>I think his account of _l'affair Blumenthal_ has been believable,
>and I'd be pretty resentful if the editorial staff hauled _me_ in
>for some kind of demented tribunal over the matter.
It was hardly a hauling-over. I was there. A lot of the staff was upset that one of their colleagues had been in touch with the House Republican impeachment staff - whatever the sins of the Clintons, the House Republicans are ghoulish monsters - and had been running around praising Ken Starr. (Hitch called him "Judge Starr" repeatedly at the meeting.) Victor Navasky asked Hitch to come talk things over. There was nothing tribunalish about it - his job wasn't on the line. Most of the staff was (and many still are) fond of him personally and professionally. Hitch was pretty hostile from the outset. When Victor welcomed him, his response was, "The pleasure is all yours I'm sure." That set the tone for the whole thing. He tried to make his case, and no one was convinced. It was no "demented tribunal." It was rather sad. At one point, he said, "I'm very grateful for Judge Starr."
Doug