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Deciding the Next Decider: The 2008 Presidential Race in Rhyme Manufacturer: Random House List price: $14.00 49 new, used & collectible available from $5.99. |
| Displaying the form that made bestsellers of Obliviously On He Sails and A Heckuva Job, tales of the Bush Administration in rhyme, Calvin Trillin trains his verse on the 2008 race for the presidency. Deciding the Next Decider is an ongoing campaign narrative in verse interrupted regularly by other poems, such as a country tune about John Edwards called “Yes, I Know He’s a Mill Worker’s Son, But There’s Hollywood in That Hair” and a Sarah Palin song about her foreign policy credentials: “On a Clear Day, I See Vladivostok.” It covers Mitt Romney’s transformation (“Mitt Romney’s saying now he should have known / A stem cell’s just a human, not quite grown”), the speculation about whether Al Gore was trimming down to run (“Presumably, they looked for photo ops / To see what Gore was stuffing in his chops”), the slow-motion implosion of Hillary Clinton’s drive to the White House (“Some pundits wrote that Hil’s campaign might fare / A little better if Bill wasn’t there”), and the differing responses of Barack Obama and John McCain to the financial crisis (“Though coolness has its limitations, it’ll / Prevent comparisons with Chicken Little”). Beginning at the 2006 midterms, Deciding the Next Decider resurrects the nonstarters like George Allen (“He fit what’s often valued by the Right: / Quite cheerful, Reaganesque, and not too bright”) and the low-energy Fred Thompson (“The pros said, ‘That’s a state he has to take, / And he just might, if he can stay awake’ ”). And it carries through to the vote that made Barack Obama the forty-fourth president of the United States. |
Deciding the Next Decider: The 2008 Presidential Race in Rhyme
Customer Reviews / Deciding the Next Decider: The 2008 Presidential Race in Rhyme
| Calvin Trillin is a political humorist. This is a "typical" Trillin book, if you like his style. We do so enjoyed it immensely!! |
| Calvin Trillin's reputation as a satirist and poet is well deserved. "Deciding the Next Decider" is not only accurate but poingnant and very funny. The book is an easy read, and even easier to read to friends who shy away from poetry. More please..... |
| One look at this book, and you can see its demographic limit. But if I'm honest, I can see that I am squarely in it. As a child, I had Edward Lear verses read to me by my mama. As an adult, I was thrilled no end to vote for Barack Obama. If election 08 and Shel Silverstein are things that you've found thrillin', Then surely you'll love this book with both by author Calvin Trillin. |
| This is an enjoyable, quirky work. It features verse about the presidential election, culminating in victory for Barack Obama. The inside dust cover explains: "'Deciding the Next Decider' is an ongoing campaign narrative in verse interrupted regularly by other poems, such as a country tune about John Edwards called 'Yes, I Know He's a Mill Worker's Son, but There's Hollywood in That Hair' and a Sarah Palin song about her foreign policy credentials, 'On a Clear Day, I Can See Vladivostok.'" This is actually an enjoyable read. Trillin is not Shelley or Keats. But he is fun in this volume. In a work like this, I prefer seeing the author skewer candidates of both parties alike. I like that humor can be bi-partisan! The work begins at the beginning--2006. The opening lines (Page 3): "Whatever problems Washington is facing, Campaigning is what gets its blood a-racing. Before the '06 midterm was in, The top consultants began to spin Scenarios about that vote and why It showed '08 was natural for their guy." Section 2 focuses on Republican Also-Rans, such as George Allen, George Pataki, and Bill Frist. Democratic Also-Rans? "Mark Warner had panache. He had the looks. He also had the cash. . . . And Warner sought a Senate seat instead." Or, "Vilsack joined the race for just a minute. He quit before folks knew he was in it." Don't forget Ron Paul! On Page 24, he gets his due, too: "Just leave us be. Your regs are agony. This is our plea: Just leave us be." Simply put, the libertarian creed Paul advocated. And so on, with verse about John McCain, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and others. This book is enjoyable. It is good natured and takes shots across the board. Next to last example (Page 57): "Hillary, dillary dock. Hil ran into Barack. So Bill got shrill Defending Hil. Hillary, dillary dock." Sarah Palin? "They dressed her all up. They could put her in Prada, But what she can say that's of substance is nada." Anyhow, if you want a humorous take at the campaign and its characters, this is a good read. |
| Of Trillin's tomes, this is his third Ré "presidente" most absurd. A retrospective here, as we Say adios to forty-three. So many names in Calvin's book Worth noting with one final look. Romney, Richardson and Paul... So many candidates in all. There's poor McCain whose change of mind On issues left him far behind. And as for pickin' Sarah Palin, He then became Obama-trailin'. Remember that poor loser Rudy? (His dimples deep as Howdy Doody) And there's the nation's chief abrader Ralph, who saw his Nader's nadir. But in the end, just one campaign Can break out bottles of champagne. Obama won, and if you will, Outlasted Clintons, Hill and Bill. Barack and Hill...can he abide her And still become the chief decider? You betcha!!! As for "Dub-ba-yah", His Elba might be Iowa. |
Deciding the Next Decider: The 2008 Presidential Race in Rhyme
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