Earlier today, Howard Kurtz held his weekly online chat where he handled such topics as Stephen Colbert's presidential candidacy, the Post's review of his book, and Matt Lauer's interview with Sen. Larry Craig. Some excerpts:

Atlanta: Mr. Kurtz. I've been a huge fan since I was 12. My question is: do you think the Stephen Colbert "candidacy" will have any real implications on the South Carolina race on either side of the aisle?

Howard Kurtz: Well, Colbert was on Meet the Press yesterday. I'm sure a number of the second-tier candidates would have liked that precious air time.

But aside from media attention, if the question is whether he will attract a significant number of votes in the South Carolina primary, I don't know. I've heard a couple of veteran political reporters say he could draw a solid protest vote among college-age kids. And even a modest showing could tip the balance in a close contest.

...

Washington: The review of your book in yesterday's Post was pretty much a puff piece, eh? Has there ever been a bad review of a book in The Post when the book was written by someone who worked at The Post? I can't recall one off-hand. Now, one possibility is that you are all geniuses. Are you really, or are the book review editors just very careful whom they ask to review the books by Post employees?

Howard Kurtz: There absolutely have been negative reviews of books written by Post staffers. Trust me. I've gotten a couple. The reviews are assigned to independent critics who can say whatever they want, and I did not know until I picked up yesterday's paper who was reviewing Reality Show.

...

Matt Lauer/Sen. Craig: After this interview drew ratings that would make a test pattern embarrassed, will the news organization leave this story alone? Is the reason for lack of ratings that few believe Craig's implausible story? Is it because of the small population of his state?

Howard Kurtz: Whether Matt Lauer's sitdown with Larry Craig was a ratings winner or not, it's still an important story. Here you have a senator who pleaded guilty to, in effect, soliciting sex in a men's room, announced that he was going to resign, and now is refusing to resign and making a (futile thus far) attempt to overturn his plea. Craig has become an embarassment to the Republican Party, which would like him to fade away, and a national punchline. And his critics continue to accuse him of hypocrisy on gay issues. That sounds like an important story to me.