Hugh Hewitt's Brilliant Comedic Mind

Possibly the most amusing line of the year, from Hugh Hewitt's vaunted radio program, interviewing Michael Ware:

Time Baghdad correspondant Michael Ware: Let’s look at it this way. I mean, you’re sitting back in a comfortable radio studio, far from the realities of this war.

Hugh Hewitt: Actually, Michael, let me interrupt you.

MW: If anyone has a right…

HH: Michael, one second.

MW: If anyone has a right to complain, that’s what…

HH: I’m sitting in the Empire State Building. Michael, I’m sitting in the Empire State Building, which has been in the past, and could be again, a target. Because in downtown Manhattan, it’s not comfortable, although it’s a lot safer than where you are, people always are three miles away from where the jihadis last spoke in America. So that’s…civilians have a stake in this. Although you are on the front line, this was the front line four and a half years ago...

Anyone for T-Shirts reading "Veterans of the Empire State Building"? The possibilities here are endless...

(Tip of the hat to The Poor Man Institute--www.thepoorman.net--where I saw this posted.)

This is McCain on Drugs

McCain was on MTP this morning. He seemed to be trying to hard to appear to calm--perhaps to somehow evade upcoming charges related to "anger?"- but also seemed so lifeless and numbed that, as compared to the McCain of 2000, he almost seemed medicated.

Now: I am not a supporter of his policy positions, but I have also never bought into the "McCain rages" and related imprecations about mental instability that have been bandied about in the past--this seemed to me to be typical Swift-Boat- style nonsense.

I'm sure that he wears the scars of his imprisonment, and that he likely can be demanding and sometimes intemperate, but its easy to distort those qualities--common in politicians--into more vivid and politically useful ones. He seems aware of the effects of his past, and, moreover, they previously have appeared to be reflected in his resilience and clear-sightedness, a sense of what is important, and his genuine sense of humor.

That's why this markedly underwhelming appearance is really shocking. He seems tired, slightly slower on the uptake. Is it intent or age?

Also, incidentally: if Russert said "Dr. Dobson" one more time, my head was going to explode.