the kicker

The Graham Crack Didn’t Work

While addressing the RNC, Joe Lieberman attempted to inject some levity into his speech by referring to his travels with McCain and others in the GOP posse. My friends, I have had the privilege and I’d say the pleasure of traveling the world with John McCain, even with Lindsey Graham it was a pleasure. The […]

September 3, 2008

While addressing the RNC, Joe Lieberman attempted to inject some levity into his speech by referring to his travels with McCain and others in the GOP posse.

My friends, I have had the privilege and I’d say the pleasure of traveling the world with John McCain, even with Lindsey Graham it was a pleasure.

The line didn’t get a laugh at the RNC and it stumped the Fox commentators who were parsing Lieberman’s speech after the fact.

Fred Barnes: Joe Lieberman seemed to have a good time. He made that joke about traveling with McCain and Senator Lindsey Graham. An inside joke we all laughed at. I don’t think the delegates had the slightest idea.

Brit Hume: Why was it funny?

Barnes: Because Lindsey Graham sort of a wild and crazy guy. He always hangs around with McCain, and when the three get together, it’s…They are quite a group.

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Hume: OK. I guess i get that.

It was a noble effort by the Fox team to explain the Connecticut senator’s joke, but in the end, the punchline proved elusive. Alas.

Katia Bachko is on staff at The New Yorker.