The comment by Hillary Clinton that John McCain and herself are the only candidates in the race who "pass the test" when it comes to national security breaks new ground. It surprised even me, and I pride myself in being bitterly cynical.
    Of course, politics is not tea and cookies. Of course it is a serious game with few rules. Of course everyone needs to be realistic when faced with the unpleasant realities of a hard-fought contest.
    But Hillary's comments have crossed into strange territory indeed. She has very clearly stated that if she does not get the nomination, Americans should vote for McCain.
    So much for party unity.
    I know there are a lot of Ralph Nader-haters out there but he said something very interesting today on Al Sharpton's radio show.
    Nader said Hillary's comment at the recent debate that she was "proud to stand up here with Barack Obama" was a ploy to "inoculate herself" against the smears and invective that were soon to follow.
    Sure enough, the "red-phone" fear mongering; the NAFTA/Canada flap, which it now looks like her campaign initiated; the alleged darkening of photos of her opponent; the "as far as I know" comment about Obama being a Christian and not a secret Muslim; and now this.
    The red phone/NAFTA stuff pushed her to victory in Ohio, where she got to play the role of "plucky underdog" in her victory speech. Gazillionaire underdog, that is, with a tax return she'd rather keep to herself.
    But the main point here, the real point that Pennsylvania voters need to keep in mind -- that EVERYONE needs to keep in mind -- is not that Hillary is "unfair" or that she's being "mean" or "deceptive."
    Maybe, maybe not. Politics is a contact sport, after all, and if you can't take the heat....
    No, the main take-away from all this is that Hillary is saying quite clearly that if she doesn't get the nomination she will bring the whole thing down around her like Samson.
    She may have done so already.