It’s not like I would wish harm to befall him, and thus open up his staff writing position at The Nation. But Calvin Trillin, well, comments on things, in verse, and makes a living at it.
You can see where I might have mixed feelings toward the man.
He was on the Daily Show last night (video down below), with Jon Stewart singing the praises of his new book, Dogfight: The 2012 Presidential Campaign In Verse. The presidential campaign in verse? What am I, chopped liver?
You want political doggerel? You’ve come to the right place! Being paid to write it for a magazine can’t hold a candle to obsessively writing it to get it out of your skull. You want Mitt? We’ve got Mitt. A meaningful percentage of Mitt. You want Newt? We got Newt. Plenty. Perry? Lots. And lots. Bachmann? Santorum? Yes, Santorum. Value Voters Summit? The Republican Primary Race? Tons. Seriously. The Convention? And a few commentaries on the voters themselves.
Akin? Beer? The debates? More debates? Horses and bayonets? The debate over whether polling works?
It’s enough to drive one mad. But despite it all, encouragement.
Ah, the video. Trillin has a poem title that alone is worth the price of the book. He mentions it at about the 6 minute mark.
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart | Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
Calvin Trillin | ||||
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Now… Retire, Mr. Trillin. Call me, Nation.
The sad thing is… this isn’t even my whole collection of appropriate verses. Just a sampling.