Media

Finally, Maureen Dowd has weighed in on Scott McClellan's book. But we don't need to tell you that—naturally by now you've read her insightful commentary on it in Sunday's New York Times. But how well do you know your MoDo? Her analysis is so deep, only a mind that is continually sharpened and trained can get all the wisdom nuggets out of it. See how you're doing with our 23/6 Maureen Dowd Reader's Guide.

1. Dowd leads with:

"They say that every president gets the psychoanalyst he deserves. And every Hamlet gets his Rosencrantz."

What does this mean?

a) Dowd has read a Shakespeare play.

b) Dowd wants you to know she's read a Shakespeare play.

c) Dowd is very smart and also very "literary."

d) Nothing.

Answer: all of the above.

2. When you read the word "psychoanalyst" in the first sentence of a Dowd column, you can be sure of what?

a) A great column.

b) Real psychological insight.

c) Learning something you didn't know.

d) Maureen was out of ideas again and is going to apply some Us Magazine-level psychology to a politician.

Answer: d.

3. True or False: when Maureen Dowd writes that "every gut instinct [Bush] had was wildly off the mark and hideously damaging to all concerned," if one didn't know better one might reasonably infer that Dowd herself didn't do everything she could in 2000 to get Bush elected in the first place.

Answer: True.

4. True or False: One would also be wrong about that.

Answer: True.

5. True or False: But that would mean that Dowd's "gut instincts" about Bush were also wrong.

Answer: True.

6. True or False: Given Dowd's love of "tough guy" no-nonsense, men who take accountability for their actions, we should expect a column from her at some point taking accountability for helping elect George Bush in 2000.

Answer: LOL.

7. In the sentence:

"We already know What Happened, but it feels good to hear Scott say it."

Why does Dowd capitalize "What Happened?"

Answer: That's also the name of McClellan's book. Dowd could have said "what happened," but that wouldn't have been as hilarious or witty.

8. Dowd refers to Washington as "narcissistic." This is known as _______.

Answer: Irony

9. True or False: when Dowd refers to the idea of "sounding the alarm" for "the sake of all the young Americans losing lives and limbs" in Iraq, she is acknowledging her own culpability in their deaths.

Answer: False.

10. Dowd writes:

"It was not the fake casus belli that made Colin Powell's blood boil."

What does the phrase "casus belli" mean?

a) A justification for war

b) Literally: "incident" or "rupture" and "of war"

c) Dowd has a dictionary

Answer: all of the above.

11. True or False: Dowd's use of "W." for Bush never gets old. Even after seven years.

Answer: True.

12. Dowd makes fun of McClellan, calling him a "sap" for having George Bush as an "idol" and being late to realize Bush was "might be just another dissembling pol." This is known as what?

a) Unintentional humor.

b) Obliviousness.

c) Projection.

d) Iambic Pentameter.

Answer: a, b, and c.

13. Dowd closes with "[Bush] was always wrong, but always very clear."

If Bush was "always" wrong, why didn't Dowd notice this in 2000 when she helped elect Bush by writing column after column repeating tired lies about Al Gore?

Answer: Who can remember all the way back to 2000!

Posted by: 236.com staff      I’m a fan of 236.com staff