It's the Stupidity, Stupid: Why (Some) People Hate Clinton and Why the Rest of Us Have to Watch (Library of Contemporary Thought) [Hardcover]

Harry Shearer (Author)

Book Description

Series: Library of Contemporary Thought | Publication Date: February 2, 1999

"In the aftermath of, shall we say, certain events, it seems almost cretinous to ask why some people hate the forty-second president of the United States. Bill Clinton let down his friends and followers and subordinates, caused no end of legal fees to many of them, and, more ominously, made it possible for William Bennett to unleash upon the public yet another bilious stream of self-righteous posturings. . . ."

But there's more there than meets the eyewitness news. Now, in this shrewd, on-target, wickedly funny book, Harry Shearer unbuckles the Beltway to examine why, of all people, Bill Clinton has inspired such profound and persistent loathing in a sufficient number of Americans to propel his presidency to the "kinda like Nixon" section of the history books.

Is it because our leader hides behind women's skirts? is seen as a traitor to his race by his southern compatriots? represents the immoral Woodstock generation to those who have fond memories of the depression? Shearer investigates every avenue (and back alley) and, along the way, debunks Hillary's vast right-wing conspiracy theory ("A conspiracy by its nature should be a fairly tightly controlled operation, like the Mafia or Scientology"), explores the animosity inspired by lawyers and journalists, and asks the question on everyone's lips: Is there any real difference between sucking a prostitute's toes and being a news analyst for Rupert Murdoch?

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"A lifelong middler and diddler miscast as an avatar of radical globalism, who has arrayed against him a collection of cranks and bigots donning the raiment of moralists--this masquerade, too frightening for Halloween, looks like a Mardi Gras float that veered off Canal Street and lumbered its way up to Pennsylvania Avenue. Even so, in the goofy way that life works, William Jefferson Clinton got the enemies he deserved. Many of us do."

Harry Shearer--actor, radio host, political commentator--takes aim at the controversy surrounding President Bill Clinton, and he's got plenty of criticisms to go around. Not only has he figured out why Bill Clinton's success really, really bothers a certain segment of the American population, he also lobs a few bombs in the direction of career prosecutors, television journalists, and Hillary Rodham Clinton's "vast right-wing conspiracy" theory--in just a little more than 100 pages. Think of him as a calmer James Carville, or a liberal P.J. O'Rourke; however you look at it, Shearer's sardonic analysis of the Clinton administration is a welcome respite from the punditry delivered by TV's usual suspects. As he points out in his index: "Di Genova, Joseph, 57. If you know who he is, you've been watching too much Rivera." --Ron Hogan

From the Inside Flap

"In the aftermath of, shall we say, certain events, it seems almost cretinous to ask why some people hate the forty-second president of the United States. Bill Clinton let down his friends and followers and subordinates, caused no end of legal fees to many of them, and, more ominously, made it possible for William Bennett to unleash upon the public yet another bilious stream of self-righteous posturings. . . ."

But there's more there than meets the eyewitness news. Now, in this shrewd, on-target, wickedly funny book, Harry Shearer unbuckles the Beltway to examine why, of all people, Bill Clinton has inspired such profound and persistent loathing in a sufficient number of Americans to propel his presidency to the "kinda like Nixon" section of the history books.

Is it because our leader hides behind women's skirts? is seen as a traitor to his race by his southern compatriots? represents the immoral Woodstock generation to those who have fond memories of the depression? Shearer investigates every avenue (and back alley) and, along the way, debunks Hillary's vast right-wing conspiracy theory ("A conspiracy by its nature should be a fairly tightly controlled operation, like the Mafia or Scientology"), explores the animosity inspired by lawyers and journalists, and asks the question on everyone's lips: Is there any real difference between sucking a prostitute's toes and being a news analyst for Rupert Murdoch?

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 104 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; 1st edition (February 2, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345434013
• ISBN-13: 978-0345434012
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,880,739 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The most underrated man in show business!, September 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: It's the Stupidity, Stupid: Why (Some) People Hate Clinton and Why the Rest of Us Have to Watch (Library of Contemporary Thought) (Hardcover)

Harry Shearer reamains the most underrated American humorist of our time, replacing Jean Shepherd. He was great on SNL, wonderful on his own specials, but now he's making his mark with his radio program and this hilarious book. Instead of constantly extolling the obvious as his compatriots on SNL did, Harry continues to mine under the surface of his subject matter, and offers the most searing explanation of the Clinton administration yet. Miss this one at your own risk.

21 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A real pleasure to read., October 6, 1999

By 

Michael J Woznicki "Michael J Woznicki" (Holland, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: It's the Stupidity, Stupid: Why (Some) People Hate Clinton and Why the Rest of Us Have to Watch (Library of Contemporary Thought) (Hardcover)

Harry Shearer has written, not just another book about people who hat Bill Clinton, but a book about why. I was impressed by how the author was able to convey a message of disgust with clear and precise facts.

While some people will find this book offensive and some will hate it outright, this reader thinks that most people will find this book a real pleasure to read. Shearer has a great knowledge of politics and how the political world turns and he displays this in every page of the book.

Shearer brings the reader little known facts about key Washington figures. Shearer allows the reader to choose whom he likes and whom he doesn't. The book is good. Easy reading from beginning to end. This book will keep you asking for more.

While Shearer gives the reader a quick insight about racism, the culture war and the generation gap, he does so with a unique blend of satire and humor. I think for the price you will make a great choice.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Biting satire of US political - OH WAIT! This is REAL!, March 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: It's the Stupidity, Stupid: Why (Some) People Hate Clinton and Why the Rest of Us Have to Watch (Library of Contemporary Thought) (Hardcover)

The question of how media and politics became so convoluted in the latter years of the twentieth century are best answered here by Harry Shearer. His supreme wit and insight left me hoping future historians will turn to this document if they truly want to understand this period. Better yet, we should all read it now and quit being such a bunch of dupes.