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Last post 19 years ago by Gene363. 20 replies replies.
Any PJ O'Rourke Fans?
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Cavallo Offline
#1 Posted: Wed, Aug 18 2004, 5:38 PM EST
Joined: 01-05-2004
Posts: 2,796
just out of curiosity... any fans of mister o'rourke's writing?

he's a hardcore republican -- not generally where i find much common ground OR comedy OR wisdom (heh. had to say it!), but PJ's writing is just... BRILLIANT.

imo, PJ's writing is what ann coulter desperately wants to create but can't. he is acidic, biting and incisive, but he does it with such grace and style that you don't even care if it's YOU he's making fun of. you're too busy laughing your a$$ off!

he's like a razor sharp rapier, whereas ms. coulter is like a caveman's club. in the end, they both end up pulverizing the political Other Guys, but o'rourke makes it a thing of beauty to observe; coulter... just makes it ugly for all.

anyway, if you've not yet been treated to PJ's wit and wisdom, i highly recommend picking up one of his books (any one will do). if you're already a fan, speak up! we can swap quotes or somethin'. :)
CWFoster Offline
#2 Posted: Wed, Aug 18 2004, 5:54 PM EST
Joined: 12-12-2003
Posts: 5,414
Can you recommend one?
usahog Offline
#3 Posted: Wed, Aug 18 2004, 6:02 PM EST
Joined: 12-06-1999
Posts: 22,691
I've read some of his writings I think on Drudgereport.com...

haven't read any books of his though...

Hog
Cavallo Offline
#4 Posted: Wed, Aug 18 2004, 6:26 PM EST
Joined: 01-05-2004
Posts: 2,796
oh brothers! brothers!

i'm on a mission now! lol

wish i had the means to just send you both all of his stuff. get thee to the library though and check some of his stuff out.

i've heard o'rourke called the republican hunter s. thompson. don't know how true that is, as i've yet to actually read any of hunter's stuff, but if the republicans had to choose a literary icon, i'd say that pj would be a great choice!

clive, i recommend:

Modern Manners (his unique view on the how-to's of being a social creature)

The Bachelor Home Companion (just... too funny!)

Parliament of Whores (he hilariously explains how the US government works)

Eat the Rich (in which he asks, "why do some places prosper and thrive, while others just suck?")

i finally checked out Republican Party Reptile, so i can let'cha know how that one was, but pick any of the above (start with Modern Manners if you want a butt-kicking laugh fest!) to get a good healthy dose of o'rourke's view of life and how we live it.
MACS Offline
#5 Posted: Wed, Aug 18 2004, 9:09 PM EST
Joined: 02-26-2004
Posts: 79,833
I am unfamiliar with PJ O'Rourke.

PJ O'Brien's however, is a kick ass Irish Pub in Australia. Kilkenny's and Guinness on tap.
THL Offline
#6 Posted: Thu, Aug 19 2004, 4:16 AM EST
Joined: 10-22-2002
Posts: 3,044
I've been a fan of PJ since his old National Lampoon days in the '70's. He cracks me up. Did you ever read his journal of his tour of Soviet Russia? Classic stuff. He may vote Republican, but I think he has a Libertarian's soul.
rastusmcnair Offline
#7 Posted: Thu, Aug 19 2004, 4:41 AM EST
Joined: 03-01-2003
Posts: 1,845
If You like O'Rourke you're missing out if you haven't read the good Doctor Hunter S. Thompson. Some of his older stuff is, I suppose, at bit dated but then again so am I!
drnos Offline
#8 Posted: Thu, Aug 19 2004, 5:18 AM EST
Joined: 10-29-2003
Posts: 2,787
When I saw the title of his book, "Give War a Chance" I just had to pick it up. Hilarious book, it's an account of war areas including his first hand look at Desert Storm.

I too am a fan of his since Natl Lampoon.
drnos Offline
#9 Posted: Thu, Aug 19 2004, 5:21 AM EST
Joined: 10-29-2003
Posts: 2,787
'smatter of fact, I'd love to send out my copy of "Give War a Chance" to some deserving b/s otl.

Maybe I can come up with another contest. Check out the Trade Board tomorrow to see if anything came to me.
Cavallo Offline
#10 Posted: Thu, Aug 19 2004, 6:50 AM EST
Joined: 01-05-2004
Posts: 2,796
oh yeah! give war a chance is another great one, as is holidays in hell.

i'll make it a point, at my next library run, to pick up some of thompson's work. any suggs on where to start?
bassdude Offline
#11 Posted: Thu, Aug 19 2004, 6:52 AM EST
Joined: 01-13-2004
Posts: 8,871
I'll have to look this guy up. Unfortunately we do not have a library card since there is not a library in town. The neighboring libraries want $120 a year for a card.
THL Offline
#12 Posted: Thu, Aug 19 2004, 6:56 AM EST
Joined: 10-22-2002
Posts: 3,044
Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas and Fear and Loathing On the Campaign Trail are 2 of his classics.
rd2thbn Offline
#13 Posted: Thu, Aug 19 2004, 7:10 AM EST
Joined: 04-28-2003
Posts: 205
Although I voted for Reagan in the first election in which I was old enough to vote, I was an independent until I read "Parliament of Whores" in 1991. It's a great book that really opens your eyes to how our government works and how politicians use government programs to buy votes. It's a quick, easy, and FUN read. I highly recommend it to everyone.

drnos Offline
#14 Posted: Thu, Aug 19 2004, 7:44 AM EST
Joined: 10-29-2003
Posts: 2,787
To heck with a contest. Too much trouble. If anybody wants a copy of "Give War a Chance" just respond here. It's a paperback, not very big, I'll just send it over, gratis.
bassdude Offline
#15 Posted: Thu, Aug 19 2004, 8:24 AM EST
Joined: 01-13-2004
Posts: 8,871
drnos, I'll take you up on that. When I finish should I pass it on or send it back?

[email protected]
rastusmcnair Offline
#16 Posted: Thu, Aug 19 2004, 8:24 AM EST
Joined: 03-01-2003
Posts: 1,845
H. Thompson "Generation of Swine" is good also. "The Great Shark Hunt" has a nice assortment of his previously published articles.
rastusmcnair Offline
#17 Posted: Thu, Aug 19 2004, 8:25 AM EST
Joined: 03-01-2003
Posts: 1,845
His first book, "Hells Angels" is a classic.



Guess I'm a fan, huh?
Charlie Offline
#18 Posted: Thu, Aug 19 2004, 2:13 PM EST
Joined: 06-16-2002
Posts: 39,751
Best Hunter S Thompson book is "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas"! Thompoon was the model for Duke in Doonesbury!

Charlie
Charlie Offline
#19 Posted: Thu, Aug 19 2004, 2:14 PM EST
Joined: 06-16-2002
Posts: 39,751
And of course, I love O'Rourke's writing! He is a great writer and has one hell of a great sense of humor! He is also a BOTL.

Charlie
drnos Offline
#20 Posted: Thu, Aug 19 2004, 5:01 PM EST
Joined: 10-29-2003
Posts: 2,787
"Our nation has withstood many divisions - North and South, black and white, labor and management - but I do not know if the country can survive division into smoking and non-smoking sections." Republican Party Reptile by PJO.

Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work, then they get elected to prove it. - quoted from memory, by PJO.

The comparisons to Dr. Thompson are apropos: they are both 'gonzo' journalists in the sense that they don't pretend that they are separate from the events that they report. They are integral to the events they report.
Gene363 Offline
#21 Posted: Fri, Aug 20 2004, 1:58 AM EST
Joined: 01-24-2003
Posts: 30,842
Been a fan since reading "Modern Manors" and "Parliament of Whores"

Some of his wit:

Excerpt:

"I have only one firm belief about the American political system, and that is this: God is a Republican and Santa Claus is a Democrat.

God is an elderly or, at any rate, middle-aged male, a stern fellow, patriarchal rather than paternal and a great believer in rules and regulations. He holds men strictly accountable for their actions. He has little apparent concern for the material well-being of the disadvantaged. He is politically connected, socially powerful and holds the mortgage on literally everything in the world. God is difficult. God is unsentimental. It is very hard to get into God’s heavenly country club.

Santa Claus is another matter. He’s cute. He’s non-threatening. He’s always cheerful. And he loves animals. He may know who’s been naughty and who’s bee nice, but he never does anything about it. He gives everyone everything they want without thought of a quid pro quo. He works hard for charities, and he’s famously generous to the poor. Santa Claus is preferable to God in every way but one: There is no such thing as Santa Claus."


“A woman should dress to attract attention. To attract the most attention, a woman should be either nude or wearing something as expensive as getting her nude is going to be.”


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