Fox's Chris Wallace interviewed former Senator Alan Simpson about the Cheney shooting brouhaha that overwhelmed the news in Washington and the nation this week. Simpson's response conveyed a tremendous disdain for the reporting that followed, but his summation of the entire DC press corps should become an instant classic. Here's the transcript:

WALLACE: So, many up here, Senator -- and we love your tour of this whole event -- what does the last week tell us, or should tell us, about Washington, about the politicians, about the press corps?

SIMPSON: Well, it tells you that you should listen to Lindsay Graham and Evan Bayh and that really there is cooperation. But what it really tells you -- what are we going to expect out of our national press corps, and especially the Washington press corps, when something really happens? How are we to trust, after a whole week of absolute drivel and babble -- and people interviewing themselves! [mimicking reporters] "Uh, what do you think about Cheney?" [makes a face] Jay Leno and David Letterman asked them, "How would you feel if this happened to you?" Let me tell you, the American people are really waiting with a sense of glee when something really, really happens in America, and I suppose they'll just have a catatonic stroke and pitch forward on their faces.

W: So I take it, Senator, that you really miss this place?

S: [Claps hands and laughs] Oh, no, I do! I loved it, I did, I loved it. And I loved it because it was fun. I have a lot of pals on both sides of the aisle. I worked with President Clinton, enjoyed him, President Bush, President Carter, good people doing good things. But let me tell you, you'll never find it if you just follow the Washington media. You'll never know the good -- all you'll get is controversy, crap, and confusion.

W: [laughing] Well, there you go, there's a slogan. I've got to put that on a bumper sticker.

I'm hoping that a CQ reader with a penchant for design can work up a graphic with that slogan for the White House press corps. We can display it every time they go insane over Controversy, Crap, and Confusion^TM.

Senator Simpson is a great interview and a notoriously straight shooter. I had the pleasure of interviewing him at the GOP convention in 2004.

UPDATE: We already have a couple of entries. Hold the Mayo devises a superb new graphic:

Bullwinkle Blog, however, sticks with a classic that practically drips with historic significance:

Bullwinkle explains that the logo stands for the "Controversy, Crap, and Confusion Press." Just in case you wondered.

Any more?

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» http://www.bullwinkleblog.com/?p=406 from The Bullwinkle Blog
Captain Ed has asked for something that already exists: I’m hoping that a CQ reader with a penchant for design can work up a graphic with that slogan for the White House press corps. We can display it every time they go insane over Controversy, C... [Read More]

Tracked on February 19, 2006 11:17 AM

» Around The 'Sphere Feb. 19, 2006 from The Moderate Voice
Our occasional linkfest giving you some intriguing reading from weblogs of MANY different viewpoints. Viewpoints expressed do not necessarily reflect the... [Read More]

Tracked on February 19, 2006 11:18 AM

» We miss you, Alan! from Overtaken by Events
It is always a delight to see Alan Simpson pop up on the interview shows occasionally. Of the politicians I've... [Read More]

Tracked on February 20, 2006 9:30 AM

» We miss you, Alan! from Overtaken by Events
It is always a delight to see Alan Simpson pop up on the interview shows occasionally. [Read More]

Tracked on February 20, 2006 9:33 AM

» David Gregory, call your office from sisu
You'll never know the good -- all you'll get is controversy, crap and confusion, said Alan Simpson in answer to Chris Wallace's tongue-in cheek question Sunday about the former Senator's fondness for the DC press corps:Wallace: So I take [Read More]

Tracked on February 20, 2006 12:15 PM