Posts Tagged ‘Fiscal Crisis’
Monday, December 29th, 2014
Having It Both Ways (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Claim “Obama’s economy’s” sick?
Then take credit for upswings? How slick!
But my dear GOPers,
It doesn’t take seers
To know that you really must pick.
Tags: Economy, Economy Satire, Fiscal Crisis, Fiscal Humor, GOP, Obama poem, Republican Hypocrisy, Republicans Humor
Posted in Barack Obama, Economy Humor, Fiscal Policy, GOP Humor, Hypocrisy Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Washington | Comments Off on Having It Both Ways (Limerick)
Friday, December 21st, 2012
John Boehner’s Plan B scheme seems to have backfired, forcing him to cancel the vote and endangering his speakership.
Boehner’s Plan B Gets A Failing Grade (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
John Boehner had hoped that Plan B
Would embarrass Obama, you see.
It collapsed on the Speaker.
Job tenure? A squeaker!
Boehner’s stunt gets an F, at most D.
Tags: Barack Obama, Bush Tax Cut Extension, Fiscal Cliff, Fiscal Crisis, John Boehner, Money & Finance Humor, Negotiations, Plan B, Speakership
Posted in Barack Obama, Fiscal Policy, GOP Humor, John Boehner, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Tax & Budget Humor | 4 Comments »
Wednesday, December 12th, 2012
Here’s my response to this New York Times article about the “fiscal cliff” negotiations between Obama and Boehner:
Senryu For Obama:
John Boehner’s con game:
Can’t muster votes. Give me more.
Don’t be fooled again.
Tags: Barack Obama, Fiscal Cliff, Fiscal Crisis, John Boehner, Negotiations, Political Senryu
Posted in Barack Obama, Fiscal Policy, GOP Humor, John Boehner, Political Haiku & Senryu, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Tax & Budget Humor | Comments Off on Senryu For Obama
Monday, December 10th, 2012
In the “fiscal cliff” negotiations, Republicans are irrationally demanding a hike in the Medicare eligibility age — what Nancy Pelosi refers to as “a trophy that the Republicans want.”
As Ezra Klein explains, this would not save money or help solve the health care cost problem, and it would hurt lots of people. Unfortunately, Republicans seem to favor symbolism over substance, and raising the Medicare eligibility age would be “a signal that they won something big on entitlements.”
Medicare Mishigas (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
GOPers want change that ain’t sage:
Raise the Medicare-el’gible age.
This does harm — won’t address
The health care cost mess:
It’s the fruit of entitlements-rage.
Tags: Entitlements, Ezra Klein, Fiscal Cliff, Fiscal Crisis, Fiscal Humor, GOP Humor, Health Care, Medicare Eligibility, Medicare Reform, Medicare Satire, Nancy Pelosi, Negotiations, Republicans Humor
Posted in Economy Humor, Fiscal Policy, GOP Humor, Health Satire, Legislation Humor, Medicare Humor, Money & Finance Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Tax & Budget Humor | 4 Comments »
Tuesday, December 4th, 2012
Open Limerick To President Obama
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Dear Obama, I welcome your stance
In the “fiscal cliff” deal-making dance.
If the 1st comes sans deal,
Our nation will heal.
Hanging tough is the way to advance.
Tags: Barack Obama, Congress Humor, Fiscal Cliff, Fiscal Crisis, Negotiations
Posted in Barack Obama, Congress Humor, Fiscal Policy, GOP Humor, House Satire, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Tax & Budget Humor, White House | 4 Comments »
Thursday, November 29th, 2012
#My2k Limerick
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Obama’s new hashtag is meant
2 help middle class taxpayers vent
Via tweets 2 demand
That their tax hike is banned:
#My2k’s needed 4 rent.
(You can find the story about Obama’s social media PR efforts and this “fiscal cliff” related hashtag here.)
Tags: #My2k, Barack Obama, Fiscal Cliff, Fiscal Crisis, Hashtags, Middle Class, Social Media Humor, Tax Hikes, Taxpayers, Tweet Humor, Twitter Limerick
Posted in Barack Obama, Fiscal Policy, Middle Class, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Social Media Satire, Tax & Budget Humor, Twitter, White House | Comments Off on #My2k Limerick
Wednesday, November 28th, 2012
Dear Members Of The Media:
When a Republican refuses to consider any tax rate hike whatsoever … even for millionaires and billionaires … that’s an extremist position. So it would be nice if you’d stop acting as if the few Republicans claiming sudden independence from Grover Norquist’s tax pledge are moderates, when they’re still refusing to consider any rate hikes.
To put it another way, a slight compromise in one’s extremism is still extremism:
The way the whole “fiscal cliff” thing (itself a contrivance based on the Republican view that expiration of the Bush tax cuts and imposition of defense spending cuts would be an apocalyptic development) is being discussed in the MSM is a depressing vindication of the huge strategic advantages of partisan extremism. If you are crazy enough for a while, then agreeing to be slightly less crazy looks statesmanlike.
Open Limerick To The Mainstream Media
By Madeleine Begun Kane
The press is again just a dupe
In the make-believe compromise loop:
A mere marginal move
By extremists can’t prove
That they’re aught but a lunatic group.
Tags: Bush Tax Cut Extension, Defense Spending, Extremists Satire, Fiscal Cliff, Fiscal Crisis, Fiscal Humor, Grover Norquist, Mainstream Media, Media Humor, Partisan Extremism, Republicans Humor, Tax Pledge, Tax Rate Hikes, Taxes
Posted in Fiscal Policy, GOP Humor, Legislation Humor, Media Satire, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Tax & Budget Humor | 3 Comments »
Tuesday, November 20th, 2012
Serious fiscal negotiations are (or at least should be) going on right now in Washington DC. And whether you think we’re facing a “fiscal cliff,” or more of a “fiscal incline,” here’s a Thanksgiving message to Washington politicians: Please talk turkey and work something out that makes sense for our nation.
Thanksgiving Limerick For DC Pols
By Madeleine Begun Kane
It’s time for some serious talk.
Please don’t bitch or complain, and don’t balk.
Our issues are great—
Act before it’s too late.
So kindly talk turkey. Don’t squawk.
Tags: Economy, Fiscal Cliff, Fiscal Crisis, Fiscal Incline, Negotiations, Taxes, Thanksgiving, Turkey, Washington DC, Washington Politicians
Posted in Fiscal Policy, Legislation Humor, Political Limericks, Tax & Budget Humor, Washington | 5 Comments »
Monday, June 4th, 2012
Limerick Ode To Republican Schadenfreude
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Watch Republicans feign being sad
When employment news comes, and it’s bad.
How they try not to grin—
They’re more likely to win!
If you vote GOP, you’ve been had.
Tags: Barack Obama, Campaign Humor, Election Satire, Federal Budget, Fiscal Crisis, GOP Humor, Mitt Romney, Presidential Election, Republican Hypocrisy, Republicans Humor, Schadenfreude
Posted in Barack Obama, Campaign Humor, Economy Humor, Election Satire, GOP Humor, Hypocrisy Humor, Mitt Romney Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, 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, 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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
