[gridlock]

If you look at the longer clip, it's clear he realized he went over the line with his swipe at the troops. Two people laughed, and then dead silence. So instead of continuing with the one-liners, he tried to make a serious statement about Iraq.

Of course, he was then distracted by some bright shiny object, complemented himself and Ted Kennedy for being such wonderful Senators, and then got an applause line out of the crowd by complementing Boxer and Feinstein.

At least he didn't cap it off with, "And then we're going to go to MINNESOTA, and WASHINGTON, and NEBRASKA, and CALIFORNIA... YEEEEEAAAGH!!!"

[bwteim]

"he was then distracted by some bright shiny object"

You have concisely described his narcissism and infantile behavior.