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• Saturday, January 5, 2008 06:50 PM

  For Mr. Spud

  I tend to avoid cross-talk on blog comments, Mr. Spud, but to illustrate a point, I'll make an exception this time.

  You must be kidding. Do you know you sound like a lunatic?

  I'm absolutely certain I sound like a lunatic to many people.

  OF COURSE Joan would "consider" a role in a Clinton administration if it was offered.

  Thank you for providing your opinion. But opinion is all it is, and that's not what I was looking for. Only one person could provide an answer, and, to my knowledge, you are not that person.

  For what it's worth, that question is no longer on the table. Nor was it in my last comment. The attentive person will notice I only asked the question once.

  Whether Joan would, wouldn't or doesn't if she would consider a cabinet post know pales next to her unwillingness to answer the question. It may appear to you and others here as just another game of gotcha, but only if you're willing to discount or ignore the larger context of reader feedback; specifically, a widespread perception of a closeted editorial bias strongly favoring Senator Clinton. Instead of providing an answer, Joan danced like a rabbit in an electrified cage to conjure the illusion of an answer. A non-answer to a simple, straightforward question. Maybe you've seen Tony Snow or Scott McClellan or Mike McCurry do it. It is entirely possible you failed to notice when they did.

  Who the hell wouldn't?

  I wouldn't.

  But, as she made clear to anyone who's not a paranoid nut, its not something she's looking for.

  This paranoid nut did not ask that question. I am not objecting to Joan revealing her intent. In fact, I would have welcomed that disclosure had it not been provided in lieu of an answer to a clear, unambiguous question. Instead, she chose to be evasive. In the context of the latest round of readers questioning her objectivity, revisiting that response was not inappropriate, particularly since Joan herself said she would refer readers to it (the post I cited) when the subject was again raised. I simply saved her the time and effort required to do exactly that.

  Guess what? She would no doubt "consider" a role in an Obama or Edwards administration too, if offered.

  I did not ask that question.

  Are you 15 years old?

  No, I am not.

  But the tone of your response suggests you aren't a big fan of open, direct dialogue. I am. Which is why I sometimes ask questions, answer questions and make comments in formats where it remains possible to do so.

  In fact, if you have any additional questions you would like me to answer, I will be happy to provide you with honest, non-evasive answer, although it would be rude to extend a our conversation in Joan's blog. That said, you are more than welcome to find your way to Arvin Hill's Carnival of Horror and give it a shot.

  —Arvin Hill Read Arvin Hill's other letters
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