RICHARD BEN-VENISTE threw a knife at John Ashcroft and hit Jamie Gorelick between the shoulders. Thus did the most irresponsible member of an increasingly irresponsible commission finally draw some blood, even though his victim was unintended.

Ben-Veniste’s conduct has grown wilder as the Nielsen ratings attached to the proceedings have increased. Democrats thought they were getting a skilled prosecutor with Watergate and other fine show trial credentials, but the sun is setting on BV’s career, and that does funny things to a man in D.C. The same syndrome of packaged outrage and bad hair cuts has affected Bob Kerrey as well. But in Ben-Veniste the histrionics-cum-political vendetta have been most obvious.