Silly Season update

After promising not to answer any phone calls until tomorrow's Florida primary was over, a dear friend and colleague called inviting me to an event for Sen. John McCain this morning. Gayle and I both went along with an associate and we all had a great time.

We thought this was going to be a meet-and-greet with a little sign waving, but it turned out to be a discussion of national security issues. Along with McCain were Sens. Lindsay Graham and Richard Burr, former CIA director Jim Woolsey, former Gov. Frank Keating from Oklahoma and former VA administrator Tony Principi. While there was a lot of talk of national security threats, there was also a discussion about the need to improve benefits for veterans. That was a first for me.

An observation: Candidates sound much better and more thoughtful than their squished sound bites we hear on television.

After the discussion broke up, McCain met with reporters. Did they ask for specifics on improved benefits? Nope.

First question: "Mitt Romney says you are a liberal. Are you a liberal?"

Guess which sound bites will make the 6:30 p.m. news?

Sen. McCain takes questions from the media in Jacksonville, Fla.