JONATHAN CHAIT MARCH 11, 2010
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I just this morning got the chance to watch Jon Stewart's interview with former Bush speechwriter, and current Washington Post columnist, Marc Thiessen. These interviews are often described as knockouts when the reality is a little more murky. The Thiessen interview, though, was a true knockout. Thiessen repeated his Cheney-ite talking points about how Obama was making us less safe, and Stewart just dissected one after another. Thiessen's only recourse was to try to talk over Stewart's rebuttals, making several points in a row so that Stewart couldn't rebut each one. When Stewart did talk, he made some clean shots, and Thiessen grew more and more frustrated, complaining repeatedly about his supposed lack of time. (I actually felt, due to his unusually aggressive style, Thiessen got more air time than most guests.)
In any case, the interview is well-worth watching if you haven't already:
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Exclusive - Marc Thiessen Extended Interview Pt. 1
7 comments
A knockout is right. I watched it last night and thought Stewart cut him a new one. Stewart was sharp and incisive. There may have beem arguments to be made contra Stewart and for the position Thiessen wanted to argue, but he doesn't have it him to do it, at the very least--being charitable--not in that setting.
- basman
March 11, 2010 at 3:06pm
Totally agree about over hyped Jon Stewart interviews. Usually they're just incredibly awkward, as the person who is supposedly being "destroyed" awkwardly tries to deal with the fact that someone is yelling at them.
- Virginia Centrist
March 11, 2010 at 3:33pm
One almost suspects Tiffani-Amber Thiessen would have held up better.
- cspencef
March 11, 2010 at 3:53pm
I saw this and thought Stewart was superb. I winced for him as he bent over backwards to be polite and accommodating.... though of course, the more polite he was, the more absurd--even obscene--Thiessen appeared.
- dmillstone
March 11, 2010 at 3:59pm
Really, VC? I only watch Jon Stewart sporadically, but I don't see "yelling at guests" as being a major part of his MO. Maybe I'm tuning in to the wrong interviews.
- ratnerstar
March 11, 2010 at 4:06pm
Yelling was the wrong word. Berating, perhaps? I mean - I always agree with Stewart's arguments, I just find the interviews rather awkward and sometimes feel sympathy for the guest.
- Virginia Centrist
March 11, 2010 at 5:35pm
Thiessen always reminds me of the Twilight Zone episode, the one where space aliens come to earth, give their hosts a book titled How to Serve Man, and offer to take their earthling "friends" on trips to their planet. Only thing, it turns out the book is a cookbook.
- raylward
March 11, 2010 at 5:53pm