SCOTT McCLELLAN MUST GO

President Bush's roundish spokesman was at his worst during Thursday's briefing. Pounded by questions about Harriet Miers, the official mouthpiece wound up shouting at reporters: "Isn't it my right to talk and say what I want to?"

Well, no, not really. It's his job to answer questions asked by reporters on behalf of the public. McClellan instead chose to get tiny and pissy.

He also chose to attack Helen Thomas, the former reporter-turned-columnist.

Let's go to the transcript, courtesy of Editor & Publisher:

McCLELLAN: Well, Helen, the President recognizes that we are engaged in a global war on terrorism. And when you're engaged in a war, it's not always pleasant, and it's certainly a last resort. But when you engage in a war, you take the fight to the enemy, you go on the offense. And that's exactly what we are doing. We are fighting them there so that we don't have to fight them here. September 11th taught us --

THOMAS: It has nothing to do with -- Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11.

McCLELLAN: Well, you have a very different view of the war on terrorism, and I'm sure you're opposed to the broader war on terrorism. The President recognizes this requires a comprehensive strategy, and that this is a broad war, that it is not a law enforcement matter.

Terry.

TERRY MORAN: On what basis do you say Helen is opposed to the broader war on terrorism?

McCLELLAN: Well, she certainly expressed her concerns about Afghanistan and Iraq and going into those two countries. I think I can go back and pull up her comments over the course of the past couple of years.

MORAN: And speak for her, which is odd.

McCLELLAN: No, I said she may be, because certainly if you look at her comments over the course of the past couple of years, she's expressed her concerns --

THOMAS: I'm opposed to preemptive war, unprovoked preemptive war.

McCLELLAN: -- she's expressed her concerns.

I said she may be. What a load.

The press briefing was brutal. Some casual viewers might think reporters were rude. They were rude, and deservedly so. McClellan got less than what he deserved. Lucky bastard.