would be pleased to publish a story by such a prominent politician as john mccain. should he take the opportunity to write the op-ed? >> mccain or president obama? >> mccain. >> why not. >> you think president obama should? >> i don't think president obama has much to gain from that unless he and putin start wanting to do it in the "washington post" op-ed page. but as far as president obama doing it, i don't think he has much to gain. for mccain, why not. this is something he talks about a lot. i don't think he has anything to lose. >> what's the response at the national review when you picked up the "new york times" and saw the op-ed from vladimir putin? what was your take? >> well, we thought that -- certainly i thought that putin was sort of doing his victory dance over having gotten this new role in the middle east, that soviet and russian leaders have been trying to get for decades. >> it's a complete insult. he's preening and promoting himself. there's a kernel at the heart of