Loose Cannons

The excerpt below, taken from an October 25 transcript of Hannity and Colmes, is fairly indicative of what happens when the ringmasters of Fox News’ smack-down debates lose control of their pro-war policy experts. The segment began when moderator Alan Colmes egged on Colonel David Hackworth (Ret.) to comment on remarks by Senator Joseph Biden (D-Delaware) questioning the White House‘s bombing strategy in Afghanistan. The other speaker is co-moderator Sean Hannity.

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COLMES: Colonel . . .

HACKWORTH: What . . .

COLMES: Let me -- can I ask a question?

HACKWORTH: . . . Wellstone -- what Wellstone is saying . . .

COLMES: You’re filibustering here.

HACKWORTH: Yes. What Wellstone is saying is that he doesn‘t want to see bombs go in the wrong direction, but . . .

COLMES: Colonel . . .

HACKWORTH: Let me tell you about Berlin . . .

COLMES: Colonel -- Colonel, hold it.

HACKWORTH: . . . Dresden . . .

COLMES: Take a breath.

HACKWORTH: . . . Hamburg in World War II when . . .

COLMES: Colonel, take a breath.

HACKWORTH: . . . complete cities -- Tokyo -- were destroyed.

COLMES: May I ask you a question?

HACKWORTH: So -- but -- no, wait. Let me just . . .

COLMES: Colonel, we’ve got . . .

HACKWORTH: If you‘re at war, it’s a total war. It‘s not some little . . .

COLMES: Colonel -- Colonel, you’re missing what he‘s saying.

HANNITY: Keep going, Colonel! Keep going. Don’t let him take a breath. Don‘t let him get in here.

COLMES: You know, by filibustering -- you don’t win simply by filibustering.

HACKWORTH: Oh, yeah. You‘re missing -- the next thing is . . .

COLMES: All right, Colonel. You’re going to put -- you‘re going to choke me like you did last time.