Fear And Loathing, Campaign 2004, By Dr. Hunter S. Thompson

[Syrinx]

Armageddon came early for George Bush this year, and he was not ready for it. His long-awaited showdowns with my man John Kerry turned into a series of horrible embarrassments that cracked his nerve and demoralized his closest campaign advisers. They knew he would never recover, no matter how many votes they could steal for him in Florida, where the presidential debates were closely watched and widely celebrated by millions of Kerry supporters who suddenly had reason to feel like winners.

*snip*

Back in June, when John Kerry was beginning to feel like a winner, I had a quick little rendezvous with him on a rain-soaked runway in Aspen, Colorado, where he was scheduled to meet with a harem of wealthy campaign contributors. As we rode to the event, I told him that Bush's vicious goons in the White House are perfectly capable of assassinating Nader and blaming it on him. His staff laughed, but the Secret Service men didn't. Kerry quickly suggested that I might make a good running mate, and we reminisced about trying to end the Vietnam War in 1972.

That was the year I first met him, at a riot on that elegant little street in front of the White House. He was yelling into a bullhorn and I was trying to throw a dead, bleeding rat over a black-spike fence and onto the president's lawn.

We were angry and righteous in those days, and there were millions of us. We kicked two chief executives out of the White House because they were stupid warmongers. We conquered Lyndon Johnson and we stomped on Richard Nixon -- which wise people said was impossible, but so what? It was fun. We were warriors then, and our tribe was strong like a river.

That river is still running. All we have to do is get out and vote, while it's still legal, and we will wash those crooked warmongers out of the White House.

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/_/id/6562575?&rnd=1098394261180&has-player=true

[rockydem]

1. excellent read

most excellent

[LibertyorDeath]

2. Yes this is a good one. Read it last week. It's a must read

He is brilliant.

[flamingyouth]

3. One of the greatest articles I've read on the election

No, it's *the* greatest. :D

[bacchant]

4. I love this. n/t

[Gman]

5. MANDATORY READING FOR ANYONE UNDER AGE 40!!!

DO IT NOW!!! Learn from one of the old masters!!

[LVdem]

6. He's always a good read...nt

[For PaisAn]

7. Excellent read

This is the first article of Thompson's that Ive ever read. Boy what I've been missing!

[Syrinx]

8. Read "Free And Loathing In Las Vegas!"

I loaned my copy out and never got it back. Been meaning to get a new copy. It is the funniest book I have ever read.

[fizzana]

9. Also read Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail

All his stuff is great.

[Syrinx]

10. I agree

I still have the campaign book. I picked it up at a yard sale or from the library's book sale. Perhaps the best nickel I ever spent. :)

[bobbieinok]

11. he was the only honest commentator when Nixon died...everyone was

so eerily polite.....even McGovern in Rolling Stone

Thompson in the magazine said more or less..'I hated him, my son hated him, my grandmother hated him, my dog hated him....AND WE STILL DO'

[Syrinx]

12. but he's still better than Bush

:(

[d_b]

13. Superb article by the master.

[omnithrope]

14. gonzo.

Love you, Hunter.