O’Donnell, Hasselbeck have on-air argument

New York – Watching Rosie O’Donnell and Elisabeth Hasselbeck squabble on ABC’s “The View” is nothing new, but Wednesday’s dustup seemed particularly nasty with the co-hosts trading accusations and personal digs.

A political discussion over the war in Iraq became heated when an angry O’Donnell decried Hasselbeck for not standing up for her when media outlets suggested that she’d called U.S. troops “terrorists” during a previous debate.

“What you did was not defend me. … I asked you if you believed what the Republican pundits were saying – you said nothing, and that’s cowardly,” O’Donnell said.

Responded a stern Hasselbeck: “Do not call me a coward, because No. 1, I sit here every single day, open my heart and tell people what I believe.”

O’Donnell and Hasselbeck were shown on a split screen as the argument progressed without commercial interruption.

“Do you believe that I think our troops are terrorists? And you would not even look me in the face, Elisabeth, and say, ‘No, Rosie,”‘ O’Donnell said.

Responded Hasselbeck: “Because you are an adult, and I am certainly not going to be the person for you to explain your thoughts. They’re your thoughts! Defend your own insinuations!”

O’Donnell, who is leaving the ABC daytime talk show next month, said she wasn’t going to fight anymore. “So for three weeks, you can say all the Republican crap you want.”

Newman goes nuclear

Washington – Paul Newman weighed in Wednesday on the Indian Point nuclear power facility in the New York suburbs, pronouncing it safer than military bases he had visited.

Seriously.

The actor and salad dressing salesman visited the Buchanan, N.Y., facility on Monday, according to Jim Steets, a spokesman for Entergy Nuclear, the company that owns Indian Point.

Newman praised the nuclear power facility as an important part of the region’s energy future because it doesn’t produce greenhouse gases, which contribute to global warming.

Through a statement issued by an industry group, Newman said he was impressed with the safety measures in place at Indian Point – a key worry point for local residents, some of whom want the plant, 35 miles north of midtown Manhattan, shut down as a potential target of terrorism.

Newman was given a security card to enter the highly sensitive area. “What I saw exceeded my expectations,” Newman said in the statement. “No Army or Navy base I’ve ever visited has been more armored, and I couldn’t walk 30 feet inside the plant without swiping my key card to go through another security checkpoint.”

Laurie honored by queen

London – Hugh Laurie, who stars in the hit TV medical drama “House,” was made a member of the Order of the British Empire on Wednesday.

Queen Elizabeth II presented the honor to Laurie at Buckingham Palace.

The 47-year-old actor has been part of the comedy establishment in Britain for more than 20 years. He was a member of the Cambridge Footlights comedy group along with Emma Thompson and Stephen Fry.

Laurie has won two Golden Globe awards for his role on “House” as the brilliant but flawed Dr. Gregory House, who heads a medical team specializing in the diagnosis of rare disorders.

He now spends most of his time in Los Angeles for his role on News Corp.’s Fox network show.