Politicians, Partisans, and Parasites [Hardcover]

 

 

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I always knew that Tucker Carlson's dad was a major player in the right wing media/think tank world. So it's easy to see how Tucky's connections helped him. He's such a cutie! I'd love to pinch his ice cream cheeks! (I wonder if Arianna did!) And I'll bet he wouldn't have a comeback to *that*! What I *did not* know, is that Tucker comes from authorial royalty, if you will. His parents penned the classic: Don't Sweat the Small Stuff in Love: by Richard Carlson and Kristine Carlson. Obviously, Tucker hasn't fallen too far from the tree, as he doesn't sweat the small stuff in politics! The beauty of Tucky is that he doesn't question the status quo, or any quo at all. He knows that politics is for fun and profit, to be joked about in the DC/media echo chamber. And now we get a front row seat! Luckily, Tucky lets us in on the fun (not the big joke, that we don't get paid for *our* relative nonsense), that policy - or the personalities and sound bites that "front" real policy - shouldn't be taken seriously. Don't sweat the small stuff! In other words, if you've got enough bread, enjoy the circus! "My Adventures" is non-threatening, fluffy, and self-preserving, as cotton candy (light blue or pink, whatever!)! Tucky stays true to the current political era, where the son rides pop's coattails, but isn't so darn serious! Kudos!

In this highly thought-provoking and entertaining autobiography, Carlson, the smug, bow-tie wearing, neo-conservative bibble-di-babbler blasts those commmentators and politicians whom he feels are liberal partisans. He also depicts liberal commentators as parasites, as opposed to conservative commentators, who he desribes as "gods".

The pre-pubescent looking Carlson, who achieved super-star status along with several thousand other novice commentators during the hugely lucrative O.J. Simpson and Lewinsky eras, looks back fondly on his colorful career and recounts the trials and tribulations of being one of the fify-thousand cable tv commentators who enlighten the masses day after day after day after day after day after day with their eternal yakkety-yakkety-yakkety-yakkety-yak.

One of the more memorable events which Tucker brilliantly chronicles here is how upset he was when the OJ Simpson verdict was announced. The gut wrenching agony which he experienced in that moment is presented here for all of America to see what a complex, humane soul is this man. Another equally painful and tragic moment which Tucker writes so forcefully about is when he saw Bill Clinton shake his finger and say he didn't have "...relations with that woman". Tucker relates that historic event and all that followed with such passion and vigor, that the reader is driven to put on his own bow tie and loudly crack wise with juvenile sexual inuendo while grinning widely. The climax, and I won't give anything away here, has to do with how Gore disgraced America by trying to steal the election.

Tucker fought the Viet Cong in the jungles of North VietNam in 1967-68 and lost his arm during hand-to-hand combat during the Tet offensive. Tucker came back to the US and served in the US senatee as Majority Republican leader from 1976 to 1980. He left the Senate to become editor and publisher of the National Review, before becoming Cairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under Ronald Reagan. This was followed by his current infuential and highly praised position as expert commentator on CNN. He is a great patriot and hero who has served his country well, and his thoughts on what is going on in the world today are invaluable and must be heard by every American, living and dead.

In Politicians, Partisans, and Parasites: My Adventures in Cable News the author provides a pleasurable read even if imparting little in the way of political wisdom.
Carlson's narration spares few details and one has the feeling that his publishers were pleasantly surprised with the richness of his account. His onscreen adventures began, improbably enough, with the OJ trial in 1995. It seems that the offices of The Weekly Standard were called by Dan Rather's booker in the hopes of finding a reporter to provide a conservative take on the trial, and Carlson, as he was the first one back from lunch, accepted the invitation.
A few years and many appearances later, our author was transformed from a chain-smoking journo to a smoke-free, media celebrity. He even got falsely accused of rape by a stalker fan (which says all one needs to know about his renown). Carlson briefly had his own show with Bill Press called Spin Room and currently he is one of the hosts on Crossfire.
Before relaying more specifics about the book, let me state, as a disclaimer, that I am personally not a fan of this author. Previously, I've always anticipated his views on politics with the same interest that I have in glasses of room temperature skim milk.
Carlson himself cites the concerns that Congressman Tom Delay had about his representing the conservative side before the nation. He believed Carlson "too liberal to represent the Right on the air." Frankly, I agreed with the Congressman before reading a page of the memoir and, after finishing it, I still agree with him. CNN needs guys like Carlson to be rightists in name, as the rest of us would not let Bill Press or Paul Begala dominate us with their informercials.
The author has warm affection for the likes of James Carville and Bill Press. He also seems to lament Senator McCain's loss to President Bush in the 2000 Republican primary, which is rather disturbing as McCain's goal, in regards to the Republican Party, was that we should "burn it down."
It may well be worth buying the book just to read about the catty way in which Carlson deals with Barney Frank after the Congressman berated a producer who tried to adjust his blazer (the horror!): "I made a mental note to devote the rest of my life to subverting Frank's career." He does a noble job.
This is by no means a philosophical work, but it was a great deal of fun to read. As many liberal comedians have painfully illustrated in the past, you do not have to be on the exact same ideological page as your audience in order to entertain. Tucker Carlson was on a mission to lightly and gleefully depict some of the strange politicians, partisans, and parasites that he has known on from cable news and he has succeeded admirably. Now if he could just lose that bowtie. Anyway, if you're short a present or two, you might consider his memoir for just about anyone who likes to laugh.

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3.0 out of 5 stars Very forgettable book......precious little substance
I find myself in the distinct minority on this one but much to my surprise I really did not enjoy this one very much at all. Lisez davantage

Published on April 10 2004 by Paul Tognetti

5.0 out of 5 stars Witty, entertaining, and names names
I enjoyed this book from start to finish. Carlson is not only witty and entertaining in describing his experiences with contemporary politicians and pundits, he almost always... Lisez davantage

Published on Mar 22 2004 by anonymous

4.0 out of 5 stars Irreverent & Witty
If you are a political aficionado, regardless of your partisanship, you owe it to yourself to pick this book up. Lisez davantage

Published on Mar 5 2004 by Chris Salzer

4.0 out of 5 stars Fast paced, witty, and laugh out loud funny...
Tucker doesn't waste time into pulling his reader right into the heart of the tumultuous world of cable news, from the ill-fated Spin Room to his seat on the CNN flagship... Lisez davantage

Published on Mar 2 2004 by ahugh81

5.0 out of 5 stars Enlightening and Highly Entertaining Read
Tucker Carlson, who co-hosts CNN's Crossfire has written an enlightening and amusing book on his three years at CNN. Lisez davantage

Published on Jan 15 2004 by David St Lawrence

5.0 out of 5 stars Amusing look into politics and media
I had to read this book for my government class and I found it very enjoyable. I had watched Crossfire on CNN with Tucker before I read the book and always thought him to be an... Lisez davantage

Published on Jan 2 2004 by Rem Koning

5.0 out of 5 stars Bow-tie bonanza.
Although I am a very ardent liberal, I both enjoy and respect Tucker Carlson. He has principles, which is always nice to see in the opposition. Lisez davantage

Published on Dec 26 2003 by glennrehn

5.0 out of 5 stars Entertainment, Education, and Great Gossip!
I'm not a TV or celebrity junkie, but I have often wondered about the personal characteristics of many public figures. This book lays them out. Flat. Lisez davantage

Published on Dec 20 2003 by C. Nagle

5.0 out of 5 stars buy the book to read 142-146
I watched Tucker give a preview of his book on C-Span at the Miami Book Fair and couldn't wait to order the book. Lisez davantage

Published on Nov 18 2003 by mimi

4.0 out of 5 stars Carlson is no Al Franken
Thank God for that. He's no O'Reilly either. This is a humourous anecdotal personal account not a polemic. Lisez davantage

Published on Nov 8 2003 by R. J. Marsella

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