BEGALA:   Welcome back. Time now for "Fireback," where everyone's a critic. Apparently you've been reading and you know how to write as well. Bob Howard begins from Ann Arbor, Michigan: "If I have to watch Ann Coulter complain one more time about media bias, I'm going to lose it. Has she ever heard of talk radio or counted the number of times she gets on air? Or do those things not count?" Very good point, Bob. Ann may not be a very large woman, but she's a big gasbag and I'm tired of her complaining about the media. 
CARLSON:   That's awfully charitable of you. 
BEGALA:   She needs to get a life. 
CARLSON:   That's the holiday spirit. 
BEGALA:   Oh, she needs to get a life. 
CARLSON:   Greg Fricke Sr., not Greg Fricke Jr. of New York writes: "After listening to Mr. Begala's comments, I can only resort to an old Biblical phrase -- not since Samson has the jawbone of an ass wrought such destruction." Your book just slays people, Paul. 
BEGALA:   The donkey, of course, being the proud symbol of my party. I thank Mr. Fricke Sr. for that lovely comment. Dan Youngblut of Redmond, Washington writes: "I'm 14, and purchased your book "It's still the Economy, Stupid." I've only read the first chapter, and I'm hooked. If you can entertain a teenager with a book about the economy, you must be an awesome writer, dude." Way to go, Dan. Good for you. One day I hope to be chairman of Old Guys for Dan Youngblut for President. Youngblut bandwagon. 
CARLSON:   You're an easy sell. Herb Diamond of Boynton Beach, Florida writes: "Paul, your book, "It's Still the Economy, Stupid," is a slow read. Not because it isn't written well, because it causes my blood to boil and I must pause after every paragraph to allow my blood pressure to cool down." Wow. 
BEGALA:   I don't want to cause any health problems, of course. 
CARLSON:   You're going to get sued by Herb's descendants here. 
BEGALA:   No, I don't want to cause Herb any health problems, because Bush is trashing Medicare and he's not for universal health care. So Herb is going to have a lot more problems. I probably drove his pressure up 10 more points tonight. Poor Herb. 
CARLSON:   Unbelievable. 
BEGALA:   Yes, sir. What's your question or comment? 
UNIDENTIFIED MALE:   My name is J.R. Lopez (ph), I'm from Modesto, California. And my question is, do you think that former President Bill Clinton is a help or a hindrance to the Democratic Party today? 
BEGALA:   Boy, I wish they'd repeal the 22nd Amendment. It was put in there to keep us from having any more FDRs. If he could have run against Bush, even I think Bush's people, even Bush himself would say, he would have defeated Bush. I mean, Gore defeated Bush, and Clinton would have just trounced him. So I wish he was still able to be our president. 
CARLSON:   So only the Constitution stands between Bill Clinton and his aim. 
BEGALA:   No, one very silly   amendment. 
CARLSON:   Yes, ma'am. 
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE:   Hi, Kathy Bockman (ph) from Chevy Chase, Maryland. How long can this war smoke screen hide our failing economy? 
BEGALA:   Well, not very. I do think our president is serious about Iraq. I happen to disagree with him, but I think he's going about it for the right reasons. I think his policy is wrong. But he's not very serious about trying to save the economy. You make a very good point, and it's why we've got hundreds of thousands of people who are losing their unemployment benefits. He's done nothing about it. He better get in gear on the economy, if he wants to get reelected. 
CARLSON:   But I'm willing to see more Democrats put forward the Capricorn I theory, you know, that the moon landing was done in a studio in Hollywood and that the war on Iraq is merely a cover for domestic concerns. Because I don't think it will go over well at the ballot box. Yes, sir. 
UNIDENTIFIED MALE:   Good evening, gentlemen. I'm Chris Spinosa (ph) from Washington, D.C. First James Traficant, then Trent Lott. Seems like the men with bad hair are being chased from positions of power in this town. Who's next? We're worried for you, Tucker. 
CARLSON:   And I'm glad you're able to sniff out bias in the least obvious places. 
BEGALA:   That is a good point. Well, you know, between the four of us, we probably don't have the most attractive hair. Tucker and I... 
CARLSON:   That's why they hired us. A little affirmative action program here at CNN for people with hair problems. 
BEGALA:   That's right. Corporate Cueball will pick up his debate of the hair debate soon. From the left, I'm Paul Begala. Good night for CROSSFIRE. 
CARLSON:   And from the right, I'm Tucker Carlson. Join us again next time for yet more CROSSFIRE. "CONNIE CHUNG TONIGHT" begins after the CNN news cut-in. We'll be right back.
