On Politics: A Carnival of Buncombe"Has the art of politics no apparent utility? Does it appear to be unqualifiedly ratty, raffish, sordid, obscene, and low down, and its salient virtuousi a gang of unmitigated scoundrels? Then let us not forget its high capacity to soothe and tickle the midriff, its incomparable services as a maker of entertainment." -- -from On Politics With a style that combined biting sarcasm with the "language of the free lunch counter," Mencken shook politics and politicians for nearly half a century. The political arena afforded Mencken a special opportunity to showcase his talents. He despised pretentiousness and hypocrisy and found numerous, easy targets among politicians. But while he could be merciless in attacking local and national leaders, Mencken always interspersed his scathing commentaries with entertaining exaggerations and high humor. This collection of seventy political pieces drawn from Mencken's famous Monday columns in the Baltimore Evening Sun during the twenties and thirties shows the "Sage of Baltimore" at his satirical best. While social attitudes may have changed, the value of Mencken's words on American politics offers us a timeless perspective. |
Contents
A Carnival of Buncombe FEBRUARY 9 1920 | 7 |
The Clowns in the Ring MAY 12 1920 | 13 |
Campaign Notes SEPTEMBER 13 1920 | 22 |
In Praise of Gamaliel OCTOBER 18 1920 | 30 |
Optimistic Note NOVEMBER 29 1920 | 38 |
Gamalielese Again SEPTEMBER 9 1921 | 46 |
Making Ready for 1924 | 55 |
Calvinism | 64 |
Onward Christian Soldiers AUGUST 24 1928 | 181 |
The Campaign Opens AUGUST 27 1928 | 187 |
Der Wille Zur Macht SEPTEMBER 10 1928 | 196 |
Al in the Free State OCTOBER 29 1928 | 205 |
Autopsy NOVEMBER 12 1928 | 214 |
Roosevelt Minor | 224 |
The Hoover Bust MAY 18 1931 232 | 232 |
Hoover in 1932 JULY 27 1931 | 242 |
The Impending Plebiscite OCTOBER 22 1923 | 72 |
PostMortem JULY 14 1924 | 81 |
Meditations on the Campaign AUGUST 25 1924 | 99 |
The Coolidge Buncombe OCTOBER 6 1924 | 108 |
The Voters Dilemma NOVEMBER 3 1924 | 117 |
Twilight OCTOBER 17 1927 | 126 |
The Coolidge Mystery JANUARY 30 1933 | 136 |
Al Smith and His Chances JULY 5 1927 | 144 |
Al APRIL 23 1928 | 153 |
Real Issues at Last JULY 23 1928 | 162 |
Al and the Pastors AUGUST 6 1928 | 171 |
The Men Who Rule Us OCTOBER 5 1931 | 252 |
Where Are We At? JULY 5 1932 | 262 |
PreMortem OCTOBER 24 1932 | 271 |
The Tune Changes MARCH 27 1933 | 281 |
Roosevelt JANUARY 2 1934 | 291 |
The Burden of OmnipotenceRoosevelt Alf | 297 |
The More Abundant Dialectic APRIL 20 1936 | 310 |
After the New Deal SEPTEMBER 28 1936 | 324 |
Coroners Inquest NOVEMBER 9 1936 | 338 |
367 | |