With America going to the polls on 7th November, anyone tempted Jonny Freedland-style to laud their dynamic political culture will have to squeeze past this gem from NBC’s Today Show. It features Republican National Committee boss Ken Mehlman and Terry McAuliffe, former head of the Democratic National Committee. Stuck in the middle, Today anchor Meredith Vieira:

DEMOCRAT: …They can’t blame the Democrats. They’ve controlled the spending for the last six years. Record deficit. Spending up 8 percent.
REPUBLICAN: The deficit – the deficit…
DEMOCRAT: Under Bill Clinton it was up 3.2 percent.
REPUBLICAN: The deficit declined by 40 percent this past year!
ANCHOR: You know what, guys, we gotta stop here. We could – guys – we could talk forever. We’ve only got two and a half weeks…
REPUBLICAN: The deficit’s 40 percent lower this past year than it was before …
ANCHOR: …till the election. Guys. Hello?
DEMOCRAT: New direction for America. You know, culture of corruption…
ANCHOR: Talk amongst yourselves. We’ve run out of time. We have two and a half weeks…
DEMOCRAT: All right, Meredith. Good to be with you. Right.
ANCHOR: …till the elections…
REPUBLICAN: We’ll continue – we’ll continue this in the green room.
DEMOCRAT: Vote Democrat!
ANCHOR: …But you know what? That’s a lifetime in politics. Thanks. Ken Mehlman, Terry McAuliffe.
MEHLMAN: We’ll continue this in the green room.

Inspiring stuff for political show producers everywhere.[CJR]