Robert Spencer finds an historical analog to put the stupidity in context. We knew the meltdown was coming, but who thought it’d be this lame? If she’s desperate for a line of attack, she could tack right, hit him on his C-in-C credentials or “I’ll negotiate with anyone” policy, and pray that independents get squeamish. Instead she’s going with stuff that’s not only desperate but ineffective. We can’t elect Obama because … he stole a few lines from Deval Patrick and once wore a turban? Really?

One fair point here, though:

“Wouldn’t we be seeing this on the cover of every magazine if it were HRC?” questioned one campaign staffer, in an email obtained by the DRUDGE REPORT.

Indeed. Go watch that SNL clip of the Hillary/Obama debate to have the difference explained.

At this point I half-expect her to accuse him of being a Muslim at the debate tomorrow night. Exit question: Time to take a second look at Team Hillary’s culpability in this, maybe?

Update: Who’s going to stage the intervention and tell Hillary it’s over, wonders Novak. I’m guessing Bill — although who’s going to stage the intervention and tell Bill it’s over? Meanwhile, Halperin ticks off the reasons why McCain won’t have to resort to submoronic attacks about “plagiarism” to score points on Obama. Hillary’s problem has always been how similar she and the Messiah are on policy; with no substantive differences to swing voters her way, they’re left to choose on the basis of personality and political skill. That’s where her advisors screwed up — thinking that with policy arguments off the table that Democrats would resort to the safe, inevitable, established choice. Not this year, with this guy this good on the stump.

Update: Will Her Majesty dare mention the uncoveted Farrakhan endorsement tomorrow?

Update: Michael Steele’s on Fox News right now saying that if she’s really pushing crap like this, she’s all kinds of finished.

Update: Jonathan Alter says Hillary should get out now, before Texas and Ohio. Er, why?

Update: A weird sidenote: What’s Drudge doing helping to publicize this story? By his own admission, he “needs” Hillary Clinton. Making a spectacle of her desperation ain’t going to improve her chances.

Update: Obama rubs her face in it:

“On the very day that Senator Clinton is giving a speech about restoring respect for America in the world, her campaign has engaged in the most shameful, offensive fear-mongering we’ve seen from either party in this election. This is part of a disturbing pattern that led her county chairs to resign in Iowa, her campaign chairman to resign in New Hampshire, and it’s exactly the kind of divisive politics that turns away Americans of all parties and diminishes respect for America in the world,” said Obama campaign manager David Plouffe.