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How bad can Washington be?
Jun. 22nd, 2006 07:54 pmI tivo The Daily Show, but probably only get around to watching one episode in three (and, to be honest, lean a lot on the fast forward button when I do watch it). Today I skimmed through a handful of episodes for the first time in a couple of weeks, and saw this little gem:
Juliet Eilperin has twelve years experience as a reporter in Washington, six of those as the House of Representatives reporter for the Washington Post. Her new book, Fight Club Politics, is among other things about how the two major parties have conspired to make nearly every congressional seat "safe". (Did you know that 98% of incumbents who ran were re-elected in 2004?.[1]) As Jon Stewart was wrapping up the interview....
JE: ... basically they're only willing to get together when it's protecting their own re-election.
JS: And you, covering this for twelve years — corrosive to the soul?
JE: Yes. And in fact I became so depressed doing it I focused more in the environment....
JS: So you choose to focus on the raping and pillaging of the environment rather than cover politics, because
JE: I find it less depressing.
[1] Of 435 seats in the US House of Representatives, 402 incumbents ran in 2004. Only 7 of them lost.
Juliet Eilperin has twelve years experience as a reporter in Washington, six of those as the House of Representatives reporter for the Washington Post. Her new book, Fight Club Politics, is among other things about how the two major parties have conspired to make nearly every congressional seat "safe". (Did you know that 98% of incumbents who ran were re-elected in 2004?.[1]) As Jon Stewart was wrapping up the interview....
JE: ... basically they're only willing to get together when it's protecting their own re-election.
JS: And you, covering this for twelve years — corrosive to the soul?
JE: Yes. And in fact I became so depressed doing it I focused more in the environment....
JS: So you choose to focus on the raping and pillaging of the environment rather than cover politics, because
JE: I find it less depressing.
[1] Of 435 seats in the US House of Representatives, 402 incumbents ran in 2004. Only 7 of them lost.
