Hitchens: "I Might Orgasm In My Trousers" Over Fall Of Bill Clinton

The famously acid-tongued and brutally insightful Christopher Hitchens proclaimed himself near "orgasm" on Wednesday over the much maligned conduct and exit of Bill Clinton from presidential politics.

"The ex-president revealed to a crucial number of people something that many of us already knew: he is a raging psycho," said the Vanity Fair writer. "It's very gratifying to see more people catching up to that now."

Explaining that Sen. Clinton's loss was due in large part to her husband's behavior on the trail, Hitchens, a troublesome grin appearing on his face, concluded: "That pleases me more than I can say. In fact, I think I might orgasm in my trousers."

A controversial literary figure, Hitchens has long been a fierce critic of Clinton. He devoted an entire book to the former president's propensity to bend truths and tendency to use divisive racial politics. And during the current campaign he has chimed in, every now and then, with perverse pleasure over the poor-reviews Bill Clinton was receiving.

"He is completely out of control," he told the Hugh Hewitt show. "In other words, he has a lot of good friends who keep telling him, 'Bill, you must stop with this. You can't just ramble and rant on in this mad way like some tenth rate huckster instead of behaving like a former president and chief executive of the United States.' And he knows that they're right, but he can't not help himself. And it's the same with everything else."

Speaking at National Journal and Google's "21st Century Campaign" symposium, Hitchens said that he did not believe Bill Clinton was acting in a Schadenfreude attempt to undermine his wife's campaign -- an effort, of sorts, to remain the couple's most accomplished pol. "I don't think he subconsciously wanted her to lose because [her win] would mean that he was, in some way, back," he said. "Lackluster it wasn't. It was ugly, it was nasty."

And yet, lest one think Hitchens was an supporter of Barack Obama, he had some choice critiques for the Illinois Democrat as well. On the Senator's highly praised speech on race that he gave in Philadelphia during the crest of the Jeremiah Wright scandal, the Vanity Fair writer challenged members of the audience to recited a single line.

"You can't," he proclaimed, a bit excited that his prophecy had turned true. "It was one of the most boring speeches ever made."

Hitchens also poked fun at Obama's recent address in Minneapolis in which it was officially announced that he was the presumptive Democratic nominee. Pronouncing Obama a "megalomaniac" who had the self-delusion to suggest that his primary victory would be looked back upon as the day water levels started to recede, Hitchens mockingly declared: "Just by gathering the delegate count he has arrested the climate crisis."

Comments

[tulsey]

Ah Hitch, I wish i could quit you, but you're so damn amusing. I have met the man, and it's true, he is no stranger to the ocasional cocktail. As a friend put it so well during a late night Hitchean rant." In our day we had Ottis Redding and Martin Luther King, now we have Fitty Cent and Al Sharpton." H.L.Menkin anyone?

[ivorytower54]

Part #2.
I agree with you in one regard. It was too long. That is another reason why Lincoln's address has been so historically significant. It was short. It didn't tax attention spans. But if you think that you can simply growing up in Kansas with biratial and bireligious heritage, receiving an islamic religious training at your Catholic school, distance yourself from the man that witnessed you into Christianity and still respect the Church that he was, at the time, still a member of, and discuss his social location as a half-white person in 10 sentences or 271 words (the length of the Gettysburg address), then Hitchens hasn't read any of his own writings of late.

He typically is much more wordy than Obama to address topics of equal or lessor complexity. Although Hitchens typically is more well documented and researched.


Regardless of what you think about Hichen's views on sexism, politics, or religion he is an erudite voice who will passionately engage the thoughts of others with unwaivering conviction and gusto. I enjoy watching him on programs he is invited to speak on. In fact, my ideal "Real Time" panel would include: Hitchens, Arianna,, D.L Hugeley and Michael Eric Dyson. Hitchens is great b/c he will articulate his point and unless he attacking the Clintons won't typically engage in ad hominems. That would be one of the greatest panesl ever.

[ivorytower54]

Part #1:

Duh Hitchens! More perfect union. He begins with the Attention getting appeal to the familiar. He concludes with a personal story that ties into the theme of a more perfect union.

How memorable was the Gettysburg address right after Lincoln gave it? Not very. In fact, people present thought that the President had done a poor job immediately following the presentation. Give it some time. It isn't something with a memorable sound bite like the Audience involved "Yes we can" or with a repetituous hook like "I have a Dream". It is well crafted prose peppered with a fair amount of stories. I just dug that is was formulaic with an attention getter, credibility and memorable closure. But what do I know? I'm just a professor of Public Speaking!

[madron]

If he would remove his hand from his trousers ..he would not have that problem....

[aznurse]

Okay, but please send your shorts to Rep Rohrabacher to wear on his head.

[Tulka2]

It is a human thing to be most bothered by people who are a lot like us. I give you Christopher Hittchens and Bill Clinton! They have more in commen than either would like to admit. Both are big old sensualists who can not help saying outrageous things at every opportunity. But.. i must say... Clinton has done both more harm and good than Hittchens ever did.

[RobinL]

Oh come on-----Hitchens is notoriously acerbic. You have to view and enjoy (or hate) his work without taking it too seriously. Besides, he's a brand new Yank. Maybe he's reveling in being obnoxious for its own sake, free of European....uh.....restraint?...... I like him but still violently disagree with him on many, many things.

[Wanjiru]

...this nobody found out that in America, when you speak in a foreign accent, people automatically assume that you are intelligent...

...and he's been flying on that ticket ever since...

.

[Tulka2]

I thought of Hittchens the other day when i read the contents of the Albert Eienstien letter that was actioned for 435,000 dollars. [!] It was an entertaining letter to a friend of Eienstien's in Europe. He talked about his work for the new state of Israel even though he, himself, was not a religious man. He said Jews had been so far spared the greater evils of the human spirit, but that was probably only because they had so far never had any power. [!] Then he said that while he felt sorry for people who were "slaves to religion" it seemed to him that atheists were people "irritated by the music of the spheres". When i read that line, i thought of Hittchens. Hittchens is tone deaf to mystery.

[anelder]

Actually it's with a British or French accent. When it's most others one assumes they are less than intellignet.

In Mississippi, sixty years ago, a young woman I met was enthralled by what she termed how smart and educated I was. We were both eighteen - I was from Boston. How easily we are fooled by the appearance of things.

[NABNYC]

Christopher Hitchens is obviously a really smart guy, but he went seriously wrong somewhere along the way. It's almost like he prefers acting out an image of the "bad boy," even though he's reportedly married someone very wealthy and lives the life of the old wealthy upper-class pampered white connected East Coast establishment.

It's like this guy lives in a mansion, spends his days lolling around counting his money, but puts on the cool dude shades and black leather jacket and goes out to cruise the biker bars at night. He should pick a team. Does he want to be a respected member of society with interesting ideas, insights, maybe contribute to the development of the country? Or does he prefer portraying himself as a fat, greasy old guy with pubic hair implanted in the middle of his forhead who masturbates over pictures of Bill Clinton? I don't even see this as being a tough decision. But, people have some weird kinks, so he might not want to give up his -- "photo" sessions.

[JackWOrf]

Hitchens is always entertaining to listen to, but I wouldn't take him too seriously. He's like Dennis Miller. He says a lot of "witty" things, but you don't necessarily want to take any of them seriously.

Like the way he says that God is Evil. Sells a lot of books, but I wouldn't take it very seriously.

[nathananderson]

"Hahaha... God isn't evil. He doesn't exist," said Christopher Hitchens

[JackWOrf]

Another one! He should get together with Chris Matthews.

I guess I'm naieve, but I don't understand why people hate Hillary so much. It's like hating white bread, or hating vanilla ice cream.

I know. You'll say that I'm being disengenous (sic). But it's true. I really don't see what is so horrible about Hillary.

And as far as the ObaManiacs go, wait until they get a taste of what the right-wingers start throwing at them. They'll be looking back at the "vicious" primary battle with Hillary as a love-fest.

As a matter of fact, I still say that Hillary is Obama's best choice for VP. Look at the TV ratings. Every time that Obama and Hillary were together the ratings went thru the roof. America LOVES them! They're an ITEM. Obama is NUTS if he doesn't pick her.

Obama has deluded himself about the importance of the Clinton years. There is a very simple binary comparison: Compare the 8 years of Clinton with the 8 years of Bush. It's that simple.

Compare peace, prosperity, jobs, money, and economy growth with the on-going disasters of the Bush years: War, recession, unemployment, outsourceing of jobs, a shrinking economy.

Obama needs to get out of his "bash Clinton" mode and wake up and smell the coffee. And fast! Picking anyone other than Hillary for VP is INSANE.

[mcfried]

Obama bash Clinton - HUH did you read this. The only people bashing clinton are idiots on this site or G.O. P trolls paid to stir up trouble.

[mcfried]

Huh - When has O.bama bashed C.linton the only C.linton bashing is idiots on this site and G.O.P. tr0lls

[Texanna33]

Thanks, Jack. You are so right.

The thing that the Obamaites don't understand is that the sooner the Hillary bashing stops the sooner Hillary supporters will get on the Obama train. If they think they don't need that bloc of voters they are very mistaken. Quit being sore winners for crying out loud! Hillary for VP would be smartest move Obama could make if he wants to seal the deal on the presidency.

Hitchens is the last person on earth I woud ever describe as inciteful. Yuck!

[mcfried]

I'm an O.bama supporter and agree with you about the bashing - one warning some,granted not all of them are little trollies paid by the G.O.P. so take them for what they're worth sad little blowhards or Industrious republicans. They insult me all the time - screw em - NO MORE WAR.

[ForwardtoYesterday]

Whose bashing Hillary?

The thing that (some) online Hillaryites don't understand is that it's #@#$#@ annoying to read complaints about Hillary-bashing, or Hillary supporter bashing when none of that is happening.

Now, let's return to pointing out that Hitchen is a terrific writer..and a terrific putz.

[kadene]

Since you need to be told, Bill has had his turn in the White House already. He and Hillary are the item, the package deal, not Obama and Hillary. You need to have a VP to cover your back, and I don't think Hillary would have "cover" in mind. And we don't need the constant recycling of the Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton dynasties. Good God, are these all America has to offer?

[Mekarri]

I voted for Hillary, but don't be a fool, Obama never bashed Hillary. Hillary got desperate and lost the election, with a lot of help from the media. They were relentless and mean. They sent Hillary into a panic and she started doing things and saying things that were beneath her. I was sadden by her behavior but I know it was hard run and she just said "uncle" before Obama, with the help of the media. I hope Obama wins because I have came to admire and respect him. I think he would make a great President. Personally, I think Hitchens have the hots for Bill Clinton.

[JohnPone]

unbridled ego and unhinged alcoholism are not a foundation for a base from which to speak

[KarlaElisa]

Here's more than a single memorable speech line:

"We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics who will only grow louder and more dissonant. We've been asked to pause for a reality check. We've been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope.
But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope. "

YES WE CAN.

[CookieWrites]

GO BACK TO THE UK

[Durango]

Hitchens is George W. Bush's Rummy Buddy.

I am no fan of Bill Clinton but he managed to withstand the most vicious propaganda campaign in American history. At withstood it with class, for the most part.

All those "scandals" about him were made up out of whole cloth. Mostly by the Mellon Scaiff Arkansas Project. it was a deliberate campaign to cripple a popular Democratic President.

Soley because he was a popular Democratic President.

And the media went right along with the game. Giving front page coverage to the most ludicrous and despicable rumors. Taking orders from their corporate masters no doubt.

Hitchens lost all credibility when he became a Neo-Con fellow traveler. And this is simply more of is acoholic nonsense.

[Ndw]

Even so, had Bill had any amount of restraint, there wouldn't have been as much to go on. I've always thought that he didn't take enough responsibility for his part in feeding the propaganda campaign against himself. They would have tormented him anyway - he didn't have to give them ammunition.