How out there is Eric Alterman? MSNBC, the network of Keith Olbermann, he who has accused Pres. Bush of fascism and called for his impeachment - fired him [1], presumably for being too extreme.

But not to worry, Alterman's column, 'Altercation [2],' was promptly picked up by David Brock's Media Matters. For my sins I recently subscribed to the column's email list. Reading through this evening's edition, one thing emerges: Eric Alterman is one angry guy. In the course of one mere column, Alterman vents his bile in these diverse directions:

• "This notion of a leftist alliance with Islamic radicals is often trumpeted by crazy people like [David] Horowitz."
• "Virtually the entire world -- at least the part that's paying attention [hates Pres. Bush]."
• The editorial pages of the Wall Street Journal represent "intellectual contamination" that have made them "a sorry joke."
• "Jeff Greenfield is insane."
• "In smart countries . . . CNN International is not pitched toward idiots, like our CNN is."
• A Michael Kinsley column "is so bad it could have been written by Charles Krauthammer."

I don't know who did what to Alterman. But his anger burns so brightly that it blots out his substance, rendering it a virtual afterthought.

Finkelstein recently returned from Iraq. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net [3]