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Paul Begala, Meteorologist

Timothy Noah
Posted Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2001, at 1:01 PM ET

"For the first time since the Civil War, Washington is in physical danger. We don't have earthquakes like California or hurricanes like the Gulf Coast or tornadoes like the Midwest."

--Paul Begala, quoted by Todd S. Purdum in the Sept. 25 New York Times.

"Tornados Batter Area, Kill Two At U-MD"

--Banner headline on Page 1 of the Washington Post, same day.

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Reader Comments From The Fray:



This is why I rarely get upset with radio talk show hosts. In their position, they have to fill time; they can never say, "I have no intelligent comment to make on this subject" and then go to dead air or bird impressions. So it's not surprising that they will say some strange things from time to time. That is better than what they usually do, which is say the same non-strange things over and over with slight variations.

Of course, radio talk show hosts (and Begala) choose to be in their position, so I'm not saying I sympathize. I don't in particular sympathize with Begala--he could always have said, "thanks for asking, but I'm just a political consultant. The events of September 11 are over my head." This becomingly modest disclaimer would have had the added advantage of being true.

--Joseph Britt

(To reply, click here.)

 (9/25)

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