Sixteen Scandals [Hardcover]

Strauss (Author), Newport (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2002

The Capitol Steps look at the scandals in Washington and the rest of the country, at what people are willing to laugh about in our leaders and ourselves. Gauging what people find funny on the national scene these days, Sixteen Scandals offers a new perspective on such national affairs as Iran-Contra, Desert Storm, Bill Clinton’s peccadilloes and how our nation keeps its sense of humor even during turbulent times.

Frolic through the era of "Dutch the Magic Reagan," recall the first George Bush in "A Thousand Pints of Lite," remember Bill Clinton with "The Joy of Sax" and "Libido Loca" and screech right into the present reign of The Big W with "Don’t Go Faking You’re Smart."

This hilarious book comes with one audio CD with 35 original parody songs and narration from the Capitol Steps, including their ever popular "Lirty Dies" routine. It also contains funny photos of the leaders of sixteen major stages in the life of our country.

The Capitol Steps are former Congressional staffers who started out making up parody songs for Senator Charles Percy’s office Christmas party. (They were going to put on a nativity play, but in all of Congress, they couldn’t find three wise men or a virgin.) Twenty years later, they have performed live for four presidents and have recorded 20 CDs of their songs.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Political humor found a fresh voice 20 years ago with musical parodies from the Capitol Steps, including such topical tunes as "Stand by Your Dan" and "Boys Just Wanna Have Guns." Cofounded by Strauss and Newport, the group, composed of former congressional staffers, originated when a few aides performed nine songs at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Christmas party. Strauss and Newport continue to write, produce and direct, and they also narrate the 72-minute audio CD that accompanies the book and features a litany of lampoonery, 52 tracks from "Immense Expense Is Mainly in Defense" to "There's a Hole in the Center of the Ballot." Bill Clinton's escapades of course provided much fodder for humor, including the hilarious "Unzippin' My Doodah." The group is bipartisan in its choice of targets, and while Strauss and Newport bemoan the end of the cold war ("Sure, Bush's `New World Order' made life kind and gentle, but around the globe, the old entertainment value was missing"), they have moved on to ribbing the Culture War and corporate scandal ("Enron-Ron-Ron"). This is a fun read (and listen), including a fascinating chapter tracing the history of American political satire.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Cofounders William Strauss and Elaina Newport have been The Capitol Steps's principal writers, director and producer. They wrote a small original paperback on the 1992 presidential campaign, Fools on the Hill. Separately, William Strauss has authored or coauthored six books on American generational history and contemporary culture. He lives in McLean, Virginia. Elaina Newport lives in Arlington, Virginia. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks MediaFusion (October 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570718903
• ISBN-13: 978-1570718908
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,283,430 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outlandishly Hilarious, October 18, 2002

By 

Gary Beck (Omaha, NE USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sixteen Scandals (Hardcover)

This was a rather frightening, yet hysterical, trip down memory lane. So much has happened in American politics over the past 20 years. What a blessing it is to have the Capitol Steps around as the bards recording the inane antics of our elected representatives. To prove how great this book is, I've bought three copies of it - one for me and two for other friends. They are phenomenal. Here's to 20 more years of political satire!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars HILARIOUS!, September 25, 2002

By 

William B. Hurd "bascomb32" (Alexandria, VA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sixteen Scandals (Hardcover)

I've been a fan of the Capitol Steps for years, having listened to them on NPR. This book takes you through their humble beginnings when they were mere Congressional Staffers worried about being fired for making fun of their bosses and through their successes of making fun of 4 Presidents. The accompanying CD is a stitch too, and well worth the money! I recommend it!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious!, September 25, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Sixteen Scandals (Hardcover)

I've been so angry at Washington, DC that I forgot how funny it was! The book details the Capitol Steps origins and how they've made a living making fun of the very same politicians who first employed them in the first place. The accompanying CD was well worth the listen as well and will bide me over to their next radio show.