McBride, not Sykes, the brains of the outfit?

Boy, was I wrong.

All this time, I've been thinking that Charlie Sykes was Jessica McBride's Svengali, dominating her brain waves and guiding her thoughts.

It turns out that Jessica and Charlie's brains are linked, but she's the one who sets the tone. He just follows along.

How else to explain these two posts? Note that Jessica's came more than 12 hours before Charlie's. McBride:

SATURDAY, Sept. 9, 2006, 11:47 p.m.
Thought on Eugene Kane

He's written a column on Sheriff David Clarke that is somewhat on the mark. What's up with Kane? He's making far more sense these days. But a thought occurred to me after reading this paragraph:

In a time when the black community is reeling from senseless violence, dysfunctional social behavior and abhorrent mob behavior, Clarke's consistent "law and order" mantra is appealing to many blacks who appreciate the message regardless which party it's coming from.

If anyone else said the first part of this sentence, including David Clarke and "right wing radio", Kane would criticize them harshly for it. Guess he's the only one he allows to deliver the message

And now Sykes:

SUNDAY, Sept. 10, 2006, 1:33 p.m.
BACKWARD REELS THE MIND

In the even-a-blind-squirrel category today:

The JS edit board endorses Sheriff David Clarke, calling him a "change agent."

Even more mind-reeling, a sympathetic column on Clarke by Eugene Kane that includes this:

In a time when the black community is reeling from senseless violence, dysfunctional social behavior and abhorrent mob behavior, Clarke's consistent "law and order" mantra is appealing to many blacks who appreciate the message regardless which party it's coming from.

Senseless violence? Dysfunctional social behavior?

Isn't that exactly the kind of rhetoric that Kane dislikes so much when it comes from "right wing" talk radio?

Or is it now OK to say, now that Kane has noticed what's happening? In any case, it's an intriguing (and somewhat surprising) column.

What do you think? Brain link? Plagiarism? Or do talk radio minds simply think alike?

Can't wait to see what Jeff Wagner says.