Sometimes a love affair lasts, half a lifetime, a lifetime. Perhaps not exactly unrequited but, shall we say unknown to one party... Requited, as writers need their readers.

Vidal in Ravello [Reuters]

My favorite political interview... to date (subject to revision and new loves), Jerry Brown interviewing Gore Vidal in the mid 90s for Pacifica Radio.

Jerry Brown '96 [Sonoma Independent]

Loved it, no foolishness, no silliness about what a great party the Democrats were, are, are not, were not. What a waste of time that has been. Just business. And some truth along the way.

If you ever liked Jerry (it's been bumpy, the last few years) or love Vidal... click away.

I pulled it out again today as George is on, speaking to the American Legion. About the Global War on Terror...

He is so painful that I divert myself by looking at the propagandistic backdrops. Sad to say, as high government l'etat c'est moi ''art''... very powerful. Managing to evoke all that a beleaguered and confused people think they need - and worse, want.

Half a world away, Iraq is a veritable blood soup, humans as croutons.

He speaks of Iran and nuclear weapons. He calls for a ''free, democratic, transparent society'' in Iran... "Freedom is on the march in the greater Middle East"... "new allies in the war on terror and in the cause of peace"... "the advance of liberty still faces determined enemies"... "they create images of suffering and violence for the cameras".

"We will not retreat as long as I am president of the United States, we will stay on the offense, we will hunt down the terrorists wherever they hide..."

We are so very fucked.