The nitty gritty: Can He Get Any Dumber Than This?

"You can't be the President and the head of the military at the same time." -- George Bush, November 7, 2007.

Only 464 days left.

What Is a Curmudgeon?

A curmudgeon's reputation for malevolence is undeserved. They're neither warped nor evil at heart. They don't hate mankind, just mankind's absurdities. They're just as sensitive and soft-hearted as the next guy, but they hide their vulnerability beneath a crust of misanthropy. They ease the pain by turning hurt into humor. ...They attack maudlinism because it devalues genuine sentiment. ...Nature, having failed to equip them with a servicable denial mechanism, has endowed them with astute perception and sly wit.
Curmudgeons are mockers and debunkers whose bitterness is a symptom rather than a disease. They can't compromise their standards and can't manage the suspension of disbelief necessary for feigned cheerfulness. Their awareness is a curse.
Perhaps curmudgeons have gotten a bad rap in the same way that the messenger is blamed for the message: They have the temerity to comment on the human condition without apology. They not only refuse to applaud mediocrity, they howl it down with morose glee. Their versions of the truth unsettle us, and we hold it against them, even though they soften it with humor. -- JON WINOKUR

The nitty gritty

Thursday, November 08, 2007

Can He Get Any Dumber Than This?

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