Once, America had Twain. Then, America had Vonnegut.

[leftofthedial]

Now we are on our own.

[dflprincess]

1. We do have Jon Stewart and the writers at the Daily Show

we're not entirely on our own.

[leftofthedial]

2. They are pretty good.

[Occam Bandage]

3. Now for ten years we've been on our own, and moss grows fat on a rolling stone.

But, that's not how it used to be.

[leftofthedial]

4. My Chevy won't start.

And Katrina done took out the levee.

[Taverner]

5. There were voices in between Twain and Vonnegut

And there are voices now

How about Chuck Palahniuk?

Al Franken?

Jim Hightower?

Cenk?

True - Vonnegut and Twain saw things in a view that was miles ahead of everyone - but there are/will be folks who will do that in their own way.

BTW in terms of those between Twain and Vonnegut - what about Pete Seeger and Will Rodgers?

[leftofthedial]

6. Dude. Pete Seeger plays the banjo!

The freaking banjo!

;-)

[Taverner]

7. This does not matter

"Voices" occur in many forms. The banjo is one of those forms, and if you don't believe me - go look at Pete Seeger, his life, his songs - and you tell me that isn't on the same level as Mark Twain. As Kurt Vonnegut.

[leftofthedial]

20. I'm teasing. I'm a musician. I HAVE to poke fun at banjo players,

otherwise I'd lose all cred.

Seeger is the real deal!

[hootinholler]

8. So doew Steve Martin.

So? :shrug:

-Hoot

[tanngrisnir3]

15. Apparently, he also irons kitty cats.

[leftofthedial]

30. Oh the irony!

[mitchum]

10. That is one, but not the only, reason that I'm not a fan of Seeger

I agree with the man's politics, etc...
but I absolutely loath his approach to his art and performing.
He's the folkie equivalent of one of jazz's "moldy figs"
I even hate his speaking voice.

[leftofthedial]

25. I am also a political,

but not a musical fan.

[mitchum]

9. We also had Ambrose Bierce...who in some ways made even Twain...

seem like Norman Vincent Peale

[roughsatori]

28. “War is God’s way of teaching Americans geography.”

Is a good Bierce quote; and still applicable.

[Bluerthanblue]

11. Garrison Keillor is pretty good-

if you take the time to listen.

At least imo-

[Schema Thing]

12. Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert are carrying on that tradition quite well.

[leftofthedial]

21. Theirs are the best writers on TV,

maybe the best writers in the country.

[DoctorMyEyes]

13. Throw in Steinbeck and you've named my top 3 favorites

Was sad to lose Kurt. He's with God now. }(

[leftofthedial]

22. Okay. You convinced me.

Steinbeck too.

[writerdad]

14. George Carlin

George Carlin follows in the footsteps of Lenny Bruce as he brilliantly dissects the political and media landscape from the comedy stage. He is tragically funny and one is left thinking long after the laughter subsides.

[DoctorMyEyes]

17. People keep naming good writers and performers but they're not the same

They don't use fiction to inform and enlighten the way Twain or Vonnegut (or Steinbeck) did. I can't think of a single fiction writer alive right now who can compare. Gibson's Idoru was pretty damn good - but I don't think even he would compare himself to Vonnegut

BTW - I enjoy Sarah Vowell very much, but like Hightower and Franken - it's not fictional story telling.

And even if you wanted to include Carlin - he's gone now too.

[mitchum]

27. I recommend Richard Price as an acerbic fiction writer...

if he would just quit writing those damn crime novels
and go back to writing...uh...real literature

[ConcernedCanuk]

19. That's who came to mind for me also - I've listened to most of his albums

.
.
.

I used to own this one




For those that do not know, it was called "Occupation: Foole"

and in his album he states

well, I just spelled it with the final "e" just to piss them off

he was talking about "the establishment" of course

We lost him too soon

George woulda LOVED to be performing after President Obama got elected

I can/cannot imagine what sorta stuff Carlin would come up with now

BUT IT WOULD BE GOOD!

oh yeah .. .

RIP

[leftofthedial]

26. I like George Carlin immensely.

He eviscerated the lies at the hearts of religion, conservatism, and conformity. I treasure his words.

But he was no Vonnegut.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

16. If Mark Twain were alive today he'd have a cartoon on Adult Swim.

[leftofthedial]

23. That's a funny ,

and not inappropriate, observation.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

29. It'd be a good medium for Twain. And Vonnegut.

A lot of their work was very cartoonish.

[Bread and Circus]

18. I really like the OP. It's poignant. Twain and Vonnegut, two great thinkers.

[leftofthedial]

24. Thanks.

There is something uniquely American about their writing. It is gentle, but razor sharp and always makes the reader look at reality just a little differently--that crucial little bit differently. Today's writers--and many great ones are named above--are so immersed in the irony of our age that it is easy to ignore that they are talking about us. Me. You. Us.

[Swede]

31. I thought Shania was Canadian.

[leftofthedial]

32. She was.

But she gave herself to us completely.

Until we stopped tucking twenties into her g-string.