"Dogfight," a Presidential Race in Verse, by Calvin Trillin Calvin Trillin composes poetry on deadline, Drawing inspiration straight from a headline. He likes to send up politicians in verse, Chronicling follies that get worse and worse. Earlier volumes mocked George W. Bush as the "Shrub," With a dangerous impulse to make lots of flubs. They followed the adventures of McCain and Caribou Barbie And the ascent of Obama in the political derby. The 2012 campaign is Trillin's focus in "Dogfight." Its title invokes the Romney dog Seamus's plight. That poor Irish setter on the roof of the family car, Whose tale so doggedly stuck to the former Olympics czar. There's lots to laugh about in these pages. The absurdities will echo for ages. But sad for a country with real problems and fears That fell by the wayside in this campaign of jeers. A race without poetry and played way down in the gutter, With a slew of candidates who failed to set hearts aflutter. This book lacks a certain je ne sais quoi Some Trillin rhymes are unnecessarily blah. Maybe the poet's tired of pols and their game And so fallen back on lines that are lame. Still, a weary Trillin is better than none, So this isn't a book the reader should shun. Like many a satirist, this bard is better at mean. He's looking for opportunities to vent lots of spleen. So birthers and wing nuts get lots of ink, Tea-Party-ers Trillin thinks are making a stink. The Republican primaries are a pageant of clowns. One nutty story after another, making the rounds. There's Rick Perry, the slick Texas gov who said "Oops"; And Michele B, once known as Palin "minus moose." There's pizza man Cain, who shouts "Nine Nine Nine"; And Mitt, who doesn't have a whole lot of spine. There's the other Rick, fond of his sweater vest; And "the Newtster," who likes to puff out his chest. Trillin spills endless ink on the losing chumps And silly sideshow hucksters like Donald Trump. But he eventually moves on to the Big Show, Starring Mittens and Barry, trading blow for blow. Republicans think the sluggish economy promotes Their candidate, while unraveling his opponent's hopes. But the wealthy Man from Bain Might not get a chance to reign. Awkward, distant and stiff, he often seemed like an android; His line about trees being the "right height" made all the tabloids. Such remarks and his flip-flops and car elevator Made him seem like a robot, not a Terminator. Trillin doesn't have much to say about Obama, The prez who passed health care and nailed Osama. He mentions the conventions with their theatrics and ire, Including Clint and his chair, and Bill Clinton on fire. Then it's on to Denver and the first debate, When Obama snoozed and endangered his fate. Some Dems, says Trillin, "began to panic," Was "that debate, they asked, Barack's Titanic?" The Republicans felt they might win November, Especially as Mitt swerved toward the center. Then Hurricane Sandy helped change the dynamic, And made Romney supporters more and more frantic. The strategists David, Axelrod and Plouffe, had the knowledge Of how to score a big win in the Electoral College. They helped the president earn another term, His supporters" hopes suddenly reaffirmed. Poet Trillin has chronicled it all in this book, Which you can read on paper, Kindle or Nook. While he's no Steve Sondheim, and has penned better books, Rhyming on deadline isn't as easy as it looks.