John Hawkins at Right Wing News takes a poll among rightish bloggers, asking with whom in history or in present they would share a meal.
The usual suspects abound: Jesus, Shakespeare, Ayn Rand, FDR. Zzzzz.
Now I’m all for learning from the great thinkers and doers in history, but when I go out to eat with someone, I want to laugh and have fun, as well as enjoy my meal. I want to joke around as well as have those Great Intellectual Conversations. I want to Laugh Loud and invite dirty looks from the other patrons. And I want to inspire loud laughter in return, if possible.
Who would I like to dine with?
• Frank Zappa (in military intel circles, rumor has it that he was one of us; I know those guys are fun)
• Benjamin Franklin (brilliant and knew how to party as well)
• Donald Rumsfeld (a guy that devastatingly funny in public is probably a riot in private)
• Dinah Washington (a kindred spirit)
• Derek Jeter (MMMM. Okay, forget what I said about athletes)
• Laura Ingraham (that girl is hilarious; we’d be pointing and laughing at people all evening)
• Stevie Wonder (have you ever seen this guy on a talk show? Oh my God, what a funny guy; plus I wouldn’t have to obsess too much about how I looked)
• Stephen King (another funny guy; horror and humor are an intoxicating mix)
• Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (a guy that can keep a sense of humor after spending time in a Soviet gulag has got to be a great dinner companion)
• Okay, well, Jesus (the wine wouldn’t stop flowing until He knew I’d had enough)
Solzhenitsyn??...I'd be afraid he'd start in on some Siberia story and spoil the mood!!...but, after being preeeeety close to Siberia myself..every day you are NOT in Siberia MUST be a partyday...so, nevermind..Solzhenitsyn is in...sorry for the rambling...
Posted by: Eric | November 10, 2003 at 05:39 PM
I've been close to Siberia too (Japan).
I've also been around Russians. 'Nuff said.
Posted by: baldilocks | November 10, 2003 at 05:45 PM
Somehow, I have a feeling you'd be able to hold your own in this crowd without the least bit of trouble.
(Unlike me; I go to pieces on a regular basis.)
Posted by: CGHill | November 10, 2003 at 06:03 PM
Amazon has an interesting book on some of Mr. Franklin's lesser known writings called 'Fart Proudly'.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1583940790/qid=1068518082/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-8429113-6341419?v=glance&s=books
Yeah I agree, he'd be a great dinner guest. :)
Posted by: toddk73 | November 10, 2003 at 06:39 PM
I would like to have dinner with Thomas Jefferson so I could get to the bottom of this "seperation of church and state thing"....
Posted by: Susan | November 11, 2003 at 12:40 AM
You sure have a good list there, Juliette! I'd have to add Mark Twain to the list.
Posted by: evariste | November 11, 2003 at 09:15 PM
Very good list. I like your inclusion of Laura Ingraham -- in fact, I'm reading her latest book right now.
Posted by: david | November 13, 2003 at 06:37 AM