Congratulations, I guess, are in order for CNN’s “Crossfire” for having the guts to invite Eric Alterman, Ph.D., on the program this evening to discuss his latest book, What Liberal Media? The Truth About Bias and the News. (Alterman, as expected, performed superbly.)

After all, already a few other bastions in our great “liberal” media, including Fox News and National Public Radio, are shying away from the challenge. Watch, readers, for the silent treatment that is being given to Dr. Alterman on the occasion of his new book (which, by the way, can be purchased here, or here, or here, or here, or here, or here, or at any quality bookstore nationwide).

How unfortunate, though, that Dr. Alterman this evening had to slum it with the likes of wing-nut maniac L. Brent Bozell, the “family values” fanatic and recklessly defaming brother-in-law of William F. Buckley Jr., and the uncle of philanderer and child-neglecter Christopher Buckley, the only child of the aforementioned more-Catholic-than-you William F. (who years ago married a then- and still-unconverted Protestant, using his money and influence to get the Church to okay the otherwise unacceptable union, in case you didn’t notice), an already debased setting made all the worse by Alterman’s having to share the stage with the woefully undereducated Tucker Carlson.

Needless to say, Paul Begala was outstanding, as usual.

Just a quick closing note to Tucker: I don’t know which of your children assembles your Garanimals outfit before the show, but no one in his right mind -- no adult, at least -- would wear a maroon bow tie with a pink shirt. And I mean no one.