Dick Cheney, as you know by now, clawed his way out of his coffin and exposed himself to broad daylight long enough to denounce Obama yet again as the friend and abettor of terrorists. Joe Biden was shoved out before the cameras to smack Dick down.

Whatever. What I'm wondering is: how many Americans really care what Dick Cheney thinks right now? It can't possibly be more than 15%, can it? If I'm right, then, it has occurred to me, it is entirely possible and even likely that more Americans care about what Noam Chomsky thinks than what Dick Cheney thinks. Chomsky's recent book sales, after all, are quite strong. He draws thronging crowds wherever he appears. He is not my cup of tea, so much, because -- well, let's save the Chomsky debate for another time. But for now, let me just say that I'd love to see some kind of honest poll identify a subset of people familiar with both mens' work and ask them: "In your own view, whose description of the world is closer to reality, Dick Cheney's or Noam Chomsky's?" I think Chomksy just might pull that one out.