Archive for the ‘Political Commentary’ Category
Thursday, February 18th, 2010
I don’t know about you, but I’m getting really tired of this line frequently used by Obama and other pols: “America can’t afford to let the perfect be the enemy of the good.”
Obama usually uses this Voltaire paraphrase as an excuse to disappoint progressives yet again.
The original Voltaire quote is “The perfect is the enemy of the good,” translated from the French, “Le mieux est l’ennemi du bien.” (The literal translation actually should be, “The best is the enemy of the good.”)
This brings me to my latest double limerick:
Dear Obama, Enough With The Voltaire!
By Madeleine Begun Kane
There once was a guy named Voltaire,
A Frenchman whose wisdom pols share.
They say, “Perfect, though fine,
Is hardly divine
When it blocks the essential. So there!”
Dear Obama, this line is just guff —
An excuse for not doing enough.
So instead of excuses,
Fight right-wing abuses.
Voltaire is annoying. Hang tough!
Tags: Barack Obama, Excuses Humor, François-Marie Arouet, French Philosophers, Philosophy Satire, Progressives, Right-wing Abuses, Voltaire
Posted in 44 Humor, Barack Obama, Blame Game, Democrats Satire, Excuses Satire, Philosophy Humor, Political Commentary, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Quote Of The Day, Washington, White House | 13 Comments »
Monday, February 15th, 2010
Senator Evan Bayh (Pretend-Dem-Indiana) has announced that he won’t seek reelection this year. The conserva-Dem’s stated reason? Partisan gridlock is blocking progress.
While this is being viewed as a huge loss for Democrats and a great pick-up op for Republicans, I sure won’t miss Blue Dog Bayh. His so-called moderation and his unrelenting push for compromise with uncompromising Republicans has been a large impediment to passing progressive legislation.
And that brings me to my latest limerick:
Senator Bayh, Buh Bye!
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Sen. Bayh will not run again. Why?
Cuz there’s “not enough progress.” How wry!
He says partisanship
Is the cause. Here’s a tip:
Our problem is DINOS like Bayh.
Tags: Blue Dogs, Conserva-Dems, DINOs, Election Humor, Evan Bayh, Indiana, Partisan Gridlock, Partisanship Humor
Posted in Blue Dogs Humor, Democrats Satire, Election Satire, Evan Bayh Satire, Legislation Humor, Partisanship Satire, Political Commentary, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Senate Satire, Washington | 7 Comments »
Sunday, February 7th, 2010
When I first saw these hilarious photos and video of Sarah Palin’s palm-written Tea Party crib notes, all I could think was:
Notes on your hand,
Notes on your hand,
Lookin’ like a fool
With your notes on your hand.
Sorry, I watch way too much American Idol.
But relying on a cheat-sheet on your left hand during a friendly Q & A session is rich, coming from a woman who disparages President Obama’s (fictitious) inability to speak without a teleprompter.
This brings me to my latest limerick:
Palin’s Runny, Run-On Sentences Finally Explained
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Sarah Palin comes armed when she speaks
With crib notes on “hand” for sneak peeks.
Guess she’d better not wash
Before speeches. Oh gosh,
I sure hope that those scrawls ain’t antiques.
Tags: American Idol, Cheat Sheets, Crib Notes, Obama, Pants On The Ground Parody, Q & A, Run-On Sentences, Sarah Palin, Speeches, Tea Party Convention, Teleprompter
Posted in Political Commentary, Political Limericks, Political Speeches, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Publicity Hounds, Sarah Palin, Song Parodies, Tea Parties | 13 Comments »
Monday, January 25th, 2010
In the wake of the Massachusetts election debacle, I keep naively expecting Democrats to wake up and smell the need to stop acting like patsies.
Any minute now (I tell myself) Dems under Obama’s leadership will call a halt to the futile act of making nice with Republicans (and Blue Dogs) and will start pursuing a truly progressive agenda.
But, alas, Democrats seem to have learned exactly the wrong lesson from losing Ted Kennedy’s Senate seat to a Republican.
And that brings me to my latest limerick:
Ode To Weak-Kneed Democrats
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Dear Obama and co are you nuts?
Or did someone abscond with your guts?
If you act like you’re weak
All your power will leak,
Hurling Dems out of town on their butts.
********
Some related posts from Think Progress, Common Dreams, Susie Madrak, and Steve Benen.
Tags: Blue Dogs, Democratic Leadership, Election Humor, Legislation Satire, Massachusetts, Progressive Agenda
Posted in Barack Obama, Campaign Humor, Congress Humor, Election Satire, Filibuster Humor, GOP Humor, Leadership Humor, Legislation Humor, Martha Coakley, Media Satire, Minority Rights Humor, Political Commentary, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Scott Brown, Senate Satire, Washington, White House | Comments Off on Ode To Weak-Kneed Democrats
Monday, January 25th, 2010
There’s nothing funny about the U.S. Supreme Court’s activist ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. Overruling long-held precedents, it gives corporations free rein to buy political influence, all in the name of “corporate personhood” and “free speech.”
Nor is there anything funny about the hypocrisy of self-described anti-judicial-activism Republicans who laud this calamitous decision.
And, alas, there’s nothing funny about this limerick:
Democracy’s Demise?
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Justice Roberts and co are unbound,
Driving precedents precious aground.
Yet Republicans cheer,
And the sobs that we hear
Are the sounds of democracy drowned.
********
Lance Mannion managed to extract some humor from this judicial travesty.
Tags: Campaign Finance Reform, Citizens United, Corporate Personhood, Democracy, First Amendment, Free Speech, Justice John Roberts, Legal Verse, U.S. Supreme Court
Posted in Campaign Humor, Constitution Humor, Constitutional Crisis, Democracy Humor, Election Satire, FEC Satire, Free Speech, Hypocrisy Humor, Judiciary Satire, Law Satire, Legal Limericks, Political Commentary, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Supreme Court | 3 Comments »
Saturday, January 9th, 2010
It was silly enough when Bush-defender Dana Perino, while appearing on Sean Hannity’s TV show, claimed there were no domestic terror attacks under George W. Bush. Then there was Mary Matalin’s more subtle lie: Bush “inherited the most tragic attack on our own soil in our nation’s history.”
But the third time clearly makes it a Republican talking point. On Good Morning America, Rudy Giuliani spouted this falsehood to George Stephanopoulos: “We had no domestic attacks under Bush. We’ve had one under Obama.”
And that brings me to my latest limerick:
Rudy “Noun and a Verb and a 9-11” Giuliani Loses His Mind
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Republicans looking to ream
Prez Obama have launched an odd meme.
The Bush-Cheney reign
Suffered no terror pain.
It seems Nine-One-One’s only a dream.
Tags: Dana Perino, George Stephanopoulos, Good Morning America, Mary Matalin, Republican Talking Points, Rudy Giuliani, Sean Hannity, Terrorism
Posted in Dana Perino, Fox News Humor, George Bush Satire, George Stephanopoulos, GOP Humor, National Security Humor, Political Commentary, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Publicity Hounds, Republicans Humor, Rudy Giuliani, Sean Hannity Limerick, Terrorism | Comments Off on Rudy “Noun and a Verb and a 9-11” Giuliani Loses His Mind
Monday, November 30th, 2009
By now you’ve surely heard about the GOP’s proposed conservative “purity test,” a ten-point litmus test advocated by James Bopp Jr. and others to weed out party “undesirables.”
Under this test (Reagan’s Unity Principle for Support of Candidates), if you’re not right-wing enough to pass muster on at least eight of ten position points, you forfeit RNC support.
How ironic and amusing that Ronald Reagan, the “purity test’s” namesake, couldn’t come close to passing it.
And that brings me to my latest double limerick:
Testy Republicans
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Some Republicans want to ensure
That all of its members are pure:
Wrong on 3 of 10 planks?
Then it’s “Sorry, no thanks,”
Cuz you’re lacking in wingnut allure.
So how odd that their “God” would not pass
This purity test — what a gas!
Reagan’s record is clear:
He would fail, were he here.
Yet he’s Prez nonpareil, under grass.
Tags: Election Humor, GOP Humor, Irony, James Bopp, Purity Test, RNC, Ronald Reagan, Wingnuts
Posted in Election Satire, GOP Humor, Political Commentary, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, RNC Humor, Ronald Reagan, Wingnuts | 8 Comments »
Friday, November 20th, 2009
According to Republicans, it’s way too dangerous for Obama’s Attorney General Eric Holder to try terrorists in federal courts. And that seems just a wee bit odd. Because the 2002 trial of Zacarias Moussaoui, an al Qaeda terrorist often referred to as the “20th 9/11 hijacker,” was conducted in federal court on U.S. soil. And it went rather well — even Rudy Giuliani loved it!
Yet Rudy and his Republican ilk now seem terrified at the very thought of trying alleged 9/11 terrorist Khalid Sheikh Mohammed
in a New York City federal courthouse.
So, did the terrorists win between 2002 and now? Have Republicans turned yellow? Or is this simply another case of GOP hypocrisy?
Fraidy-Cat Republicans (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
A terrorist trial in fed court
Under Bush met with pride and support.
No GOP sneers —
Just Republican cheers.
But a Dem do the same? Must abort!
Tags: Al Qaeda, Criminal Justice, Eric Holder, Hypocrisy, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Law Humor, Rudy Giuliani, Terrorist Trials, Zacarias Moussaoui
Posted in 9/11 Satire, Barack Obama, Crime, Gitmo Humor, GOP Humor, Hypocrisy Humor, Jeff Sessions, Justice Department, Law Satire, Legal Limericks, Political Commentary, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Rudy Giuliani | 1 Comment »
Monday, November 16th, 2009
The Republican National Committee, the wingnutty Focus on the Family, and both groups’ donors are abortion-loving baby killers. Yes, I was shocked too. But it’s true, if you follow the thought process behind the Stupak Amendment to its logical conclusion.
Let me try to explain, even though the effort may make my brain explode. “Money is fungible,” say proponents of the Stupak abortion-coverage ban. And under “Stupak logic,” if your insurance policy doesn’t cover abortions, but your insurer issues abortion coverage to other people, your premiums are part of a pool of baby-killing cash.
This brings us back to the RNC whose health insurance policy, until roughly five minute ago, covered elective abortions and has done so since 1991.
So what inspired the sudden change? The RNC’s hypocritical abortion coverage got some headlines, embarrassing Chairman Michael Steele into sending its carrier an opt-out notice — something the RNC could have done any time during the last eighteen years.
End of story, right? Well, not exactly. Because the RNC hasn’t stopped paying health insurance premiums to Cigna. And Cigna still issues abortion insurance to other organizations. So under “Stupak logic,” the RNC and its donors are still subsidizing abortion and killing those babies.
Shame on the RNC! And shame also on Focus on the Family, which has its own fungible money problem. It’s insured by Principal, yet another abortion-covering carrier.
The RNC and Focus on the Family have earned themselves a limerick, don’t you think?
Stupak Stupidity
By Madeleine Begun Kane
The folks behind Stupak are clear:
All money is fungible. Hear?
So how odd that they chose
To pay money to cos
That finance abortions each year.
Related Post: Stewing Over Stupak
Tags: Abortion Coverage, Abortion Rights, Cigna, Focus On The Family, Fungible Money, Health Reform, Insurance Reform, Michael Steele, Principal, RNC, Stupak Amendment
Posted in Abortion Rights, Bart Stupak, Congress Humor, Health Satire, House Satire, Insurance Humor, Michael Steele, Political Commentary, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, RNC Humor, Wingnuts | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, November 11th, 2009
This feminist is furious over the abortion-coverage-banning Stupak Amendment to the House health care reform bill. And no, Stupak isn’t a Hyde Amendment-equivalent. It’s the Hyde Amendment on steroids.
I’ve never been a third party-proponent. But Stupak’s inclusion in the House bill shows such disregard and disdain for women’s reproductive rights, that a progressive, pro-choice third party is starting to sound very attractive.
I suppose I must rise out of my Stupak stupor and write a limerick:
Stewing Over Stupak
By Madeleine Begun Kane
The Blue Dogs by using extortion
Have effectively outlawed abortion:
Turned the health reform bill
Into “pro-lifer” swill.
Must reverse this, or Democrats’ corps shun.
Tags: Abortion Coverage, Anti-Abortion Democrats, Blue Dogs, Feminist Satire, Health Reform, Reproductive Rights, Stupak Amendment
Posted in Abortion Rights, Bart Stupak, Feminism Humor, Gender Politics, Health Satire, House Satire, Law Satire, Legal Limericks, Legislation Humor, Political Commentary, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire | 3 Comments »
Thursday, November 5th, 2009
On behalf of my fellow New Yorkers, I want to thank Sarah Palin for her generous gift to the State of New York. Palin’s leadership in driving moderates like Dede Scozzafava out of the Republican party handed New York Democrats a Congressional Seat (District 23) that had eluded Dems for well over a century.
Thanks also to Dick Armey for his help in electing Democrat Bill Owens. (I understand Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman has a big, wet kiss for Dick Armey too.)
And now it’s time for a limerick:
Celebrating Sarah
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Dear Sarah, your meddling is great.
I just love what you did to my state.
Your GOP purge
Will make Democrats surge
As you spread anti-moderates hate.
Tags: Bill Owens, Congress Humor, Conservative Party, Dede Scozzafava, Democrats, Dick Armey, Doug Hoffman, New York, Republican Moderates, Republicans Humor, Sarah Palin
Posted in Campaign Humor, Election Satire, GOP Humor, House Satire, New York Politics, Political Commentary, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Publicity Hounds, Republicans Humor, Sarah Palin, Wingnuts | 2 Comments »
Thursday, October 29th, 2009
Traitor Joe Lieberman is back to his old tricks, once again trying to undermine Democrats. So how’s Joe rewarding Obama and Harry Reid’s excessive generosity in letting Lieberman caucus with the Dems and chair the Homeland Security Committee? By threatening to help Republicans filibuster health reform over the public option.
Joe Lieberman’s latest misanthropic behavior reminds me of the single saving grace in Bush v. Gore: The election was stolen from Lieberman too.
I’ve already written Joe a song parody, so now it’s time for a limerick:
A Limerick For Traitor Joe
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Joe Lieberman’s meanness runs deep.
He’s a back-stabbing, Dem-screwing creep,
Who’s determined to kill
The health reform bill.
But at least he will never be VEEP.
Tags: Bush v. Gore, Filibuster, Harry Reid, Health Reform, Homeland Security, Joe Lieberman, Public Option, Traitors
Posted in Barack Obama, Filibuster Humor, Harry Reid, Health Satire, Insurance Humor, Joe Lieberman, Legislation Humor, Political Commentary, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Washington | 6 Comments »
Tuesday, October 20th, 2009
Recent comments by Sen. Jay Rockefeller and others indicate
that a strong public option could become a reality, if only President Obama stopped being a Bystander President.
Bystander President? (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Public option’s at stake — tock, tick, tock.
Please step up to the plate, Dear Barack.
Though the sidelines were cool
For a while, you’re a fool
If you fail to ensure it’s a lock.
Related Posts: Ode To Senator Judd “Majority Rules, Except When It Doesn’t” Gregg; Open Limerick To President Obama; Republicans Were For “Death Panels” Before They Were Against Them; Tantrum Politics; and Waterloo Lies
Tags: Health Care Reform, Jay Rockefeller, Legislation Satire, Obama Verse, Public Option
Posted in Barack Obama, Health Satire, Legislation Humor, Political Commentary, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, White House | Comments Off on Bystander President?
Friday, October 9th, 2009
Thirty Senate Republicans voted to keep rape victims who work for defense contractors from having their day in court. How? By voting against an Al Franken-proposed amendment to the 2010 Defense Appropriations Bill that would withhold defense contracts from companies (like Dick Cheney’s KBR) “if they restrict their employees from taking workplace sexual assault, battery and discrimination cases to court.”
Franken was inspired to sponsor this amendment by the ordeal of Jamie Leigh Jones, who was gang-raped by her co-workers while working for Halliburton/KBR in Baghdad. A clause in Jones’ KBR employment contract made employer-friendly private arbitration her only recourse, precluding Jones from seeking justice in court.
I hope all those pro-rape Republicans (listed below my limerick) are proud of themselves:
Ode To Pro-Rape Republicans (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Though Republicans yearn for support
From females, they’re bound to fall short:
Their position on rape
Is in criminal shape
Cuz they treat it like less than a tort.
Here’s the list of the thirty pro-rape Republican Senators:
Lamar Alexander (R-TN) John Barrasso (R-WY) Christopher Bond (R-MO) Sam Brownback (R-KS) Jim Bunning (R-KY) Richard Burr (R-NC) Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) Tom Coburn (R-OK) Thad Cochran (R-MS) Bob Corker (R-TN) John Cornyn (R-TX) Mike Crapo (R-ID) Jim DeMint (R-SC) John Ensign (R-NV) Michael Enzi (R-WY) Lindsey Graham (R-SC) Judd Gregg (R-NH) James Inhofe (R-OK) Johnny Isakson (R-GA) Mike Johanns (R-NE) Jon Kyl (R-AZ) John McCain (R-AZ) Mitch McConnell (R-KY) James Risch (R-ID) Pat Roberts (R-KS) Jeff Sessions (R-AL) Richard Shelby (R-AL) John Thune (R-SD) David Vitter (R-LA) Roger Wicker (R-MS)
Tags: Al Franken, Appropriations Bill, Defense Contractors, Employee Lawsuits, Employment Contracts, Feminist, Halliburton, Jamie Leigh Jones, KBR, Rape Victims, Republican Senators, Sexual Assault
Posted in Al Franken, Crime, David Vitter, Dick Cheney Satire, Feminism Humor, Gender Politics, GOP Humor, Inhofe Humor, James DeMint, Jeff Sessions, John Ensign, John McCain, Judd Gregg, Law Satire, Legal Limericks, National Security Humor, Political Commentary, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Senate Satire | 10 Comments »
Tuesday, September 29th, 2009
Newt Gingrich, you’ve got some ‘splainin’ to do! Please tell me how someone who has repeatedly railed against bilingualism can launch a bilingual website. The Americano, a news site for Hispanic-Americans, is a transparent effort to lure memory-impaired Latinos over to the GOP.
A two-verse limerick in honor of the hypocritical Newt Gingrich:
Newt’s Bilingual Newspeak
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Here’s a long-standing view from the right:
Education bilingual’s a blight.
That’s how Newt has opined.
Dearest Newt, changed your mind?
Quite the pander — your bilingual site.
Guess you’re hoping Latinos forget
Your stance that bilingual’s all wet,
That they’ll vote GOP.
But Latinos shall see
Through your bilingual lies on the Net.
Related Posts: Hark! The Disgraced Former Speaker Speaks; and Ode To Fresh Faces
Tags: Bilingual Education, Hispanics, Latinos, Media, Newspeak, Newt Gingrich, Republican Hypocrisy
Posted in Bilingualism, Education Limerick, Election Satire, GOP Humor, Hypocrisy Humor, Media Satire, Newt Gingrich Humor, Political Commentary, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, White House | 5 Comments »
Saturday, September 19th, 2009
Poor Chris Wallace has been whining to Bill O’Reilly about Fox News Sunday not getting an Obama interview. Apparently Obama’s making a huge mistake in refusing to be interviewed by such a fair fellow.
My favorite part of the video is where Wallace calls Obama’s White House, “The biggest bunch of crybabies I have dealt with in my 30 years in Washington.”
Yup, sounds “fair and balanced” to me.
This calls for a limerick, don’t you think?
Chris Wallace Feels Dissed
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Chris Wallace is feeling left out—
No Obama appearance to tout.
Wallace swears on the air:
He’s not Beck. He is fair
To those “crybabies.” Why would we doubt?
Related Post: Fox Pundits At Sea
Tags: Bill O'Reilly, Chris Wallace, Crybabies, Fair & Balanced, Fox News, Glen Beck, Interviews, Media Humor, Obama Verse, Talk Shows, White House
Posted in Bill O'Reilly, Chris Wallace, Fox News Humor, Glenn Beck Satire, Media Satire, Political Commentary, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Washington, White House | 1 Comment »
Thursday, September 3rd, 2009
New Hampshire’s Senator Judd Gregg, a big “majority rules” fan back when Republicans held the majority, has suddenly become a minority rights advocate. I just can’t imagine why.
Way back when, Gregg was enthused about using filibuster-proof reconciliation rules to pass ANWR drilling legislation:
… “The point, of course, is this: If you have 51 votes for your position, you win,” Gregg told his Senate colleagues on the floor.
He added, “Reconciliation is a rule of the Senate (that) has been used before for purposes exactly like this on numerous occasions… Is there something wrong with majority rules? I don’t think so.”
Responding to the argument that it’s wrong to use reconciliation on a domestic oil drilling measure, Gregg concluded, “We are using the rules of the Senate as they are set up to be used, and that happens to be the rule of the Senate.”
Of course now that there’s a Democratic majority, Gregg has a rather different opinion and is leading the Republican fight against passing health care reform under reconciliation rules:
Sen. Judd Gregg has hundreds of procedural objections ready for a healthcare plan Democrats leaders want to speed through the Senate.
Gregg (N.H.), the senior Republican on the Budget Committee, told the Hill in a recent interview that Republicans will wage a vicious fight if Democrats try to circumvent Senate rules and use a budget maneuver to pass a trillion dollar healthcare plan with a simple majority. […]
Gregg said that Republicans could file “hundreds” of points of order objections to the bill, each one requiring 60 votes to waive.
“We are very much engaged in taking a hard look at our rights under reconciliation,” Gregg said. “It would be very contentious.”
And that brings me to my latest limerick:
Ode To Senator Judd “Majority Rules, Except When It Doesn’t” Gregg
By Madeleine Begun Kane
“Majority rule is just great,”
Said Gregg in the drilling debate.
“You’ve got 51 votes,
Then you win.” Check his quotes.
Yet 51 Dem votes don’t rate.
Related Posts: Open Limerick To President Obama; Republicans Were For “Death Panels” Before They Were Against Them; Tantrum Politics; and Waterloo Lies
Tags: ANWR Oil Drilling, Filibusters, Health Care Reform, Health Humor, Judd Gregg, Legislation Humor, Majority Rules, Minority Rights, Republican Hypocrisy
Posted in Filibuster Humor, GOP Humor, Health Satire, Hypocrisy Humor, Judd Gregg, Legislation Humor, Political Commentary, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Senate Satire | 2 Comments »
Thursday, August 27th, 2009
From time to time, I write an alphabetical poem summing up a period’s zany and significant political moments. (My last one said goodbye and good riddance to Bush and Cheney.)
Although Barack Obama’s administration is still relatively new, there’s already plenty of material for another piece of alpha-political poetry:
A is for Alaska with its lovely Russian view.
B is for the Birthers who will rant and rave on cue.
C is for conservatives co-opted by the loons.
D is for each Democrat who caves and often swoons.
E is for elections that just never seem to stop.
F’s for raising endless funds so pols will stay on on top.
G’s for GOPers who so love to misinform.
H is for our health care — much in need of broad reform.
I is for insurance co’s. They love the status quo.
J’s for Joseph Lieberman. He really needs to go.
K’s for Teddy Kennedy whose legacy is great.
L is for Rush Limbaugh whose big talent’s spreading hate.
M’s for John McCain who’s always on a Sunday show.
N’s for nihilist congressmen, so fond of saying “No!”
O is for Obama. Hope he’s worthy of his rise.
P is for Fox pundits and their “fair and balanced” lies.
Q is for the questions town hall crackpots often pose.
R’s for right-wing zealots who are truthful-info foes.
S is for Mark Sanford’s Argentinean affair.
T’s for Texans Perry and Pete Sessions. What a pair!
U is the USA. There’s greatness at its core.
V’s for fam’ly values preached by hypocrites galore.
W’s for Dubya and the mess he left behind.
X and Y and Z are hard. Their rhymes I can not find.
Tags: Conservatives Satire, GOP Lies, House Republicans, Obama poem, Republican Hypocrisy, Senate Humor
Posted in GOP Humor, Political Commentary, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Wingnuts | 3 Comments »
Sunday, August 16th, 2009
Republican hypocrisy is stunning. Almost everyone who’s been throwing around the “death panel” epithet used to have a very different opinion of end-of-life-care planning:
1) Back in her half-term as Alaska governor, Sarah Palin spoke out for advance healthcare directives in her 2008 Healthcare Decision Day Proclamation.
2) Rush Limbaugh enthusiastically read ad copy championing LegalZoom.com, whose services include do-it-yourself living wills.
3) Newt Gingrich recently advocated for advance directives (end-of-life planning) in his July 2nd Washington Post column.
4) Most Senate and House Republicans voted to fund counseling for end-of-life issues and care in George W. Bush’s 2003 Medicare prescription drug bill.
And that brings me to my latest limerick:
Republicans Were For “Death Panels” Before They Were Against Them
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Dear Sarah and Limbaugh and Newt,
Put your “death panel” nonsense on mute.
Cuz you once were big fans
Of end-of-life plans.
Were they “death panels” too? Now please scoot!
Related Posts: An Open Limerick To President Obama; Tantrum Politics; and Waterloo Lies
Tags: Death Panels, End-of-Life Care, Health Care Reform, Health Humor, Healthcare Directives, Living Wills, Medicare Satire, Newt Gingrich, Republican Hypocrisy, Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin Limerick
Posted in GOP Humor, Health Satire, Hypocrisy Humor, Insurance Humor, Legislation Humor, Newt Gingrich Humor, Political Commentary, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin | 3 Comments »
Tuesday, August 11th, 2009
Steve Benen points out the contrast between the coverage of two abortion-related polls:
In mid-May, Gallup released a poll that found 51% of Americans calling themselves “pro-life” and 42% “pro-choice.” It was the first time a majority of U.S. adults had identified themselves as pro-life since Gallup began asking the question. Last week, however, Gallup released a follow-up poll showing the pro-life lead evaporating, dropping from nine points to one, 47% to 46%.
The first poll got tons of coverage, while the second was largely ignored:
So, to review, Gallup results showing strong “pro-life” numbers are a huge story, even though the results were dubious. Gallup results showing weaker “pro-life” numbers are a non-story, even though the results made sense.
And that brings me to my latest limerick:
Our Liberal Media
By Madeleine Begun Kane
The pro-lifer numbers are higher
Touted journos, their keyboards afire.
So why don’t they mention
The numbers’ descension?
So much for our liberal choir.
Tags: Abortion Rights, Feminism, Feminist Limerick, Gallup Polls, Liberal Media, Media Humor, Pro-Choice, Pro-Life, Steve Benen
Posted in Feminism Humor, Gender Politics, Media Satire, Political Commentary, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Polls | Comments Off on Our Liberal Media (Limerick)
Dear Obama, Enough With The Voltaire!
Thursday, February 18th, 2010I don’t know about you, but I’m getting really tired of this line frequently used by Obama and other pols: “America can’t afford to let the perfect be the enemy of the good.”
Obama usually uses this Voltaire paraphrase as an excuse to disappoint progressives yet again.
The original Voltaire quote is “The perfect is the enemy of the good,” translated from the French, “Le mieux est l’ennemi du bien.” (The literal translation actually should be, “The best is the enemy of the good.”)
This brings me to my latest double limerick:
Dear Obama, Enough With The Voltaire!
By Madeleine Begun Kane
There once was a guy named Voltaire,
A Frenchman whose wisdom pols share.
They say, “Perfect, though fine,
Is hardly divine
When it blocks the essential. So there!”
Dear Obama, this line is just guff —
An excuse for not doing enough.
So instead of excuses,
Fight right-wing abuses.
Voltaire is annoying. Hang tough!
Tags: Barack Obama, Excuses Humor, François-Marie Arouet, French Philosophers, Philosophy Satire, Progressives, Right-wing Abuses, Voltaire
Posted in 44 Humor, Barack Obama, Blame Game, Democrats Satire, Excuses Satire, Philosophy Humor, Political Commentary, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Quote Of The Day, Washington, White House | 13 Comments »