Shot In The Dark: He Saw It First

June 03, 2005

He Saw It First

Ahem. I’m not saying it’s a brilliant line ["In the future, everyone will be Hitler for fifteen minutes"] that could only fall out my capacious head, and no disrespect intended towards Jeff, but I did coin it first. Over ten years ago, in fact. After Noriega and Saddam had been floated as Hitler wannabees (yes, Noriega. Those were the days) I paraphrased the Warhol line. The original is probably buried somewhere in Lexus / Nexus. That is all. Thank you, he said, in a tone both peevish and defensive.

Who am I to argue?

But then, he goes on to say (with emphasis added):

I also hereby claim a description of the Democrats’ fear of Bush judicial nominees as “mad, bad, and dangerous to Roe.” Wrote that in last week’s column. Thank you. That is all.

Ahem.

(I mean, I gotta take what I can get. Fame is, indeed, fleeting. In the future, everyone will be William Hung for fifteen minutes...)

Posted by Mitch at June 3, 2005 06:22 AM | TrackBack

Comments

Mitch--

Were you the originator of "That is all"? I long ago copped it from you, but usually preface it with, "As Mitch Berg would say..."

Posted by: Pete (Alois) at June 3, 2005 09:19 AM

I dunno, I got it from some movie (or some dozens of movies) on a Navy ship(s) where the loudspeaker announces something, and finishes "that is all".

Posted by: mitch at June 3, 2005 09:32 AM

Mitch, any chance that line was from the loudspeaker on M*A*S*H

Posted by: Les at June 3, 2005 11:05 AM

It was definitely M*A*S*H the movie. The PA Announcer used that as his sign off, to great comedic effect. The movie did come out in 1970. Maybe it's public domain now and Mitch can claim to have coined it without fear of legal ramifications.

Posted by: Saint Paul at June 3, 2005 12:37 PM

I, however, have never seen the MASH movie.

However, I seem to remember it from the TV show, too.

Posted by: mitch at June 3, 2005 01:18 PM

William Hung? I hereby claim that "In the future, everyone will be Kato Kaelin for fifteen minutes".

Posted by: Terry at June 3, 2005 03:09 PM

Hah!

I decree that in the future, everyone will spend fifteen minutes decreeing what everyone will spend fifteen minutes being!

And Lileks informs me that he's also been using "That Is All" for years. Ah, well. I guess I'll have to achieve fame and that warm feeling of accomplishment through other means.

Posted by: mitch at June 3, 2005 04:03 PM

Don't think of this as a rewrite, Mitch, but I couldn't resist:

"Ah, well. I guess I'll have to achieve fame and that warm feling of accomplishment through other means.

That is all."

Posted by: Pete (Alois) at June 3, 2005 05:38 PM

Get the facts on the Avian Flu (Bird Flu) and possibly even order some Tamiflu - http://www.bird-flu-protection.net

Posted by: Tamiflu is Bird Flu Protection at December 4, 2005 08:14 AM

Get the facts on the Avian Flu (Bird Flu) and possibly even order some Tamiflu - http://www.bird-flu-protection.net

Posted by: Tamiflu is Bird Flu Protection at December 4, 2005 08:14 AM