Archive for the ‘Economy Humor’ Category
Monday, July 25th, 2011
Does John Boehner give a damn about our country? Or is he motivated purely by politics. The answer’s obvious.
John Boehner’s Patriotism Deficit (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
John Boehner has made his aims clear
As the debt ceiling deadline draws near.
Doing good ain’t his role.
“Stop Obama’s” his goal.
What a cavalier, faux budgeteer.
Tags: Barack Obama, Debt Ceiling, Federal Budget, Federal Debt, Federal Default, John Boehner, Legislation Satire, Patriotism Humor, Republicans Humor
Posted in Barack Obama, Economy Humor, Fiscal Policy, John Boehner, Patriotism Poems, Political Limericks, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor | 2 Comments »
Monday, July 18th, 2011
Obama threatened to veto that cockamamie Republican “cut, cap, and balance” bill.
Limerick Ode To Unbalanced Republicans
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Dear Republicans, please cut your crap.
Enough with your “balance,” “cut,” “cap!”
While you’re busily bashing
Obama, you’re crashing
Our credit and markets. What pap!
Tags: Balanced Budget Amendment, Barack Obama, Budget Limerick, Cut Cap Balance, Debt Ceiling, Economy Satire, Federal Debt, Fiscal Crisis, GOP Idiocy, Republican Humor
Posted in Barack Obama, Economy Humor, Fiscal Policy, GOP Humor, Legislation Humor, Republicans Humor | 1 Comment »
Saturday, July 16th, 2011
The debt ceiling absolutely, positively must be raised to avoid a fiscal meltdown, and the Republican leadership knows it. But they’re saddled with a bunch of ignorant, “Tea Party” Congress-critters whose votes they desperately need.
Ironically, the job of educating them about debt ceiling realities has fallen to Paul Ryan, the Prince of Budget Misinformation.
Here’s what I’m wondering: The “Tea Party” nuts bought Paul Ryan’s lies. Will they believe him when he speaks the truth?
Paul Ryan, Educator???
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Though the GOP leadership’s tryin’
To get Tea Party votes, they ain’t buyin’,
Cuz they’re itchin’ to spike
Any debt ceiling hike.
Now the burden to school them’s on Ryan.
Tags: Debt Ceiling, Economy Satire, Federal Budget, Federal Debt, Federal Default, Fiscal Crisis, Fiscal Humor, GOP Humor, House Republicans, Paul Ryan, Tea Party Members
Posted in Congress Humor, Economy Humor, Fiscal Policy, GOP Humor, Paul Ryan, Political Limericks, Republicans Humor, Tax & Budget Humor, Tea Parties, Wingnuts | 7 Comments »
Thursday, July 14th, 2011
Limerick Ode To A Republican Mess
By Madeleine Begun Kane
The debt ceiling battle keeps going,
And the risk of default keeps on growing.
The GOP team
Caused a crisis supreme.
And we’re all sure to reap what they’re sowing.
Tags: Debt Ceiling, Economy, Economy Satire, Fiscal Crisis, Fiscal Humor, GOP Idiocy, Negotiations, Republicans Humor
Posted in Economy Humor, Fiscal Policy, GOP Humor, John Boehner, Legislation Humor, Political Limericks, Republicans Humor, Wingnuts | 6 Comments »
Thursday, June 23rd, 2011
Are Republicans deliberately undermining and sabotaging the economy and jobs creation to make sure Obama’s a one-term President? Of course they are!
Limerick Ode To Economic Sabotage
By Madeleine Begun Kane
The Republican scheme: Block a rally!
Cuz a surge in the job market tally
Helps Obama retain
His prize seat; paycheck pain
Will ensure an Obama finale.
Tags: Barack Obama, Campaign Satire, Economic Sabotage, Economy Satire, Election Humor, Job Market Humor, Jobs, Presidential Election, Republicans Humor
Posted in 44 Humor, Campaign Humor, Economy Humor, Election Satire, Fiscal Policy, Legislation Humor, Political Limericks, White House | 4 Comments »
Thursday, April 21st, 2011
I love Mat Miller’s new definition of chutzpah:
Republicans who vote for the Ryan plan that adds trillions in debt and who then say the debt limit goes up only over their dead bodies!
That brings me to my latest Limerick:
How About A Hypocrisy Ceiling?
By Madeleine Begun Kane
The GOP debt-ceiling balkers
Are naught but hypocrisy hawkers.
Their plan adds eight trillion
(Not million or billion)
To the debt in a decade — Big Talkers!
Tags: Budget Limerick, Debt Ceiling, Federal Budget, Federal Debt, Fiscal Humor, GOP Humor, Matt Miller, Paul Ryan, Republican Hypocrisy
Posted in Economy Humor, Fiscal Policy, GOP Humor, Hypocrisy Humor, Legislation Humor, Paul Ryan, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Tax & Budget Humor | 4 Comments »
Wednesday, April 6th, 2011
I didn’t think I could do it. But I’ve summed up the Republicans’ radical (Paul Ryan-authored) budget plan in a single haiku:
Republican plan:
End entitlements, send wealth
to entitled rich.
*****
UPDATE: Prompted by a poetry site to include this trio of words in a poem (adamant, fabricate, peculiar) I challenged myself to fit them all into a single haiku:
Republican pols —
peculiarly adamant
fabricators.
Tags: Budget Cuts, Economy Satire, Entitlements, Fiscal Crisis, Political Haiku & Senryu, Republican Plan
Posted in Economy Humor, Fiscal Policy, GOP Humor, Legislation Humor, Paul Ryan, Political Haiku & Senryu, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Wingnuts | 25 Comments »
Saturday, April 2nd, 2011
White House and Congress
bought and managed by donors —
puppet theater.
*****
An epidemic —
political hypocrites —
Today’s GOP.
*****
Unlimited cash
from corporations to pols —
democracy dies.
****
Economic growth
still not translating to jobs —
Republicans shrug.
*****
Republican cuts
to budget sure to kill jobs —
Boehner: “So be it.”
*****
Deliberately
destroying economy
seemed unthinkable.
No longer a silly thought —
GOP election goal.
******
Author’s Note: These haiku and tanka were inspired in part by the following prompts: puppet, epidemic, unlimited, growth, and silly.
Tags: Budget Cuts, Congress Humor, Democracy, Donations, Economy Haiku, Election Humor, Fiscal Crisis, Fund Raising, Jobs, John Boehner, Political Haiku & Senryu, Political Tanka, Republican Hypocrisy
Posted in Congress Humor, Economy Humor, Election Satire, Fiscal Policy, Hypocrisy Humor, John Boehner, Money & Finance Humor, News Haiku & Senryu, Political Haiku & Senryu, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor | 28 Comments »
Monday, March 21st, 2011
Republican Priorities
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Shall we immunize children? Heck no!
Supply food to the starving? No go!
Cuz Republicans say
That we’re broke ev’ry day,
As they help out the rich on skid row.
Tags: Budget Cuts, Budget Limerick, Economy, Fiscal Crisis, Political Priorities, Republican Hypocrisy, Republicans Humor
Posted in Economy Humor, Fiscal Policy, GOP Humor, Government Services, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor | 8 Comments »
Thursday, March 17th, 2011
Ezra Klein makes some good points about Republicans and their penny-wise and pound-foolish budget-slashing:
There are three categories of spending in which cuts lead to more, rather than less, spending down the line, says Alice Rivlin, former director of both the Congressional Budget Office and the Office of Management and Budget. Inspection, enforcement and maintenance. The GOP is trying to cut all three.
This is no surprise coming from Republicans who worship at the altar of Ronald Reagan. After all, back in 1989 the GAO had plenty to say about the damage done by Reagan’s short-sighted cutbacks:
Charles Bowsher, head of the General Accounting Office, told Congress yesterday that Reagan-era budget cuts created a climate of lax oversight and mismanagement. He said Reagan’s effort to save some money through budget cuts is likely to cost another $150 billion in the 1990s.
“We have been penny wise and really pound foolish,” Bowsher said.
That leads me to my latest limerick:
Brace For Another Pounding From Pound-Foolish Policies
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Preventative spending is wise —
Lessens risk that disasters arise —
Forestalls flooding and fraud,
Outbreaks, tragedy broad.
Cut such spending? Huge costs in disguise.
Tags: Alic Rivlin, Budget Cuts, Budget Limerick, CBO, Economy, Ezra Klein, Fiscal Crisis, OMB, Pound Foolish, Prevention Spending, Republicans Humor, Ronald Reagan
Posted in Economy Humor, Fiscal Policy, GOP Humor, Government Services, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor | 6 Comments »
Monday, March 14th, 2011
Steve Benen has some great comments about Republicans and their hypocritical “we’re broke” weaponry:
In December, when Republicans wanted an $858 billion tax-cut package, we weren’t broke. How much of that package did the GOP suggest we pay for? None of it. Not one penny. The costs were simply added to the deficit, and are the driving force behind the rising deficit estimates for this year, which have sent the right into such hysteria.
But now we’re so broke, we’re told, that we have no choice but to make brutal cuts to education, medical research, infrastructure, job training, and national security, all of which is projected to cost the economy hundreds of thousands of jobs.
Broken Priorities (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Republicans claim that we’re broke,
But you know that they’re just blowing smoke.
Help Big Oil and the rich?
Then they pull a big switch,
And our budget’s no longer a yoke.
Tags: Deficit Hawks, Economy Satire, Fiscal Crisis, Republican Hypocrisy, Republicans Humor, Steve Benen, Tax Cuts
Posted in Economy Humor, Fiscal Policy, GOP Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Tax & Budget Humor | 5 Comments »
Tuesday, March 1st, 2011
Styrofoam is back.
“Green the Capitol” is gone.
Job, jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs?
*****
Rotund Rush Limbaugh
says Michelle Obama’s fat—
that’s hard to swallow.
*****
Freedom from taxes
demanded by those who crave
what taxes give them.
*****
The mental midget
mentioned an affinity
with Rush — no surprise.
*****
Showing up to vote—
a yearly exercise in
unrequited hope.
*****
(More political haiku here. And more Rush Limbaugh humor here.)
Tags: Childhood Obesity, Ecology Haiku, Economy Haiku, Employment, Environment, Environmental Haiku, Green The Capitol, Michelle Obama, Political Haiku & Senryu, Rush Limbaugh, Styrofoam, Taxes
Posted in Economy Humor, Environment Satire, Fiscal Policy, GOP Humor, House Satire, Michelle Obama, Money & Finance Humor, News Haiku & Senryu, Political Haiku & Senryu, Republicans Humor, Rush Limbaugh | 5 Comments »
Thursday, February 17th, 2011
No doubt you’ve heard about John Boehner’s “so be it” nonchalant reaction to the loss of federal jobs. It seems Boehner’s finished feigning compassion.
This calls for a limerick, don’t you think?
Limerick Ode To John “So Be It” Boehner
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Boehner’s known for his grief-stricken sobs,
For emoting through loose tear duct knobs.
Yet his eyes remain dry,
He refuses to cry
For Americans losing their jobs.
Tags: Budget Cuts, Economy, Empathy, Employment, Federal Jobs, Jobs, John Boehner, Republicans Humor
Posted in Economy Humor, Fiscal Policy, GOP Humor, Government Services, John Boehner, Money & Finance Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Tax & Budget Humor | 4 Comments »
Saturday, February 12th, 2011
Today I’m posting four political haiku which, I fear, are all more cynical than witty. (I’ve added a 5th about Egypt’s revolution which is uplifting, rather than cynical.)
Technically each of these is a senryu, though most people would label them haiku. What the heck’s a senryu, and how does it differ from haiku? I explain it all here and, believe it or not, use a three-verse limerick to illustrate the distinctions.
Politicians strive
to make a good impression
without doing good.
*****
The economy’s
either looking up or down.
Depends on your stance.
*****
Commenters bicker,
thrusting political barbs,
changing no one’s mind.
*****
How did we get here?
“Pragmatic” subjugation
of our Dem ideals.
*****
A revolution
In Egypt transforms, uplifts,
Giving hope to all.
*****
Tags: Blog Commenters, Economy Haiku, Egypt Revolution Haiku, Political Haiku & Senryu, Political Senryu, Politicians
Posted in Blogosphere, Economy Humor, Money And Finance Humor, News Haiku & Senryu, Political Commentary, Political Haiku & Senryu, Political Verse, Politics Satire | 5 Comments »
Thursday, December 9th, 2010
Unlike many of my fellow progressives, I never thought Obama was a liberal. But now I’m beginning to wonder if he’s even a Democrat. In any event, he certainly isn’t a leader.
Needless to say, I’m furious about the Bush tax cut extension deal Obama made with Republicans, and I’m glad that Speaker Pelosi is taking a strong stand against it.
Here’s a pair of limericks about Obama’s abject surrender to the GOP:
A Pair Of Limericks For A Pairless President
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Dear Obama, you’re being a heel
By making this terrible deal.
You’re acting the fool
With this “compromise” gruel
Which will damage our land’s commonweal.
Obama’s demeanor is frayed
He seems ornery, angry, dismayed.
Will he finally fight
The Republican right?
No, he’s mad at the Dems he betrayed.
Tags: Barack Obama, Bush Tax Cut Extension, Economy Satire, Financial Verse, Fiscal Crisis, Nancy Pelosi, Republicans Humor, Taxes
Posted in 44 Humor, Barack Obama, Democrats Humor, Democrats Satire, Economy Humor, Fiscal Policy, GOP Humor, Leadership Humor, Money & Finance Humor, Pelosi Verse, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Tax & Budget Humor, Washington, White House | 3 Comments »
Monday, November 22nd, 2010
Are Republicans putting party before country? Are they deliberately sabotaging the economy and undermining our nation? Steve Benen makes a convincing case that that’s exactly what they are doing.
And that brings me to my latest limerick:
An Ode To The Grand Old Sabotage Party
By Madeleine Begun Kane
For a GOP rise to the peak,
The economy must remain weak.
With the White House their goal
They gave up their soul,
Ensuring our future stays bleak.
Tags: Economy Satire, GOP, Republican Hypocrisy
Posted in Economy Humor, GOP Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor | 2 Comments »
Saturday, September 18th, 2010
Steve Benen reminds us of a forgotten detail: Bush’s tax policy was a failure. And that’s a handy thing to remember in the battle over the soon-to-expire tax cuts.
While we’re busily recalling important facts, here’s another: These tax cuts were set to end automatically by the very Republicans who are now complaining about their expiration.
And now, my latest three-verse limerick:
Tax Cut Tomfoolery
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Bush’s tax cuts are due to expire.
Their effects were quite bad — even dire.
The deficit climbed,
The economy slimed.
So why are the Dems under fire?
These cuts were a GOP plan
By the millionaire’s tax-cutting clan.
They promised a boost,
But the tax cuts produced
A big mess. Why should Dems be a fan?
Yet Republicans push and cajole —
More cuts for the rich is their goal.
They make stale, hollow claims
To bolster their aims —
No remorse for the good times they stole.
Tags: Deficit Hawks, Economy Satire, Fiscal Crisis, George Bush Satire, Republicans Humor, Steve Benen, Tax Cuts, Tax Policy
Posted in Economy Humor, Fiscal Policy, GOP Humor, Money & Finance Humor, Political Commentary, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Tax & Budget Humor | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010
President Obama is hoping Americans won’t have “selective memory” and blame him for problems he inherited from Bush. Unfortunately they do, as this poll illustrates:
Only about a third of Americans (34%) know that the government’s bailout of banks and financial institutions was enacted under the Bush administration. Nearly half (47%) incorrectly say that the Troubled Asset Relief Program – widely known as TARP – was signed into law by President Obama.
And you can bet that the bailout misinformation percentage is a lot higher for the virulently anti-bailout crowd. It sure would be nice if they knew the truth about the bailout:
For the record, the financial industry bailout passed in October 2008. It was requested by a conservative Republican administration (George W. Bush and Dick Cheney). It was enthusiastically endorsed by the House Republican leadership (John Boehner, Eric Cantor, and Roy Blunt), the Senate Republican leadership (Mitch McConnell and Jon Kyl), both members of the Republican presidential ticket (John McCain and Sarah Palin), and assorted, high-profile conservative voices (Mitt Romney and Glenn Beck).
That leads me to my latest limerick:
Selective Memories Bail Out Bush
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Disliking Obama is fine,
But please be correct when you whine.
Don’t like bailouts of banks?
It’s to Bush you owe “thanks.”
Was it signed by Obama? No! Nein!
Tags: Bank Bailout, Barack Obama, Economy Satire, Financial Bailout, Financial Verse, George W. Bush, Selective Memory, TARP
Posted in Barack Obama, Business Humor, Economy Humor, Fiscal Policy, George Bush Satire, Money & Finance Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Polls, TARP Humor, Tax & Budget Humor, White House | Comments Off on Selective Memories Bail Out Bush
Sunday, July 18th, 2010
Republicans have a cute little “deficit hawk” scam going: They “block extended aid to the unemployed, while simultaneously pushing for massive tax cuts for the wealthy.”
How do they justify this? According to Republican leaders like Mike Pence and Jon Kyl, the former has to be offset by spending cuts, but the latter, due to some mysterious mix of magic and voodoo, doesn’t.
It’s time for a new limerick:
The GOP’s Honesty Deficit
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Though the GOP deficit hawks
Are famed for “must pay for it” squawks,
They nix plugging the hole
Caused by tax cuts. How droll!
Yes, that’s how hypocrisy talks.
Tags: Deficit Hawks, Economy Satire, Financial Verse, Jon Kyl, Mike Pence, Republican Hypocrisy, Republicans Humor, Tax Cuts, Unemployment Benefits, Voodoo Economics
Posted in Economy Humor, Fiscal Policy, GOP Humor, Hypocrisy Humor, Mike Pence, Money & Finance Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Tax & Budget Humor | 10 Comments »
Saturday, March 6th, 2010
Are you upset by the cost-savings proposal to cut Saturday mail delivery in 2011? The prospect of mail-free Saturdays doesn’t bother me, as you can tell from this limerick:
Not Going Postal Over Saturday Mail
By Madeleine Begun Kane
There are those who are deep in a funk
Cuz our Saturday mail may be sunk.
They think it’s unfair,
But I really don’t care
If I have to wait days to get junk.
Tags: Junk Mail, Mail Delivery, Postal Service, Saving Money Humor
Posted in Economy Humor, Government Services, Mail Humor, Money & Finance Humor | Comments Off on Not Going Postal Over Saturday Mail
Political Haiku Quintet (Updated to Add Egypt Haiku)
Saturday, February 12th, 2011Today I’m posting four political haiku which, I fear, are all more cynical than witty. (I’ve added a 5th about Egypt’s revolution which is uplifting, rather than cynical.)
Technically each of these is a senryu, though most people would label them haiku. What the heck’s a senryu, and how does it differ from haiku? I explain it all here and, believe it or not, use a three-verse limerick to illustrate the distinctions.
Politicians strive
to make a good impression
without doing good.
*****
The economy’s
either looking up or down.
Depends on your stance.
*****
Commenters bicker,
thrusting political barbs,
changing no one’s mind.
*****
How did we get here?
“Pragmatic” subjugation
of our Dem ideals.
*****
A revolution
In Egypt transforms, uplifts,
Giving hope to all.
*****
Tags: Blog Commenters, Economy Haiku, Egypt Revolution Haiku, Political Haiku & Senryu, Political Senryu, Politicians
Posted in Blogosphere, Economy Humor, Money And Finance Humor, News Haiku & Senryu, Political Commentary, Political Haiku & Senryu, Political Verse, Politics Satire | 5 Comments »