Thanks to Steve and Mark Salter for the behind the scences pictures of what went on and what it means or does not mean.

A pre-existing respectful relationship was the key. Better that the Washington folks have drinks with one another to discuss whatever than eat with the the political bankers.

" He believes the VIce President, who is his friend, is a man of integrity." - Salter

That's all I need to know about John McCain. Thanks, Mark.

It must be frustrating for politicians when they can't control the message that gets out--but that's what happens when you're a player in the game of life.

We need more transparency, more interviews, more information, not more control of the message from the politicos, imho. Let the writers, artists, voices of conscience speak!

Steve I think you're seeing stuff that just ain't there.

Steve: I wish that Jarecki had not included Gore Vidal's voice and had edited out some of the more sweeping generalizations about the "American empire" and contrived threats in the world made by Chuck Lewis.

In other words, you'd just as soon the left not be given any voice in the film. So much better to leave all discussion to 'responsible', 'respectable' centrists.

I haven't had the opportunity to see the film, of course, and maybe after I have I'll even agree. But as it appears now, this comment puts you, Steve, in a long line of pundits who see it as essential to keeping their place in the commentariat's pecking order to marginalize and disown left-wing views whenever possible.

I thought the movie was superb.

One obvious point: when the Party in power wants to demagogue the defense issue, claiming they alone can be trusted with national security, it is impossible to say no to increased spending on defense when your manhood is being questioned. The military-industrial-congressional-think tank complex simply cannot be reined in given the prevailing maturity of the American electorate.

For those in the middle or on the left who might think that McCain deserves consideration as a presidential candidate, despite his conservative credentials, consider only the following passage from Salter's e-mail:

"Senator McCain supports the war in Iraq, supports aggressive US attempts to promote democracy abroad, ... generally supports the administration's foreign policy, and [believes that] the invasion of Iraq and the use of the military to establish a functioning democracy there is ... a noble and necessary enterprise."

Why would anyone on the center or the left -- or anyone on the right for that matter -- support someone with these views? If a candidate for president cannot say that it was a mistake to invade and occupy Iraq, knowing what we know now, then they exhibit extremely poor judgment. And they do not deserve to lead this country.

It says a lot about the prevailing mentality in Washington today that Salter expects a journalist not to run with something that has already happened if he recites the magic words, "That was off the record."