Does it occur to anyone else that John McCain’s “Have you stopped beating you’re wife yet?” questioning of secretary of state candidate Chuck Hagel yesterday wasn’t at all helpful to the Republican Party’s need to re-define and re-image itself as also consisting of mostly sane and thoughtful folks? I mean, “Yes or no, Senator Hagel, yes or no!” Seriously? Come on, Senator McCain!

Maybe McCain should be put out to pasture – if not by Arizona’s voters, then by the Party – to graze happily and silently with the rest of us old guys who can’t any longer be of much help to the causes we believe in if we speak too much. I’m sure he won’t be led or prodded into retirement gracefully. But the Republicans should try, I think, in the interest of regaining the country’s respect.