like the spoor of warthogs.

Maybe it's because the Republicans see the handwriting on the wall that their usual Southern Strategy ain't gonna work, so they've decided to switch to a tactic even more contemptible.

First Bush--the grandson of Prescott Bush, banker to the Nazis--cravenly uses the speech in the Knesset to attack those who don't go along with his shoot first, shoot style of global relations.

Then McCain--who CNN's Dana Bash described as having a twinkle in his eye as he quickly leaped on news of Bush's statements to assert that Obama is naive.

Then the rest of the Republican minions fall into place, from the White House press secretary to Arizona Senator Kyl.

So far, on CNN at least, it's being portrayed as a partisan Republican vs. Democratic firestorm. But it's so much more. This statement by Bush, in the setting he used, in the words he used, is an insult to all Americans and to his Israeli hosts.

Bush should be ashamed. McCain should be ashamed. Joe Lieberman should be ashamed. The minions who conceived and enable this smear should be ashamed. But they are not.

I am.

This statement by Bush was a giant turd in the celebration of Israel's anniversary. It should be swiftly rebuked, renounced, and tossed into the sewer where it belongs.