As it turned out, the CNN “program” on negative political ads (see below) was merely a segment on Crossfire. Too bad. While I was skeptical that CNN would offer a critical/intellectual look at campaign advertising, it’s for sure Crossfire cannot do so. And that’s exactly what happened. Its treatment of political advertising met the show’s “high” standards, which began with Robert Novak’s over-dramatic introduction of “smash-mouth politics.” The ads were merely show pieces to introduce the usual poltroonish bickering that Crossfire passes off as debate.