Archive for the ‘Election Satire’ Category
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 »
Saturday, April 12th, 2008
John McCain has been having a tough time raising campaign money lately. So I thought I’d help out with a McCain campaign slogan haiku — gratis. Aren’t I generous?
Remember Bush’s
Humble foreign policy?
Vote McCain for more. [tags]Senator McCain, Presidential Campaign Verse[/tags]
Posted in Campaign Humor, Election Satire, John McCain, News Haiku & Senryu, Political Haiku & Senryu, Political Verse, Politics Satire, White House | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, April 8th, 2008
Hey, cable honchos. Before lambasting Hillary for “failing to fact check,” you might consider dabbling in some fact checking yourselves.
I’m referring, of course, to the media’s dead hospital patient mock-fest and, more broadly, to the “Gore-ing” of Hillary Clinton.
And that brings me to my latest limerick:
Biased Journalists And Bloggers, Heal Thyselves
By Madeleine Begun Kane
In cov’rage quite sloppy at best,
The press attacked Hill’ry with zest,
Disputing her facts.
But ’twas they who were lax.
Cuz if Clinton says east they say west.[tags]Biased Bloggers, Sloppy Journalists, Senator Clinton, Press Fact Checking, Presidential Campaign Satire, Election Humor, Health Humor, Media Limerick[/tags]
Posted in Campaign Humor, Election Satire, Health Satire, Hillary Clinton, Lefty Blogger News, Media Satire, Political Commentary, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, White House | 6 Comments »
Friday, April 4th, 2008
As you surely know by now, Air America host Randi Rhodes has been suspended for calling both Geraldine Ferraro and Hillary Clinton “whores” and describing Hillary with more f-words than I could manage to count in this clip of her performance. Just one question: This was supposed to be comedy?
Ode To Randi “Queen of Obscene” Rhodes
By Madeleine Begun Kane
That performance by Randi ain’t pretty.
Calling Hill’ry a whore’s hardly witty.
Hurling f-bombs galore
About Hill. What a bore!
She’s suspended? This blog has no pity.[tags]Randi Rhodes, Air America Radio, Randi’s F-words, Senator Clinton, Geraldine Ferraro, Rhodes Suspension, Tasteless Humor, Media Humor, Presidential Campaign Verse[/tags]
Posted in Air America Humor, Campaign Humor, Election Satire, Entertainment Humor, Gender Politics, Hillary Clinton, Media Satire, Political Limericks | 6 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 »
Thursday, March 27th, 2008
Apparently, maverick is a synonym for felon. Who knew?
Ode To John “Maverick” McCain
By Madeleine Begun Kane
A law breaker — that’s John McCain,
Treating FEC regs with disdain.
Having championed those rules,
He plays us for fools.
Yet we still hear the mav’rick refrain.[tags]Senator John McCain Humor, McCain Maverick Satire, Election Humor, Campaign Satire, FEC Humor, White House Humor, Media Humor[/tags]
Posted in Campaign Humor, Election Satire, FEC Satire, John McCain, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, White House | 4 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 »
Wednesday, March 19th, 2008
The left blogosphere has been packed with stories about John “Foreign Policy Maven” McCain’s serial gaffes, in which he confused Islam’s Sunni and Shiite sects while trying to prove Iran supports al-Qaeda in Iraq. His gaffes were so bad, even über-loyalist Joe Lieberman was forced to correct him.
So, can we expect major media columnists and talking heads to question McCain’s foreign policy prowess? A small handful of fair-minded, insightful columnists like the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Dick Polman can be counted on at moments like this. But in the main, I wouldn’t hold your breath.
And that brings me to my latest limerick:
Ode To “Foreign Policy Maven” McCain
By Madeleine Begun Kane
John McCain’s expertise ain’t legit:
Sunni? Shiite? He doesn’t know shit.
So the man should be toast.
But the press let’s him coast
Cuz he’s great in a barbecue pit.
(For more humor on this topic, check out Joe Lieberman Has To Remind McCain He’s Not In Vietnam, by Don Davis.)[tags]Senator John McCain, Foreign Policy Expertise, Sunni, Shiite, Islam, McCain Barbecue, McCain Gaffes, al-Qaeda, Iran, Campaign Satire, Election Humor, Media Humor[/tags]
Posted in Campaign Humor, Election Satire, Foreign Policy, GOP Humor, Iraq War Humor, Joe Lieberman, John McCain, Media Satire, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, White House | 2 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 »
Sunday, March 2nd, 2008
U.S. middle class
Nickel-and-dimed by George Bush.
Change way overdue.
(Inspired by this change prompt. And speaking of prompts, there’s still time to participate in my limerick and haiku prompt. Its theme is walking.)
UPDATE: I just remembered another haiku I wrote about change several months ago:
“People want change,”
Claim presidential candidates.
I’d prefer twenties.[tags]Middle Class Humor, Bush Presidency, Presidential Election, George Bush Haiku, Bush Economy[/tags]
Posted in Economy Humor, Election Satire, George Bush Satire, Middle Class, Political Haiku & Senryu, Political Verse, White House | 11 Comments »
Monday, February 25th, 2008
I used to think Ralph Nader keeps running for president because he’s an egomaniac and a blowhard. But I’m starting to suspect that he suffers from Dubya-disease — he needs to feel relevant.
And now it’s time for a limerick:
Dear Ralph: Go Away!
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Ralph Nader has surfaced again
To proclaim he’s a prince among men
And our nation’s salvation.
Give up your fixation,
Ralph. Find a new hobby. Try zen.
For more Ralph Nader humor, check out Ralph Nader, ‘Unsafe At Any Age,’ by Don Davis and Nader Announces Plan To Wreck Election, But Prominent Crackpots Are Cool To Bid, by Andy Borowitz. And for a serious take on the topic, there’s Ralph Nader, Tragedy And Farce, by Dick Polman.
Tags: Campaign Satire, Election Humor, Presidential Poetry, Ralph "Spoiler" Nader
Posted in Campaign Humor, Election Satire, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Ralph Nader, White House | 19 Comments »
Sunday, February 17th, 2008
Some recent Barack Obama comments reminded me of a personal essay on subtle sexism I wrote way back in 1990. And while that might sound like ancient history, my essay, published under various titles including Gender At Work and My Most Attractive Adversary, is the lead Gender Gap chapter essay in a pair of current (2008) textbooks by Gary Goshgarian: The Contemporary Reader and Readings For Today.
In his introduction to my essay, Northeastern University English Professor Goshgarian observes:
Women may seem to have made tremendous progress professionally and academically, but they are held back by indirect sexist comments and attitudes. They are caught in a catch-22. If they react against these seemingly small slights, they appear to be overreacting or too sensitive. But to let them pass may signal that such comments are somehow acceptable. In the next essay, humorist and self-described “recovering lawyer” Madeleine Begun Kane holds that subtle sexism maintains gender differences.
And that brings me to this subtly sexist Obama comment, made in response to Hillary Clinton attacks:
You challenge the status quo and suddenly the claws come out.
And to this even more offensive line:
I understand that Senator Clinton, periodically when she’s feeling down, launches attacks as a way of trying to boost her appeal.
“Claws come out?” “Periodically?” “Feeling down?” These words are more subtle than the B-word, I suppose. But they are sexist, nonetheless.
So where’s the blogger outrage over Obama’s sexism? Lots of luck finding it among the A-list bloggers — the male ones, at least. They have a much better time of it interpreting everything the Clinton team does as racist.
Sure, there’s some great commentary about Obama’s sexism over at Taylor Marsh’s blog and at Talk Left. But in the main, Obama’s getting a gender bias-pass.
Meanwhile, many educated young women, who apparently take the accomplishments of feminism for granted, are supporting Obama’s candidacy over Hillary Clinton.
You know what those young women could use? A good gender studies course. Because sexism, after all, isn’t ancient history.
(For the lighter side of gender issues, you can find my feminist humor here.)
Tags: Bloggers & Gender, Presidential Election, Senator Clinton, Senator Obama, Subtle Sexism
Posted in Barack Obama, Election Satire, Feminism Humor, Gender Politics, Hillary Clinton, Political Commentary | 18 Comments »
Wednesday, January 16th, 2008
I can’t decide what’s more annoying — when pundits are wrong, or when they insist on finding meaning in the meaningless, deep significance in utter nonsense. Digby provides a fine example of the latter:
Matthews, Olbermann, Norah O’Donnell and David Gregory are sitting around interpreting the Michigan Democratic vote and examining the exit polls to determine meaningful trends about the upcoming primaries.
Michigan means nothing, good or bad, for Democrats. … [CLINTON] WAS THE ONLY ONE OF THE TOP THREE ON THE FRIGGING BALLOT! …
… The primary doesn’t count. …
But they’re out there spewing crap anyway, trying to impact the race, making predictions, being fortune tellers as usual …
And that brings me to my latest limerick:
Hey Pundits, Stifle Yourselves!
By Madeleine Begun Kane
The pundits opine and expound:
On sheer nonsense they chew and they pound,
Finding meaning in stuff
That means nothing. Enough!
Watch them frown as they wax so profound. [tags]Pundit Humor, Election, Humor, Media Limerick, Campaign Satire, Vacuous Punditry, Michigan Primary, Democratic Primary, Presidential Campaign Poem[/tags]
Posted in Campaign Humor, Election Satire, Media Satire, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, White House | 5 Comments »
Sunday, January 13th, 2008
The impression I’ve been getting lately is that every barb and criticism aimed at Obama is almost bound to be characterized as racist by Obama surrogates.
Isn’t there something wrong when a candidate (or commentator) has to fear the racism card each time he/she says something negative about a black candidate? Something that would be just fine to say about a white one?
And shouldn’t Obama be required to meet criticisms on the merits? Everyone else is … or certainly should be. Not only does this better serve the voters, but it also helps candidates prepare for the general election.
By cloaking himself in a coat of black Teflon, Obama belittles genuine racial grievances and stifles real debate. He even demeans himself.
And now, a limerick:
Is Black The New Teflon?
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Obama’s campaign has an ace:
It’s a joker, that card they call race.
Every Hill-team critique
Draws their racism-pique.
Can’t attack him: He’s black! That’s their case.[tags]Obama Commentary, Race Card, Election Racism, Racist Accusations, Campaign Satire[/tags]
Posted in Barack Obama, Campaign Humor, Democrats Satire, Election Satire, Hillary Clinton, Political Limericks, Political Verse, White House | 9 Comments »
Wednesday, January 9th, 2008
“Hillary cried,”
The media lied.
Who’s crying now?[tags]Hillary Clinton Verse, Hillary Poetry, Media Humor, Campaign Satire, Election Humor[/tags]
Posted in Campaign Humor, Election Satire, Hillary Clinton, Media Satire, News Haiku & Senryu, Political Haiku & Senryu, White House | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, January 1st, 2008
Dear Editor: Enough With the Polls, Already!
By Madeleine Begun Kane
My int’rest in polling is waning:
Who’s winning, who’s losing, who’s gaining.
Tell me where these guys stand—
Who’s a liar? What’s canned?
Give me substance — not horse race-campaigning.
Update: Don Davis has a fun take on the same topic. And the witty and oh so modest Jon Swift has posted the best blog posts of 2007 as chosen by the bloggers themselves. [tags]Presidential Campaigns, Election Humor, Polls Humor, Horse Race Politics, Media Humor[/tags]
Posted in Campaign Humor, Election Satire, Media Satire, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Polls, White House | 14 Comments »
Sunday, December 30th, 2007
AP calls Mitt’s lies
A “candor gap,” bypassing
Candor lacuna. [tags]Mitt Romney Satire, Candor Gap, Media Dishonesty[/tags]
Posted in Campaign Humor, Election Satire, Media Satire, Mitt Romney Humor, News Haiku & Senryu, Political Haiku & Senryu, Politics Satire, White House | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, December 18th, 2007
Calling audience questioners “jerks,” is far from John McCain’s worse flaw. But now that he’s done it at least twice, I thought I’d write the testy, warmongering Senator a limerick:
Ode To John “You Little Jerk” McCain
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Among John McCain’s irksome quirks
Is his habit of calling guys jerks
For presenting a query
Of which John is leery—
Still less galling than George Dubya’s smirks.[tags]Senator John McCain, Presidential Race Humor, Little Jerk, Campaign Satire, Election Humor[/tags]
Posted in Campaign Humor, Election Satire, George Bush Satire, GOP Humor, John McCain, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, White House | 3 Comments »
Hey Obama Sycophants, Don’t Say We Didn’t Warn You
Sunday, April 13th, 2008They 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 »