2008
What Not to Say…
…when you’re interviewing a former member of the Bush cabinet.
Apparently it violates all standards of decency to use the word “clusterfuck” when you’re interviewing Christine Todd Whitman, who is also the former governor of New Jersey, a state where the “f” word is rarely bandied about. She looked shocked, my foul-mouthed HBO crew looked shocked. So I rephrased the question…
“How big a fuckstercluck is the Palin thing?” (This was asked before Palin’s speech.) I believe the governor, once she recovered her bearings, said, “I’ve seen worse.”
Comments (22)
Your HBO crew?
Posted by Do explain. | September 4, 2008 8:48 AMAnd you guys wonder why traditional news agencies don't take you seriously.
Posted by EmilyP | September 4, 2008 8:51 AMOmar Little would never use words like that
Posted by Yardlie | September 4, 2008 9:10 AM@1
He's shooting some material for Bill Maher.
Posted by Sir Learnsalot | September 4, 2008 9:11 AMAwww. Clusterfuck is one of my favorite words. And perfectly descriptive of the Palin fiasco.
Posted by SDA in SEA | September 4, 2008 9:14 AMYou were too hip for the room... boomers understand "love-in". "Clusterfuck" is too slang... er "urban" slang for the average R
Posted by The Peanut Gallery | September 4, 2008 9:14 AMdan, will you be on this friday? as in tomorrow?
Posted by max solomon | September 4, 2008 9:14 AMShe looks like a witch. Burn her alive.
Posted by Mr. Poe | September 4, 2008 9:24 AMDan - when is HBO going to air your adventures at the RNC?
Posted by seandr | September 4, 2008 9:30 AMClusterfuck = scientific term for when animals gather in large groups and spew their seed indiscriminately, hoping it will find any receptive orifice. Normally seen in some amphibians and reptiles. I.e. perfectly appropriate term for the situation.
Posted by Angry Leftist | September 4, 2008 9:33 AMIf your HBO crew had an HBO logo on anything, she shouldn't have been surprised. Hasn't she seen Deadwood?
Posted by julie | September 4, 2008 9:38 AMCongratulations Dan, you've officially become the new Tom Green.
Posted by Your mother would have been so proud | September 4, 2008 10:00 AM@12, I love tom green's political humor, very insightful comment. I think clusterfuck is the only way to describe the disaster of the last 8 years. I can't wait for Friday night.
Posted by joe's cousin jerry | September 4, 2008 10:17 AM12 - Uncalled for.
Posted by Jen | September 4, 2008 11:04 AM"Fuckstercluck" is supposed to be better than "clusterfuck?"
I had a college level reading ability in grade school (not any great achievement considering how fucking dumb most college students actually are), I got perfect scores in English and reading comprehension on the ACT, I've logged time as a copy editor and I have a copy of Strunk and White right here on my desk. And I curse like a sailor with Tourette's. I know I'm in my own little world, but I'm still genuinely shocked when people are actually offended by curse words. How could you not love the poetry and expressiveness of foul language?
Posted by Hoyt Clagwell | September 4, 2008 11:28 AMI am a bad, bad man. Please don't read my blog.
Posted by Dan Savage | September 4, 2008 11:32 AMShe was in today's NYT xword puzzle. It was a really good puzzle today. Much better than the schwagg Phelps theme yesterday.
Posted by john cocktosin | September 4, 2008 12:40 PMI know she's a republican but I've always had a soft spot for her, like I know she could be better if she just came over to our side. She wouldn't have to lie about environmental dangers during clean-up efforts if she did.
Posted by Jersey | September 4, 2008 12:42 PMThe drain-circling gurgle is growing louder by the minute ...
Posted by Will in Seattle | September 4, 2008 12:47 PMYay!!! does that mean you're going to be on bill maher this friday??? Mike Taibbi just isn't as good as you sir. Real time is where i first saw you by the way..... then i started reading the blog.
Posted by anthony | September 4, 2008 2:08 PM@12 - or Mr Savage is a kindred soul of the Daily Show. They've been using "Clusterf*k to the ________ (insert topical location here)" for eons or at least a few years now. And Christine T was a guest on there 3 years ago, when she was shilling her book "It's My Party, Too".
Posted by E | September 4, 2008 3:32 PM@16 Hey, I don't think you're perfect, either, but that's why I read so much of what you have to say -- when you're not right, at least you're entertaining. It's also why I'm so mesmerized by Sarah "Hooker Heels" Palin.
You don't seriously want to be surrounded only with fawning sychophants, do you? Do you even have fawning sychophants, or enough to make that worthwhile?
You're a writer. If you don't want to be read, why are you writing? If you don't want comments here, why is there that option?
But, yeah, 12's comment was despicable and I'm sorry you have to put up with that.
Posted by whatevernevermind | September 4, 2008 5:05 PMComments Closed
Comments are closed on this post.