(return) Double Smackdown!

First off, sorry for being asleep at the switch for so long. I was in a weird place. Hopefully things get better from here. Your patience has been appreciated.

Now... it was smackdown week on various news channels, video footage courtesy of Crooks and Liars.

First off, we have seminal gentleman (and master of debate) Clarence Page working his magic on Bill O'Reilly.

I don't know what O'Reilly was thinking, here. The way he led into the segment suggested he thought Mr. Page was just going to roll over, or wrap himself around Bill's finger. Need we remind Captain Loofah that Clarence is an alumnus of the McLaughlin group? Either way, Bill lost his cool, almost added the proper suffix onto "Bull" and had to override his own handlers, who almost played the music to cut Clarence off at a typical moment.

We also have these two folks going at it on MSNBC.

Bernie Ward's performance was priceless, as was Baker's meltdown. He either couldn't or wouldn't answer the question when pressed, time and again, and Ward wouldn't let up until he got it. Brilliant.

So what can we learn from these two bravura performances?

1) Keep calm and resolute in the face of explosion
and
2) Keep asking the questions until you're answered.

I'd also add "come prepared," which Mr. Page most certainly did.