Claude, we hardly knew ye. Literally.

I don't know very much about Claude Allen, and what little I know (Helms staffer, Clarence Thomas protégé), I don't particularly like. All the same, this whole crazy thing (see Time, Post, NYT) is really pretty sad. The man's got a million-dollar home, a comfortable salary, an office in the West Wing... and he's been arrested for shoplifting.

Now, granted, innocent until proven guilty, and all that. No question. But honestly, this is lose-lose. Scenario A, he's innocent, in which case his career has been shattered by false accusations. Scenario B, he's guilty, in which case something - who the hell knows what - is seriously wrong with Claude Allen. Either one is a shame.