throughout, that was a great service and something that was virtually churchillian in that terrible hour. it s been downhill since and accelerating, i think. part of what s happened and it s tricky to explain to people who maybe haven t lived here, but basically this is the new york city tabloid political culture has gone south to washington. uh-huh. and it s a world of the new york post and 21 and lots of stake houses, lots of onion loaves, the grand havana room which is a great place, i think. it s the last cigar bar. let s not be too negative here, but it s this roy cone world of just punch. and presidents when they re in trouble, they usually try to send for a stabilizing figure,