Stones Cry Out

I might quibble with you just a bit. Gandalf was other-worldly at times and a bit mystical, although he did have his earthy moments. I'm not sure those are adjectives with which I would describe Hugh. Perhaps Aragorn would be more apt for Hugh? I could also see an argument for Hugh being labeled as Elrond (the book Elrond not the execrable portrayal of Elrond in the movies).

As for Sullivan, if you wanted to keep the LotR theme, you could make a good case for dubbing him as Saruman. Started out good but gradually, ever so gradually, shifted.

I can't call Hugh Aragorn, but I think an elfish label would work well.

Sullivan is more like a nagging old hobbit.

Ok, Sullivan is Lotho Sackville-Baggins then? (In case anybody was confused, I am a LotR geek, as readers of my previous blog will know.)

Who is Aragorn then? Glenn Reynolds?

Well, you could use Grima Wormtongue for Sullivan. But I like the Jan Brady analogue, whining, "Dubya, Dubya, Dubya!"

For Sullivan I think chicken little might be better because of the constant hyperventaliting.

Sullivan is Denethor -- a once noble mind driven mad by despair. He's been looking too long into the Palantir that's controlled by Sauron; his perspective is being framed by the Dark Lord, and he doesn't realize it.

I like Hugh Hewitt as Gandalf, but if you want someone more worldly, how about Faramir (the man most closely associated with Gandalf)?

I think Eugene Volokh has some Elvish qualities.

Wow, Kate, those are all very good choices. I like Hewitt as Faramir, although he (Hewitt's) a bit old but otherwise a good choice. I love Sullivan as Denethor, albeit with a different ending of course.

Thanks, Mark. I hope for a different ending, too, of course. Maybe Sullivan will veer off the Denethor course and do a Theoden -- there are still glimpses of the old Sullivan now and then.