Frank Rich Bums Us Out, But Does it Eloquently

Imus was relieved that Frank Rich did not kill Fox News in his New York Times op-ed column last Sunday, as he is wont to do. What’s more, Rich even gave some credit to a Republican this morning, calling New Jersey Governor Chris Christie “quite likable.”

“You never know about any politician, and we’ve been fooled, god knows, in the past by politicians of all shapes and stripes,” said Rich, making an obvious jab at Christie’s girth.

He commended Christie for not appearing to be “demagogic,” “He’s self-deprecating, he has a sense of humor, and he likes Springsteen,” Rich added, as if the fact that Christie has been hundreds of Bruce Springsteen concerts is somehow a boon to his character, which it is not.

Rich then told Imus that he thinks now is as bad a time in this country as he can recall ever seeing, both at home and abroad.

“The same disputes that have defined much of the past…just roll on, becoming more and more bitter, with no one being able to solve them,” he said, citing the Israel-Palestine clash as an example. “At home though, the economy is it. I think, in the end, it dwarfs everything else.”

That unemployment remains near 10 percent “is a cloud over everyone,” in Rich’s view, sapping people’s hope, whether they have a job or not.  He also believes that perpetual economic inequality and the stagnancy of the middle class put a ceiling on the likelihood of improving things for the next generation.

Despite his dour tone, Rich wasn’t totally pessimistic. “There’s so many creative people in this country, including in areas like business and innovation,” he said, but noted that it can be difficult for people to flourish when they feel the game is stacked against them.

Rich hadn’t read the recent Vanity Fair profile of Sarah Palin, but observed that most people, even if they share her beliefs, probably wouldn’t vote for her for President. “They just don’t think, let’s face it, she has what it takes to run this government,” he said. 

Her only purpose now, as he sees it, is to drive traffic; whether she appears on television or in print, Palin garners attention. “She is pure show biz gold,” Rich added, though he remains skeptical about who she “really” is.  “Everything we read about her probably should be taken with a grain of salt at this point.”

Like many, Rich was unimpressed by President Obama’s speech from the Oval Office last week announcing the “end” of the war in Iraq, calling Obama “inadequate to the moment” because of his low-key, smaller-than-life presentation.

“I was looking for a Reagan moment, or a Kennedy moment, or a Roosevelt moment,” said Rich. “He didn’t deliver.”

And even though Rich delivered this morning, Imus had some parting advice for his guest, who is about to embark on a vacation: “I hope you come to your senses.” 

Likewise.

-Julie Kanfer