Rachel Maddow On Leno: Politics, Palin, And Pat Buchanan

Rachel Maddow appeared on "The Tonight Show" Thursday night, where she discussed politics, personal stories, and Pat Buchanan with Jay Leno.

Leno introduced Maddow as the host that "doubled the ratings" of MSNBC's 9PM hour, and also made sure to mention Maddow's stint as a Rhodes Scholar (which Maddow simply referred to as "I went to grad school in England").

Maddow described Barack Obama as "presidential" and said McCain "looks like the guy who doesn't want Barack Obama to be president." She also said that she finds Sarah Palin "entertaining," and that she once felt like Pat Buchanan's culture wars were directed at her, but now she enjoys debating with him.

Leno and Maddow also discussed the ways the political framework have changed.

"Liberal and conservative don't map all that easily onto our politics anymore," she said.

Watch:

Comments

[GenieG]

The Glasses are an attempt to look almost as smart as Palin.

Ha Just kidding
Rachel is most likely looking to get the contact lens out .

[SenorBob]

HuffPo, please STOP USING HULU. People outside the US (like me) can't watch their videos.

[Tanyars5]

I cannot comment on what I just saw on RM show....that man was wrong.........what the hey...that man attacked her out of no where....she did very well.............i would have jumped through the screen and choked him....hahahahahahaha...i cannot believe what i just saw

[Tanyars5]

what the hell was that...who was that man........

[jinjinpinti]

Just watched Rachel defend her show against a pompous, former, Bush speechwriter tonight. Wow, he tried to ambush her with a load of accusations of bias and negativity. She gave it right back, and there was "no sweat on her upper lip, mister!" Go Rache!

[Dewtrell]

So weird... I've never seen her so butch before. However, I love her but I've never seen her in just her regular get-up and not tv gear. Looks like any normal hipster we have here in L.A.

[Vr6]

What a great mind, she's good - so what, that she eats what she does! She's still a human and with a lot of good things to say - a voice of reason, people should listen.

[Swerinjer]

She's playing up that androgynous thing with the glasses.

[OKC Mateo]

Loves it!

[MarieNat]

Love her!!!

[trendier]

Oh my lord! I think Rachael is very smart but does she have to prove that she's a nerdy chick by wearing such horrible glasses.

[ShelaghC]

I think Rachel takes great pride in her nerdiness. *g*

After all, she does make fun of the stuff she wears on her MSNBC show.

[Mabo]

She looks like Austin Powers in the picture...lol.

[strangebee]

I love those glasses.... and her Non-Trendiness.

[Kaccey]

Rachael and her brains are very hot.

[Diplomacy]

Who cares what Rachel wears? It's the intellect that shines through brightly!

Why? When it's a woman, does everyone feel compelled to comment on their clothes? Seems 'SEXIST' to me.

Do we comment men's clothing?

GO, Rachel!!! We love you!

[MarieNat]

We don't often comment on men's clothing because they're mostly boring. Having said that, I have heard a fair amount about ties, and about whether they're wearing a suit jacket or not. And there was that period where we were obsessed with John Edwards' hair, and Mitt Romney's too if I'm not mistaken. So, I don't think we oughta be so quick to cry SEXISM.

[bluesmyfavcolor]

I love her! She is so smart, she is so literate. She is so fair. It is awesome to have someone to listen to who makes sense and can reason out a topic. WOW...and she's a GIRL...gotta love it!!!

[MANK]

Looks old enought to be a woman to me.

[teacheng]

She's the best. A great new voice in American political coverage.