Ezra Klein is a coward

To publish his New Yorker piece "The Unpersuaded: Who Listens to a President?" writer Ezra Klein smartly waited until last week, when he knew every speechwriter in the world would be in Washington, cavorting in a mad drinking and drug binge in every conference room, hallway, bathroom and broom closet at the historic Mayflower Hotel.

I was with the speechwriters, of course, as sort of a chaperone, in assless chaps.

We had ourselves a time. The hotel will be closed until further notice.

Meanwhile, Klein's piece went unanswered—and it will continue to go unanswered until tomorrow, when I'll begin my own weeklong reply to his piece, which I'll acknowledge right now, is thoughtful enough to deserve our attention. The piece, and the reaction to it of all communicators, not just speechwriters, is a chance to do some good thinking.

So read Klein's piece today if you haven't already.

And then let's talk tomorrow.