In “Dave Barry – Elegy for the humorist,” Slate’s Bryan Curtis explains why the humor columnist, who last week decided to stop writing for a while, is “the most heroic newspaper columnist in America.” After a brief career retrospective and a discussion of what makes a Dave Barry column a Dave Barry column, Curtis hits us with a novel suggestion:
In his valedictory, Barry refused to rule out a return to column-writing. Here’s an idea: As soon as William Safire shuffles off to the Old Columnists’ Home, put Barry smack dab in the middle of the Times editorial page. Barry confessed a few years ago that he’s a raving libertarian—just the kind of dyspeptic crank who would take pleasure in thumbing Washington in the eye. Give him 14 inches twice a week and let him write whatever he wants. Why settle for another graying libertarian when you can have a libertarian who makes booger jokes?
I like it.
Update: So does Stephen Green
