Anthony Weiner engaged in a rather epic debate with Sean Hannity tonight. They discussed a wide range of topics including Weiner’s career, Obamacare and the government shutdown. Hannity repeatedly theorized that Weiner was trying to get a job on MSNBC. But I think – and Weiner even said – he was angling for a job at Fox. Whether or not it was in jest, you can decide for yourself. Meanwhile, Weiner did a great job of putting Hannity on defense much of the time. “What am I? A potted plant?” Weiner shot at Hannity after one of his attempts to take charge again.

Whatever else you may think of the sext-crazed Weiner, he’s very, very good on Fox News. In fact, he’s a long time News Hounds Top Dog. Not only is he quick-thinking, forthright and uncowed by whatever Foxies throw at him but he's a master at wresting the conversation and the agenda away from the host. He did it again tonight.

Hannity tried – but failed - to get Weiner to discuss the sexting scandal. “I’m kind of done talking about this stuff,” he said.

When that tack didn’t work, Hannity started in on needling Weiner about why he had agreed to come on the show. Hannity suggested it was “in the hopes of, like, replacing Chris Matthews (on MSNBC).

“Nope,” said Weiner, insisting there’s no “divine plan.” He added a friendly jab: “You asked me to come on. You said you wanted to talk about Obamacare and the government standoff and, so I’m like, I’ll be glad to talk about it. Frankly, it seems sometimes you need some explaining on things. I’m here to do it for you, brother."

Later, Hannity asked that all-important question, was it true, as Weiner’s sexting mate Sydney Leathers had said, that Weiner hated Hannity “the most” of all the conservatives in the country?

Answer: No. “I’m here on your show,” Weiner noted. I noted he never said he likes Hannity.

But then the discussion turned to the government shutdown and Obamacare. Hannity claimed he could play a montage of “every Democrat,” including then-Senator Barack Obama, saying they would not raise the debt limit, presumably when George W. Bush was president. “Now they claim that it would be almost immoral not to raise it. Is that hypocrisy?” Hannity asked.

Weiner answered, “I think it’s fair to say that people play politics with the debt limit but no one does what this is, which is not only politics but playing a game of standoff with the economy. That’s a mistake.”

Then Weiner began revving up. He asked, “What I don’t understand, maybe you can explain it to me. If Boehner thinks we should raise the debt limit - which he says - the president thinks it, Hannity and Weiner both think it, why don’t they do it?”

Hannity didn’t want to exactly say he wants to raise the debt limit. He started to whine about how he worries about the future for his children because of the trillions in unfunded liabilities (just pay no attention to how Obama has brought down the deficit and how much Hannity’s beloved shutdown is costing or how much money multimillionaire Hannity has undoubtedly put aside for his kids, despite his supposed opposition to handouts).

“You don’t want to raise the debt limit? Is that your position?” Weiner asked.

“I’m the host, you’re the guest,” Hannity said.

“What am I, a potted plant?” Weiner retorted.

And unfortunately for Hannity, he never fully took back the discussion. So he had to resort to shouting at Weiner, “You’re auditioning for MSNBC! You’re auditioning! You want Chris Matthews’ job! I can tell! …You never shut up like Chris Matthews, either!”

Weiner replied, “Why do you always have patsies on? …Why is it you don’t want to have someone who pushes you a little bit on the basic assumptions of your argument?”

Hannity repeated the MSNBC accusation and said, “Now I know why you came here today!”

Weiner said, “Fox apparently has much lower standards. I’d much rather have a job on Fox.”

Hannity seemed not to think Weiner was serious. Hannity said, “Ouch. Ooh. Want me to talk about low standards? You really want to go there?”

But yes, I do think Weiner wanted to go there, though not in the way Hannity meant. However, I doubt Weiner will get hired. As far as I can tell, Fox doesn’t want someone who “pushes a little bit on the basic assumptions” of their arguments. What they want is someone who can make a good show of advocating for Democrats at the same time that they are willing to go without challenging Fox’s partisan politicking. In other words, they want someone who is willing to help promote the “fair and balanced” fiction and if there are a few pro-Dem fireworks along the way, well, that just proves the point, eh?

So while I’d personally love to see Weiner resume his Fox News appearances, I’d hate to see him become a team player there.