uncognitive

as a con law junkie i've always had a soft spot for madison (plus he was such a geek!), but i think hamilton really is my overall favorite. it's a shame he gets venerated and misinterpreted by modern-day republicans as the patron saint of unbridled avarice, because i think that if hamilton were alive today, he would bitchslap some neocons

i welcome your recommendations for other founding father type bios as i've really gotten in some kind of feisty 18th century mood. my father is reading one of aaon burr right now and then we're going to swap for some sweet duel action, but i can't help but think burr will be so disappointing after hamilton after that i'm taking a break to read this biography of justice douglas i got for christmas and then the nine.

it is quite interesting to see how nasty they were back then, i agree. the dueling federalist and anti-federalist newspapers particularly reminded me of political blogs today. part of what amuses me the most is that so many people sort of put our founders on a pedestal and ramble on about some mythical bygone era of america when everything was chill and everyone baked their neighbors apple pie or some shit and politicians were honest and trustworthy and it's nice to know they're basically full of shit. the only sad thing for me is that it does seem like the founding fathers were at least smarter than most of what we've got today.

seriously, my ultimate birthday party wish is for the smiths to reunite and play a private show for my friends and me at my favorite mexican restaurant, but barring that, i think an alexander hamilton impersonator is a close second.

someone here has to do this and take lots of pictures. how much can that guy really charge, anyway?