Beldar's nomination for the unsung hero of Election Day 2004

Readers of a certain age will remember the Mennen's Skin Bracer commercial in which droopy and foggy-eyed boxer Joe Frazier stared into his bathroom mirror, and then — after vigorously slapping his own cheeks with the product — suddenly appeared miraculously refreshed, exclaiming:  "Thanks!  I needed that!"

Today Hugh Hewitt (via this post and also, I suspect, some pointed and well-directed private emails and/or phone calls) performed that function for the right hemisphere of the blogosphere during the panic over the hugely misleading exit polling early in the day.  Someone of his stature — someone who'd be immediately noticed and seriously considered by other pundits and bloggers — badly needed to administer those sharp slaps.

And in near Butterfly Effect-fashion — Hugh being able to float like a butterfly (avoid giving offense), but sting like a bee (make his point forcefully) — it worked.  I don't know how many Bush voters who might otherwise have given up based on panic in the blogosphere, but instead took heart and voted — but I believe it was a non-negligible number.

Thanks, Hugh.  We needed that!

Update (Wed Nov 3 @ 8:55am):  Power Line also sings Hugh's praises.