Delusional Paul Begala Blames Republicans for AIG Mess

Democratic apologist-er, strategist-Paul Begala could not repeat on air the contents of a note he recently sent Imus, but assured his friend of one thing.

"I don't know what your PSA is, but your piss and vinegar count is way up!" Begala said. "I'm not very worried."

Informed that Imus would be visiting with former Clinton White House physician Dr. Dean Ornish next week, Begala waxed nostalgic.

"Dean had me eating dopey soy burgers for lunch everyday when I worked in the White House," Begala recalled.

Moving on to slightly less disgusting topics, Imus challenged Begala to spin the fact that President Obama is "in so far over his head he ought to have on scuba diving gear."

"Obama said he wanted to change the culture in Washington," Begala said. "A big part of the culture of Washington that has to change is this deference toward fat-cat Wall Street businessmen, that they always know best."

Hearing Imus say something off-mic, Begala wondered if the host of the program was even paying attention. "I was gong to let you talk and when you stopped talking I was going to say something else," Imus admitted.

Claiming that Obama has "a real history" of trying to crack down on executive compensation, Begala then highlighted a New York Times article from February 10, 2009, in which the Treasury Department bragged about defeating such a measure.

"Over a month ago the White House wanted to limit executive comp, but the Treasury Department overruled them and did what the Republicans wanted," Begala said. "This is what happens when you try to be bipartisan!"

Imus considered this point for a few moments. "So, the President either has the Treasury Department doing stuff he doesn't know about that has outraged the country, or he did know about it and he wasn't truthful," Imus surmised. "He's either incompetent, or he's lying!"

Much to Imus's dismay, Begala does not think Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner should resign.

"What should he do?" Imus wondered. "Pay his taxes?"

The I-Man thanked Begala for his thoughtful note. "You're a good friend," he said. "You're insane and delusional, but I don't care."

-Julie Kanfer