Did Qaddafi Drive Translator to Tears?

Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine:

U.N.-Believable

Libyan President Muammar Qaddafi spoke so long at the United Nations — more than an hour and a half — that 75 minutes in his personal interpreter wore out and gave up. Media reports say the interpreter shouted in Arabic into the live microphone: "I just can't take it any more."

A U.N. translator stepped in for the final 20 minutes of the speech. Another U.N. Arabic translator told The New York Post it was the first time he'd seen an interpreter collapse in 25 years. Qaddafi broke with protocol and brought his own interpreter instead of using one supplied by the U.N.

One of those U.N. interpreters who has translated for the long-winded leader in the past, said it can be a tough job because: "He's not exactly the most lucid speaker. It's not just that what he's saying is illogical, but the way he's saying it is bizarre."

Stepping Down

Former National Endowment for the Arts Communications Director Yosi Sergant has resigned.

The NEA has come under fire in recent weeks from Republican lawmakers after an artist blogged that the White House and the NEA were encouraging artists to create works of art to further policy goals such as health care.

The NEA Communications Office tells FOX News that Sergant resigned of his own volition, saying he was concerned that he was becoming a distraction for the agency. Some lawmakers are still insisting the administration provide more information about the conference call and current policies at the NEA.

Bullets to Books

Tens of thousands of veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars are still waiting for college tuition checks from the federal government for the current semester.

The Washington Times reports a veterans' advocacy group says more than 277,000 veterans filed for help from the G.I. Bill this semester, but only 61,000 have actually received any money. And some veterans say they've have been forced to seek personal loans to cover their tuition.

Spouting Off

A seven-year stint in prison has done nothing to curb former Democratic congressman Jim Traficant's penchant for colorful language. During an interview on MSNBC, Traficant ranted about the nation's tax collectors saying, "I want to get the IRS, kick them in the crotch real good."

Discussing bank bailouts and stimulus funds, Traficant told the administration to: "stimulate this."

Traficant also recalled that years ago on the House floor, he called his colleagues political prostitutes. That prompted him to once again say: "I want to apologize to all the hookers in America for associating them with the United States House of Representatives."

— FOX News Channel's Lanna Brit contributed to this report.