What David Brooks Isn't
Troy Senik, Ed. ·
August 28, 2012 at 8:40pm
My favorite tweet of the day, in reaction to the David Brooks column Mollie writes about below, was this one from Ace of Spades HQ: "David Brooks just proved there's only one Dave Barry."
Also busy on that front: the great Dave Barry himself, who is currently taking one of his occasional forays back into column writing, dispatching pieces from the GOP convention in Tampa (all of which can be found here). A few of my favorite bon mots from his first two filings:
- On holding the convention in Florida: "Does anybody remember 2000? That was the year when the presidential election was decided by Florida residents who were deeply confused about which holes to punch in a ballot. This is not surprising: Florida residents are also deeply confused about what lane they’re driving in, or what, specifically, they’re supposed to do when the traffic light changes color."
- "Until the weekend, Vice President Joe “Joe” Biden had also been planning to come; apparently he was unaware that this is the Republican convention. He changed his mind after a meeting with his top aides that may or may not have involved tranquilizer darts."
- "The goal will be to demonstrate to the nationwide convention-viewing TV audience — an estimated eight people — that Mitt is a regular non-android human just like you who feels pain the same way any normal person does when one of his helicopters needs repair."
- "Potential Hurricane Isaac ravaged the Tampa Bay area Monday, slamming the coast with winds that sometimes approached the speed of a fully loaded forklift and leaving a trail of devastation in the form of water that occasionally fell from the sky and got things wet."
- "In my opinion, one of the greatest things — if not THE greatest thing — about the American political process is that every four years it gives me the unadulterated joy of watching Republican convention delegates attempt to dance."
When you get him back, you're reminded of just how much we lost. In the space of a decade, both Calvin and Hobbes and Dave Barry said goodbye. Is it any surprise that no one wants to open a newspaper anymore?
- Comment (9)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (1)
Comments:
Jul '12
Re: What David Brooks Isn't
It's a shame that all you see of Calvin and Hobbes anymore is a decal of Calvin urinating on one logo or another. These can usually be seen in the back window of a confirmed moron.
Edited on August 28, 2012 at 8:59pmJul '11
Re: What David Brooks Isn't
Hei! I said that on Ricochet this morning! Someone's stealing my material!
What do I win?
Edited on August 28, 2012 at 9:42pmJan '11
Re: What David Brooks Isn't
I've always liked Dave Barry. Since his retirement, I don't really know too many writers -OK, any- who can make me laugh intentionally.
I know plenty of writers who unintentionally make me laugh.
Jun '10
Re: What David Brooks Isn't
Dave Barry is one of the few writers that has me consistently laugh out loud so much I can't continue reading until I catch my breath. Dragon voice recognition software uses one of his texts as subject matter to "train" the software on your voice. It is ironic because it is hard to read without laughing, which fouls up your voice.
Republican's should not dance. Seriously. Unless it is ballroom. Alcohol and Republicans and dance floors are not good mixes. Substitute couches and football games every time.
Re: What David Brooks Isn't
I don't count politicians and intellectual heavyweights as friends the way Peter Robinson does--well, I am friends with Peter, so that's one--and I don't hang out with Hollywood celebrities the way Rob Long does. But I did get to meet Dave Barry once. I was attending a venture capital event where Dave was speaking and by cosmic coincidence the two of us were the only attendees to turn up early--I guess everybody else was working or something. So I got to be possibly only the ten millionth person to tell Dave in person how amazingly funny he is; how each year I could be counted on to have milk come out my nose, attempting my corn flakes while simultaneously reading Barry's annual Year In Review in The Miami Herald's Tropic magazine section. He is one funny writer.
Edited on August 28, 2012 at 10:54pmJun '12
Re: What David Brooks Isn't
I think it was Dave Barry's Complete Guide to Guys that once related story about a bunch of office workers talking about the NFL draft. First they debated the picks, then they argued how fast they could run the 40. Which of course resulted in them all going out to the local park, placing bets...and pulling their hamstrings. I read this passage aloud to my father once and he nearly drove off the road laughing. Great father son moment. And I still miss Spaceman Spiff.
Jul '12
Re: What David Brooks Isn't
In David Brook's defense, a similar piece in 2008 on candidate O had the advantage being actually funny. Coffee spewingly funny if I recall correctly, which I may possibly not, the aging process being what it is. Anyone tempted to comment on topics lending themselves to humor would be advised to remember the premise of the OP.
Thanks for the bits of Dave. They more than make up for having read the David piece.
Dec '11
Re: What David Brooks Isn't
The serious thing of life is that when it is related in an artful way we cannot help but laugh. Great comedians are truth tellers that hit us where it counts in the funny bone. :-)
Jul '12
Re: What David Brooks Isn't
Not to sound sycophantic (unless you really want me to), but Ricochet's own James Lileks is every bit as good as Barry.