Althouse: "I saw that 'demeanor' up close more than once and was coldly appalled by the pig-nostriled and also piggy-eyed form that it took."

February 22, 2010

"I saw that 'demeanor' up close more than once and was coldly appalled by the pig-nostriled and also piggy-eyed form that it took."

Hitchens hates on Haig.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...: I'll take your word for it, Christopher. I trust your opinion of others, especially when those opinions are so entertaining to hear.

It takes balls to shit on a just-dead man, you know.; 2/22/10, 8:16 PM
Fred4Pres said...: It is not a good idea to piss Christopher Hitchens off.

But to Hitchens credit, I doubt he would shit all over a recent dead man because of some perceived personal slight to Hitch. Hitch is above that and saves his nastiness to those he considers nasty in governing.; 2/22/10, 8:22 PM
rhhardin said...: "Swine-snouted brutishness shielded him with protective wing and cast on him its loving look."

Lautreamont; 2/22/10, 8:27 PM
Quaestor said...: Much as I admire the style of Hitchens' prose, I must say that he has a regrettable tendency to scorn the dead. Taken out of context this kind of anti-elegiac can be taken for cowardice -- kicking the cooling corpse in a show of mock heroics. Yet Hitchens is no coward. He has never shown the white feather, many times going in amongst a hostile and sometimes physically violent crowd to speak boldly for the cause he loves.; 2/22/10, 8:42 PM
Rialby said...: Hitchens has no respect for those who have passed because his belief system does not support their ongoing existence. As far as he is concerned, their life requires no respect once their brain is dead. Quite frankly, he's not all that unwilling to scorn the living either.

Hitchens is strange case of brilliance, arrogance and contempt.; 2/22/10, 9:16 PM
reg said...: personal and physical courage are two different things-Haig is a good example korea vs 1981.however if my life was on the line , i would sure as hell rather Haig next to me than Hitchens.i'm not sure what circumstances i'd trust Hitchens with besides being witty with a few bottles of red wine.; 2/22/10, 9:16 PM
Anonymous said...: In Lucian Truscott's novel, "Dress Grey," there's a character based on Al Haig when he was commandant of West Point. Truscott's portrayal of Haig is not unlike that of Hitchens (though Truscott makes him seem somewhat smoother).; 2/22/10, 9:22 PM
rcocean said...: "Appalled by the pig-nostriled and piggy eyed form.."

Has Hitchens looked in a mirror? Hello Swine - meet pig.; 2/22/10, 9:27 PM
David said...: Haig as " . . . an overambitious man in uniform who mastered the essential art of licking the derrières of those above him while simultaneously (see above) bullying and menacing those below."

This view is consistent with, but more charitable than, the take I've gotten from two friends, fine military officers, who had the misfortune of serving with Haig at completely different times.; 2/22/10, 9:41 PM
Alex said...: Just remember when Hitchens dies, the long literary knives will be out and no one will spare him.; 2/22/10, 9:41 PM
Peter V. Bella said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 2/22/10, 10:03 PM
Peter V. Bella said...: If I was in a bar fight, I would probably choose Hitchens. If I was in military combat, I would choose Haig- he did prove himself on the ground in Korea and Viet Nam.

Then, as he rose through the ranks, he discovered that Preparation H is a better substitute for Chapstick.; 2/22/10, 10:04 PM
Unknown said...: Did Hitchens ever say any of this to Haig's face? Kinda doubt it.; 2/22/10, 10:12 PM
Wince said...: You radiate cold shafts of broken glass.

Hitchens sounds like he's been listening to Pink Floyd.

Pigs

Big man, pig man, ha ha charade you are.
You well heeled big wheel, ha ha charade you are.
And when your hand is on your heart,
You're nearly a good laugh,
Almost a joker,
With your head down in the pig bin,
Saying "Keep on digging."
Pig stain on your fat chin.
What do you hope to find.
When you're down in the pig mine.
You're nearly a laugh,
You're nearly a laugh
But you're really a cry.

Bus stop rat bag, ha ha charade you are.
You fucked up old hag, ha ha charade you are.
You radiate cold shafts of broken glass.
You're nearly a good laugh,
Almost worth a quick grin.
You like the feel of steel,
You're hot stuff with a hatpin,
And good fun with a hand gun.
You're nearly a laugh,
You're nearly a laugh
But you're really a cry.

Hey you Whitehouse,
Ha ha charade you are.
You house proud town mouse,
Ha ha charade you are
You're trying to keep our feelings off the street.
You're nearly a real treat,
All tight lips and cold feet
And do you feel abused?
You gotta stem the evil tide,
And keep it all on the inside.
Mary you're nearly a treat,
Mary you're nearly a treat
But you're really a cry.; 2/22/10, 11:07 PM
Kirk Parker said...: Who knew that Haig was related to Mother Teresa?; 2/23/10, 1:01 AM
Lydia said...: Odd guy, Hitchens. Just finished reading Martin Amis’s memoirs in which he says his friend Hitch likes to stiff his drinking buddies with his bar bills. Apparently always has done.; 2/23/10, 1:43 AM
Revenant said...: Hitchens has no respect for those who have passed because his belief system does not support their ongoing existence. As far as he is concerned, their life requires no respect once their brain is dead.

Al Haig didn't deserve respect while he was alive. So how does death change that about him?; 2/23/10, 1:54 AM
Fred4Pres said...: Kirk Parker said...
Who knew that Haig was related to Mother Teresa?

Now that is funny.; 2/23/10, 7:43 AM
TMink said...: Hitch is becoming almost Sullivanian in his inane outbursts.

How sad.

Another one lands on the ignore pile.

Trey; 2/23/10, 9:34 AM