Hello and welcome to the Slate Political Gab Fest for Friday, February 24th, 2012. I am David

Plotz, the editor of Slate. I'm here alone, but only for a moment alone. Isn't that mysterious?

In Slate's D.C. studio joining me by... Loneliness is something that overcomes David sometimes.

Have you ever noticed that a lot of my introductions are all about loneliness?

I'm a very acutely conscious of loneliness kind of person.

Though I don't think you actually have much opportunity to be lonely.

I know, because I've designed my life so that I'm not lonely.

I've barely spent, I've spent maybe a week alone in my whole life, not living with

a family.

You mean all told?

All, no, no, at any one stretch.

The longest I've ever lived apart from other human beings is about a week.

Good to know.

You guys are.

You're scoring at a home, that's on page 37 of David Plotz.

Manuel.

All right.

This is joining, joining me by phone is John Dickerson Slate's chief political correspondent and political director for CBS News.

And joining from New Haven is Emily Bazelon Slate, senior editor.

Welcome, John and Emily.

I'm so glad you're allaying my loneliness.

We're happy to be doing it.

...