The Zen Of Chris Matthews

He has an almost accidental genius. He is blustery, loud and seemingly the font of everything wrong with cable news. And yet I've seen him, time and again, expose people, even if they don't know they're being exposed. I think this interview with Joe Scarborough is the latest example of why I enjoy him more than Maddow, and Olbermann.

Scarborough's inability to go all out, and say where he stands on gay marriage and abortion is telling. Or rather, it's selling. I don't know if it's about selling his book, or his brand of conservatism. But it says something that he doesn't want to talk about either issue in much depth. Either he doesn't feel that strongly either way or the issues, and is afraid of losing a constituency. Or he feels strongly, and doesn't feel like he can defend it.

All that said, it is amazing to watch nation figures becoming uncomfortable talking about gay marriage. I mean that in a good way. Like it's losing some potency. Just some thoughts.

This article available online at:

http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2009/06/the-zen-of-chris-matthews/19079/