shamelessly partisan interlude

This is not the longish and thoughtful post that I promised last night. But some things just demand priority.

Like a caged hamster, Senator John Kerry is restless on the road. He pokes at the perimeter of the campaign bubble that envelops him, constantly trying to break out for a walk around the block, a restaurant dinner, the latest movie.

No, not the The Onion (although it may as well have been). Instead, the quaint little rodent metaphor comes courtesy of The New York Times.

Really. And Tim Blair is delighted. What's more, I now have enough material to finish compiling a list that has occupied a small corner of my desktop for some weeks.

The Top Ten Nicknames for the Other JFK

10.  Botox Brahmin

9.   The Diplobabblist

8.   Nuancey Boy

7.   Mr. Extender Face

6.   Ted Kennedy with a fresh liver

5.   The Restless Caged Hamster

4.   Cabana Boy

3.  The Boston Fog Machine

2.   Splunge!

…and the Number One Nickname for the Other JFK is:

1.   Loser  (postdated Nov. 2)

UPDATE: Ace points out that #2 should, in fact, be “Senator Splunge!” (The exclamation point is mandatory.)

UPDATE 061804: Entry #3 above has been switched out for something less inflammatory. My good friend Matt called me on the carpet for gratuitous vulgarity. There is a time and place for strong language—as when dealing with people who are collaborating with the enemy—but that is not license to contribute to the basening of political discourse. Mea culpa.

Really Tony.
I know you're passionate.
I know you gave "fair warning."
But let's be civil.
I'm really tired of all of the name calling. It's why (among other reasons) I can't abide right wing talk radio.
Calling him a prick isn't going to get any of us anywhere.