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Rummy and Newt, War and (In)Fidelity

Donald Rumsfeld and Newt Gingrich have more in common than being out of power. They're both apparently fans of the legendary German composer Richard Wagner (that's pronounced VAHG-ner, while lifting your head and looking down your nose).

Rummy and Newt were spotted Tuesday night - separately - at the Kennedy Center enjoying Placido Domingo's stirring performance in Die Walkure, the second of four operas that make up Wagner's Ring cycle.

Rumsfeld looked to be out on a "double date," according to a Wagner aficionado and Sleuth informant; Gingrich was on a single date with his wife, would-be first lady Calista (if her husband ever officially enters the race).

Wagner touches on two main themes in this mythological opera: war and marital fidelity. We can only imagine how exhilarating the "Ride of the Valkyries" scene was for Rummy. As Washington Post reviewer Tim Page wrote, the "airplanes, parachutes, modern warfare in all of its atrocity -- seemed to be lifted directly from 'Apocalypse Now.'"

And of course we couldn't stop ourselves from imagining how Newt reacted to the scene of Woltan's wife, Fricka, the protector of marriage, railing against the adulterous (and incestuous) love of Siegmund and Sieglinde. (To fully understand what we mean, click here.)

Is there an opera more apropos for these two?

By Mary Ann Akers  |  April 19, 2007; 10:40 AM ET
 
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Comments

Newt tell Florida to "Drop Dead", Obama takes campaign cash from Gangsta Rap executives, McCain wants to "bomb, bomb" Iran, Romney talks about Hitler and Hillary invades Obama turf on http://www.solidpolitics.com

Posted by: William | April 19, 2007 12:37 PM | Report abuse

Ms. Sleuth -

Until now I have found myself liking very much your sideways take on many current events and public figures, but really - - this is just wrong.

As I see it, either you are trying to sick your trained snark on these two burnt out old know-it-all authoritarians - and not only missed but in the bargain have showed yourself not so much a Wagnerite and a dilletante -

or you are trying to sick your snark on this this irreducible artist splendor - and should be taking your criticism over to the WaPo editor in charge of judging who gets to post reviews.

I'm about as far as one can get from a supporter of either of these appalling egomaniacs,

except now I learn that perhaps - I repeat, perhaps - one, or both, enjoy either the greatest ever artistic achievement or at least this section of it,

and MAY even qualify as a Wagnerite.

[Wagnerites make for exceptionally strange bedfellows - - which seems apt given the awfulness of the man who composed it all and how staggeringly brilliant his achievement was at so many levels. Hitler was a enthusiast, if not precisely a Wagnerite. But it must be noted as well that every single major Jewish-born conducter since WWII has been both Wagnerite and Wagnerian - though presumably none of them Wagnerfilian.].

However, if it is truly so that one or the other or both of the Felix of War and the Oscar of Policy are Wagnerites -

of which I remain deeply skeptical, because each of them went with others, and the presence of the great Domingo may have had something to do with their attendance,

then might I suggest it possible that the worn out warrior and phatuous philanderer were scouting out the work in hopes of convincing one or both of a certain Resident of a certain local landmark and his backup might attend the final opera in the cycle,

to catch a glimpse of where they've headed the country,

or to learn irony,

or at the very least to serve as sources of amusement.

Posted by: wilski | April 20, 2007 3:19 AM | Report abuse

Where is Spiro when we need him to generate some Real News? Us Nattering Nabobs of Negativity are still out here nattering, we just can't seem to find a hot microphone.

I say its better that Rummy and Newt are kept busy by Opulence and Opera, because I sure don't want them near any decisions of any kind. Be retired and be quiet, please!

Posted by: centexaxe | April 20, 2007 11:05 AM | Report abuse

Richard VAHGner was a giant of the nineteenth century. Would you provide a pronunciation guide and snide suggestions for body language when discussing Darwin, Marx, Bismark, Victoria?

Posted by: Monte | April 20, 2007 12:37 PM | Report abuse

Cheap snotty anti-wagnerian witticism is an unavoidable infectious meme among the anglo-speaking world and this is nothing but the bazillionth sample.

*YAWN*

It's the Mona Lisa's smile of musical commentary.
Enough, really ...

Posted by: Saddam Hamanein | April 22, 2007 4:48 PM | Report abuse

I am tired of this bunch shoot them all.

Posted by: aaa | April 22, 2007 6:13 PM | Report abuse

You, Ms. Akers, make it obvious by your references to Wagner that you have not appreciated his music. You are to be pitied for having missed experiencing some of the greatest music ever composed, sung or played.

Posted by: Charles | April 24, 2007 1:34 AM | Report abuse

Ms. Sleuth, trust me: all the writing, blogging and etc. you have done and will do for your entire life will not have the meaning and depth of one bar - four beats -- of music from Mr. VAHG-ner's "Die Walkure." Just thought you'd like to know.

Posted by: Elizabeth | April 24, 2007 1:41 AM | Report abuse

My dear Mary Ann, do you know that photo of the big toe on the statue of the Emperor Constantine with a tiny kitten next to it? When it comes to VAHGner, my dear, the big toe belongs to the statue of the composer and you are a flea on the kitten.

Posted by: Rachel F. | April 24, 2007 1:47 AM | Report abuse

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