Fear & Loathing

So, I am a bit of a Hunter Thompson nut. I, on occasion, am convinced that no other writer has approached his expertise in lining up words.
So, anyway, I am also a bit obsessive.

When you put the "Fear & Loathing" bit out there folks automatically revert to Las Vegas. A fine book, sure.
Folks pass right over Fear & Loathing on the Campaign Trail 1972, which to my thinking is far and away a better bit of the HST pantheon.

My obsessive bit has me reading this book as a prelude to every presidential election season. Every four years I read the accounts of the McGovern campaign, possible drug abuse by Ed Muskie, the ghost of Bobby Kennedy and the gloom of a possible win by Nixon.

What does the '72 campaign season have to do with our current political situation, you are rightly thinking. That HST guy was a doped up nut job, might be your discount.

This book still holds truth out in dirty hands. There are quotes and accounts that by changing a few words or names could read from tomorrows newspaper. F&L'72 addresses an election season which bares shocking resemblence to our current situation.

Clairvoyant.
Or history repeating.
Or history unchanged.

Beyond all of that, the book provides a strong reminder that politicians are, generally, grimy dangerous whores - and that in spite our eternal optimism the party machinations will serve up a shit salad to keep the old hacks happy.