01/10/2007: "In and Out"

While I was waiting in line at the Dulles Airport to borad my flight back to LA, I picked up a copy of the Washington Post's Style section that someone left behind. I was intrigued because it was their annual list of what's in and out and among the superficial, non-scientific entries (por ejemplo - OUT: Zac Braff - In: John Krasinski/ OUT: Fall Out Boy IN: Cold War Kids) was this one:

OUT: Chuck Klosterman IN: Matt Taibbi

I found this to be particularly interesting because in the last few months I have been reading more and more of Taibbi's Rolling Stone articles and skipping Klosterman's Esquire submissions. I have nothing against Klosterman's writing style or choice of subjects (movies, music), but Taibbi's writing and subject matter (politics) is very appealing to me simply because it engages me in something that I don't follow closely (though I do hold a minor in politics from a small liberal arts college) but should because I am trying to be a better-informed individual and let's face it, gossipy politics is some crazy shit.

One of the funniest things I read last year came from a piece that Taibbi didi about going undercover to volunteer on PA Senator Rick Santorum's (GOP) re-election campaign. In describing his encounter with Santorum, Taibbi writes:

--Weirdly, the senator was not shaking hands, but rapping fists in Stringer Bell/Avon Barksdale ghetto fashion. I wondered if he was afraid of germs.

He held out his fist. "Thanks for coming," he said.

I rapped knuckles with him, thinking "Us, nigga!"

"Good luck, sir," I said. --


To a degree, this passage seems more enjoyable to fans of The Wire, but the passage and imagery lingered in my mind for days.

BTW, if you aren't watching The Wire, I (along with every respectable critic in this country) highly recommend you put that shit in your Netflix cue, and despite what some haters may say, I think Season 2 is the best drama that television has to offer.

For more on Matt Taibbi - check out his column at Rolling Stone Magazine