Wolcott's kind to whippersnappers though. At least he was to me as a green kid in NYC, workin' her first job-job, etc. That's he's unkind to those who earned it, however, well, that's another thing -- like the village idjiots surprised by anything that was last night's yawn-and-spew-ville.

Love, C.

Posted January 29, 2008 9:31 PM by Constance Ash

I once found two dozen remaindered copies of her memoir Wait Till Next Year in a dollar store.

Posted January 29, 2008 11:17 PM by Melissa (oddharmonic)

That is absolutely delicious! It's so nice to see a literate flambe, rather than the usual obstreperous invective!

Posted January 30, 2008 12:37 AM by xeger

I've read Wolcott: that was enough to convince me I never wanted to enter his radar as a twit.

Posted January 30, 2008 1:03 AM by Terry Karney

Note to self: never ever go anywhere near James Wolcott.

Posted January 30, 2008 2:06 AM by Lindra

I thoroughly enjoyed Wolcott's remarks on Kearns. Either learn to play with the big dogs or get off the porch. Unlike most of today's commentariat.

Posted January 30, 2008 4:18 AM by LMB MacAlister

Yes. He *will* kill you.

Posted January 30, 2008 5:07 AM by Miguel

I can respect that.

Posted January 30, 2008 7:07 AM by Teresa Nielsen Hayden

Lindra #5: Why? Are you planning to deliver yourself of giddy effusions about the manliness of McCain or W?

Posted January 30, 2008 7:09 AM by Fragano Ledgister

Why shouldn't Goodwin push this model of heroism? Hey, it worked for George Lucas.

Remember Alderaan!

Posted January 30, 2008 8:49 AM by "Charles Dodgson"

Truly a wit that can cut to kill.

"Fun is where you find it." Amen and pass the ammo, please.

Posted January 30, 2008 9:17 AM by Steve Buchheit

If you haven't got anything nice to say, give me your URL.

Posted January 30, 2008 10:43 AM by Madeleine Robins

Wolcott's Vanity Fair (yes, I know) essays on Michael Mann's "Heat," and actors "going ballistic," in particular, are well worth seeking out.

I like his criticism better than his attacks on the latest person to offend his sensibilities, which tend to run together a bit for me, reminding me of his description of Anthony Burgess "running his roll of syncopated erudition through the player piano one mo' time."

Posted January 30, 2008 1:15 PM by Flippanter

Madeline @ #12, That's a beautiful sentiment.

Posted January 30, 2008 2:12 PM by Linkmeister

Melissa at #2 (ahem): I was recently informed by a friend that he saw about 20 copies of one of my novels in a dollar store. He bought 3.

Which proves nothing about either DKG or myself, except that neither of us is named King or Grisham. But you knew that...

Posted January 30, 2008 2:27 PM by Lizzy L

@Lizzy L.: I found the cache of DKG books amusing because it was in an area not known for its baseball fans.

A few months later I found a cache of Stephen Ambrose's Citizen-Soldiers at the same dollar store. I bought them all. I gave a few to friends and resold the rest on Amazon.com to fund a small shopping spree at Edward McKay Used Books.

Posted January 30, 2008 3:40 PM by Melissa (oddharmonic)

Fragano, @9:

I have a tendency to gush cheerily in all apparent seriousness about things I don't like in giddy perky Valley Girl. McCain and W's supposed manliness is on the list of things I don't like. Often this tendency is misconstrued in exactly the manner James Wolcott took issue with DKG.

Posted January 30, 2008 10:50 PM by Lindra

Lindra #17: I see. I think. In that case, Wolcott should be avoided!

Posted January 30, 2008 11:06 PM by Fragano Ledgister

the much-missed Steve Gilliard expressed the same view, in his own blunt eloquence:
David Corn was seized by a case of the stupids and went after Jim Wolcott. Head shaking sadly, wondering why, oh, why would he pick a fight with a man who he should NEVER want to offend. I like Jim, he likes me, and I will do damn near anything to keep it that way. Why? Because, while a nice, gracious man, he's also a mean SOB who can cut you down with words like few others. Goldberg and Sullivan can attack me without so much as disturbing my tea making schedule.They mean nothing to me. Their words, as harmless as kryptonite to Batman.

But Wolcott? I would be vomiting and begging for mercy within minutes. God, I would not want that wit which could be the text book definition of rapier, and that anger, which rivals Jimmy Breslin's, turned on me. UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE. You shall see why below.
I will pray for your soul, David Corn, and hope you come to your senses......before it is too late.

Posted January 31, 2008 7:12 PM by terrintokyo