Temper, temper

Supporters of John McCain have wondered how he will manage to stay in the public eye now that he has the Republican presidential race all sewn up and the Democrats are engaged in a lively, attention-grabbing contest. Not to worry! McCain has a plan - he'll just explode at regular intervals. Today's hapless victim: Elisabeth Bumiller of the New York Times.

What began as a typical chat session with traveling reporters on the plane from Atlanta to New Orleans quickly became a testy exchange with McCain. The senator was questioned on the details of a conversation with former presidential nominee John Kerry in 2004 about being his potential running mate.

The topic came up earlier this morning during a town hall at the headquarters of Chic-Fil-A, where an employee asked if McCain would consider John Kerry as a running mate for this election cycle. [...]

Pressed further aboard the plane by a reporter as to whether he did in fact have a conversation with Kerry, McCain showed his infamous temper.

Hard to resist copying the entire exchange. But here's a nice segment:

Bumiller: “Well can I ask you when the conversation was?”

McCain: “No. Nope, because the issue is closed as far as I’m concerned. Everybody knows it. Everybody knows it in America.”

Bumiller: “Can you describe the conversation?”

McCain: “No, of course not. I don’t describe private conversations.”

Bumiller: “Okay. Can I ask you…”

McCain: “Why should I? Then there’s no such thing as a private conversation. Is there (inaudible) if you have a private conversation with someone, and then they come and tell you. I don’t know that that’s a private conversation. I think that’s a public conversation.”

Bumiller: “Okay. Can I ask you about your (pause) Why you’re so angry?”

McCain: “Pardon me?”

Bumiller: “Nevermind, nevermind.”

We've missed you, John! Welcome back.