Timothy McSweeney's Header Image

J O H N   M c C A I N
G I V E S   I T   T O   M E
S T R A I G H T .

BY ELLIE KEMPER

- - - -

My Zit

Do we see the zit on your chin? Yes. Is it the first thing we notice? Unless we're looking at your chin, no. You're wearing a lot of eye makeup, so that is helping to draw attention to your eyes. Away from your chin. Where you have a zit. Yes, you have a zit on your chin. Of course we can see it. But it is not the end of the world. People are going to focus more heavily on your eyes, where you are wearing a ton of eyeliner and mascara. When the zit gets bigger, we might notice it more. In the meantime, stop acting like everyone is staring at your zit. They're not. But you do have one.


My New Jeans

Do you look fat in those new jeans? No. Do they look good on you? Unfortunately, not really. Why do you insist on wearing skinny jeans? I know that skinny jeans are fashionable, but they aren't for everyone. They work well for tall women with very thin legs. You have thin legs, in a way, but they are too short for skinny jeans. Does that make sense? You don't look fat in them; they just aren't flattering. Why don't you wear some low-rise flare instead? Those look good on just about everybody.


The Odds of the Subway Tunnel
Collapsing While I Am in It

This is very, very unlikely. How many people ride the subway every day, and how many people are victims of the tunnel collapsing on them? The answer is about 4 jillion, and zero. Yes, theoretically, the tunnel could collapse on you. Theoretically, we could be in Iraq for a thousand more years. The solution, however, is not to stop riding the subway but, rather, to stop worrying about things that are highly unlikely. If you are looking to worry about something, try your mortgage payment. That entire mess is your own stupid fault, so don't come crying to me.


Being Dumped

Did he break up with you? Yes. Are you a bad person? Not because of that. He just didn't want to be with you. You have no control over that. Here is something you do have control over: shopping! Let's get you some new pumps. And stop crying. He's just not worth it.


This New Chicken Recipe

Is not very good. Did you forget to add the broth? Did you bake instead of broil? Something is wrong with it. What is it? Did you accidentally skip a step? Did you misread an ingredient? Something just isn't right. Can we order pizza instead?


The HPV Vaccine

If you don't already have HPV, you should definitely get this. I don't care how much it costs. What is more important than your health? I'll tell you what: a greater military commitment in Iraq. But directly following that important issue is your health. Now, to be honest with you, you probably already have HPV. Most people do. Hell, I probably do. It's sort of impossible not to get it. You can get it by having sex, by not having sex, by thinking about getting it, by trying on a swimsuit at H&M. Nonetheless, you should get this vaccine. Even if you do already have HPV, it can't hurt to get the vaccine. After all, we must do more to take care of ourselves, to prevent chronic diseases when possible, and do more to adhere to treatment after we are diagnosed with an illness. That last sentence was taken directly from my website.


My Taste in Music

This could really use some work. I know that you must know there is more out there than Rilo Kiley, Vampire Weekend, and Amy Winehouse. But I am searching your iTunes and I am seeing that this is just about all there is. What about some other kinds of music, like jazz, or classical? Have you heard of these things? The Beatles are also a good band. You should listen to at least some music that happened before 2007.


My Vote

Look, I can't tell you who to vote for. You have to go with what is in your heart. I'll tell you what's in my heart: bombing Iran. But I can't tell you what's in your heart. If you want a president who has actually done something with his life, who isn't a wuss, and who is much older than anyone else, then you should vote for me. If you don't vote for me, no big deal. However, in that case, you should know that I was only trying to make you feel better about your zit. It is huge.

- - - -

OTHER McSWEENEY'S FEATURES:

- - - -

John McCain Gives It to Me Straight By Ellie Kemper
The Berliner Ensemble Thanks You All By Marcel Dzama
The Catcher in the Retirement Home By Teddy Wayne
At My Power Seder Table By Sigmund Stern
Bomb Disposal: A Primer By Jim Stallard

- - - -

MAIN PAGE   |   ARCHIVES

 

Memories of Amanda Davis

 


Red dot denotes content that is new today.

Black dot denotes newish content.

McSWEENEY'S STORE

SUBSCRIBE TO:
McSWEENEY'S
THE BELIEVER
WHOLPHIN

FUTURE McSWEENEY'S BOOKS

THE AMANDA DAVIS HIGHWIRE FICTION AWARD

INVITE A McSWEENEY'S AUTHOR TO SPEAK IN YOUR TOWN OR COLLEGE

McSWEENEY'S MONTHLY MAILING LIST

McSWEENEY'S-RELATED EVENTS AND VARIOUS TOUR DATES

ORDER INQUIRIES AND ADDRESS CHANGES

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
FOR BOOKS
FOR THE QUARTERLY
FOR THE WEBSITE
FOR WHOLPHIN

McSWEENEY'S INTERNSHIPS

CONTACT US

- - - -

LETTERS TO McSWEENEY'S

LISTS

McSWEENEY'S PREDICTS

McSWEENEY'S RECOMMENDS

NEW WHOLPHIN FILM

DAN LIEBERT, VERBAL CARTOONIST

JOKES BY BRIAN BEATTY

REVIEWS OF NEW FOOD

DISPATCHES FROM MOSCOW

SO YOU WANT TO BE PRESIDENT?

DISPATCHES FROM THE ANACOSTIA

THE WINNER'S CIRCLE WITH ERIC FEEZELL

BEN GREENMAN'S FAKE CELEBRITY MUSICALS

DISPATCHES FROM A HUMANITARIAN JOURNALIST

DISPATCHES FROM IRAQ

SHORT IMAGINED MONOLOGUES

PHILIP GRAHAM SPENDS A YEAR IN LISBON

STAINED TEETH: A COLUMN ABOUT WINE

DISPATCHES FROM THE NAPOLEONIC WARS AT THE MET

KEVIN DOLGIN TELLS YOU ABOUT PLACES YOU SHOULD GO IN EUROPE

SONGS OF ENEMIES AND DESERTS: LIVING WITH THE SUDAN LIBERATION ARMY

LAWRENCE WESCHLER'S EVERYTHING THAT RISES: A BOOK OF CONVERGENCES

THE CONVERGENCES CONTEST

ABOUT WHAT IS THE WHAT

ABOUT BOWL OF CHERRIES

ABOUT COMEDY BY THE NUMBERS

ABOUT JOHN BRANDON'S ARKANSAS

ABOUT MICHAEL CHABON'S MAPS AND LEGENDS

LETTERS FROM AN EARTH BALL TO, OR CONCERNING, SEAN HANNITY

DISPATCHES FROM ADJUNCT FACULTY AT A LARGE STATE UNIVERSITY

ADVICE FROM A PERSON WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGY

DISPATCHES FROM THE NBA ENTERTAINMENT LEAGUE

JOHN MOE'S POP-SONG CORRESPONDENCES

B.R. COHEN'S ANNALS OF SCIENCE

INTERVIEWS WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE INTERESTING OR UNUSUAL JOBS

OPEN LETTERS TO PEOPLE OR ENTITIES WHO ARE UNLIKELY TO RESPOND

DISPATCHES FROM A PUBLIC LIBRARIAN

MICHAEL IAN BLACK IS A VERY FAMOUS CELEBRITY

DISPATCHES FROM ROY KESEY, AN AMERICAN GUY MARRIED TO
A PERUVIAN DIPLOMAT LIVING IN CHINA


STEPHEN ELLIOTT'S POKER REPORT

- - - -

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL