The Latest victims of a “hot mike,” that miraculous conduit of political candor, are Senator Susan Collins, the Republican from Maine, and her colleague Jack Reed, the Rhode Island Democrat. During a lull in an Appropriations subcommittee meeting on Tuesday, Collins and Reed kibbitzed about the President’s state of mind, including his evident confusion about basic legislative procedure.
“I think he’s crazy,” Reed said, in a low voice.
“I’m worried,” Collins replied.
“I don’t say that lightly, as kind of, you know, ‘a goofy guy,’ ” Reed went on. “The, uh, this thing, you know, if we don’t get a budget deal—”
“I know,” Collins said.
“We’re going to be paralyzed, D.O.D.”— the Department of