Archive for the ‘Legislation Humor’ Category
Tuesday, December 20th, 2011
As Paul Krugman puts it so concisely, “Politifact, R.I.P.” No, Politifact isn’t going out of business, though after its latest credibility-destroying move, it should:
This is really awful. Politifact, which is supposed to police false claims in politics, has announced its Lie of the Year — and it’s a statement that happens to be true, the claim that Republicans have voted to end Medicare.
Steve Benen in the link above explains it, but let me just repeat the basics. Republicans voted to replace Medicare with a voucher system to buy private insurance — and not just that, a voucher system in which the value of the vouchers would systematically lag the cost of health care, so that there was no guarantee that seniors would even be able to afford private insurance.
PolitiFiction Limerick
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Politifact’s “Lie of the Year”
Is really the truth, cuz it’s clear
That the GOP plan
Would end Medicare. Man!
There’s no cov’rage — just coupons! Bronx cheer!
Tags: Health Care Reform, Health Humor, Insurance Reform, Lie Of The Year, Media Humor, Medicare Satire, Paul Krugman, Political Limerick, Politifact, Republicans Humor
Posted in GOP Humor, Health Satire, Insurance Humor, Legislation Humor, Media Satire, Medicare Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor | 2 Comments »
Monday, November 21st, 2011
The blame game is going strong with the customary false equivalencies.
Limerick Ode To The Not-So-Super Committee
By Madeleine Begun Kane
The Super Committee’s derailed,
And now we are being regaled
With tales blaming Dems
Sold as “media gems.”
It’s “balanced” reporting that’s failed.
Tags: Blame Game, Budget Cuts, Economy Satire, Federal Budget, Financial Verse, Fiscal Humor, Journalism, Legislation Humor, Media Humor, Republicans Humor, Tax Limerick
Posted in Blame Game, Economy Humor, GOP Humor, Legislation Humor, Media Satire, Money & Finance Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Tax & Budget Humor | 2 Comments »
Monday, October 24th, 2011
Republicans have repeatedly blocked proposals they actually support, in order to gain political advantage over Obama. This is no surprise, in light of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s stated priorities: He bragged that making Obama a one-term president was his number one goal.
But McConnell now denies putting politics over the good of the country, claiming there’s no “villain out there who’s keeping this administration from succeeding.”
Limerick Ode To Villainous Mitch McConnell
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Mitch McConnell denies there’s a villain
That on purpose engages in killin’
The President’s plans,
After promising fans
Such destruction, a vow he’s fulfillin’.
Tags: Campaign Satire, Election Humor, Mitch McConnell, Republicans Humor, Senate Satire
Posted in Barack Obama, Campaign Humor, Election Satire, GOP Humor, Legislation Humor, Mitch McConnell, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, RNC Humor, Senate Satire, Washington, White House | 5 Comments »
Monday, October 3rd, 2011
Steve Benen has written an excellent post about the underreported voter suppression scandal:
Under the auspices of rooting out “voter fraud” — a problem that appears to exist largely in the over-active imaginations of GOP activists — Republicans are passing voter-ID measures, closing windows for early voting, and approving new laws restricting voter-registration drives, all targeting specific kinds of voters who happen to be traditional Democratic supporters.
And the Brennan Center For Justice has produced a frightening study of these “radical” voting law changes.
Now if only the media would take some time out from its hefty will-he-or-won’t-he Christie coverage, to report on this important issue.
Pressing The Press On Voter Suppression (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
The GOP war on our voting
Is a problem the press isn’t noting.
Unfair laws will suppress
Dem votes with finesse,
The Republican prospects promoting.
Tags: Brennan Center, Election Humor, GOP Humor, Legislation Humor, Media Humor, Republicans Humor, Steve Benen, Voter ID, Voter Suppression, Voting Limerick, War On Voting
Posted in Democracy Humor, Election Satire, GOP Humor, Legislation Humor, Media Satire, Political Commentary, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Voting Satire | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, September 20th, 2011
This devout progressive has been very hard on Obama lately … and with good reason. But the debt ceiling debacle, liberal anger, and sinking poll numbers seem to have woken him up. Suddenly, Obama is the new, improved, assertive, populist President. And many former fans are welcoming back the President they thought they elected.
So, am I cheering? Well, let’s just say I’m giving Obama guarded applause. For while I like some of his jobs and tax proposals, and I love his newly confident, aggressive tone, I’m not convinced that any of this will last.
And that brings me to my latest limerick:
Limerick Ode To The New, Improved Obama
By Madeleine Begun Kane
It fin’ly has dawned on Barack
That with lib’rals he’s lost lots of stock.
His base and foundation
Could be his salvation.
I just hope his new stance ain’t a crock.
Tags: Barack Obama, Jobs, Legislation Humor, Liberals, Progressives, Tax Policy
Posted in 44 Humor, Barack Obama, Democrats Humor, Fiscal Policy, Legislation Humor, Political Commentary, Political Limericks, Political Speeches, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Tax & Budget Humor, Washington, White House | 4 Comments »
Tuesday, September 20th, 2011
Limerick Ode To The Repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Hooray! “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” has ended.
Civil liberties lovers say, “Splendid!”
But it’s mourned by some jerks
Who think killed-at-war “perks”
Should only to “straights” be extended.
Tags: Civil Rights, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Gay Rights, Legislation Humor, Military, War
Posted in Don't Ask Don't Tell Humor, Gay Rights, Iraq War Humor, Legislation Humor, Military Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, War & Antiwar Poems | 3 Comments »
Thursday, September 15th, 2011
John Boehner’s jobs speech was rather hypocritical, as Greg Sargent points out. Sargent highlights two rather inconsistent sentences:
“If we want to create a better environment for job creation, politicians of all stripes can leave the ‘my way or the highway’ philosophy behind.”
And there was also this:
“Tax increases, however, are not a viable option for the Joint Committee.”
Such hypocrisy cries out for a limerick:
Limerick Ode To John Boehner
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Boehner’s job speech surprised me a tad.
He said, My way or highway is bad.
Sounded promising till
He continued, No bill
Will raise taxes. Hypocrisy’s sad.
Tags: Greg Sargent, Jobs, John Boehner, Political Speech, Republican Hypocrisy, Taxes
Posted in Hypocrisy Humor, John Boehner, Legislation Humor, Political Limericks, Political Speeches, Republicans Humor | 7 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 »
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 »
Saturday, June 25th, 2011
Congratulations to the New York State Legislature and to Governor Andrew Cuomo. Governor Cuomo promised to legalize same-sex marriage in New York and he’s somehow managed to pull it off.
I’m extra proud to be a New Yorker today!
Limerick Ode To Legalized Same-Sex Marriage In New York
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Good news in New York for the gays:
They can join in our straight-wedding ways.
Same sex marriage has passed.
There’s some fairness at last.
Many thanks for those “yes” votes. Give praise!
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, Gay Marriage, Gay Rights, Marriage Equality, New York, Same Sex Marriage
Posted in Andrew Cuomo, Gay Rights, Legislation Humor, New York Politics, Political Limericks | 9 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 »
Saturday, June 11th, 2011
While Anthony Weiner has disgraced himself with his creepy online behavior, the Republican party disgraces itself every day with the policies it embraces. So it’s time to refocus on stopping Republicans from the horrific damage they do to the American people on a daily basis.
A Limerick Plea To Refocus
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Weiner’s cyber-sex sure creeps me out.
Disappointment in him makes me pout.
But overreaction
Has caused a distraction:
Must block laws that Republicans tout.
Tags: Anthony Weiner, Cybersex Limerick, Distraction, GOP, Republicans Humor
Posted in GOP Humor, Legislation Humor, Political Limericks, Republicans Humor | 5 Comments »
Friday, June 3rd, 2011
Presidential wannabe Jon Huntsman’s pandering is rather impressive, especially his gushing about Paul Ryan’s Medicare Demolition Plan in the Wall Street Journal:
I admire Congressman Paul Ryan’s honest attempt to save Medicare. Those who disagree with his approach incur a moral responsibility to propose reforms that would ensure Medicare’s ability to meet its responsibilities to retirees without imposing an unaffordable tax burden on future generations of Americans.
Limerick Ode To Jon Huntsman
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Take a gander at Huntsman’s non-candor,
As he pulls off a Paul Ryan pander.
Seems he’ll say what it takes
In the GOP stakes
To become U.S. prez/chief commander.
Tags: Campaign Satire, Election Humor, Jon Huntsman, Medicare Satire, Pandering, Paul Ryan, Presidential Campaign Humor, Utah
Posted in Campaign Humor, Election Satire, Health Satire, Jon Huntsman, Legislation Humor, Medicare Humor, Political Limericks, Republicans Humor | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, May 31st, 2011
I never thought I’d say this, but spam can be enlightening.
I’m referring to a recent spam flurry promoting home abortion kits. And we have Republicans to thank for this disturbing trend. After all, newly empowered Republicans have been targeting abortion rights in a big way. And at the state level they’ve been very successful at severely limiting women’s reproductive rights.
Who knew that when Republicans claimed to be pro-small business, they were talking about abortion kit scam artists?
That brings me to my latest limerick:
This Spam’s An Abortion
By Madeleine Begun Kane
A new (to me) flavor of scam
Came by email for gals in a jam.
Yes, a legal cascade
Against Roe versus Wade
Has inspired abortion kit spam.
Tags: Abortion Rights, Comment Spam, Family Planning, Feminism Humor, Feminist Limerick, Gender Humor, Home Abortion Kits, Legal Satire, Legislation Humor, Reproductive Rights, Republicans Humor, Roe v. Wade
Posted in Abortion Rights, Family Values Humor, Feminism Humor, Gender Politics, Law Satire, Legal Limericks, Legislation Humor, Political Limericks, Republicans Humor, Wingnuts | 10 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 »
Tuesday, April 12th, 2011
Paul Ryan’s budget plan is both radical and fraudulent. But that doesn’t prevent an astounding number of journalists (who presumably count with their fingers) from treating it with respect and referring to it as “serious” and “bold.”
Limerick Ode To The Math-Challenged Media
By Madeleine Begun Kane
The math-challenged journos who laud
Ryan’s radical plan and applaud,
Say it’s “serious,” “bold,”
But his plan has no hold
On reality — naught but a fraud.
Tags: Budget, Budget Cuts, Fiscal Crisis, Journalism Humor, Limerick, Media Humor, Paul Ryan, Remedial Math
Posted in Fiscal Policy, House Satire, Legislation Humor, Media Satire, Paul Ryan, Political Limericks, Republicans Humor | 12 Comments »
Tuesday, April 12th, 2011
Open Limerick To President Obama
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Dear Obama, I’m shocked and appalled
By your deal-making prowess (so-called).
You could turn a royal flush
Into leftover mush.
Your message? “I love being mauled.”
(Related Post: Premature Concession Syndrome — A Remedial Limerick)
Tags: Budget Cuts, Concessions, Legislation Humor, Negotiations, President Obama
Posted in 44 Humor, Barack Obama, Fiscal Policy, Legislation Humor, Political Limericks, White House | 11 Comments »
Thursday, April 7th, 2011
Limerick Ode to A Government Shutdown
By Madeleine Begun Kane
The thought of a government shutdown
Should be quickly, decisively cut down.
But I fear that we’re screwed
Cuz of Washington’s mood:
Boehner’s party has turned into Nut Town.
Tags: Budget Cuts, Budget Limerick, Federal Budget, Federal Jobs, Fiscal Crisis, Government Shutdown, House Republicans, John Boehner, Republicans Humor, Tea Party Members, Washington DC, Wingnuts
Posted in Blame Game, Fiscal Policy, GOP Humor, Government Services, House Satire, John Boehner, Legislation Humor, Money & Finance Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Washington, Wingnuts | 11 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 »
Sunday, December 19th, 2010
If John McCain hadn’t done quite so much damage to our nation, I could almost feel sorry for him. After all, it’s hard not to pity a man who’s turned into a pathetic shell of a human being.
McCain’s Don’t Ask Don’t Tell repeal temper tantrum is only the latest example of the sad, ugly person that McCain’s become:
A Tragic Limerick Ode To John McCain
By Madeleine Begun Kane
John McCain seems embittered and mean,
Acting worse than a badly raised teen.
His convictions? No more!
Just conniptions galore.
He’s lost heart, and he’s left with just spleen.
Tags: DADT, John McCain, Military, Republicans Humor, U.S. Senate
Posted in Don't Ask Don't Tell Humor, Gay Rights, John McCain, Legislation Humor, Military Humor, National Security Humor, Political Commentary, Political Limericks, Publicity Hounds, Republicans Humor, Senate Satire | 7 Comments »
Pressing The Press On Voter Suppression (Limerick)
Monday, October 3rd, 2011Steve Benen has written an excellent post about the underreported voter suppression scandal:
And the Brennan Center For Justice has produced a frightening study of these “radical” voting law changes.
Now if only the media would take some time out from its hefty will-he-or-won’t-he Christie coverage, to report on this important issue.
Pressing The Press On Voter Suppression (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
The GOP war on our voting
Is a problem the press isn’t noting.
Unfair laws will suppress
Dem votes with finesse,
The Republican prospects promoting.
Tags: Brennan Center, Election Humor, GOP Humor, Legislation Humor, Media Humor, Republicans Humor, Steve Benen, Voter ID, Voter Suppression, Voting Limerick, War On Voting
Posted in Democracy Humor, Election Satire, GOP Humor, Legislation Humor, Media Satire, Political Commentary, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Voting Satire | 2 Comments »