The Hopenchange era of post-partisan collegiality begins.

“He has a close personal relationship with John McCain. I don’t fully understand why he does,” said Reid, who said Lieberman called Tuesday from the Republic of Georgia to alert him to the move.

“I told him last night, ‘You know, Joe, I can’t stand John McCain.’ He said, ‘I know you feel that way,’ ” Reid said…

Talking about Democratic vice presidential candidates, Reid momentarily had trouble keeping them straight…

“I have a good relationship with Joe Biden. I have great respect for Joe,” Reid said. “He was driven into some of the positions he’s in because the far left took him on in the primary… I’ve done a lot to protect Joe Biden.”…

During the hourlong colloquy, Reid also forgot the name of former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, a Democratic Senate candidate, and the Title IX legislation giving women access to school sports programs.

I don’t think he’s exaggerating. Remember, Reid’s been the point man on the nasty “McCain’s crazy” kite that the left’s been trying to fly since forever — ironically so, given the apparent state of his own steel-trap mind here. Hard for me to believe he’d take to that role with the relish he has due to nothing more than partisanship. Maybe he and Maverick had a shouting match behind closed doors at some point? Or maybe he’s bitter about McCain having nailed an important issue that Dingy himself blew spectacularly. Here’s a video flashback from last year for your amusement, to be viewed only after you’ve skimmed the first page or two of today’s Washington Times scoop about McCain and the surge. Exit question: Can Maverick recover from such a withering assessment by this widely trusted, beloved leader?

Update: On second thought, maybe it is just partisanship. If not, then the falling-out was fairly recent since the two were socializing together as of 2004. Nice catch from a reader:

Two senators who joined Reid for fights with the complimentary tickets took markedly differently steps.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) insisted on paying $1,400 for the tickets he shared with Reid for a 2004 championship fight. Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) accepted free tickets to another fight with Reid but already had recused himself from Reid’s federal boxing legislation because his father was an executive for a Las Vegas hotel that hosts fights.

McCain paid, Reid took the freebie — a nice ethical contrast to cap this story. Here’s a photo of them together at the match. Left side.