TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

A Hilarious Examination Of The Political 'Breed'

ADVERTISEMENT

By GEOFF HAMLIN

Published: February 3, 2008

"Homo Politicus: The Strange and Scary Tribes That Run Our Government," by Dana Milbank (Doubleday, $26)

If you liked the movie "Charlie Wilson's War," you will love Dana Milbank's "Homo Politicus." Milbank starts from the proposition that those who are drawn to the center of power in Washington, D.C., are a "breed apart."

As the subtitle indicates, he examines this "breed" from an anthropological perspective, with hilarious results. His analysis includes "tribes," "status" and "totems," among other headings.

Under "shamanism," he analogizes the beliefs of aboriginal Australians to the politicians' faith in pollsters, consultants and certain lawmakers with the power to change public opinion. This gives him a perfect starting point to poke fun at Karl Rove, who he describes as "the most widely admired shaman in all of Potomac Land."

The book tries to be evenhanded in its skewering of the denizens of D.C. In a section on "Rites of Solidarity," Milbank colors Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas as a mindless supporter of presidential positions, focusing particularly on the senator's support for Harriet Miers' nomination to the Supreme Court, long after she had been abandoned by the other members of his party.

Then, in the next section, "Rites of Intensification," he pricks Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer of New York, quoting Robert Dole as saying, "The most dangerous place in Potomac Land is between Chuck Schumer and a television camera."

As you might expect, Florida politicians do not escape Milbank's keen eye. Katherine Harris, Mark Foley and Porter Goss all come in for their share of comic commentary.

This is the book to give your friends who are political junkies. If you are of that persuasion as well, read it first yourself and have a few laughs.

Geoff Hamlin of Pinellas Park is a freelance writer.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT