Miscellaneous

Who's to Blame for the Ugly Tone of McCain's Campaign? Rachel Maddow?

Here, but mostly on Pajiba, I've spent an inordinate amount of time praising Rachel Maddow, my new lesbian girl crush (I'm not sure what that makes me, as a straight man). She's one of the smartest television news personalities on the air, and she's funny without being smug. But here's the thing: It's an unapologeticly liberal news show, and because Maddow is sharp and quick-witted, she very rarely gets anyone of the Republican persuasion on her show to argue with, but for crazy Uncle Pat Buchanan, the lovable racist.

That changed last night, when Maddow faced her first really difficult interview, after a month on the air, with David Frum, writer for The National Review and a former economics speechwriter for George Bush. And the thing about Frum is, he's not a empty-headed Republican full of talking points and bullshit. He's a smart guy, a guy who really disliked the choice of Palin. And, as the video above shows, he's also humorless as hell. And what do you get when you pit an acerbic, good-natured television personality against a smart, humorless Republican?

Awkwardness. Lots of it, as Frum blames Maddow for the political tone out on the campaign trail now. Maddow held her own, admirably. But the exchange is a draw.

(Interview starts around the 3 minute mark)

Full post as published by Quiz Law on October 14, 2008 (boomark / email).