The backstory: apparently Michael Ian Black, high on junk food and Ambien, talked to Meghan McCain on Twitter and suggested they write a book together. She agreed.

The premise: they travel cross-country (occasionally by plane, mostly in an RV) and discuss politics with each other and various people they meet.

The theory: although politics have become increasingly polarized, we are more alike than we are different and if we'd shut up for two seconds, we'd realize that.

I was excited to read this because that's my theory too. Odds are, if you've read my blog more than once or twice, you know that I am a huge liberal (pro-choice, pro-stricter gun control laws, pro-union and, most obviously, pro-gay rights). But---and yes, I groan as I type this---some of my favorite people are Republicans. And many of them are even "conservative," not just Republican. And I actually really enjoy talking politics with people, because the fastest way to un-demonize (and while I know that's not a word, it should be, damn it!) is to actually talk to them and hear their point of view.

I got this book signed at BEA, which means that I met Meghan McCain*, who was very nice. I'm not going to lie; there are a lot of times reading her segments where I rolled my eyes, but there were just as many (if not more) that I enjoyed. And if nothing else, she loves the scary movies, so we could certainly talk about that. (But seriously, saying that the Republican party is the party of the little guy? No, sweetie. Just...no.) Still, she thinks I should be able to get married, so I have to love her for that.

And also, there are a lot of times Michael Ian Black made me roll my eyes, too. (Still, though, I wish I had been in that RV, even though it traveled through the south without air conditioning.)

This book probably won't change anyone's mind about anything, but it's just good to see two politically-minded people on opposite ends of the spectrum chat about politics without trying to kill each other.

* = and her brother, Jimmy, who shook my hand and nearly broke it. I told that to my mom and she said that my grandmother would have said that it was a sign of character. Based on what I've read in America..., there are a lot more signs of character and signs that I would enjoy drinking with Meghan and Jimmy. So, margaritas if you're ever in Baltimore?