Archive for the ‘Congress Humor’ Category
Tuesday, July 17th, 2007
Remember when the Republican majority flipped out at the mere whisper of the word filibuster? Remember when GOPers led by Bill Frist, Mitch McConnell, and Trent Lott threatened the “nuclear option” if Democrats had the audacity to filibuster any of George Bush’s extremist judicial nominees?
Those were heady days back then, when Republicans would scream “Up or down vote!” and decry Democrats as “obstructionists,” and the media would obediently parrot their condemnations. Oh yes … and the Democrats caved and failed to filibuster, giving us a whole slew of rightwingnut federal judges who will haunt us for many decades to come.
Well now that the Republicans are the minority party they just love the filibuster and have conveniently forgotten that they ever condemned it.
Back when filibusters were “bad,” I wrote a filibuster song parody to the French-Canadian children’s song Alouette. Somehow it seems like a good time for a new set of lyrics to the same tune:
The Full-a-Bluster Song
By Madeleine Begun Kane
“Filibuster.
Ban the filibuster!”
Ancient bluster
from the GOP.
With a Dem majority
Republicans think differently:
“Great device!
Ain’t it nice.
Blocks Dem bills!
They’re all on ice.”
Oh…
Filibuster
Suddenly has luster.
Grand Old Party’s
Hack Hypocrisy.
(You can find more of my political song parodies here.)[tags]Filibuster, GOP Hypocrisy, Trent Lott, Mitch McConnell, Bill Frist, Song Parody, Republicans, Iraq War, Nuclear Option, Up Or Down Vote, Obstructionism, Judicial Nominees[/tags]
Posted in Congress Humor, Constitution Humor, Filibuster Humor, Foreign Policy, GOP Humor, Iraq War Humor, Legislation Humor, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Senate Satire, Song Parodies, Trent Lott, Uncategorized | 7 Comments »
Wednesday, July 11th, 2007
Dan Froomkin isn’t surprised that “confronted with a tide of anti-war sentiment and a growing number of defecting Republican lawmakers, the White House is changing not its policy on Iraq, but its message.” Froomkin pithily sums it all up:
Enter the new White House talking point: You want out? We want out, too!
And that brings me to my latest limerick:
Message: I Share … Your Goals. (Bush to the Revolting Republicans)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Bush’s party has grown rather sick
Of the war in Iraq spawned by Dick,
Cause Election ’08
Looms and threatens their fate,
And Rove platitudes won’t end it quick.
(You can find more of my antiwar humor here.) [tags]Bush War, Iraq War, Antiwar Sentiment, Revolting Republicans, Election 08, Defecting GOP Lawmakers[/tags]
Posted in Congress Humor, Election Satire, Foreign Policy, George Bush Satire, GOP Humor, House Satire, Iraq War Humor, Karl Rove, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Senate Satire, White House | 4 Comments »
Tuesday, May 22nd, 2007
Everybody’s reporting that the Democrats have dropped withdrawal dates from the Iraq war funding bill. If this is really true, Rachel Maddow says she’ll go insane, and so will I:
Democrats, Heal Thy Selves! (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
The Dems disappoint once again,
Caving in to Dub’s warmong’ring yen.
Timeline’s gone from the bill.
Checks on Bush? Nothing! Nil!
Bush says, “Heel!” and the Dems reply, “When?”
UPDATE: If you’re mad at Congress too, you can Take the Iraq Vote Pledge here, and it will be sent to your representatives. It reads:
I pledge to vote against every Senator and Representative who approves funding to continue the disastrous Iraq War.
We have already given far too much of our blood and treasure – and killed far too many Iraqis – for a war based on lies. We are now occupying a hostile nation divided by civil war for the benefit of military contractors and Big Oil.
The only way to support our troops is to bring them home NOW, and no funds should be used for any other purpose. If Congress fails to bring our troops home, I will do everything I can – and urge everyone I know – to defeat pro-war Senators and Representatives, both in my party’s primary elections and in the November general election.
[tags]Iraq War Spending Bill, Iraq Timeline, Withdrawal Dates, Democrats, Warmongering, Rachel Maddow, President Bush[/tags]
Posted in Congress Humor, Democrats Satire, Foreign Policy, George Bush Satire, House Satire, Iraq War Humor, Legislation Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Senate Satire, White House | 10 Comments »
Friday, May 11th, 2007
Please forgive me for not being all that impressed with the Republican Gang of Eleven, who supposedly hammered George Bush about Iraq and had the “most unvarnished conversation they’ve ever had with the president.” And Tim Russert’s breathless reports about this so-called “defining pivotal moment” in the Iraq debate (and his media echo chamber) merely enable these eleven endangered Republicans to dupe their constituents into believing that they’re finally doing something about the war in Iraq.
All eleven voted with the President on the Iraq war spending bill and the redeployment bill that came before Congress this week. So woopdidoo! And a limerick too:
Ode To the Lame GOP Gang Of Eleven
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Eleven Republicans bray:
“We told Dubya what’s what — had our say.
We critiqued Bush’s war
And we gave him what-for.”
Then they all vote the President’s way. [tags]Iraq War, President Bush, Republicans Humor, Media Echo Chamber, Unvarnished Conversation, Defining Pivotal Moment, Gang Of Eleven, GOP, Tim Russert[/tags]
Posted in Congress Humor, Foreign Policy, George Bush Satire, GOP Humor, House Satire, Iraq War Humor, Media Satire, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, White House | Comments Off on Ode To The Lame GOP Gang Of Eleven (Updated)
Wednesday, May 2nd, 2007
President Codpiece celebrated “Mission Accomplished” day by vetoing the Iraq war spending bill. Why turn down money he’s just dying to get his grubby hands on? Cause those mean Dems are trying to make him end the war some time during his Presidency. And that just ain’t gonna happen.
No way will George W. Bush clean up his own mess! He’s never done it before, so why start now? Bush has always used the here … catch approach to life, kicking the can down the road and sticking somebody else with problems he created.
Bush’s Iraq Strategy: Here … Catch!
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Kick the can down the road—that’s the plan:
Stick the war mess on some other man.
Wreak much havoc abroad
And at home. Oh my Gawd!
Then say, “Catch! Fix Iraq and Iran.”
=========
And now some links, for your reading pleasure:
* Hillary’s Missed Opportunity To Obtain A ‘Stranglehold’ On The Nomination
* Latest Carnival of Satire
* Carnival of the Feminists
* Caption Contest Day at the Mattress Police
* Carnival of the Vanities
* Carnival of Family Life
* Carnival of the Storytellers
* Writerly Types Carnival
* Carnival of Satire
* Carnival of Conflict
* Carnival of the Insanities
* Carnival on Observations of Life
* Best of Me Symphony
* This Is Not My Country
* Worldwide Opinions
UPDATE: How could I forget to mention this? I’m running another limerick contest on my other blog. The theme is mothers and there are cash prizes for the two best limericks! [tags]The Global War On Terror Supplemental, Iraq War, George W. Bush Satire, Iraq Humor, Iran Humor, President Codpiece, Mission Accomplished, War Spending Bill[/tags]
Posted in Congress Humor, Foreign Policy, George Bush Satire, GOP Humor, Iraq War Humor, Legislation Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Senate Satire, White House | 7 Comments »
Monday, April 9th, 2007
On April 1, 2007 U.S. Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham held a press conference in Iraq, in which Sen. Graham rhapsodized about buying “five rugs for five bucks” in a Baghdad marketplace. This was part of their joint effort to convince the American people that the war in Iraq is going far better than the media would lead us to believe.
And that brings me to my latest limerick:
Merchants Of Hype
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Five rugs for five bucks! What a deal!
Baghdad-shopping for Graham’s quite a steal.
Now I’m sold on the war
Cause I know what it’s for:
It’s to carpet Graham’s home. How surreal!
=========
And now some links, for your reading (and viewing) pleasure:
* Bush U.S. Attorney Disgraced by Appeals Court for Sham Prosecution of Innocent Woman (Buzzflash Analysis)
* Romney’s Fatal Admission: ‘I Hunted Gays Only Twice’
* Mitt Shoots Himself In The Foot
* Caution: Genius At Work
* what are friends for, if not to bomb little upstart arabic countries?
* The Talking Dog Interviews Marc Falkoff, co-counsel to 17 Yemenis held at Guantanamo
* Levin Shows The Dems Cards [tags]Lindsey Graham, Five Rugs For Five Bucks, John McCain, Iraq capitalism, Baghdad Marketplace, Baghdad Shopping, Iraq War Satire, Blog Publicity, Linky Love, Skippy, Don Davis, Shakesville, Booman, OneGoodMove, Levin, Romney[/tags]
Posted in Congress Humor, GOP Humor, Iraq War Humor, John McCain, Lindsey Graham, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Senate Satire | 1 Comment »
Thursday, April 5th, 2007
Rachel Maddow has an update on Orrin Hatch’s smear campaign against Carol Lam, the U.S. Attorney for San Diego who was recently fired by the Justice Department. Senator Hatch has now issued a just-barely-an-apology for telling the following lies about Lam this past Sunday on NBC’s Meet the Press:
She was a former law professor, no prosecutorial experience, and the former campaign manager in Southern California for Clinton.
I’ve summarized this sorry saga in a pair of limericks called Truth On The Lam:
Truth On The Lam
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Orrin Hatch hatched big lies about Lam,
Won’t admit that his claims are a sham.
She was wrongfully axed,
But he conjured up “facts”.
About truth Hatch does not give a damn.
Under pressure, Hatch issues a letter
To Tim Russert that isn’t much better
Than his televised lies.
Hatch just barely denies
That his Lam claims belong in the shredder. [tags]Carol Lam, Orrin Hatch, Senator Hatch, Tim Russert, Televised Lies, Rachel Maddow, Smear Campaign, U.S. Attorney, San Diego, Justice Department, NBC’s Meet The Press, Prosecutorial Experience[/tags]
Posted in Carol Lam, Congress Humor, Corruption Humor, Justice Department, Law Satire, Media Satire, Orrin Hatch, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Senate Satire | 3 Comments »
Sunday, March 25th, 2007
Dems Pull Bush’s Chain
By Madeleine Begun Kane
The Congressional Dems reached a deal.
No, it isn’t ideal, yet I feel
It’s all right—a first step.
Stop this war? Dems said, “Yep!”
As for reining in Bush, they said, “Heel!” [tags]Congress Humor, Iraq War, Spending Bill, House Bill, Rein In Bush, U.S. Troops Readiness, Veterans’ Health and Iraq Accountability Act, Strategic Redeployment, U.S. Troops[/tags]
Posted in Congress Humor, Constitution Humor, Democracy Humor, Free Speech, George Bush Satire, GOP Humor, House Satire, Iraq War Humor, Legislation Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Wingnuts | 3 Comments »
Friday, March 9th, 2007
What George Bush Might Say, If He Spoke English
By Madeleine Begun Kane
You’re cowards! You’re traitors! J’accuse!
You in Congress, I’ll surge if I choose.
What power you had,
You’ve abandoned. How sad!
As always, I win and you lose.
=========
And now some links, for your reading (and viewing) pleasure:
* David Swanson: Subpoena Dick
* ABC’s John Stossel: ‘Rats Make Good Pets For Wounded Vets’
* American Trouble Maker
* Reno 911
* Carnival of Satire 68 and Carnival of Satire 69
* Carnival of Feminists
[tags]Iraq Surge, Iraq War, Traitors, Anti-Surge Bills[/tags]
Posted in Congress Humor, Foreign Policy, George Bush Satire, GOP Humor, House Satire, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, White House | Comments Off on What George W. Bush Might Say, If He Spoke English
Monday, March 5th, 2007
A Henry Waxman haiku seems overdue, so here’s my “thank you” haiku:
Investigations
Into White House wrongdoing
Wax, thanks to Waxman. [tags]House Oversight Committee, Henry Waxman, House Hearings, White House Wrongdoing, Bush Failures, Bush Investigations[/tags]
Posted in Congress Humor, Corruption Humor, George Bush Satire, Henry Waxman, House Satire, Political Haiku & Senryu, Political Verse, Politics Satire, White House | Comments Off on A Waxman Haiku Is Overdue
Monday, February 19th, 2007
This weekend’s Senate session reminds me of the fuss Republicans made when Senator Reid and Speaker Pelosi imposed a substantially longer work week on Congress. Some even argued that the imposition of a 5-day work week proved that Democrats are anti-family.
I Guess They Miss The “Good Old Days”
By Madeleine Begun Kane
“How dare they (Pelosi and Reid)
Make us work 5-day weeks,” goes the screed
Of the GOP members,
Forgetting November’s
Results favored change done with speed. [tags]Pelosi, Reid, 5-Day Weeks, House, Senate, Congress, GOP, Anti-Family[/tags]
Posted in Congress Humor, GOP Humor, House Satire, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Senate Satire | Comments Off on I Guess They Miss The “Good Old Days”
Tuesday, February 6th, 2007
You just have to love it: Senator John Warner helped kill the debate on Bush’s surge, voting to block a vote on his own Warner-Levin Iraq War Resolution:
Ode To Little John Warner
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Little John Warner
Posed in the corner
With Dems, as an anti-surge guy.
But then he devolved,
And replaced his resolve
With “Republican soldier, am I.”
UPDATE: John Warner has signed a letter demanding a vote on his resolution, after having helped block the vote on that very resolution. I guess he was for it before he was against it, before he was for it. I’m getting dizzy. [tags]John Warner Humor, Surge, Iraq Resolution, Filibuster, Iraq War, Bush White House, Warren-Levin Resolution[/tags]
Posted in Congress Humor, Iraq War Humor, Legislation Humor, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Senate Satire, White House | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, January 24th, 2007
Mess? What Mess?
By Madeleine Begun Kane
From Dub’s State of the Union address,
Who would guess that our nation’s a mess?
Yet what leader would say:
“Things are awful today,
And the fault lies with me. I confess.” [tags]President Bush, State of the Union Address[/tags]
Posted in Congress Humor, George Bush Satire, GOP Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, White House | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, December 6th, 2006
Ode To Diminished Expectations
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Unanimous yeses for Gates,
Cause it’s clear that he has what it takes
To be better than Rummy.
He isn’t a dummy!!!
That’s life in our Bush-induced straits.
[tags]Bob Gates Satire, Robert Gates, Confirmation Humor, Defense Secretary, Senate Armed Services Committee[/tags]
Posted in Bob Gates, Congress Humor, Foreign Policy, George Bush Satire, GOP Humor, Iraq War Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Rumsfeld Humor, Senate Satire, White House | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, December 5th, 2006
Ode To Dennis “Muslim Menace” Prager
By Madeleine Begun Kane
I’m enraged at host Prager. Yes, Dennis.
To the truth he is rather a menace,
Cause he gave Muslims grief
When he lied about Keith,
By inventing a Biblical oath dis. [tags]Dennis Prager, Keith Ellison, Media Humor, Koran, Bible, Muslim Congressman[/tags]
Posted in Congress Humor, Constitution Humor, Democracy Humor, Election Satire, GOP Humor, Media Satire, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor | 3 Comments »
Sunday, November 26th, 2006
Our Banished VEEP
By Madeleine Begun Kane
He’ll be banished from office, VEEP Dick;
Not his job, but his real estate pick.
He had primo House space,
But eviction he’ll face,
Cause the Democrats won. What a kick!
(My Dick Cheney humor is collected here.)[tags]Cheney Office Space, Richard Cheney Humor, Election Humor, House Humor[/tags]
Posted in Congress Humor, Dick Cheney Satire, Election Satire, GOP Humor, House Satire, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor | 7 Comments »
Tuesday, November 21st, 2006
Fair And Balanced Haiku
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Democratic win
Is Terrorist Victory:
Fair and balanced Fox.
Joe’s Jive
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Joe warns: Compromise
And heed election’s lessons.
A not so veiled threat?
Trent Lott’s Revenge
By Madeleine Begun Kane
GOP misdeeds
Make Lott look nearly saint-like,
Enabling comeback. [tags]Election ’06 Humor, Trent Lott Comeback, Lieberman Humor, Fox News, Fair And Balanced, Terrorist Victory[/tags]
Posted in Congress Humor, Election Satire, GOP Humor, Joe Lieberman, Media Satire, News Haiku & Senryu, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Trent Lott | Comments Off on Post-Election Haiku Trio (Fox News, Trent Lott, Joe Lieberman)
Monday, November 13th, 2006
I was amused to read that, in the wake of last week’s Republican debacle, Karl Rove remains “steadfast,” and that he believes the loss was largely Foley’s fault. Moreover, Mary Matalin still views Rove as “the Zen master of movement politics.”
I think it’s time for a new haiku:
Haiku For A Former “Genius”
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Dream of Bush’s Brain:
Permanent Majority,
Surgic’ly removed. [tags]Karl Rove Humor, Election Humor, Bush’s Brain, The Architect, Permanent Republican Majority[/tags]
Posted in Congress Humor, Election Satire, Karl Rove, Mark Foley, News Haiku & Senryu, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor | 10 Comments »
Thursday, October 12th, 2006
Ode To The Garish Katherine Harris (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
The gal who stole Bush his “election,”
Now is spurned like a lethal infection.
Her makeup is strange,
And she acts quite deranged.
She’s the fruit of unnat’ral selection.
My previous Katherine Harris limerick is here. And for more Katherine Harris humor, don’t miss the Instant Message from Rep. Mark Foley to Sen. Katherine Harris, as channeled by Alan Bisbort and About.com’s Katherine Harris humor section.
And speaking of Katherine Harris, I was just invited to appear on a radio show right smack in the middle of Harris’s turf: The Surreal News Show on Sarasota, Florida’s WSLR 96.5 LP FM Radio. My appearance is tentatively scheduled for Friday morning, October 27th, and I’ll post more info once details are finalized.
Oh, I almost forgot — the latest Carnival of the Liberals has been posted at World Wide Webers and it’s another good one. And be sure to read Don Davis’s very amusing The Great ‘Illiterary’ Contest: ‘Name’ The Bush Memoir and the latest (and always excellent) Carnival of Satire and to check out The Crisis In Our Nation’s Pants.
Update: I think the interview went fairly well and, if you’d like to, you can listen to it here.
[tags]Congresswoman Katherine Harris, Stealing Elections, Progressive Radio, Liberal Radio[/tags]
Posted in Congress Humor, Democracy Humor, Election Satire, George Bush Satire, GOP Humor, House Satire, Katherine Harris, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Senate Satire, White House | Comments Off on Ode To The Garish Katherine Harris (Updated)
Wednesday, October 11th, 2006
Bush is still rejecting the idea of bilateral talks with North Korea, claiming that they failed to work during Bill Clinton’s administration. Meanwhile, Bush’s flame throwing surrogate, John McCain, says North Korea’s nuclear test, conducted nearly six years into Dubya’s presidency, is Bill Clinton’s fault. So, does that mean Monica was Bush Sr.’s fault?
And that brings me to my latest haiku:
The Buck Stops … On Clinton? (Haiku)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
North Korea’s nukes
Are Clinton’s fault, claims McCain.
Bill’s still Prez? Who knew?
Update: Right after John “Straight Talk” McCain’s finger pointing, McCain blasted people for North Korea related finger pointing. [tags]Bilateral Talks, Nuclear Tests, Nuclear Technology, Senator McCain, President Clinton, North Korea Sanctions[/tags]
Posted in Bill Clinton, Blame Game, Congress Humor, Foreign Policy, George Bush Satire, GOP Humor, John McCain, News Haiku & Senryu, North Korea, Nuclear Weapons, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Senate Satire, White House | 2 Comments »
