If imitation is flattering, parody can be devastating. ash always has to remind herself what distinguishes parody from satire. While parody spoofs a particular artistic endeavor, satire takes a theme, concept, or idea and exaggerates the argument to its logical albeit absurd conclusion.
This is definitely parody, and what it parodies is somewhat obscure. ash used to watch a political discussion program for which there was a daily briefing via email. While ostensibly it announced the topics and guests for that night’s edition, the author often ventured into what ash considered irrelevant territory. In this instance, relevance was eclipsed by obnoxiousness as the bulletin writer described the Washington DC culture at its most clichéd figurative incestuous. If the names aren’t familiar, rest assured these are hotshots in the community. And note the script she reproduces in its entirety is quite a bit longer than her retort.
By the way, ash stopped watching the program – Hardball – when it became clear the host had become more insufferable than the most offensive briefing.
>From the Briefing Party File...Ingraham Book Party Revealed...Eat your
>heart our, Ian..
Tuesday night was Laura Ingraham's (www.lauraingraham.com) big book soiree to celebrate the success of "Shut Up & Sing", now on it's 5th week on the NYT bestsellers list.. Laura "It's not just a radio show, it's an addiction" Ingraham was feted at the Georgetown mansion of her buddy Rick Ricktersen...And what a joint the place was! Spacious, breathtaking antique works of art, jacuzzi out back...Bill Press dared folks to get in but it was cold and rainy...No one took the bait....The place was "off the hook" as my brother would say...Food was pretty tasty too: Chicken Satay (one The Briefing's favorite Asian appetizers), Rosemary Chicken biscuit thingy with soy sauce, Hoisin Duck in a pastry cup...Delicious sliced roast beef and horseradish crostini and of course the obligatory cheese platter which was a hit with my coterie...The cool thing was the huge sheet cake which was air brushed with the book cover and spine! Laura insisted we take a piece home which we did...Laura, the sweetheart that she it, signed my girlfriend's book "Thanks for putting up with Dominic."
Guests included Scripps-Howard Columnist and Buzz favorite Betsy Hart, Wash Post media critic dude Howie Kurtz and his wife Sheri Annis (fmr. Arnold flack), "Axis of Evil" speechwriter guy David Frum's wife Danielle Crittenden (who, btw, wore a black leather mini and knee high stiletto boots), Newsweek super sleuth Michael Isikoff, Pat & Shelley Buchanan, Bill Press, Buchanan & Press producers Tammy Haddad (who's produced everyone in Washington and had a cameo on K. St) & Brian Doherty (of Judicial Watch & Drudge TV show notoriety)...MSNBC Stategic Ops guru turned GOP pollster Alex Bratty, MSNBC military analyst Ken Allard (who made it back to the studio for a 10p Scarborough hit), fmr. Ashcroft/DoJ mouthpiece & Clinton oppo research czar Barbara Comstock, Solicitor General Ted Olson, Uber-Hawk Frank Gaffney, MSNBC Washington bureau den mother Patty McFarland, NBC makeup artist Nikki Iannucci, Squitty, TNR's Byron York, The Washington Times' Ken Hanner, Head of USIA Ken Tomlinson, fmr. owner of the Washington Wizards Jonathan Ledecky; Khris Bershers & Chris Kennedy, the dynamic duo of the Heritage Foundation's press operations, Jim Kimsey (AOL co-founder), fmr. top Bush domestic adviser Jay Leftkowitz, Bush 41 consigliere C. Boyden Gray, Bush 43 buddy Fred Malek, Dave Pollin (real estate magnate), Alice Starr (Ken's wife), conservative columnist Mona Charen & Msgr. Peter Vaghi...Anne Schroeder and Lloyd Grove were MIA however...A fun night was had by all...
Laura gets a big wet kiss from the Washington Times today who inform us that her book is intended to be a "love letter to the average American." http://washingtontimes.com/national/20031029-105107-2718r.htm
“What do the simple folk read
To sublimate their lust and their greed
They read how players fake it
Since they will never make it
And thaaaat’s what simple folk read, when they need, someone to lead, when they don’t succeed…”
You are hereby invited to my matinee, October 29, one year hence , on the occasion of not a blip on the NYT bestseller list after a full year of my book “Dupes, Dopes and Dummies and the Ruling Class Who Exploit Them; A Fair and Balanced Look at the Actual Elites.” It will be held in my tiny living room in not-so-beautiful northend Springfield (but hey, people make the place, not the other way around) and the celebrants will include my boyfriend, my cats, my bartender, the welfare family down the street, and some local guy who has never left the state of Illinois. Also a Chicago contingent of my hip and happenin’ adult children, my elderly parents, and the handyman who does odd jobs for my father around since he’s begun to ail. And don’t forget the special guests. You with your girlfriend on one arm, Ingraham on the other; Matthews with Coulter (or the Coulter doll, if she’s too cool even for him); Franken with Connasen and Corn (since Coulter says most liberals are promiscuous fags and Coulter always speaks the truth); Limbaugh can bring his maid. A huge round cake depicting Chris’s face, the lettering spelling out “Congratulations. You officially don’t exist” will highlight the festivities.