“Gorgeous George” Galloway, a maverick British left-wing politician, who loudly opposed the Iraq War and who is accused of taking kick-backs from Saddam Hussein, testified before Congress yesterday. One of his interrogators was Christopher Hitchens, a British left-wing journalist, who supported the War. I should explain that The Hitch (as he called by those who love him) is brilliant, prolific, effortlessly eloquent, fearless–and is known to like a good drink. Or two. Or three.

Gorgeous George: “You’re a drink-soaked former Trotskyist popinjay. Your hands are shaking. You badly need another drink.”

The Hitch (words, for once, utterly failing him): “And you’re a drink-soaked …” (Giving up) “You’re a real thug, aren’t you?”

American public life in comparison to this sort of thing is pallid, self-important, and spiritless. Also, much less funny.