[Cicero]

I dunno how long this will last, but so far Brooks is doing a lot better than Safire. Except on Israel, which is his strong point, Safire really cuts loose against the forces of darkness no more than once a year.

[OESY]

Brooks is doing a lot better than Safire. Except on Israel, which is his strong point, Safire really cuts loose against the forces of darkness no more than once a year.

Right on. Brooks had flashes of (unsustained) brilliance on the Lehrer NewsHour only when Shields was so off the wall it was offensive to listen without challenging. In this article, however, Brooks is at his most powerful best.

Safire, having been disinvited from Meet the Press for being too insightful, is now back on and, ironically, has even replaced Brooks on PBS. Safire can be counted on to fill a Novak-like role, guaranteed to delight liberal viewers with his ineffectual arguments and casual observations.