Archive for the ‘Tax & Budget Humor’ Category
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 »
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, August 9th, 2011
Paul Krugman does a great job pointing out S&P’s chutzpah in downgrading U.S. debt:
America’s large budget deficit is, after all, primarily the result of the economic slump that followed the 2008 financial crisis. And S.& P., along with its sister rating agencies, played a major role in causing that crisis, by giving AAA ratings to mortgage-backed assets that have since turned into toxic waste.
Nor did the bad judgment stop there. Notoriously, S.& P. gave Lehman Brothers, whose collapse triggered a global panic, an A rating right up to the month of its demise. And how did the rating agency react after this A-rated firm went bankrupt? By issuing a report denying that it had done anything wrong.
Limerick Ode To Standard & Poor’s Chutzpah
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Dear Standard & Poor’s, I’m impressed
Cuz you ought to be under arrest.
You caused the recession
With junk bond aggression.
Now you’re pounding your downgrading chest?
Tags: Chutzpah, Credit Downgrade, Economy, Fiscal Crisis, Fiscal Humor, Junk Bonds, Paul Krugman, Rating Agencies, S&P, Standard & Poor's, U.S. Debt
Posted in Business Humor, Economy Humor, Fiscal Policy, Money & Finance Humor, Political Limericks, Tax & Budget Humor, Washington | 5 Comments »
Monday, August 1st, 2011
Paul Krugman has it exactly right: The President Surrenders. The debt ceiling deal Obama negotiated with the Republican hostage takers is well beyond terrible. And the ransom Obama paid to the GOP is a presidential error beyond comprehension — one that will make today’s bad economy look like fun and games.
What will it do to the poor, the sick, the elderly, the middle class, and the unemployed? I’m way too depressed to discuss it.
Congratulations, Republicans! You’ve got yourself a right-wing Republican President.
Limerick Ode To A Failed Presidency
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Dear Obama, I’ve had it — you’ve failed.
It was time to be strong, but you bailed.
The Dems needed “bold.”
But instead you got rolled.
You’ve undermined all that we hailed.
Tags: Barack Obama, Debt Ceiling, Federal Budget, Federal Debt, Federal Default, John Boehner, Legislation Satire, Obama Surrender, Paul Krugman, Republican Ransom
Posted in Barack Obama, Democrats Humor, Democrats Satire, Fiscal Policy, Money & Finance Humor, Political Commentary, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Tax & Budget Humor, Washington, White House, Wingnuts | 5 Comments »
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, 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 19th, 2011
For someone who claims we’re broke, John Boehner certainly has some interesting priorities:
House Republicans plan to pay former Solicitor General Paul Clement and his legal team from King & Spaulding as much as $500,000 of taxpayer money to uphold the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) on behalf of House of Representatives…
As Steve Benen says:
… Boehner has been running around for months, falsely claiming, “We’re broke.” It’s how he justifies proposed cuts in critical areas like education, medical research, infrastructure, job training, and homeland security, even if it makes the jobs crisis much worse.
That brings me to my latest limerick:
DOMA Dollars
By Madeleine Begun Kane
John Boehner asserts that we’re broke,
But wastes cash to please wingnutty folk:
Big taxpayer bucks
On a lawyer deluxe
To save DOMA — for bigots bespoke.
Tags: Bias Humor, Budget Limerick, Defense Of Marriage Act, DOMA, Economy Satire, Gay Marriage, House Satire, John Boehner, King & Spaulding, Law Satire, Paul Clement, Republican Priorities, Wingnuts
Posted in Family Values Humor, Fiscal Policy, Gay Rights, Homophobia, John Boehner, Law Satire, Legal Limericks, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Tax & Budget Humor, Wingnuts | 5 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 »
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 »
Friday, December 10th, 2010
As you know, most of my limericks mock politicians or the media. But today’s verse is in honor of the great Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) The stand he took today in his Senate filibuster of Obama’s tax deal with the Republicans was wonderful to behold:
Limerick Ode To Bernie Sanders
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Bravo for our hero, dear Bernie.
He’s engaged in a praise-worthy tourney.
He honors the floor—
Shows he’s great to his core.
Wish more Democrats joined in his journey.
(Thanks also to the two Democratic senators who joined him: Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Mary Landrieu of Louisiana.)
Tags: Bernie Sanders, Bush Tax Cut Extension, Filibuster, Fiscal Crisis, Louisiana, Mary Landrieu, Ohio, Sherrod Brown, Taxes, U.S. Senate
Posted in Barack Obama, Bernie Sanders, Filibuster Humor, Fiscal Policy, Legislation Humor, Political Limericks, Tax & Budget Humor, White House | 3 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 »
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 »
Tuesday, January 26th, 2010
Responding to his political crisis, President Obama is doing precisely the wrong thing. As Paul Krugman said,
A spending freeze? That’s the brilliant response of the Obama team to their first serious political setback?
It’s appalling on every level.
Something tells me that Obama’s State of the Union address is going to be jam-packed with pandering double talk.
And that brings me to my latest limerick:
Ode To Barack Hussein Hoover
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Prez Obama, once shaker and mover,
Is reduced to a pand’ring maneuver.
Dealt a setback, his plan
Is a spending freeze? Man!
We’ve elected a latter-day Hoover.
********
Congratulations to my good friend Don Davis of Satirical Political for taking top prize in this year’s HumorFeed contest and being named The Best Satire of the Year. Don won for his hilarious A Real War On Christmas: Outrage Grows Over Excessive Bonuses To Santa’s Elves. Congrats, again Don. Well deserved!
(Full disclosure: I was a member of the four judge panel. However, the contest submissions were anonymous, so there was no need to disqualify myself.)
Tags: Economy Satire, Herbert Hoover, Obama poem, Pandering, Paul Krugman, Political Setbacks, Recession, SOTU, Spending Freeze
Posted in Barack Obama, Economy Humor, Fiscal Policy, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Tax & Budget Humor, White House | 5 Comments »
Sunday, April 26th, 2009
On Thursday, Obama sent the filibuster-happy Republicans a message: Their zero-vote obstructionism has consequences. More specifically, Obama plans to use the budget reconciliation process to enact health care reform and student loan legislation if the GOP fails to mend its obstructionist ways.
I thought I’d celebrate Obama’s filibuster-proofing plans with a double limerick:
They Only Have Themselves To Blame
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Bipartisanship had a chance.
But the GOP zero-vote stance
Was very instructive.
Their actions obstructive
Derailed any two-party dance.
They’ve clearly expressed their intent,
So as much as they scream and they vent,
We should screw the minority.
Let the majority
Govern how money is spent.
Tags: Bipartisanship, Budget, Budget Reconciliation, Congress Humor, Filibuster, GOP, Health Care, Majority, Minority, Obstructionism, Republicans Humor, Senate Satire, Student Loans
Posted in Barack Obama, Congress Humor, Fiscal Policy, GOP Humor, House Satire, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Republicans Humor, Senate Satire, Tax & Budget Humor | Comments Off on They Only Have Themselves To Blame
Sunday, March 29th, 2009
I, for one, thoroughly enjoyed the House Republicans’ number-free budget. And I’m looking forward to the expanded version they’ve promised for next week — the one that won’t have any letters in it either.
Republican Road To Remedial Math (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
The purported Republican budget
Has no numbers, so how can we judge it?
There’s no dollars or sense
In this PR offense.
It appears they decided to fudge it.
Tags: Budget, GOP, PR, Remedial Math, Republicans Humor
Posted in Congress Humor, Economy Humor, Fiscal Policy, GOP Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Tax & Budget Humor | 1 Comment »
Thursday, March 19th, 2009
I practiced law for over a dozen years and negotiated lots of contracts. And, unlike the Bush administration, I always kept my poker face. Why? Because if you want the best possible deal, you must make the other party think that he needs you more than you need him.
So, for example, when you tell banks that they’re too big to fail, you disincentivize them from cooperating, or even telling you the truth. That’s why I’m not surprised that 13 of the “top 23 private recipients of taxpayer-funded bailouts under the $700 billion program” enacted by the Bush administration “owed more than $220 million in unpaid federal taxes” and that they lied about it on their TARP contracts.
Why bother being honest? After all, it’s not as if Bush’s Treasury Department made them back up their statements with actual tax records. Of course not — they were too big to fail.
This brings me to my latest limerick:
Tough Negotiators, Those Bushies!
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Dear bank, we can not let you fail.
You’re too big. Pay no mind if we wail
That you owe us back tax.
Do not worry. Relax!
Cuz that huge bailout check’s in the mail.
Tags: Bailout Humor, Banks, Bush, Contracts, Law Satire, Legal Humor, Lies, Negotiating, Paulson, TARP, Taxes, Taxpayers, Treasury
Posted in Banking Humor, Ben Bernanke, Business Humor, Corruption Humor, Crime, Economy Humor, Fiscal Policy, George Bush Satire, Henry Paulson, Law Satire, Paulson Plan, Political Commentary, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, TARP Humor, Tax & Budget Humor, Tim Geithner | 4 Comments »
Tuesday, March 17th, 2009
The AIG bonus fiasco has been very enlightening. Giving incompetent employees huge bonuses, so they won’t resign? And with taxpayer cash yet? What a concept!
I think all of us who still have jobs should send our bosses a letter like this:
Dear Boss, Where’s My Bonus? (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Dear boss, where’s my bonus and raise?
I expect lots of cash — no delays.
Though my work surely sucks,
I deserve all those bucks.
Ain’t it great that incompetence pays?
Tags: AIG, Bailout, Bonuses, Economy, Employment, Incompetence, Money, Workplace
Posted in Banking Humor, Business Humor, Corruption Humor, Economy Humor, Federal Reserve, Fiscal Policy, Insurance Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Social Satire, Tax & Budget Humor | 7 Comments »
Limerick Ode To The New, Improved Obama
Tuesday, September 20th, 2011This 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 »