Caught a podcast of Alec Baldwin’s interview with David Brooks, the conservative columnist for the New York Times. Brooks, of course, is no Neanderthal right-wing celebrity pundit, but a thoughtful, even humorous sort who respects both sides of the political spectrum. Refreshing. Prompted the formulation of a new political rule of thumb. “Where there’s wit, there’s hope. Where there’s blunt-instrument derision, there’s no hope.”