I strongly disagree with this statement: "Obama doesn't see it as a valid critique relating to the presidency."

Obama doesn't see it as something he can say out loud, but his campaign surely looks at polls and sees that national security is showing up as the one strength McCain has against Obama.

Somebody needed to break open that strength and get it looked at in the light, not shaded by the patriotic protection racket, and that is what will come of Clark's pressure. Wes Clark can do it and take the heat for doing it, while his own constituency, Democratic and nonpartisan veterans, get his back.

Clark has smashed open a gate that is not going to close straight at the qualifications McCain is claiming for the presidency. After this week, the media is not going to be able to keep spouting that meme. You can bet your ass, they won't, because it shows them up as the lazy ass cowardly collaborationists they are. A public discussion has begun on McCain's military legend and whether or not it qualifies him for the presidency.

This is a big thing. This is a good thing. This helps Obama, not hurts him.

I'm not saying the Obama campaign is in collusion with Clark, mind you. I'm just not that sure. But I am saying that Obama's too smart not to see the value of Clark's doing this. I would also say, if Obama wanted Clark to stop, he'd tell him to stop. Clark's not stopping, which tells me Obama's campaign hasn't asked him to stop. What I know about Clark is he would never set out to stomp on a candidate's message unless the campaign thinks the message needs stomping on.

Somebody said last night and I think this is most likely the case: "Wes Clark wasn't kicked under the bus; Wes Clark is the bus.