File this under, "Not for the Faint of Heart":
Here's your chance to work for Bob Woodward
(via Romenesko) Bob Woodward's looking for a new full-time assistant to act as his "right hand man or woman." His ad on a journalism jobs site -- written by current assistant Bill Murphy Jr. -- says: "You will research, report, write and edit. You will also handle administrative matters -- transcribing interview tapes, helping him keep track of his calendar and requests, and running his small office" out of his Washington, DC home.
We're going to call this movie The Devil Wears Florsheim.
"Primarily, you will work on whatever major project Bob undertakes next, be it another book, articles for The Washington Post, etc. Most of the time you will be working on several things at once, and sometimes these 'secondary assignments' can take on a life of their own."
Something tells me that "secondary assignments" includes things like picking up Mr. Woodward's dry cleaning, walking his nasty little Jack Russell terrier "Spiro", and mixing the perfect Boodles martini. Not to mention calculating prescription drug interactions, fielding Mr. Woodward's hysterical 3:30am calls, nursing him through his crying jags, and various other things that "can take on a life of their own".
Come to think of it, is it me or does this ad have a certain blasted, PTSD quality?
"Second, think about whether you really want to work for one person, being more or less at his beck and call for two years. Bob is a great boss, but this job is intense and demanding, and it's not for everyone."
Oh, yeah. Definitely traumatized. That poor son of a bitch.
So, who do you think would be good for that job? Clearly someone with a pathological need for access to someone who has access, no personal ideological compass, and an ability to hang on tight through Woodward's neck-whipping shifts of allegiance from BushCo shill to tepid war critic and maybe back again. Gotta be ready for "whatever major project Bob undertakes next", ya greenhorn. K-Lo springs to mind. Oh, no, wait:
"To be blunt, we are probably NOT looking for someone 24-25 years old, two or three years out of college, looking to move on from his or her first job."
How old is K-Lo? In people years, I mean. Oh yeah, and not moving on from your first job, which pretty much rules out the whole passel of Wingnut Welfare Queens over at The Corner.
Maybe someone should call DANGERSTEIN. He's elevated toadying sycophantism to an art form and he apparently has no compunctions about working under egomaniacal arseholes who talk about themselves in the third person. He's awfully excitable, though.
But what about Judy Miller? She's probably got some time on her hands. At least until the Libby trial kicks off. Just a little side job to keep her in quilted Chanel jackets.
"This is not a job to expect to have for your entire career. The normal model is 'two years or one book,' whichever comes first."
That might need to be modified to read "two years, one book, or until the first massive meltdown tantrum when you bring Mr. Woodward his corned beef on rye with yellow mustard instead of brown". Or "two years, one book, or until you are summoned for questioning by a grand jury, whichever comes first".
Shine up your resumes, kids. I know I'm sending mine.
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I got game…..skillz….moxie
Now I am really worried aboot old Woodie needing a new right hand man. I mean jeez, what do you do if you are left handed?
I hear Pamikins has some…time on her hands.
What is it he uses his right hand for? Oh, that. Well, no I don’t want the job, thank you very much. He can continue doing it himself.
Someone got Jeff Gannon’s phone number?
Calling Jeff Gannon
Mommybrain @ 5
No kidding.
Although I should think that his right hand has got more free time now that he’s not hand-jobbing Preznint Clusterfuck on a daily basis.
I got the Jeff Gannon joke first!
Ha Ha!
/Nelson Muntz
Ciro wins TX 23 54/45% - scumbag Bonilla is history.
CIRO!
Jesus B. Ochoa @ 10
A consumation devoutly to be wished. Congrats, Jesus!
Hey T,
I hope you are at the safe hoouse. The snark is going to be intoxicating on this one.
Nothing is better than Snark, fresh squeezed from the loins of our community
Will he or won’t he? - Junya plays Chicken…Again
Or
Why Chickens shouldn’t cross the road
As ya’ll are busy contemplatin’ the upcoming holiday season, Junya is as busy as a bee contemplatin’ what to do about Iraq (well, Junya ain’t busy by any real person’s standards, but ya’ go with the Junya ya’ got, not the one ya’ want…well…then again, maybe you wouldn’t want that one either, but heck, pretend that makes a wee bit of sense and anyways, ain’t that what literary license is for?).
Now many folks have pointed out that Junya’s entire life history is the world’s greatest monument to continual, non-stop, everlasting, this-ain’t-never-gonna-end failure. I would successfully argue that those folks are in need of some new prescription eyeglasses ’cause they ain’t seein’ things for what they really are.
Junya’s life story ain’t about failure at all. No folks, I’m sorry to disappoint ya’ll, but someone had to be the one to give ya’ the bad news.
Ya’ see, Junya’s life story ain’t about failure. No, no, no. Junya’s very existence on this Planet Earth, every moment he’s graced us with his ironically unbelievable company, every breath of air that somebody else should’ve been breathin’, Junya is all about always makin’ the wrong decision.
For example, iffen you were to put Junya in the driver’s seat of a car (I know, I know! Twould be against the law in most civilized jurisdictions and perhaps a crime against nature in 47 of our 50 states, Texas, Alabama and Mississippi of course, excepted), and Junya would come up to a crossroads and face a decision.
At the crossroads, there would be 2 signposts. One sign would say: “Follow Detour to the Left. Safety, Security and Prosperity Ahead”. The other sign would say: “Beware, Danger to the Right! - Bridge Out Ahead. Avalanches, Deep Gorge, No Public Access, and Plague and Pestilence comin’ at ya’”.
Now given all we know about Junya, given every other decision he has made in his entire life, just what road do ya’ think Junya would take?
Come on now, don’t be thinkin’ of a normal person’s decision-making process. Ok, I’ll ease your anxiety and give you a hint or 3.
Let’s say you was somebody anonymous, but we all know him. Somebody who was facin’ a decision about whether to remain a drunkin’ stupid lout of a ex-frat-boy who’s idea of high humor was demonstratin’ fart jokes at his granpappy’s funeral or whether to become a “born-agin”, “Ahm never gonna lie agin (fingers-crossed, heh, heh!)”, “The Lawd be tellin’ me what to do (Ah gotta have some explanation for these voices in my head be tellin’ me to do all this bad stuff)”, stupid lout of a ex-frat-boy who’s idea of high humor was demonstratin’ fart jokes at his Presidential Inauguration.
Oh wait a sec, that might be too hard of a decision. I mean, who could blame him for gettin’ that one wrong? How about this one then?
Let’s say you was somebody anonymous agin, but we all know him. You be fixin’ to run for President and ya’ gotta put together a team, and ya’ gotta make sure ya’ have somebody votin’ fer ya’.
The first decision ya’ gotta be deciderating about is who should play on your team. Now ya’ could go out and get the best qualified folks, but that’s really hard work tryin’ to figure out cuz you personally don’t know nothin’ from nothin’, so you turn to that “kindly-lookin” ol’ fart named Deadeye for advice (now why does lookin’ in his eyes give you the willies?).
Deadeye says: “Let’s bring in all these crazy-eyed wingnuts to do some real crazy stuff ’cause they’ve never had a chance to run things before (was that before they was let out of the asylum?)”. And oh, by the way, I should be Vice-Presidentin’ for ya’ll since these loonies don’t know ya’ just yet and I’m your bestest friend, ain’t I?”
The second decision ya’ gotta be deciderating about is how to be findin’ folks who be willin’ to vote for ya’. For that, ya’ be turnin’ to your second bestest ever friend. While you was blowin’ up frogs with firecrackers, your second bestest ever friend was receivin’ rave reviews in school (He’s feckin’ ravin’ insane!).
Your second bestest ever friend, who we’ll anonymously name Karly-boy, had the bestest idea ever! He knew that crazy people are allowed to vote! Now all ya’ had to do was convince those crazy people that ya’ spoke their language. How hard could that be for ya’?
So ya’ was faced with another decision. Get those normal folks to vote for ya’ which was gonna be really hard work, or get those crazy people to vote for ya’ which Karly-boy says will be real easy. What are friends for?
Now jes’ because those crazy people gonna want ya’ to do some of their crazy things, that ain’t reason to ignore their votes, is it? After all, crazy people are people too, ain’t they?
And when ya’ be speakin’ in tongues those words the voices in yer head be tellin’ ya’, why those crazy people already agree with what ya’ be sayin’.
Now given all ya’ know about Junya’s deciderating, what else could he decide?
Ok, one final hint to help ya’ figure out Junya’s decision-making process.
Let’s say you was somebody anonymous agin, but we all know him. And let’s say he was playin’ in this Blackj*ck card game. The dealer has 2 face cards showing for a total of 20. This anonymous somebody sittin’ across the table opened the betting with his entire net worth, his pension, his wife’s collection of sandstone and plastic bead-studded jewelry, his pig ranch, and unknown to Ma, Bab’s 1963 Orange Cadillac convertible with genuwine Longhorn steer horns.
This anonymous somebody has been dealt a face card and a 9 for a total of 19.
So the decision is here!
Does Junya…I mean this anonymous somebody stand pat and take his losses like a man (or if you prefer, the stupid lout of a ex-frat-boy who’s idea of high humor was demonstratin’ fart jokes while loosing his shirt in Vegas), or does this anonymous somebody raise the stakes by betting even more of the blood of this country’s sons and daughters, more of the people’s hard-earned treasure, more of our good name, more even of our own self-respect, and tell the dealer to “Hit me!”?
So it finally comes down to this: Junya is gonna be makin’ some decisions about “the way forward” in Iraq and knowing what ya’ll know about Junya’s deciderating, just what will the boy decide?
Junya, the question is: “Lose now, or Lose more later!”.
The author’s bet? Junya always makes the wrong decision! He’ll double-down and say “Hit me!”.
You can take that to the bank!
TRex @
8
Rock on, TRex!
It would be like working for Kurtz in Conrad’s, Heart of Darkness. “The horror, the horror, the….
alternate title:
Temp position available: Bobbing for Woodward.
It would be embarrassing if one of the resumes was from Bernstein.
We’re left with happy tenderloins when the snark has been squeezed to freedom.
TRex, I think you have found your true calling.
Woodward is a dinosaur of journalism. He needs his own right-hand dinosaur.
The Daily Show is doing a pretty funny bit on Obama now…
Larry King should apply…
Nice job, Mad Dogs @ 14!
Previous Experience
Quote Boy for George Will - 2005-Present
Dangling Participle Organizer for James J. Kilpatrick - 2003-2004
Mustache Groomer; Thomas Friedman - Freelance; piece work - Current
Am I over or underqualified?
AIPAC goes to work on President Carter.
Ideas: Presidential Provocation
Dec. 18, 2006 issue - President Carter has a new book out, his 23rd since leaving office and his most controversial. “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” has drawn fire for its use of the word “apartheid,” and a former associate, Kenneth Stein, a professor of Middle Eastern studies at Emory University, is raising questions about the book’s accuracy.
Eleanor Clift: Why do you think you’re under attack for the book and the title?
Carter: You and I both know the powerful influence of AIPAC, which is not designed to promote peace.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16...../newsweek/
Fareed Zakaria just said that this whole thing with boosh is just a charade and that he needs a therapist, not advisors.
(TDS}
I read that just a bit ago, OK. He is not backing down, thank goodness.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 24
Well, holy shit. Someone’s actually telling the truth!
And it’s my Georgia homey, Jim! Give ‘em hell, Jimmy!! Hell, yeah.
Whatever happened to Jeff Gannon? Maybe he’s back to talking mean to fat middle aged presidential advisors..any clues?
Also:
Copy (and I do mean copy) Editor for Doris Kearns Goodwin.; 2002-2003.
Jay @ 27
He doesn’t leave marks, “only impressions”.
Freak.
I think this may really be the perfect job for him. Sucking up to one of BushCo’s top suckers.
Joke Klein may want the job.
They seem well suited to one another…
Oy vey…. This is a job I know I don’t want, and I could even transcribe his stuff.
Aren’t there a few former megachurch pastors who might like “working” “exclusively” for a “powerful” “insider?” Just asking…
Now I really have to go to bed… My right pinky is EXHAUSTED from all of those quotation marks.
Some random Woodward quotes to be considered by the applicant
Carl and I had some of the most intense fights about the substance of the story and where it was going. There were no fistfights, but there was lots of emotion and distress.
This means he cries easily in a confrontational struggle. Try not to cross him
Certain political figures think when you call them and ask them for a comment; that you are somehow doing something that you shouldn’t be doing.
…and well they should. That’s why you’ll be making those calls that piss people off.
Clinton… believes that the Washington Press Corps is so out of touch that it is absolutely inconceivable that reporters would understand the issues that people are really dealing with in their lives.
Here’s a tip…don’t talk in terms of reality and don’t mention Clinton
Dole has great difficulty talking about values. He has to be pushed. He’s been pushed by his wife, by his speechwriter, by the people in the campaign.
This is a bit of showmanship to flaunt his finely honed skills of observation. Hey, not everyone can recognize a concrete bench as being slow to move. Plus, Woody’s still pissed that Bob got the Vi*gr* endorsement.
For somebody to suggest that I’m not working in the trenches just doesn’t understand what my life is.
Yup…welcome yourself to a bright future in a dark, eternal trench. Don’t bother trying to understand him. His readers don’t, anymore.
angie @ 30
Nah. No way to fit both those egos into one small home office.
angie @ 30
Woodward would probably think Klein is too “partisan.”
He is rumored to be a Democrat, you know.
Por favor, joo must forgeeve the off topic nature of thees comment.
Joo see, I can no just hold eet een any longer:
!Viva Ciro Rodriguez!
Update [2006-12-12 22:19:19 by Jonathan Singer]: With 79.40 percent of precincts reporting, the numbers are tightening — but not likely enough to put Steenky Breetches Bonilla over the top. Currently, Rodriguez holds a lead of 35,239 (55.38%) to 28,398 (44.62%).
Update [2006-12-12 22:46:22 by Jonathan Singer]: And with 95.13 percent of precincs reporting Rodriguez is up 37,250 (54.54%) to 31,044 (45.46%).
!Viva Ciro Rodriguez!
!Sangria y Gato-neep for all!
so.
but, but, but TRex– they both talk out of both sides of their mouths.
Joke is like little me to Bob’s big boy.
(I did think of Judy as I read your opening… but I really, really never want to see her again.)
Translation: “I want someone to do 90% of my job for me, won’t beg for byline credit and will take the gaff for all my errors of fact.
“I prefer someone desperate enough to work for low wages, sleep on the cot in my basement so he or she will be available 24/7, and won’t nag me to tag along to Georgetown cocktail parties.
“In short, and to be blunt, the position is for slave.”
I nominate micro-man John Bolton..I hear is trying to get into the media biz. Added bonus is he wouldn’t need the kneepads.
How does this edit thing work?
how about a 24- 25 year old soldier home from his/ her “first job” in Iraq?
Will that do, Bobby?
Jay @ 38
Double bonus: unlike working at the UN as a two-time recess appointment, Bolton would get paid were he to work for Woodward.
Jennifer Love Hewitt can help with those death-bed (and after) confessions that really help spice up a best-seller:
I nominate Tom Delays blog tender who will need extra income.
Help him keep track of his calendar? I wonder what a typical week looks like in the Wonderful World of Woodward . . . any ideas, TRex?
Stephen Colbert: “We can’t leave Iraq…the troops are just starting to get armor.”
We’re going to call this movie The Devil Wears Florsheim.
hee hee
and Sans-A-Belts, no doubt
How about Eric Blankenbaker, Joe Lieberman’s official blogger?
Steno Sue and Pool Boy are my very last suggestions.
really (!)
g’nite all, and a big woo hoo to Ciro and TX 23!
Jay @ 39
A bad question to ask Bob Woodward when you are applying for the job
neurophius @ 49
Karen Hughes edits all of Bob’s books. Just as a favor.
Patrick 4/4 @ 23
Depends - are you willing to give backrubs to Elsa Walsh?
Sparkles the Iguana @ 45
707! Score another one for truthiness.
The spirit of Rachel Corrie is upon me.
That’s funny stuff,neurophius, and #34 was good too. But I really would like to know how this edit feature works
Test
Sparkles the Iguana @ 51
Only when the potted plant on the balcony is turned to signify the need for an urgent meeting…
Matt Browner-Hamlin @ 47
He was awful. Just awful. I hope we have heard the last from him.
Jay @ 54
You will have to ask someone else. It does not work for me–something to do with Internet Explorer, I believe.
Thanks, Neuro.
Jay @ 54
After you post a comment, “edit this comment” appears as a little button below it. Click on that button, and the old comment is put into the “Leave a Reply” box at the bottom of the screen. Make your changes, preview them, and then hit “save” to put the revised comment back.
Note: you only have five minutes from the time you enter your original comment, so be quick about it. Also, “edit” does not work for everyone - certain browsers have trouble with it. Thus, if you try it and it doesn’t work, blame Bill Gates.
Colbert: “What would your gay porn name be?”
Dan Savage: “Dan Savage.”
Colbert: “My gay porn name would be Tyrone Honeybee.”
*xyz @ 57
Blankenbaker certainly drank the Lieberman flavored Kool-Aid with enough zeal to suggest he’s into submitting to iconic enablers of the far right.
And after all, someone who worked for the politician who ran the most prominent vanity campaign in recent memory should have no problem working for Woodward.
The bonus that will really attract resumes is that personally autographed set of original-owner kneepads.
One can just imagine the…ahem…oral…ahem…history encountered kneeling in those pads.
Thanks Peter @60. I tried that method and it didn’t work so yeah, I blame Bill Gates
Heading home, kids. Haven’t decided if I’m stopping at the store or not.
See you all in a bit.
Man, I have been an assistant to some truly crazy people, but you could not pay me nearly enough to ever do that job.
Jay @ 64
To quote Sam Adams, “Always a good decision.”
Something tells me this job would also involve au pair duties for the littlest Woodward. Who, fortunately, is beyond shaken baby syndrome age and would merely need to be picked up from school and have her snack prepared - Brie on crackers with a bottle of Evian.
Jay @ 64
I blame a lot of things on Bill Gates.
I heard about the new Internet Explorer 7, and went to Microsoft’s Web site to download it.
I was unable to do so. I learned that Bill Gates’ Internet Explorer 7 does not support (or is not supported by?) Windows 2000, the aging but perfectly good operating system that BILL GATES SOLD millions of copies of.
Planned obselescence?
Pretend for the moment this is election day, late in the afternoon, Nov. 2007. Taking it down to the wire. I am faced with two candidates for president. One a Republican and the other a Democrat. I am confined to these choices (perhaps unfortunately). Neither of which favor a pull out from Iraq. And I don’t discern much if any, light shining between the two candidates on the Israeli-Palestinian ‘question’. What do I do? What are my options?
DreamingCrow @ 66
Pay? Pay? Who said anything about pay?
Oh good grief TRex you did it to me again ~ swear to God…just watched a movie with hubby, brewed some tea, sit down at the keyboard, cat curls up on the desk…pull up FDL ~ I just watched? “Devil Wears Prada”…
S’cuz me now while I go dry out the keyboard; amazing it let me type this far…
Oklahoma kiddo @ 70
Move to New Zealand?
Oklahoma kiddo @ 70
Ummmmmm…you thank your lucky stars that the election won’t be for another whole year. And look to the domestic issues.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 70
Blame (a) Bill Gates or (b) Bill Clinton.
How old is K-Lo? In people years, I mean.
pfffftttt, guffaw! how am I supposed to explain this to the other people in the rom?
Peterr @ 71
Precisely.
No doubt it’s an intern job
Jay @
78
With ALL that now implies in the other Washington.
I heard Ann Althouse is looking for work…
punaise @ 80
Sorry, no openings in the complaints department.
punaise @ 80
Ann Outhouse needs a job?
OT:
I am clicking on the web ads here, because I cannot donate to the paypal/visa/mc link on the right margin.
It’s fun, easy and painless. Try it!
Oklahoma kiddo @ 82
In the worst way, but I’m not going to volunteer.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 82
Porta Potty-Mouth, meet honey wagon
jeebus, sorry for killing the thread…!
punaise @ 86
That’s it - you’ve got the job!
Patrick 4/4 @ 87
uhh, thanks?
punaise @ 86
We’re all just polishing our resumes.
punaise @ 88
When can you start? Leave your answer on page 8 of the WaPo Metro section.
Patrick 4/4 @ 90
I can telecommute, right?
Honey, I’m home!!
your zig killing skills are primo…
TRex @ 92
find anything good at the Piggly Wiggly?
your zig killing skills are primo…
saving the blog from itself, one zig a time..
“if I can make a difference in just one one thread”
punaise @ 94
Those don’t exist anymore as far as I know. But I remember the Piggly Wiggly from being a kid. A friend of mine used to rag on me as proof that southerners are illiterate and insane.
“Who has a grocery store named ‘Piggly Wiggly’?” he would kvetch.
I was thrilled the day I told him that the Piggly Wiggly chain started in Ohio.
We used to refer to it as just “The Pig”
at least Piggly Wiggly is more fun than say Safeway or Allberton’s
Here’s some associative thinking, what is Carl Bernstein doing these days?
punaise @ 98
Offhand, I think “Safeway” is the dullest supermarket chain name ever. I can’t even think of a good way to mock it. That’s how boring it us.
Teh PW is a Memphis thing.
fyi
Where It Began…
Piggly Wiggly, America’s first true self-service grocery store, was founded in Memphis, Tennessee in 1916 by Clarence Saunders.
EvilDrPuma @ 100
Maybe they should just call it “Condom’s”
Jay @ 99
Trying to get a date with Dakota Fanning?
Oh TRex
Piggly Wiggly Lives!! There’s obviously not one in Eden — you would know. However, there is one in my hometown in eastern NC. I love shopping there instead of the SuperWalmart or the Food Lion. Not surprisingly, they have the best produce and fruit. Dropped a ton of cash there preparing for the T-giving feast.
There’s hope for the small, well managed grocers.
Jay @ 99
Wikipedia sez:
So, he’s whoring a little less than Woodward is.
neurophius @ 102
The only real “safeway” is “Abstinence”.
OK…what did I say? Is my previous comment “lost” in moderation? It was just an ode to Piggly Wiggily.
The only real “safeway” is “Abstinence”.
The guys in marketing are having a hard time with that.
Patrick 4/4 @ 106
Which brings us back to boring.
EvilDrPuma @
100
I never thought of it as dull. Our high school was downtown….I remember hearing about fights there. “I’ll see YOU behind the Safeway, ese.” Brrr.
Margot @ 110
I was such a geek in high school, I
never knew where the idiot squad went to have their fistfights.
EvilDrPuma @ 111
I always knew where. Wherever I happened to get off the bus after school…. :)
EvilDrPuma @ 111
I was a townie. I had to KNOW where the fights were so that my fat, geeky, oddball self could walk a different route home. :p
ncnygirl @ 104