About

Editor-in-Chief, Emily Zanotti

Emily Zanotti is a 30 year old writer, comedian and political communication/public affairs professional who, over years of covering and participating in politics, developed a healthy cynicism for the American public and its elected officials. For the last decade or so, she’s followed candidates across the contintental United States, marshaling the grassroots, teaching men and women who devoted their lives to public service how to be funny and covering their exploits for her former blog, The American Princess, and noted publications like National Review. Previous to that, she was a First Amendment attorney, but that job sucked, so she does more fun things now, like this.

A few things you probably didn’t know about me (Emily…this third person is getting stupid):

1. That picture of John McCain looking at my boobs was taken during the lowest point in his 2008 Presidential campaign. He was so down on his luck, that I had to buy him a Miller Lite after his campaign event. He rewarded me by accidentally posing for this shot.

2. I am what some would consider a radical libertarian, converted first from hippie-ism and then from a radical conservatism that I adopted primarily because it was a relentless source of angst to other students and professors at my tiny liberal arts college. I hate people, so the less I have to deal with them, the better. Thus, libertarianism.

3. I write like I talk, so no surprises.

4. I do not actually blog naked. Sorry.

5. I developed a keen sense of the effect of sarcasm on human behavior at the ripe old age of six when I openly mocked a girl named Adrienne for being an idiot in my First Grade class. I got my name on the blackboard, but they didn’t actually know what to do with me. Thus, my career was born. Luckily, I managed to deflect any further damage to my reputation by convincing my class that I had an evil twin named Lisa who committed mischievous acts on my behalf. I’m pretty sure “Lisa” is actually a second personality that comes out when I drink.

6. I come from a proud tradition of political women. As in, some of them have FBI files because they stood next to Jane Fonda at a rally during Winter Soldier and then converted in the mid-1980s. But those people shall probably remain nameless unless Glenn Beck would like their exclusive interview.

7. I did actually go to law school. I don’t practice law, because its boring, but I did go. One day, I plan to earn a Masters, probably in Public Policy, so that I can become the Ron Swanson I so desperately want to be. For now, though, my education merely ensures that I possess many leatherbound books that make me look smart.

8. I have never lived in DC, nor have I visited it for more than 10 days at a time. I can’t. Its a cesspool. That’s why I write this blog. Because you need to know how much the people you send to represent you suck. I do, however, love politics and continue to believe that each new generation bears with it the promise of a better system and a more effective democracy. Sometimes, that hope is lost – like when the Occupy movement occupied itself principally with defecating in bank lobbies. But I think America is intelligent and I believe American knows things are wrong. I just hope they’re smart enough to put their faith in the right people.

9. Scotch, scotch, scotch. Scotchy, scotchy, scotch.

10. I attend and dress up for ComicCon. If you don’t believe me, I have pictures to prove it. I don’t publish them on the Internet because I don’t need to be ninety years old and have my great-grandchildren ask why the computer pulls up photos of me in spandex holding futuristic weaponry. But I’m happy to show you pictures in person and give you pointers on how to best prevent chafing when wearing skintight synthetic fabrics.

You can follow me on Twitter: @emzanotti!

You can contact me at em [dot] zanotti [at] nakeddc.com.