Charles P. Pierce: A Few Words About Roger Ailes [View all]

[babylonsister]

http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/news/a55144/roger-ailes-influence/

A Few Words About Roger Ailes
Very few.

By Charles P. Pierce
May 18, 2017


Because Roger Ailes was the driving force behind so much of American politics over the past 50 years, almost all of it destructive and foul, I suppose we should deal, however briefly, with his passing at the age of 77.

Let us not make the mistake of saying that his life ended in tragedy. His life was an ongoing tragedy, especially for the women who were degraded by him personally, and by the culture he created in his company. That the last thing that happened to him was that he was run to ground for his crimes against human decency is not tragic. He almost got away with them.

The best thing I can think of to say about him is that he was the central character in one of the most groundbreaking political books of all time, The Selling of the President, 1968 by the late Joe McGinniss.

Let me think some more.

Hmmm…

No, that's about it.

Nil nisi and all that, but American politics would be infinitely better today if Roger Ailes had gone to barber college.