Time uses the word "Prickly", and there's certainly some underlying meaning to that as well. But the core truth here is his crankiness.
Another underlying truth is that reporters such as these seems to feel like jilted lovers. "But didn't we mean more to each other? Didn't we have something special? How can you throw all that away?"
Gotta love this part:
Do you miss the old way of doing it?
I don't know what you're talking about.
Really? Come on, Senator.
I'll provide as much access as possible ...
Maybe, as good spurned lovers, they'll now start to notice all those annoying things that used to be so cute.
Poll after the flip...