DON'T MESS WITH CALVIN

Following Kid Podhoretz's argument that Bush is very smart but doesn't like to show off, Mr. Trillin points out that one place Mr. Bush's modestly really shone was college. Reading this made me think of that golden moment in the Hudsucker Proxy:

MUSSBURGER: All we need now is a new president who will inspire real panic in our stockholders. [Seen the dollar lately?]

ENTHUSIASTIC EXECUTIVE: Yeah, a puppet!

ANOTHER EXECUTIVE: A proxy!

YET ANOTHER EXECUTIVE: A pawn!

MUSSBURGER: Sure, sure. Some jerk we can really push around.


[Trillin also had a great term for the neo-cons: "Chicken-Hawks." And, for no reason, I am reminded of a classic Fawlty Towers exchange]

Mrs. Fawlty: "You know what I'll do to you, Basil, if I find out you won that money betting on horses."

Basil: "You'll have to sew 'em back on again, first." -PWP]