The account of the White House Correspondent's Dinner in this week's Observer is so chockablock with the evidence that there is nothing redeemable in our society that we can offer no comment. Except to say that the only thing that can make us feel any sympathy for Ari Fleischer is the thought that he probably has to deal with Ann Coulter on a regular basis.
The highlight:
Posted by BT at May 08, 2002 06:12 PMMs. Sevigny said her favorite moment of the night was when Mr. Bush addressed Mr. Osbourne at the dinner. "He's made a lot of big hit recordings: 'Party with the Animals,' 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath,' 'Face in Hell,' 'Last Skies' and 'Bloodbath in Paradise,'" Mr. Bush said. "Ozzy, Mom loves your stuff." The line brought Mr. Osbourne out of his seat-as well as many in the audience, who threw the MTV star devil-horn gestures.
"I loved hearing the President rattle off the titles of Black Sabbath songs," Ms. Sevigny said. "That was the most subversive moment of the evening."
Baffling incongruity, or disturbing demographic trend? Bush is 55... and 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath' was released 29 years ago - when he was twenty six.
Just think, in twenty-five years we'll have a President bamboozling us by quoting Marilyn Manson.
(And being Australian wouldn't save you. Our last PM appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone.)
Posted by: Rory on May 8, 2002 07:29 PMWhat gets me, I think, is the chain of events leading to this part of the story. Follow:
1. "Reality" programming becomes the biggest thing on television.
2. Super-doofus elected president
2. Washed-up heavy metal artist has phenomenal success with reality show which exceeds the success had with former career; show's hook is the sad irony of watching him as a shlumpy dad.
3. Artist invited to Presidential function
4. Superdoofus President is more excited about washed-up heavy metal artist than he apparently is about anything that doesn't involve terrorism
5. Queen of hipper-than-anybody starlet class sees President's excitement, and is charmed.
So many paradigms are rearranging themselves with such blinding speed in this scenario that I cannot begin to parse its final destination. But I think it means the world really is coming to an end.
But besides that, Christ, the idea of actual real events in the world contributing to Ann Coulter's sense of entitlement makes me want to take a nice long bath and drop in a guitar amp.
Posted by: BT on May 8, 2002 11:00 PM