Infinite MonkeysChristopher Hitchens is one of those guys who I can enjoy when he's skewering an idea or politician that I disagree with, but when he gores one of my oxen, I see him as the biting hyper-pedantic snob he pretty much is. But he's a thinking clever snob. Upon re-reading an interview of his on Hewitt's radio show, I was impressed enough to consider reprinting a few quotes here. But if I did that, you'd be much less likely to go through the whole thing. And, as they say, you should... read the whole thing.
Okay, for the audio crowd, you can listen to it, with all of its accurately haughty intonations, here.
Posted by Brad at June 23, 2006 10:26 AMHitchens is a fascintating character. I always suspected that he was a model for the drunk Brit journalist in Tom Wolfe's Bonfire of the Vanities, and a Google search on that found this interesting (old) article. There was also a good (though not really completely fair) piece on NPR the other day, which you can find here.
And, of course, I read everything he writes in Slate. I actually do enjoy him more when he's goring my own oxen, and sometimes I even find him persuasive (for example, I do this Kissinger was and is a total charlatan, and shares blame for many current Middle East problems).
Great Reason article. Thanks for pointing that out.
...temporary expedients become dogma very quickly -- especially if they seem to work."
What a great line. Made me stop and think. (Shut up, Robb.)
Posted by: Monkey Brad at June 23, 2006 12:26 PMIn addition to his work with The Nation and Vanity Fair, Hitch is also an excellent writer of book reviews, which he routinely contributes to The Atlantic.
The first time I saw him was when he was a guest on Dennis Miller's HBO program. He emerged for the interview with a full glass of Scotch and a cigarette, eyes bloodshot, and cantankerous as ever. He proceeded to refer to then-President Bill Clinton as a "f***ing rapist" without hyperbole.
Posted by: Monkey RobbL at June 23, 2006 12:50 PM