Fraters Libertas

Did Someone Say Trivia?

Yesterday, on his show Hugh Hewitt was discussing Jonathan Chait's comments about him and some of our fellow bloggers. Chait had referred to them as "drooling right wingers," and "incoherent right-wing knuckle draggers."

Hugh found Chait's comments quite silly in light of the obvious intellectual prowess of the group that Chait was defaming and ventured that he would challenge a team of left leaning media types to go up against him, Michael Medved , Dennis Prager, and Professor David Allen White (noted Shakespeare and classical music expert) in a game of Jeopardy anytime. After Generalissimo Duane pointed out a few areas of weakness, Hugh expanded the team to include Duane (for his knowledge of rock music and NASCAR) and the master of all things trivial James Lileks.

And indeed it would be a formidable squad to go up against. However, I very much doubt if anyone from the left will emerge to accept the challenge. I just don't see Chait, Jim Hightower, Al Franken, Paul Krugman, and Michael Moore agreeing to be publicly exposed by "drooling right wingers". It would be a dream match up but it ain't gonna happen.

So instead I propose the following alternative. The next time the three talk radio giants are in Minnesota (probably at the '04 State Fair) we have a little intramural competition. What is Jeopardy really after all, but glorified trivia? And who is better at trivia than the gang here at Fraters? (Sound of crickets chirping)

Of course if we're going to take on Hugh's high powered team we're going to need a little help. Say a couple of the gents from Power Line perhaps? And Mitch Berg from Shot In The Dark of course. King from the SCSU Scholars would be a nice fit too. We could round out our squad with our Latin consultant, Brad Jones from Infinite Monkeys as well as Spitbull's Warrior Monk to strengthen us in the arts. Now we're talking about some real competition.

It could be billed as Hewitt's media all stars vs. the Northern Alliance et al. Lileks is a member of the Northern Alliance technically speaking, but he seems to have sold his soul and surrendered his independence to Hugh in exchange for forty segments of air time. He's crossed over and is now one of "them". Anyway as long as there aren't too many questions on Hummel Figures, we'll do just fine without him.

We'll be at Keegan's Irish Pub for trivia once again tonight warming up. By the way from November 7th to 11th, Terry Keegan, publican of Keegan's, is having a Salute to the Military Weekend. To show his appreciation for their service, Terry, himself a veteran jarhead, is offering a free drink to all active duty members of the military and veterans who stop by the pub. Knowing how much Terry hates to give away anything for free (and boy do we know), this is quite a magnanimous gesture on his part. Does my one year of college ROTC count?