By accurately reporting on the absurdity of Washington he reveals how easy it is for us humorists to write our material. Ron, we will all miss our weekly boost of your Washington insights, and in particular, your Minor Memos. One difference between Ron's column and some others about Washington politics is that his leaves you laughing on purpose. Thanks to his superb reporting, political junkies have looked forward to Fridays the way a kid anticipates Christmas. Ron will be missed, but when you've been covering Washington since the Adams' were the last father and son to both be president, it's probably time to take it a bit easier for awhile.
Many columnists merely try to be informative, newsworthy and insightful.
So does Ron Shafer. What annoys me about his column is that by accurately reporting on the absurdity of Washington he reveals how easy it is for us humorists to write our material. Ron is not only well-versed in the history of political humor, but also great at creating his own. Having performed with him at a charity show, I'm convinced Ron has a future as a stand-up comedian if not a spokesman for the Bush administration. When he first included one of my one-liners, I heard from friends and family all over the country who had seen it.