Burns and Allen

Two Republicans in the U.S. Senate who could go down on Election Day are Conrad Burns of Montana and the insufferable George Allen of Virginia. Or, as they're sometimes known, Tweedledum and Tweedledummer. Allen, of course, called an Indian-American filming him for James Webb (his Democratic opponent in the election, not the guy who wrote "MacArthur Park") a "macaca," an ethnic slur used against dark-skinned people in North Africa. Allen insisted he made up the word off the top of his head, but the fact that he obviously lied about it pales in comparison next to the fact that called the Virginia-born video cameraman an ethnic slur at all is mystifying, as he knew the fellow was working for the Webb campaign. Meanwhile, in Montana, Burns has shown similar arrogance against Hispanic immigrants, even referring to his own house painter as a "nice little Guatemalan man." Even worse, he was trying to be nice.

Ladies and gentlemen, the "Burns and Allen Show!" Which, hopefully, will be cancelled come November 7. (Say good night, George, and take Conrad with you!)