Archive for the ‘Barack Obama’ Category
Wednesday, September 24th, 2008
John McCain is so scared to debate Obama, that he’s reneged on his Friday debate commitment all in the name of patriotism. Yup — the guy who almost never shows up for Senate votes, is apparently planning to swoop into Washington, fix our fiscal crisis and, only then, resume campaigning and debate. After all, John McCain is such a “country first” kinda guy.
The good news is that Obama isn’t falling for the canceled debate bait.
Did The Dog Eat John McCain’s Debate Notes? (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
This Friday’s debate won’t proceed,
Says McCain, while pretending to lead.
We’ve a crisis at hand.
Country first — his demand.
Be a patriot, John, and concede.
Tags: Campaign Satire, Country First, Election Humor, Fiscal Crisis, McCain Humor, Patriotism Humor, Presidential Debate, Senator Obama
Posted in Barack Obama, Campaign Humor, Debate Humor, Economy Humor, Election Satire, Fiscal Policy, GOP Humor, John McCain, Political Commentary, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor | 3 Comments »
Monday, September 15th, 2008
Palin Panic
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Obama’s campaign sure is fraying,
And the numbers are very dismaying.
If they don’t turn around,
You may soon hear this sound:
Dem agnostics and atheists praying.[tags]Governor Palin, Campaign Satire, Election Humor, Obama Limerick, John McCain, Agnostics Verse, Atheist Poem, Religion Humor[/tags]
Posted in Barack Obama, Campaign Humor, Democrats Satire, Election Satire, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Religious Satire, Sarah Palin | 1 Comment »
Saturday, August 30th, 2008
Sarah Palin For Veep? I knew John McCain and his Rovian puppet masters were cynical, but this takes the cake.
But hey, I’m a female. So I guess I have to vote for whats-her-name, right? After all, the only reason I was backing Hillary is cuz we’re both female. So naturally, now that Obama’s chosen Biden as his running mate, I must vote for a woman who STANDS FOR EVERYTHING I DESPISE:
Sarah Who???
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Dear Johnny, I can not conceive
What could possibly make you believe
That your anti-choice pick
Could possibly click
With us Hillary-gals. How naive!
You must think that we women are sheep,
Who would swoon at a female for Veep.
But a right-wingnut gal
Who’d control our canal?
Oh, that hole that you’re digging is deep.
Yes, your pick has a beautiful face
And she’ll help you to shore up your base.
But she’s wrong to the core
And (like you) she’s just more
Of Bush/Cheney … with feminine grace.
UPDATE: I’m very pleased that my Robert Benchley Society Humor Award has generated a fair amount of publicity. This article in Gannett’s Journal News is probably the best of the stories. And it has a fun companion video of me reading one of my humor columns.[tags]Sarah Palin, John McCain Humor, Palin Humor, Campaign Satire, Election Humor, Hillary Clinton Verse, Biden Nomination, Obama Poem, Feminist Humor, Gender Satire[/tags]
Posted in Barack Obama, Campaign Humor, Election Satire, Feminism Humor, Gender Politics, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, John McCain, Karl Rove, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Sarah Palin, White House | 11 Comments »
Sunday, August 24th, 2008
So Bill Kristol’s a feminist. Who knew? Yes, William Kristol, Republican con man, is oh so terribly concerned about the glass ceiling perpetuated by Barack Obama when he chose Joe Biden for his running mate, denying Hillary Clinton her shot at Veep.
I’m touched. Aren’t you?
Kristol-izing Feminism (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Bill Kristol is outraged that Hill
Ain’t the Democrats’ Veep pick. Dear Bill,
Your concern about gender
Would strike me as tender
If phonies did not make me ill.
Tags: Bill Kristol Limerick, Campaign Satire, Feminism Humor, Glass Ceiling, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden Poem, Media Humor, Obama's VP Pick, Weekly Standard
Posted in Barack Obama, Bill Kristol, Campaign Humor, Election Satire, Feminism Humor, Gender Politics, Hillary Clinton, Hypocrisy Humor, Joe Biden, Media Satire, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, White House | Comments Off on Kristol-izing Feminism
Wednesday, August 20th, 2008
The longer this presidential campaign goes on, the more worried I become. And oddly enough, it’s Barack Obama’s much touted communication skills that concern me the most.
Because as good as Obama is at speechifying, that’s how poor he is when he’s responding to questions. It’s the difference between hearing the insightful results of his thought process … and being forced to watch him think.
And that leads me to my latest verse:
Some Friendly Advice For Obama
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Dear Obama, your speeches are great,
Like a confident, smart Head of State.
But when questioned you freeze
And appear ill at ease.
Loosen up or you’ll lose — no debate!
And when queried you need to be clear.
Don’t meander and stutter, you hear?
Cuz you come off evasive
And quite unpersuasive,
While John McCain’s lies sound sincere.
I’ll admit I was never a fan,
And I’m sick of the phrase “Yes we can.”
But I’m begging you, hide
Your pontificate-side,
Else you’ll lose to a confidence man.[tags]Presidential Election, Obama Limerick, Campaign Satire, Election Humor, Head Of State, Campaign Speeches, Press Conference, McCain Limerick[/tags]
Posted in Barack Obama, Campaign Humor, Election Satire, John McCain, Political Commentary, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, White House | 2 Comments »
Thursday, August 14th, 2008
I’m starting to lose track of how many wars John McCain wants us embroiled in. He’s certainly singing a bellicose tune these days, and now you can join in with him to the melody of I’m Popeye The Sailor Man:
McCain’s Bellicose Tune (Sing to I’m Popeye The Sailor Man)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
I’m tougher than nails, I am.
I stand up for Uncle Sam.
The other guy’s weak,
While I’m still at my peak,
Cuz I’m tougher than nails, I am!
I’m one tough contender
Which hates all pretenders
Wot never has grown a pair.
I stiffs ’em and bluffs ’em
And always out-roughs ’em.
Obama won’t get nowhere!
That foolhardy boy’s incurred my wrath.
It’s “Wham” and it’s “Bam,” un’erstan’?
It’s risky behavior
To challenge this Savior.
McCain is the White House Man!
I carry a giant stick.
I’m fast with a verbal kick.
Don’t vote for that lad
Or I’ll really get mad.
Beware of my giant stick!
Obama is just a wuss,
A sweet-talking fraidy-puss.
He looks kind of foreign,
Perhaps Ecuador’an.
Don’t vote for that callow wuss![tags]McCain Song Parody, Campaign Satire, Election Humor, White House Song, Obama Song Parody[/tags]
Posted in Barack Obama, Campaign Humor, Election Satire, Foreign Policy, GOP Humor, John McCain, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Song Parodies, White House | 3 Comments »
Wednesday, July 30th, 2008
I’ll be making a big announcement very soon — probably on Friday. But in the meantime, here’s my Media Sheep, inspired in part by this Carpetbagger Report post: In context, Obama’s humble; but out of context…
Of course, we’ve reached a point at which reality no longer matters. A reporter found an anonymous source who took Obama’s comments out of context, changed the meaning entirely, and all of a sudden, we’re off to the races. As Vincent Rossmeier noted, “Of course, the simple fact that the quote isn’t accurate isn’t going to stop some on the right — and in the media — from using it as fuel for the emerging narrative about Obama.”
Media Sheep
By Madeleine Begun Kane
McCain’s a straight talker.
Ignore all his lying.
Obama is pompous.
He’s humble? Not buying!
That’s the agreed-upon narrative. See?
Facts don’t support it?
So scrap them with glee.
McCain contradicts
All his stated positions.
Just brush this aside.
He’s above all suspicions.
Minor adjustments in views from Barack?
Paint them as flip-flops
And go with the flock.
(For extra points, tell me what song parody this could be turned into with a bit of tinkering.)[tags]John McCain Verse, Barack Obama Poem, Straight Talk, Press Narratives, Flip-Flops, Media Humor, Presidential Campaign Satire, Election Humor[/tags]
Posted in Barack Obama, Campaign Humor, Election Satire, John McCain, Media Satire, Political Commentary, Political Verse, Politics Satire, White House | 3 Comments »
Tuesday, July 15th, 2008
By now, everyone’s surely seen Barry Blitt’s New Yorker cover, depicting Barack Obama as a flag-burning, bin Laden-loving, fist-bumping Muslim. Intended to satirize “The Politics of Fear,” the image is being widely criticized as reinforcing the very stereotypes it seeks to mock.
Cartoonist Tom Tomorrow has a very interesting take on the topic here and here, as does cartoonist Ruben Bolling here, and Don Davis here, here, here, and here. The New York Times queries some late night talk show hosts here and Mark Karlin of Buzzflash speaks out here.
Here’s my view in verse:
A Humorist’s Lament
Madeleine Begun Kane
A humorist like me sure knows
How tough it is to write, compose,
And sketch satiric toons and prose
And poems. It’s not without its woes.
For instance, Barry Blitt’s lampoon,
New Yorker’s well-intentioned toon,
Is meant to show as crass buffoon
The lie and bias-spreading goon.
The humor quand’ry, if you please:
This toon could fit with equal ease
In any right-wing, racist sleaze
And readily its readers please.
That’s why it draws this fit of pique
For spreading what it would critique,
Confirming to the knowledge-weak:
Barack Obama — Terr’ist Sheik!
Update: Some more funny people have chimed in on this topic: skippy; David Horsey; Jon Swift; and Talk About Comics.[tags]Barack Obama, New Yorker Cover, Barry Blitt, Tom Tomorrow, Ruben Bolling, Racial Stereotypes, Media Humor, Election Coverage Satire[/tags]
Posted in Barack Obama, Campaign Humor, Election Satire, Humor Writing, Media Satire, New Yorker, Political Commentary, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Social Satire | 4 Comments »
Tuesday, July 8th, 2008
So Obama denies that he’s moving rightward towards the middle. Sorry, but I just don’t buy it.
Unlike Obama’s ardent primary campaign supporters, I never thought he was especially liberal. But Obama’s positions on FISA, abortion rights, gun control, faith-based initiatives, and the death penalty are even worse than I suspected. (So far, he’s pretty much where I thought he’d be re ending the war in Iraq — way too slow.)
And now it’s time for a limerick:
Dear Obama
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Dear Obama, your flight to the right
Is making me feel quite uptight.
It’s alarming how fast
You’re forsaking the past
And converting to GOP-lite.
(Don Davis weighs in on being “stuck in the middle with Obama.”)[tags]Obama the Centrist, FISA, Abortion Rights, Gun Control, Faith-Based Initiatives, Death Penalty[/tags]
Posted in Barack Obama, Campaign Humor, Election Satire, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire | 2 Comments »
Saturday, June 14th, 2008
Is it just me? Or is Keith Olbermann turning into Bill O’Reilly?
The bombastic commentary. The narcissism. And, of course, the misogyny.
I’d thought that once Obama clinched the Democratic nomination, it would be safe to start watching Countdown again. Without Keith’s daily anti-Hillary target practice, I might even be able to watch it without cringing.
Wrong!
Keith’s bloviating “Worst Person in the World” anti-Katie Couric tirade was almost enough to make me turn to Bill O’Reilly. Talk about desperate!
And that brings me to my latest limerick:
Is Olbermann Turning Into O’Reilly?
By Madeleine Begun Kane
In the past I cheered Olbermann’s rants—
Loved his anti-war, anti-Bush stance.
But misogynous bluster
Is all he can muster
In Olbermann’s mirror-romance.
Tags: Countdown, Couric Limerick, Media Humor, Misogyny Satire, MSNBC, O'Reilly Verse, Olbermann Humor
Posted in Barack Obama, Bill O'Reilly, Campaign Humor, Election Satire, Feminism Humor, Gender Politics, Hillary Clinton, Keith Olbermann, Media Satire, Political Commentary, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire | 22 Comments »
Friday, June 13th, 2008
I can barely type (Damn you, broken wrist!) but feel compelled to mock McCainiac recession-deniers, like Kevin Hassett of the American Enterprise Institute. Apparently, reports of the soaring cost of daily necessities and other bad economic news are “politically motivated pessimism” meant to boost Obama’s candidacy.
Ode To McCainiac Recession-Deniers (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Behold the recession-denier!
As inflation and job loss surge higher,
He will stubbornly claim
Lib’ral press is to blame
For making us think things are dire.[tags]Economy Satire, Election Humor, Campaign Poem, McCainiac, Recession Deniers, Inflation Limerick, Job Loss, Liberal Press, Kevin Hassett, American Enterprise Institute[/tags]
Posted in Barack Obama, Campaign Humor, Economy Humor, Election Satire, John McCain, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor | Comments Off on Ode To McCainiac Recession-Deniers
Wednesday, April 30th, 2008
Sometimes I can’t help being amused by the Blame-Hillary crowd. What are they blaming her for this time? Obama’s Reverend Wright problem, of course.
And now it’s time for a limerick:
Next, They’ll Claim Obama Inherited Clinton’s Reverend
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Whenever his poll numbers lurch,
Obama-fans start up a search.
Their aim’s to fix blame
On that Hillary dame.
Guess it’s her fault he joined Rev. Wright’s church.[tags]Senator Obama, Senator Clinton Reverend Jeremiah Wright, Campaign Satire, Election Humor, Religion Limerick[/tags]
Posted in Barack Obama, Campaign Humor, Election Satire, Hillary Clinton, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Religious Satire, Reverend Wright, White House | 1 Comment »
Sunday, April 20th, 2008
Remember when the entire left blogosphere could be counted on to criticize politicians who said one thing and did the opposite? And when hypocrisy was routinely deconstructed and attacked by the left?
I’m talking about the pre-Obama-cult days, of course. A time when the sort of behavior described here, here, here and here wouldn’t have been countenanced (let alone encouraged) by half the left blogosphere. Those were the days, my friend. (McCain Trademark Pending)
And that brings me to the first of my latest pair of limericks:
Dear Obama, please tell us all why
You keep doing the stuff you decry.
Cuz the “high road” you claim
Sure is littered with shame,
As you peddle your DC change lie.
My second new limerick was inspired by Obama’s slick habit of conflating the GWB and Bill Clinton presidencies by referring to decades in discussing this nation’s problems. Instead of pinpointing the horrendous Bush years, Obama blithely tarnishes the Democratic brand with that plural decades reference.
Why does he do this? Apparently it’s Obama who will do whatever it takes to win. And that includes making sure Hillary doesn’t get credit by association for the relatively prosperous and peaceful Nineties.
That brings me to today’s second limerick:
Obama cites “decades” of ills,
Conflating the Bush years with Bill’s.
He’ll hurt the Dem brand
By playing that hand,
Leading voters to run for the hills.[tags]Barack Obama Hypocrisy, Democratic Brand, Left Blogosphere, Presidential Election Humor, Campaign Satire[/tags]
Posted in Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Campaign Humor, Election Satire, Hillary Clinton, John McCain, Lefty Blogger News, Political Commentary, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, White House | 3 Comments »
Thursday, April 17th, 2008
What did we learn from last night’s debate? That (unlike Hillary Clinton) Barack Obama falls apart when he finally encounters a hostile press.
As the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Dick Polman observes, Obama was “shaken, rattled and rolled” at the ABC debate. So, is this the kind of candidate you want opposing John “Media Pal” McCain in the general election?
And that brings me to my latest limerick:
Dear Barack Obama: Last Night Is What Happens When You Drink Your Own Kool-Aid
By Madeleine Begun Kane
The man with the tongue made of gold
Under pressure last night seemed to fold.
His supporters excuse him—
Claim press guys abuse him.
Words matter. Barack’s? Oversold![tags]ABC Pennsylvania Presidential Debate, Senator Obama, Election Humor, Campaign Satire, Senator Clinton, Hostile Press, Senator McCain[/tags]
Posted in Barack Obama, Campaign Humor, Debate Humor, Election Satire, Hillary Clinton, John McCain, Media Satire, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Uncategorized, White House | 6 Comments »
Sunday, April 13th, 2008
They were warned, but they refused to listen. And now they’re paying the price.
I’m referring, of course, to the Pro-Obama bloggers who delight in anti-Dem media bias, so long as it’s directed at Hillary Clinton.
But a funny thing happened on the way to the election: Now that the press is giving Obama a hard time over his condescending bitter-small-town-America faux pas, these press bias-enablers are suddenly horrified by media bias. Why? Because it’s their candidate whose ox is being Gored.
And that brings me to my latest limerick:
Hey Obama Sycophants, Don’t Say We Didn’t Warn You!
By Madeleine Begun Kane
“The press is unfair to Barack,”
Whines the Cult of Obama with shock.
Loaded questions, contortions
Of words, and distortions
Now wrong, cuz it’s their guy they mock.[tags]Media Bias, Press Bias, Media Humor, Senator Obama, Senator Clinton, Presidential Election Campaign Satire[/tags]
Posted in Barack Obama, Campaign Humor, Election Satire, Lefty Blogger News, Media Satire, Political Commentary, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Social Satire, White House | 21 Comments »
Sunday, March 30th, 2008
An Ode To Lefty Bloggers Who Hate Hillary (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Obama supporters proclaim
That Clinton must quit, hurling blame,
Shrieking “Stop this damn fray!”
Dems love fighters, they say.
But not if the fighter’s a dame.
UPDATE: After posting this, I went searching for some bloggers who are rational on the subject of Clinton and Obama. Here’s what I found:
Take Your Boobs And Go Home Watch
Heh
Krugman Reads His Hillary
Obama Likes GOP Foreign Policy
Obama To Blame If The Dem Contest Goes To The Convention
Dear Democratic Elite: Back Off
It’s going past Denver
The World Is Watching[tags]Lefty Blogs Humor, Presidential Election Humor, Campaign Satire, Senator Clinton, Senator Obama, Democrats Limerick, Gender Humor, White House Verse[/tags]
Posted in Barack Obama, Campaign Humor, Democrats Satire, Election Satire, Gender Politics, Hillary Clinton, Lefty Blogger News, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, White House | 8 Comments »
Monday, March 24th, 2008
Presidential Election Blues
By Madeleine Begun Kane
While pundits bloviate,
Candidates exaggerate,
Flirt with fourth estate
And would-be running mate.
They travel multi-state,
Wooing pools of voter-bait.
Think the Oval’s their fate.
Hardly ever talk straight.
Their resumes inflate.
They claim opponents don’t rate.
Prez debates? Not great.
November 5th — can’t wait![tags]Campaign Satire, Presidential Election Humor, White House Poetry[/tags]
Posted in Barack Obama, Campaign Humor, Election Satire, Hillary Clinton, John McCain, Political Verse, Politics Satire, White House | 3 Comments »
Sunday, March 16th, 2008
Posted in Barack Obama, Campaign Humor, Election Satire, Hillary Clinton, Lefty Blogger News, News Haiku & Senryu, Political Haiku & Senryu, Political Verse, White House | 3 Comments »
Saturday, March 8th, 2008
Barack Obama claims to be battling Hillary Clinton under a new set of political rules. But as Big Tent illustrates, his personal attacks on Clinton sound suspiciously like politics as usual. And that brings me to my latest haiku:
The new politics,
Courtesy of Obama:
Old rules with feint-job.
[tags]Senator Obama, Senator Clinton, Campaign Satire, Presidential Election Humor, Obama Haiku, Obama Hypocrisy, Political Rules, Personal Attacks[/tags]
Posted in Barack Obama, Campaign Humor, Election Satire, Hillary Clinton, News Haiku & Senryu, Political Haiku & Senryu, Political Verse, Politics Satire, White House | 5 Comments »
Wednesday, March 5th, 2008
Predictably, the A-list lefty blog-calls for Hillary to get out of the presidential race have continued, notwithstanding last night’s Hillary Clinton wins. Any minute now, I half-expect to read that Hillary’s refusal to bow out is racist.
Of course, these hand-the-nomination-to-its-rightful-owner rants come from the same bloggers who insist that Obama isn’t sexist and that the media hasn’t been biased against Clinton. (Americablog is but one example and no, I will not link to it.)
Apparently, these bloggers can’t wait for the media to turn its biased dirty tricks on Obama. Because that’s exactly what will happen if/when Clinton is out of the picture:
And that brings me to my latest limerick:
The press guys can’t wait to declare
That Clinton’s kaput on the air.
Then they’ll turn on Barack:
They’ll malign and they’ll mock
Him, the way they hit Hill’ry. Beware![tags]Presidential Politics, Lefty Bloggers, Press Bias, Media Sexism, Racist Accusations, Senator Clinton, Senator Obama, Media Humor[/tags]
Posted in Barack Obama, Campaign Humor, Gender Politics, Hillary Clinton, Lefty Blogger News, Media Satire, Political Commentary, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, White House | 11 Comments »
Did The Dog Eat John McCain’s Debate Notes?
Wednesday, September 24th, 2008John McCain is so scared to debate Obama, that he’s reneged on his Friday debate commitment all in the name of patriotism. Yup — the guy who almost never shows up for Senate votes, is apparently planning to swoop into Washington, fix our fiscal crisis and, only then, resume campaigning and debate. After all, John McCain is such a “country first” kinda guy.
The good news is that Obama isn’t falling for the canceled debate bait.
Did The Dog Eat John McCain’s Debate Notes? (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
This Friday’s debate won’t proceed,
Says McCain, while pretending to lead.
We’ve a crisis at hand.
Country first — his demand.
Be a patriot, John, and concede.
Tags: Campaign Satire, Country First, Election Humor, Fiscal Crisis, McCain Humor, Patriotism Humor, Presidential Debate, Senator Obama
Posted in Barack Obama, Campaign Humor, Debate Humor, Economy Humor, Election Satire, Fiscal Policy, GOP Humor, John McCain, Political Commentary, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor | 3 Comments »