I was looking at the Gore Vidal picture-book (Gore Vidal: Snapshots in History's Glare)  and came across a choice quote regarding William F. Buckley, Jr., whom Vidal said was "like Hitler, but without the charm."

In a different article about Vidal, he's quoted as saying that the three most dispiriting words in the English language are "Joyce. Carol. Oates."

There are good reasons for why I like mean people.  Vidal is one of them.