Novak wigs out

I haven't watched the video yet (I will when I get home), but apparently Bob Novak went wild-ass crazy batshit during a live interview on CNN over a fairly innocuous comment by James Carville, ripping his microphone off and saying, "This is bullshit."

While it's easy to suppose what's going on here (it seems like a Nixon-like over-reaction to the Plame leak investigation, which has been lying dormant for a few weeks), what is obvious is that Novak is under a severe amount of pressure, not the least of which stems from his meteoric drop in credibility and his long-supposed but newly confirmed role as party hatchet man.

My guess is this won't be the last time this incident gets covered.

UPDATE: CNN issued this statement:

"Bob Novak's behavior on CNN today was inexcusable and unacceptable. Mr. Novak has apologized to CNN, and CNN apologizes to its viewers for his language and actions. We've asked Mr. Novak to take some time off," a CNN spokeswoman told us.

UPDATE II: Ok, I've watched the video now.  First of all, and this may be because of poor video quality, but does it look to anyone else like Novak looks especially tired or stressed here? Not that he typically looks good.

Secondly, he flew off the handle really quickly.  Novak's been under fire in the middle of television segments before, and he typically holds his own and doesn't fly off the handle.  This is unlike him, and personally I find it suspcisious, given that Ed Henry mentions later that he was going to ask him about the Plame leak investigation (though, as others have pointed out, Novak's been dodging these questions for two years).

Thirdly, the "Inside the Blogs" reporters have finally done something worthwhile.  "I just want to say that I know what the blogs are going to be talking about in a few minutes"... priceless.

Finally, this cracks me up.  Kevin over at Wizbang decides to try to play down the issue:

It's August in Washington, which means that this is what passes for news...

This Ed Henry fellow claims he was about to ask Novak some hard hitting questions about the Valerie Plame case, but come on it's CNN fer Christ sakes, would that scare anyone into dropping an s-bomb to make an early escape?

I doubt it...

Yeah, that's right, Kev.  A key figure associated with an investigation which is currently underway, digging into the a leak about a CIA agent, in which one reporter is currently serving jail time and another almost was before a last minute bailout, goes batshit bonkers on national TV when someone takes a little jab at him and it's not news?  You've really got your finger on the pulse there, bud.

ADDITIONAL READING: Everyone's talking about this.  Talking Points Memo, Atrios (and a transcript), Americablog, Daily Kos.  Hell, now the AP's got the story.  As I mentioned, I don't know what's going on, but there's nothing the media likes more than eating one of their own.  In this case, it may cause a story that had gone a bit quiet to find it's way back into the spotlight.

Comments

[The Heretik]

Truly, O witty and urbane one, The Scum Also Rises