Apparently, Bob Novak is losing his mind...

...or maybe he lost it a long time ago.

For such a bad show, CNN's Crossfire continues to provide for some compelling drama. Remember when Jon Stewart called Tucker Carlson a "dick" and otherwise ripped the show to pieces? Well, on Thursday it was Bob Novak's turn to provide the odd turn, and he didn't disappoint. Confronted with a provocative, if implicitly hostile, statement from fellow host James Carville, Novak used rather foul language, at least for national TV, and walked off the set. The AP has the full story here. An excerpt:

Carville and Novak were both trying to speak while they were handicapping the GOP candidacy of Katherine Harris. Novak said the opposition of the Republican establishment in Florida might not be fatal for her.

"Let me just finish, James, please," Novak continued. "I know you hate to hear me, but you have to."

Carville, addressing the camera, said: "He's got to show these right wingers that he's got a backbone, you know. It's why the Wall Street Journal editorial page is watching you. Show 'em that you're tough."

"Well, I think that's bull---- and I hate that," Novak replied. "Just let it go."

As moderator [Ed] Henry stepped in to ask Carville a question, Novak walked off the set.

It was unnecessary (and silly) for Carville to refer to Novak's role in the Plame Game during a discussion (such as there is any discussion on Crossfire) of Florida politics, but apparently he was warned that the subject would come up and his response may attest to his state of mind at the moment. CNN has kept him on the air during the investigation into the leak of Valerie Plame's identity, but in response to his outburst a CNN spokesperson said that the network has "asked Mr. Novak to take some time off". He may or may not need it, but I, for one, would like to know just what role he did play in the Plame Game. Regardless of his on-air antics -- and he's always been a provocative pundit, like him or not -- that's what's really important here.