Any clear thinking media gazer can tell you Newsweek magazine has tilted to the left in recent months. Not that it ever was a fair and balanced media organ to start with, mind you. But Newsweek managing editor Jon Meacham told Fox News' Bill O'Reilly this week that his magazine doesn't have a liberal agenda. Really? Then how do you explain the latest issue featuring a "Star Wars"/"Star Trek" casting sidebar ripped from today's political headlines?

The magazine, in a fit of adolescent whimsy, casts real-life political figures who might stand in for Captain Kirk, Darth Vader and other characters from the space franchises' galaxies.

You can guess what followed:

• The Emperor - Dick Cheney: "Manipulative, mysterious and superannuated."


• Darth Vader - George W. Bush: "Callow newbie tempted to the Dark Side."


• Boba Fett - Karl Rove: "Pitiless scalp collector."


• Klingon Commander - Rush Limbaugh: "Villainous aggressor on the verge of war.

Of course, the mag didn't leave Democratic figures out:

• Captain Kirk - Rahm Emanuel: "Seriousness of purpose meets unbridled id.


• Mr. Spock - Obama: "Cool, collected ... those ears."


• Christine Chapel - Timothy Geitner: "Dubious but dependable helping hand."

Yup. Fair and balanced, if you're a Daily KOS or Huffington Post devotee.