The Mirror

The Mirror Questionnaire with lefty radio host Bill Press

Betsy Rothstein Gossip blogger
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Today we have lefty radio host Bill Press with a special holiday edition of The Mirror Questionnaire. Obviously feeling the Christmas spirit, he finished the thing en route to San Francisco on his iPad and bravely answered all the questions, including a new, um, hairy one.

Some things you may not know about him: He chaired the California Democratic Party from 1993 to 1996. He earned a B.A. in theology from the University of Fribourg in Switzerland. He was raised Catholic and was an alter boy. He has worked for CNN and MSNBC. He co-hosted CNN’s The Spin Room opposite Tucker Carlson. He bristled at the age question, but clearly came through with flying colors on the ‘who is full of shit’ question with something he’d like to say to Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly. We’ll let him explain why. By the way, just a warning, the question he came up with for the next interviewee is living on indefinitely.

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Bona Fides 

Hometown: Delaware City, Delaware

Age: None of your goddamned business

Named for: Grandfather and father; I’m a III.

First job ever: Pumping gas in my father’s gas station

Current employment: Pumping gas on radio and television

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If someone wants to get on your good side, what candy or liquor should they ply you with: See’s Candy and Bombay Sapphire Gin

Most exotic place you’ve ever visited: Wilbur Hot Springs, California

Who is your celebrity crush? Kirsten Gillibrand

A thought that makes you want to cry: President Ted Cruz

Weirdest habit you’ve observed in a newsroom setting: At KABC-TV, Los Angeles: Veteran anchor Jerry Dunphy checking the show rundown every evening to make sure he was reading more stories than his female co-anchor.

If you had to have a U.S. Senator or Congressman as your father, who would it be: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). He hired me as an intern.

Since this is the Mirror Questionnaire, what would you change about yourself physically if you could? I’d try to be less handsome. It’s a problem.

And your personality: I’d try to be more humble about being so handsome.

Preferred beach: Drake’s Beach, Marin County, California

Guilty pleasure TV show: “Married With Children.” Best show on TV ever.

On a scale of 1-10, how self-obsessed are you? Puh-leeze. I work on radio and TV. Ten.

Workout regimen: Washington Sports Club, 4-5 days a week.

Flabby thighs, cankles, or love handles: Only my trainer knows.

A thought that brings you great joy: President Ted Cruz. Yeah, it’d be a disaster for the country, but make for GREAT talk radio.

A regret (of any kind): Never having met Charles Bukowski.

Any brushes with death? If so, please describe. Ventricular Tachycardia. Look it up. Not fun. (Editor’s note: We looked it up so you don’t have to. It’s a rapid heart beat that can cause sudden death.)

Just a preference Q: Bo or Sunny? Bo. He likes me. Sunny doesn’t give a shit.

Most annoying thing your editor does: Change one word of my copy. How dare she?

Rank how hairy your butt is on a scale of 1-10: Not. I hate hairy butts.

You will take a stroll in park with WaPo’s Jonathan Capehart, blogger Andrew Sullivan or NewCo’s Glenn Greenwald. Who will it be and why? Hands down. Glenn Greenwald. I wanna know about all the stuff Edward Snowden decided NOT to release.

When was the last time you were, if ever, naked outside? The time I streaked downtown Point Reyes with a member of Congress.

Is Santa white or black? Santa is definitely black. White men are too cheap.

From The Sunday Times‘ Toby Harnden: If you could tell one person to their face that they’re full of shit, with no consequences, who would it be? Bill O’Reilly, because he is full of shit.

From Al Jazeera America’s David Shuster: If you had to watch or read a news report in a language you didn’t understand what would it be and why? Mandarin Chinese, because soon we’ll all be speaking it, anyway.

Please come up with a question for the next lucky victim. Where’s the one place in Washington you’d love to have sex, but can’t?