Goodnight Alan

Alan Colmes announced this week that he will leave the Hannity & Colmes show, where for 12 years he has served as a white Tanto co-host for Sean Hannity. So what better time to look back at some of Alan Colmes' best moments on the most fair and balanced political talk show on cable television?

(NB: I'm sure there is a catalog of Hannity & Colmes transcripts somewhere, but I don't have Lexis/Nexis. A quick Google search was the only tool I had at my disposal. Still, I think I was able to find some representative excerpts from the show.)

First, there was this spirited exchange, during the appearance on the show of Samuel J. Wurtzelbacher aka "Joe the Plumber." It culminates in Colmes clearly and forcefully reminding Hannity that it is his turn to ask questions:

COLMES: That's interesting because Sarah Palin gave $1200 to every resident of Alaska, some people would call that socialism. And John McCain would give--

HANNITY: That was their oil money.

COLMES: And Sam, and Sam.

HANNITY: That was their oil money.

COLMES: And every year -- excuse me. Every year Alaskans get $2,000.

HANNITY: You're picking on Joe the Plumber on oil issues?

COLMES: Excuse me. I believe I'm.

HANNITY: Go ahead.

COLMES: I believe I'm up now.

HANNITY: I'm defending my friend.

Later, in the same interview, Colmes once more stood his ground:

HANNITY: He tries to give you this edited sound bite.

COLMES: He's talking about -- excuse me. Excuse me.

HANNITY: Yes, sir.

COLMES: He's talking about -- may I speak?

HANNITY: No.

But Alan Colmes did more than just sometimes politely ask Sean Hannity if he might be allowed equal time before being shouted down. Sometimes, just to make sure there were no misunderstandings, he issued clarifications. In the world of political punditry his clarifications were legend. Yes they were unfailingly polite, but they could also be quite pointed. Colmes issued one such clarification to Thomas Woods, a guest who asserted that Abraham Lincoln had been unfairly credited with ending slavery. Watch and learn future liberal talk show commentators!

HANNITY: Are you ready for Alan, who is about to join us here in a second? Are you ready for his friends and the attacks that are going to come against you and the names that -- not Alan. Alan is one of the nicer liberals, but I mean the names that liberals are going to use against you. Are you ready for this?

WOODS: I think I am ready for it, Sean.

HANNITY: You can handle it? You've prepared yourself?

WOODS: I don't want to say, "Bring it on," but I'll say I think I am ready for it.

HANNITY: You're ready for it.

COLMES: Well, let's look at -- well, first of all, I'm not here to call you names. I don't handle people like that.

WOODS: I appreciate that, Alan.

Pow! There will be no misunderstandings on this point! Alan Colmes will not be calling you names, even if you are out to fraudulently diminish the historic achievements of one of America's greatest Presidents!

One of Colmes' classic moments -- a moment that was repeated on many of the Hannity & Colmes shows -- came in this exchange with presidential candidate John McCain:

MCCAIN: You know, it's amazing. This "Joe the Plumber" event has really been a catalyst. It really has. You know we look back on political campaigns. "I paid for this microphone, Mr. Breen." Ed Muskie crying outside The Union Leader, or whatever it was. You know, there are moments when something happens and clearly Senator Obama going to "Joe the Plumber's" driveway and him getting an answer that clearly he didn't like. And by the way, the way that they attacked him? Please.

HANNITY: They've gone after him pretty hard, they've mocked him on the campaign trail. There's been apparently issues of investigating his background.

MCCAIN: Oh yes.

Oh yes! Oh yes, indeed. It was often, after many a one-sided dialog such as this, that Alan Colmes would come in, toss a few softballs, and then be shouted down by Hannnity as the show went to commercial.

But we ask of Alan Colmes that he keep the faith, and fight the good fight. He has, after all, played a small part in bringing about the change in American politics we have recently witnessed. A very small part. Let me be clear: The part Alan Colmes has played in the re-emergence of the Democrats as a political force has been very, very small. Tiny. Really, it cannot be understated. It's that small.

And so we say to Mr Colmes: Rage on, you! Pray, do not go gently into that night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light. We wish you the best.

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