The Nation.



Disappointment in Iowa

deadline poet

By Calvin Trillin

This article appeared in the August 27, 2007 edition of The Nation.

August 9, 2007

Just 19 percent of likely GOP caucus attendees said they were "very satisfied" with the field of candidates. --Washington Post

Though Romney--Flawlessman--is in the lead,
So polished that he might not sweat or bleed,
The average Iowa voter sometimes balks
At voting for a mannequin that talks.
And John McCain--yes, he of straight talk fame--
Seems much too willing now to play the game.
He felt the call of Regent U. and went;
Since then, his straight talk seems a little bent.
And Giuliani, who derives his powers
From terrorists' destruction of the towers?
Through how he's dissed his family they're seeing
That Rudy is a dreadful human being.
Some shrinks might say when shove now comes to push,
They're simply yearning to retain George Bush.

Subscriber Login

4 ISSUES FREE

Subscribe Now!

The only way to read this article and the full contents of each week's issue of The Nation online is by subscribing to the magazine. Subscribe now and read this article -- and every article published since for the past five years -- right now.

There's no obligation -- try The Nation for four weeks free.

.

About Calvin Trillin

Calvin Trillin is The Nation's "deadline poet." He has been a staff writer for The New Yorker since 1963 and has written the syndicated weekly column "Uncivil Liberties" since 1986. He has authored many, many books, including Tepper's Not Going Out and Deadline Poet: My Life as a Doggerelist. more...

Popular Topics
Most Searched

Issues »

Most Emailed

Issues »

Blogs

» Campaign 08

McCain Denies He Was Ever Reasonable On Middle East | "Are you now or have you ever been diplomatic."
John Nichols

» J Street

Friday Capitol Letter | This week's round-up from Washington.
Te-Ping Chen

» ActNow!

No European Star Wars | Czech hunger strikers challenge Bush plan to deploy missile defense system in their homeland.
Peter Rothberg

» Editor's Cut

Pentagon, Pimps & Propaganda (continued) | The incestuous relationship between the government, the networks and so-called “independent” military analysts reveals the essence of a new military-media-industrial complex.
Katrina vanden Heuvel

» The Beat

California Decision Makes Same-Sex Marriage a 2008 Issue | Democrats need to recognize that social issues will be a part of the debate. And they need to get this one right.
John Nichols

» The Notion

Internet Gurus Flock to Harvard Conference | Blogging from the most important Internet gathering in the country.
Ari Melber

» Passing Through

The Disappearing Upper Class | Our focus on the "working class" vote highlights how oddly we use language to describe class in American politics.
Zephyr Teachout

» And Another Thing

Preachers and Politics | Secularism looks better and better.
Katha Pollitt