I enjoy American politics. “Enjoy” might be a strong word: I mean that I am fascinated by it, in the same way that a car accident might fascinate me as I drive past it on the motorway. As the presidential candidates gear up for their final debate later today, I am not expecting much. These debates are essentially extended opportunities to repeat their stump statements, and there’s no real engagement (although the town hall format of the last one allowed a little bit more than usual).
But a few weeks ago, two of the country’s most influential newsmen came together to have a debate of their own. And it was wonderful. An hour and a half of real engagement, some entertainment, focus on the issues, and some hard hitting interactions. This was “The Rumble 2012” between Bill O’Reilly of FOX news and Jon Stewart of Comedy Central’s The Daily Show.
You can see the video for just $ 4.95. This is less than the cost of a good book, and only marginally more than you’d pay for a coffee and snack at your local coffee shop. But it will be a great 90 minutes spent understanding some of the key issues in play in this year’s elections.
I earn no commission from this plug: I just really think it’s great value. You can find it all here: The Rumble 2012.
Trust me, you won’t regret it. And you’ll find it much enlightening (and entertaining) than the debate that will happen later tonight.