...from reading his stuff and seeing him on TV, Taibbi just doesn't seem that bright. He's pretty full of himself, but he just doesn't have the intellectual chops to back up that high self-image.

He's not comparing Christians to the 9/11 Truth people. He's comparing certain Christians with an extremist and insular worldview with the 9/11 Truth people.

As a Christian, I don't mind at all stories like this, because it's not an indictment of the church in general, it's an indictment of certain people who, as Taibbi points out, aren't behaving in a particularly Christian way anymore. They aren't worshipping there, they're pontificating there.

But Matt, just in case you ever give a glance this direction: The non-whacko churches can have some pretty nice musical numbers, too. Liking that part doesn't have to mean you're an extremist. Maybe you just like singing along with a bunch of other people, and there's nothing wrong with that. (It's always been my favorite part of church, anyway.)

Taibbi asserts, of going undercover to mingle amongst evangelicals, "On some level, it's kind of a villainous endeavor. But I tried to be aware of that the entire time and not be condescending in the way I treated these particular people."

If the book exceprt that appeared as an article in a recent RS is any guide, he must not have tried very hard, or maybe he did and is so condescending by nature that it didn't work out. The article was one of the most mean-spirited, ordinary-folks-bashing I've read in a mainstream magazine.

the man said that he would destroy half of his own country if it meant israel would be destroyed at the same time.

liberals always like to say that one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter and that those we call terrorists have families and children and love them, etc. same goes for us bitter evil right wing white people. we have our viewpoint and we will stick to it same as they stick to theirs. if it's okay for them (and liberals think it is okay for muslims to want to kill jews and christians) it's okay for us. put that in your peace pipe and smoke it.

We are so bound, in this country, by the narrow view that the corporate behemoth wants us to see that when a bad-boy, muckraking, indie spirit like Matt Taibbi appears on the scene I pretty much buy what he's selling. And I do enjoy angry, over-the-top, irreverant writing...

That being said, there is a way to succeed at being a bad-boy and NOT condescending blatantly. You risk losing your argument if you cross that line. It's a dance that can be done.

I will give him a pass for now.

Since I first read his painfully forced, awfully predictable, and embarrassingly derivative prose, I've wanted to sock Matt Taibbi in the goddamn nose. Heck, this half-baked Thompson-wannabe is only worth reading so as to learn how NOT to report, to write, to think and asses. Now more than ever, my sentiments stand.

Mr. Taibbi, you are a disrespectful louse, a shell of a journalist -- a piss-poor American, to boot. I didn't think it was possible, but you actually manage to diminish Rolling Stone on a regular basis. That rag! What a feat, son!

Now imagine if you didn't have daddy to hook you up after the Bard sulk session.

What a joke. What a goddamn joke. Ah, nepotism.

I've personally made it a rule not to trust anyone who can't even say "motherfucker" w/out giggling it like a 7th grader trying it out for the first time so he can come off like one of the big kids. There's just something so smug and self-congratulatory about the guy that it's hard to pay attention to his words. His appearances on Bill Maher actually made me discount his. Probably unfair but still true.

I agree with Peter and Pixap. Every time I see Taibbi on Maher or wherever, I can't get over how self-satisfied the guy is. And I completely get what you are saying about his use of profanity - it seems so manufactured, as though he's only using it to seem hip and dernier cri. His act is wearing thin.

And people get out their small knives hoping for a 1000 cuts. IF you want to pick out an idea he SUGGESTS, out of context so as to hone your self-righteous go at....seems like a waste

He might or prolly is what you say he is. I read some of your posts and you do have some chops.

The "interview" here was the first time I have run across him., so I am enjoying thinking about what he said in context. Might we chat via email since there is no discussion here? sigmund5@hotmail.com

Like this is a thunderdont from Zeus? Fundamentalist evangelicals are, well they're fundamentalist evangelicals. The concept that it's a self contained utterly self proving belief system is

SORT OF CAPTURED IN THE GODDAMN NAME YOU GIVE IT.

Funny how that works, in't it?

in Russia. The man has guts, an eye for detail and the ability to see the humanity in people.

A pity his "Expat" experience (The expat is an alternative English language newspaper in Russia) taught him so much of the obnoxious crap and posturing "edginess" found there.

What you said!

...must have some fast times.

that if you dont agree with Matt then it must be Matt with the problem. Frankly I have been saying to people for a while now that this country is an 'idiocracy'. More are content to watch whats on the shiny metal object channel and consume their pre-digested pablum of what passes for news and information while the country tanks. People are so convinced that their way is the only way and if you dare to think (see thats the real issue...if you DARE TO THINK) differently then you're some kind of whack job and yes that applies to both sides of the spectrum of crazy thought. I swear some of the extremist thinkers I have had the displeasure of reading, listening to or talking to are so far to the whatever side they are on that they damned near touch the other side. I think that was Matts point. They cut themselves off to the possibilities for real answers in their childlike stubbornness to protect their misguided obsessions. Ive finally decided that when these issue freight trains are heading my way I just shrug my shoulders and move on. Ive got better things to do than contend with these garbage people. I must say though, Mr Taibbi...calling these folks retarded is just shameful of you. Its an horrible insult to the truly retarded.