We spent all day yesterday waiting for The New Republic’s article on the Times’s article on John McCain.

And today we spent all day waiting for the New York Times to defend itself on the article.

If it weren’t for John McCain and the New York Times, we would just be thinking of the meaningless of life. If God exists, surely he’s behind this entertaining mini-scandal.

The Times answers are exactly what you’d expect. In short, they’re happy with the piece.

• Bill Keller goes first. The basic question was “What the fuck were you thinking publishing the story?” Keller’s response: Hey, it’s a legitimate story! It’s part of our Long Series! Jack Shafer agreed! Case closed.

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