Rachel Maddow's words may make it to the Smithsonian

[Cyrano]

Almost everyone has seen the video of Walter Cronkite reacting to John Kennedy's assassination. At the time, everyone already knew that Kennedy had been shot in Dallas and feared for the worst. But Kennedy's death wasn't "official" until Walter Cronkite took off his glasses, turned to the camera and, straining to keep his voice steady, said: "President Kennedy is dead."

Last night, Rachel Maddow interviewed Bob Woodward on his book "Fear." After the show was over, she spent about two minutes chatting with Lawrence O'Donnell whose show follows hers. Their chatter is normal, but last night, she came out with a statement for the ages and one that may end up in the Smithonian.

She was referring to specific passages in Woodward's book. But, imo, she was referring to the incredible, unlikely, mind-boggling fact that Donald Trump is occupying the Oval Office.

She said: "It's why dogs aren't allowed to drive cars."

O'Donnell laughed, held up a copy of Woodward's book "Fear," and said it will be the subtitle on the second printing: "'Fear'" It's Why Dogs Aren't Allowed to Drive Cars"

IMO, Rachel's comment may be a giant coffin nail in Trump's pResidency. For all the millions of words that have been written about Trump, none have been more devastating than indirectly comparing him to a dog that shouldn't be driving a car.

It seems likely that some 50 or more years from now, some documentary will cover, on whatever media exists in the future, the historical tape of Cronkite declaring a president dead, -- a historic moment, -- and a clip of Rachel Maddow referring to Donald Trump with the quip: "It's why they don't let dogs drive cars."

Both statements refer to horrific moments: One, a tragic announcement of loss; The other, a simple yet brilliant statement of a deadly threat to American democracy.

[OnDoutside]

1. As I'm reading your post, that Subaru ad featuring a dog backing the car in and hitting the mailbox

is on the tv !

[TheBlackAdder]

4. I like two. One where parents drop off kid at obedience school. The other is the doggie car wash.

[lagomorph777]

19. Subaru commercials always make me laugh (dogs only) or cry (kids & dogs)

[Grammy23]

25. I like the one where doggy husband

Picks up doggy wife from beauty salon....hilarious. Especially the whining and growling.

[erlewyne]

8. "It's why dogs aren't allowed to drive cars."

I thought that was a strange analogy .... like where did that come from?

I wouldn't miss Rachel for the world and that line took me aback. It stuck
in my mind.

Now it is hilarious! Thanks DU,

Great topic ... made my day.

EW

[tosh]

17. When Rachel said that,

I immediately thought of the Subaru commercial!

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

22. I agree. Subaru has a winning compaign strategy with the Barkleys.

[sandensea]

24. Aww.

It would've been perfect with Bassets.

Very much back-seat drivers, as any Basset owner will tell you.

[OnDoutside]

30. LOVE it !

[appalachiablue]

41. Precious, love Subaru & Pooches!

[xxqqqzme]

45. That's the one

My favorite.

My son's dog barked at the mailman everyday, whether he could see him or not. As soon as the mailbox door opened, he started barking, as soon as it closed he stopped,

One day I was out front when the mail was delivered. The dog started barking. I said something like Oh that dog. Mailman looked at me and said "It's his job'.

So it was.

[uponit7771]

47. +1

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

50. Since so many of you liked that ad, here's two more of my favorites:

"Eyes straight ahead, Buster!"

And dropping the puppy off for his first day of school:

[Kind of Blue]

31. I love synchronicities like that.

The universe is responding to you. Meaning to me, Hell Yeah!

[Botany]

2. Never say never

Last edited Thu Sep 13, 2018, 11:47 AM - Edit history (1)

[colorado_ufo]

14. "Professional driver on a closed course."

"Do not attempt this at home."

Dog parallel parks better than I do!

[tosh]

18. Oh noes!

That dog is driving my car!

(Not really. My pilot-pod is on the left. )

[Red Pest]

29. Squirrel!

The dogs are excellent and attentive drivers...then....squirrel!

Applies to Trump too, but he starts out as ill-mannered and self-centered and then a squirrel (or the equivalent, which can be anything) get his attention and he goes (more) nuts.

Actually, I shouldn't compare Agent Orange to dogs. Dogs are infinitely better than that failed human.

[NoSmoke]

3. Certainly one of the most appropriate and memorable statements

I've heard to date.

[mulsh]

5. I just hope her dog doesn't hold grudges. I also home the publishers take up O'Donnel's suggestion

or at least put on the cover as a blurb.

[Liberalagogo]

6. Cats are worse:

[Cyrano]

11. It can't get worse than Trump as pResident

I love the cute dog/cat driving pieces.

But they are movies, skits, gifs, etc.

The reality is that we have a madman in the White House with the power to press the Big Button. If that Big Button were on your living room floor, would you let your cat or dog near it?

Dear Duers, Americans, and all human beings who live on planet Earth: We are in danger because an ignorant, unhinged, really stupid man is "in charge." And if he decides to nuke someplace, -- North Korea, Iran, San Francisco, wherever, will some "anonymous" be there to stop him? Who knows?

So while I appreciate humorous posts of dogs/cats driving cars, I really care more about the survival and well being of our species.

Rachel threw it out there. "It's like a dog driving a car."

Do you really want your children/parents/relatives/close ones living in an environment in which the next moment or day may bring disaster or death because a man with zero empathy says so? I really don't believe that any sane person wants to live that way.

[Liberalagogo]

28. Senses of humor are on sale

Why not get one?

[colorado_ufo]

15. Loves Toonces!

You beat me to it!

[Sophiegirl]

20. Only because

Cats believe they OWN the road.

[Historic NY]

48. LOL!

[niyad]

7. and, considering how weird the deranged demagogue is about dogs. . .

WTF! Why is Trump Such a Weirdo About Dogs? | The Closer with Keith Olbermann | GQ

[Pepsidog]

12. I just posted below about Keith but did so before seeing your post. Kieth is brilliant. How he dated

that piece of shit Ingraham I will never know.

[niyad]

13. GMTA and all that!!

never understood about ingraham either. but, he did date Katy Tur for quite some time.

[Pepsidog]

9. We haven't even hit the tip of the iceberg with this fiasco. In the coming months there will be mind

boggling revelations about Trump, his campaign, and the Republican conspiracy of silence. While I agree Rachel’s statement is amusing and relevant, once the true horror of the Trump’s presidency is revealed, Rachel’s statement will seem understated and kind to Trump. While I’m no wordsmith, something like “It’s why you don’t deploy inter-continental ballistic nuclear missels to celebrate the 4th of July” is a more descriptive statement. I love Rachel, she and Keith Ohlberman, especially his “special comment” series that got me through the Bush era.

[Paladin]

10. Another mega-bullseye statement from Rachel.

That one needs to be carved in granite somewhere prominent.

[calimary]

21. Welcome to DU, Le Grand Pronounceur!

Undoubtedly someday. Maybe the set of the "Daily Show"? After all, that show has launched beaucoup de talent that's gone far in setting whole new parameters for comedy, from Jon Stewart to Colbert, Steve Carrell, John Oliver, Samantha Bee, Ed Helms, Trevor Noah, and many more.

As far as the actual Maddow quote, I have to offer a slight adjustment:

"it's the reason we don't let dogs drive cars."

I know because I was watching last night and I wrote it down immediately. I thought it was EPIC!

[Cyrano]

36. Thanks,calimary. Too late to fix here. Will use in the future

[lunatica]

23. I don't think her statement will be what's remembered but I agree with her

I think a historic statement that will stick will be one that basically stands alone with little or no explanation. One that is repeated until it makes it into the general lexicon. My examples are:

One small step for man, one giant step for mankind.

Speak softly and carry a big stick

A date which will live in infamy

9/11

The buck stops here

At long last, have you no sense of decency

What did the President know and when did he know it.

Of course Rachel’s statement could make it into our historic lexicon, but it would have to be used and written about for a while. I don’t see a historical reference to it which is a common theme in the examples above.

[Cyrano]

32. Let's discuss this 10 years from now

By then, we'll know for sure.

Walter Cronkite's iconic TV moment is not as well known as the quotes you mention. Nonetheless, most Americans have seen it and understand it.

Rachel's quip could become a famous clip in the same sense.

[Gothmog]

26. K&R

[Capperdan]

27. Can Trump actually drive a car?

Wonder if he has a driver's license. He does know how to drive a golf cart on the greens.

[Paladin]

33. The quote isn't available on a t-shirt, yet. (Google search)

I'm sure such shirts will be available, and when they are, I'm buying at least one.

[Cyrano]

34. Yep. Sure as hell it will soon be available

Then again, you could get one made at any shop that prints tee shirts and start wearing it yourself. Lead.

[Goodheart]

35. I'm sorry, but NO.

It doesn't work, in my view, because dogs are endlessly lovable.

Don't get me wrong... I love Rachel. Love her show. Love her intellect. But analogizing Trump to a dog is an extreme insult to the dog.

[Awsi Dooger]

37. What a reach

No odds against would be high enough. The Smithsonian is not going to glorify a comment that proposes a certain president was never worthy of being president.

That may play well in partisan headquarters, and it is certainly true regarding Donald Trump, but it is not the way the highest and most revered historical institutions operate.

The Rachel adoration around here reaches bizarre extremes. Apparently no time to stop and think.

For one thing, the frequent comparisons to Walter Cronkite are laughable. Cronkite spoke to the nation, not one slice of the nation, and he didn't insult every 30 minute program into 15 minutes then restated.

[Cyrano]

38. Let's revisit this 10 years from now and see where

it falls on the scale of memorable historic moments/words.

[muriel_volestrangler]

49. Be realistic. It was a pithy comment, worth noting for that night.

It's not as if it's being talked about generally. It's being talked about on one other discussion forum, and DU. The idea that it will be historic is laughable. It's just what she, and others, have said time after time. It's not surprising that she said it, and it's what her main audience already thought.

[Ferrets are Cool]

39. It was a completely different era...

While I love Cronkite, he had no competition. In today's world, the pResident would be calling for his firing. It is laughable to compare the environment of that place in time with what is happening today in politics and "news".

[lunatica]

46. Agreed

The nation was not divided in such a bizarre way. Shock radio was not a thing and there was no such thing as religion in politics like there is today. Nor was news partisan. We will probably never know what party Cronkite or any news person belonged to.

We believed Walter Cronkite because as far as we know he never lied to us, but I don’t recall any anchorman who we didn’t believe at the time. When he retired it kind of marked the end of an era in our history, though we didn’t know it. All this is hindsight.

[Ferrets are Cool]

51. Great Post!

[Honeycombe8]

40. Not the Smithsonian, maybe. But probably in a documentary. That's a great comparison. nt

[area51]

42. "Dogs love trucks" ad

[Sparkly]

43. There are SO many moments from her, she'll need her own exhibit.

[csziggy]

44. I guess Rachel is too young to know "fish needs a bicycle"

Gloria Steinem had this to say in a letter she wrote to Time magazine in autumn 2000:

"In your note on my new and happy marital partnership with David Bale, you credit me with the witticism 'A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle.' In fact, Irina Dunn, a distinguished Australian educator, journalist and politician, coined the phrase back in 1970 when she was a student at the University of Sydney. She paraphrased the philosopher who said, 'Man needs God like fish needs a bicycle.' Dunn deserves credit for creating such a popular and durable spoof of the old idea that women need men more than vice versa."

https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/414150.html