Ah, Oscar, you're just in post-election supersensitive mode, like all the rest of us. And Hitchens doesn't snark, he's full throttle, high dudgeon, take no prisoners like the good Totskyite polemicist he is. The problem he has these days is that his heart's in it, but not his head, and it's making him even more schizo than usua -- he's contrarian about himself, not just the rest of the worldl. But everybody keeps reading because he's got that rare talent of the observation that finds a way to hot buttons nobody knew were there to push. And recently because it's like watching a train wreck in slow-motion. Wolcott's another kettle of fish altogteher, which is why they inhabit the pages of the same mag in reasonable comfort regardless of the particular far wing on which Hitchens thinks he's flying any given day. Wolcott is the observer of the culturally absurd, which these days is most of the poltical arena, and he combines the two. And he can be equal opportunity -- the media ultimately being his favorite sport. You have to admit that Rotisserie League is wonderful for the gabfest that passes for political analysis and insider scoops on these roundtable roundups. And even if you're FarRight, you must agree that the prospect of a no-return ticket to deal for a year with the Israelis and the Palestinians would be enough to give pause to anyone. The only person who seems to have survived such a process -- and done so repeatedly I might add -- and returned relatively sane from the ordeal is Dennis Ross. Until they find his clone, I'm not sure there are going to be any takers for thet post Tom Friedman has so graciously invented for the President to fill (at least anyone you'd want to send if you wanted to accomplish anything and who wouldn't be persona non grata with both sides within 48 hours).