In the end, maybe he smoked too much weed.

What else could account for folkie Arlo Guthrie endorsing Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul?

Yes, that Arlo Guthrie, son of folk singer Woody Guthrie. The Arlo Guthrie whose bona fides as a leftie troubador began in the 1960s with his satirical anti-war song, "Alice's Restaurant," and who later sang a nasty song about presidential candidate, Ross Perot ("The Ross Perot Guide to Answering Embarrassing Questions," lyrics by Calvin Trillin).

Well, that Arlo Guthrie, the anti-establishment, anarchic, harmonica-playing wild man of Stockbridge, who never remotely could have been considered a member of the Grand Old Party, announced last week that Republican Ron Paul was his man.

"Dr. Paul is the only candidate I know of who would have signed the Constitution of the United States had he been there," said Guthrie.

Pardon us if we're having a severe case of cognitive dissonance. This is weird, people, just weird.

Nothing against candidate Paul, it's the unpredictability of it all. It's as if Charlton Heston had endorsed Hillary Clinton, or Jane Fonda had gone on the stump for John McCain. Or notorious segregationist George Wallace signed on to the Obama campaign.

Maybe -- possibly -- it's all an Arlo Guthrie joke? He's just putting us on? Now that would be an Alice's Restaurant kind of moment.