With regard to Bill O'Reilly, Carlson says the criticism that he merely panders to the reactionary views of his audience is "shallow" but he also says that O'Reilly has a "schtick" and that's playing the Everyman. He says that all it will take is one time for O'Reilly to do something that conflicts with that image, to put him on the "whatever happened to?" list.

On Jerry Falwell: "I'd gone to the interview assuming Falwell would live up to his reputation as an uncompromising right-wing ideologue. Instead, he was just another publicity hound. And he wasn't even amusing."

Al Sharpton: He's often compared to Jesse Jackson, but Carlson says "Sharpton is smarter, funnier and much less self-righteous."

Barney Frank: "He defies all probability by being an even more unpleasant in person than he is on television." Carlson related a story how Frank berated a producer on Crossfire because she wanted to fix his blazer that had become bunched up. He didn't care what he looked like. Carlson said he spent the break tormenting Frank about wearing makeup and wondering why he did if he didn't care what he looked like.

James Traficant: "There's no politician I miss more. Traficant was a terrific guest not simply because he was compusively outrageous and wore a hairpiece that looked like a racoon, but because he was willing to appear on television drunk."

Bill Bradley: "Travelling with Bradley was like slow death. The made no effort to disguise his contempt for the press or for the political process. His speeches were so dull they constituted a form of aggression aimed at the audience: You are my captives. I can do to you what I will."

British Press: "I've rarely met one (British reporter) who didn't drink like a Soviet factory worker."

Carlson also tells us about certain likes and dislikes. He cannot stand party hacks and tells us of a time when he was able to sit in on a conference with a bunch of talking heads for Bill Clinton during the Lewinsky scandal and couldn't understand how a group of intelligent people could allow themselves to be given certain talking points and just go out and repeat them like robots. He has a different view of ideologues. No matter how outrageous their views may be, to Carlson, they're honest and that's what matters.

He accuses Dan Rather of lying when he said "I hate this story because I love my country" with regard to the Lewinsky scandal. Frank Sesno on the other hand, said, "I love this fucking story" with Carlson saying a real newsman loves news and is honest enough to admit it.

Carlson also bemoans the fact that people in Congress these days have such good manners and lacks color. He enjoys the colorful ones, no matter how outrageous they are. He tells us of Don Young, Congressman from Alaska and how he gave a speech before some students at a high school. The issue was federally funded art, and Young said it included "photographs of people doing offensive things." When asked what things, Young responded, "Butt-fucking. You think that's art?"