Michael Kinsley
This review of a collection of Michael Kinsley’s essays is entertaining in itself. Kinsley himself is great fun to hear or read — the reviewer shrewdly labels Kinsley as “mischievous”. I don’t always agree with him, but he is no ideologue; Kinsley seems to have a saving sense of context.
I was sorry to read that Kinsley has Parkinson’s disease. I hadn’t known that. The reviewer points out Kinsley’s wonderful combination of insight and humor:
Could anyone top this distillation of Tim Russert’s interview style and its simultaneous display of the contempt, deference and bonhomie that Kinsley insists are essential postures of the Anchorhood when confronting those in power: With all due respect, Senator, you’re a lying bastard. Bowling next Tuesday?
Isn’t that great? The timelessness of skewering hypocrisy and “phoniness” makes Kinsley’s collection of Slate essays — what would normally be bottom of the birdcage fare a day after — into a more lasting contribution.
