Archive for the ‘Foreign Policy’ Category
Wednesday, July 11th, 2007
Dan Froomkin isn’t surprised that “confronted with a tide of anti-war sentiment and a growing number of defecting Republican lawmakers, the White House is changing not its policy on Iraq, but its message.” Froomkin pithily sums it all up:
Enter the new White House talking point: You want out? We want out, too!
And that brings me to my latest limerick:
Message: I Share … Your Goals. (Bush to the Revolting Republicans)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Bush’s party has grown rather sick
Of the war in Iraq spawned by Dick,
Cause Election ’08
Looms and threatens their fate,
And Rove platitudes won’t end it quick.
(You can find more of my antiwar humor here.) [tags]Bush War, Iraq War, Antiwar Sentiment, Revolting Republicans, Election 08, Defecting GOP Lawmakers[/tags]
Posted in Congress Humor, Election Satire, Foreign Policy, George Bush Satire, GOP Humor, House Satire, Iraq War Humor, Karl Rove, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Senate Satire, White House | 4 Comments »
Thursday, June 21st, 2007
As a long-time New York City resident, I’m amused by Rudy Giuliani’s candidacy. And I find it ironic that Rudy doesn’t dare brag about the one thing that might appeal to people put off by his pro-choice, pro-gay rights positions — Giuliani’s aggressive stance against free speech.
But understanding irony has never been Rudy’s strong suit. For instance, he’s unlikely to appreciate the irony underlying his running as the security-candidate, after Newsday outed him as a greedy windbag who was forced to drop-out of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group because he was too busy giving lucrative speeches to attend ISG meetings:
The GOP’s In For A Rudy Awakening
By Madeleine Begun Kane
He’ll protect us–that’s Rudy’s motif.
But his claim must defy all belief:
Cause when push comes to shove,
Major wealth’s his first love.
He’s the ISG Drop-Out-In-Chief. [tags]Rudy Giuliani, Security President, ISG, Iraq Study Group, Newsday, New York City, Pro-Choice, Pro-Gay Rights, Free Speech, Security Candidate, Greedy Windbag, Lucrative Speeches[/tags]
Posted in Election Satire, Foreign Policy, Free Speech, GOP Humor, Iraq War Humor, New York Mayors, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Rudy Giuliani, White House | 1 Comment »
Saturday, June 16th, 2007
September,
September,
Bush promised September.
But Tony now says, no way.
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And now some links, for your reading pleasure:
* Carnival of Satire
* Carnival of the Insanities
* Carnival of the Decline Of Democracy
* Carnival of Principled Government [tags]Iraq War, September Status Report, Tony Snow, President Bush, Surge, Iraq Improvement, General David Petraeus, Surge Assessment [/tags]
Posted in Foreign Policy, George Bush Satire, GOP Humor, Iraq War Humor, Republicans Humor, Tony Snow, White House | 1 Comment »
Friday, May 25th, 2007
That great seer, soothsayer, and visionary George Bush predicted Thursday that August may be a bloody month in Iraq:
Bloody Hell, It’ll Be Bloody! (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
“In August the war may get bloody,”
Says George Bush. What a really quick study!
As the death toll keeps soaring,
On truth, Bush keeps warring.
Is he evil, or simply quite nutty? [tags]Iraq War Satire, George Bush Humor, Blood August, Bush predictions, Iraq Death Toll, Bush The Visionary[/tags]
Posted in Foreign Policy, George Bush Satire, GOP Humor, Iraq War Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Republicans Humor, White House | 6 Comments »
Tuesday, May 22nd, 2007
Everybody’s reporting that the Democrats have dropped withdrawal dates from the Iraq war funding bill. If this is really true, Rachel Maddow says she’ll go insane, and so will I:
Democrats, Heal Thy Selves! (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
The Dems disappoint once again,
Caving in to Dub’s warmong’ring yen.
Timeline’s gone from the bill.
Checks on Bush? Nothing! Nil!
Bush says, “Heel!” and the Dems reply, “When?”
UPDATE: If you’re mad at Congress too, you can Take the Iraq Vote Pledge here, and it will be sent to your representatives. It reads:
I pledge to vote against every Senator and Representative who approves funding to continue the disastrous Iraq War.
We have already given far too much of our blood and treasure – and killed far too many Iraqis – for a war based on lies. We are now occupying a hostile nation divided by civil war for the benefit of military contractors and Big Oil.
The only way to support our troops is to bring them home NOW, and no funds should be used for any other purpose. If Congress fails to bring our troops home, I will do everything I can – and urge everyone I know – to defeat pro-war Senators and Representatives, both in my party’s primary elections and in the November general election.
[tags]Iraq War Spending Bill, Iraq Timeline, Withdrawal Dates, Democrats, Warmongering, Rachel Maddow, President Bush[/tags]
Posted in Congress Humor, Democrats Satire, Foreign Policy, George Bush Satire, House Satire, Iraq War Humor, Legislation Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Senate Satire, White House | 10 Comments »
Friday, May 11th, 2007
Please forgive me for not being all that impressed with the Republican Gang of Eleven, who supposedly hammered George Bush about Iraq and had the “most unvarnished conversation they’ve ever had with the president.” And Tim Russert’s breathless reports about this so-called “defining pivotal moment” in the Iraq debate (and his media echo chamber) merely enable these eleven endangered Republicans to dupe their constituents into believing that they’re finally doing something about the war in Iraq.
All eleven voted with the President on the Iraq war spending bill and the redeployment bill that came before Congress this week. So woopdidoo! And a limerick too:
Ode To the Lame GOP Gang Of Eleven
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Eleven Republicans bray:
“We told Dubya what’s what — had our say.
We critiqued Bush’s war
And we gave him what-for.”
Then they all vote the President’s way. [tags]Iraq War, President Bush, Republicans Humor, Media Echo Chamber, Unvarnished Conversation, Defining Pivotal Moment, Gang Of Eleven, GOP, Tim Russert[/tags]
Posted in Congress Humor, Foreign Policy, George Bush Satire, GOP Humor, House Satire, Iraq War Humor, Media Satire, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, White House | Comments Off on Ode To The Lame GOP Gang Of Eleven (Updated)
Friday, May 4th, 2007
George Dubya, our swaggering action-figure president, has dubbed himself “The Commander Guy.” Okay, that’s absurd enough. But here’s the part you may have missed:
I’m Dub, The Commander Guy.
Don’t care if a zillion die.
I’ll do what I please,
Cuz I own all the keys
To the White House.
And that’s no lie!
(Sorry — just one verse of this Popeye The Sailor Man spoof, cause I already did one full-length Bush/Popeye song parody early in Bush’s presidency.) [tags]George Bush Humor, Popeye The Sailor Man, The Commander Guy, Action Figure President[/tags]
Posted in Foreign Policy, George Bush Satire, GOP Humor, Iraq War Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, White House | Comments Off on The Commander Guy Uncensored
Wednesday, May 2nd, 2007
President Codpiece celebrated “Mission Accomplished” day by vetoing the Iraq war spending bill. Why turn down money he’s just dying to get his grubby hands on? Cause those mean Dems are trying to make him end the war some time during his Presidency. And that just ain’t gonna happen.
No way will George W. Bush clean up his own mess! He’s never done it before, so why start now? Bush has always used the here … catch approach to life, kicking the can down the road and sticking somebody else with problems he created.
Bush’s Iraq Strategy: Here … Catch!
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Kick the can down the road—that’s the plan:
Stick the war mess on some other man.
Wreak much havoc abroad
And at home. Oh my Gawd!
Then say, “Catch! Fix Iraq and Iran.”
=========
And now some links, for your reading pleasure:
* Hillary’s Missed Opportunity To Obtain A ‘Stranglehold’ On The Nomination
* Latest Carnival of Satire
* Carnival of the Feminists
* Caption Contest Day at the Mattress Police
* Carnival of the Vanities
* Carnival of Family Life
* Carnival of the Storytellers
* Writerly Types Carnival
* Carnival of Satire
* Carnival of Conflict
* Carnival of the Insanities
* Carnival on Observations of Life
* Best of Me Symphony
* This Is Not My Country
* Worldwide Opinions
UPDATE: How could I forget to mention this? I’m running another limerick contest on my other blog. The theme is mothers and there are cash prizes for the two best limericks! [tags]The Global War On Terror Supplemental, Iraq War, George W. Bush Satire, Iraq Humor, Iran Humor, President Codpiece, Mission Accomplished, War Spending Bill[/tags]
Posted in Congress Humor, Foreign Policy, George Bush Satire, GOP Humor, Iraq War Humor, Legislation Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Senate Satire, White House | 7 Comments »
Sunday, March 11th, 2007
Purges and Surges, Twin Scourges, Oh My!
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Dub’s prosecutorial purges
And unauthorized, bellicose surges
Have led me to think
(Though I’m far from a shrink)
What a sick way to deal with his urges! [tags]Iraq War, Prosecutor Purge, Attorney General, Bush Mental Health, Iraq Surge[/tags]
Posted in Foreign Policy, George Bush Satire, GOP Humor, Iraq War Humor, Law Satire, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, White House | 4 Comments »
Friday, March 9th, 2007
What George Bush Might Say, If He Spoke English
By Madeleine Begun Kane
You’re cowards! You’re traitors! J’accuse!
You in Congress, I’ll surge if I choose.
What power you had,
You’ve abandoned. How sad!
As always, I win and you lose.
=========
And now some links, for your reading (and viewing) pleasure:
* David Swanson: Subpoena Dick
* ABC’s John Stossel: ‘Rats Make Good Pets For Wounded Vets’
* American Trouble Maker
* Reno 911
* Carnival of Satire 68 and Carnival of Satire 69
* Carnival of Feminists
[tags]Iraq Surge, Iraq War, Traitors, Anti-Surge Bills[/tags]
Posted in Congress Humor, Foreign Policy, George Bush Satire, GOP Humor, House Satire, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, White House | Comments Off on What George W. Bush Might Say, If He Spoke English
Tuesday, February 20th, 2007
By now, you’ve surely read the two-part Washington Post story about the abysmal treatment Iraq War veterans are receiving at Walter Reed Army Medical Center:
Why Does George Bush Hate Our Troops?
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Where’s the medical aid for our troops?
When they’re injured, they’re treated like dupes.
Those who’ve lost arm or leg
Need our help, yet must beg
Us for care, forced to hurtle through hoops. [tags]George Bush, Troops, Iraq War, Medical Care, Injured Veterans, Walter Reed Army Medical Center[/tags]
Posted in Foreign Policy, George Bush Satire, GOP Humor, Health Satire, Iraq War Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, White House | 6 Comments »
Monday, January 15th, 2007
I’ve finally figured out George Dubya’s philosophy: If you can’t solve a problem, make it bigger:
Bellicose Bush
By Madeleine Begun Kane
If you can’t solve a problem, expand it.
Demand an enlargement. Command it.
What else could explain
Dubya’s bellicose reign
Of great terror and shame? Please disband it.
=========
And now some links, for your reading (and viewing) pleasure:
* My good pal Lisa Casey, producer of the outstanding political comedy website www.allhatnocattle.net, gets cease and desist letter from Joe Scarborough, and posts an open letter to Joe Scarborough in response.
* Body Language Experts: Bush Was Hostage In ‘Surge’ Speech (the always witty Don Davis)
* Bush, Putting It On The Line (The Daily Show, courtesy of OneGoodMove)
* “Don’t let faux klingons send real americans to war. it’s wrong.” (Video clip courtesy of Skippy)
* Avedon Carol has the goods on Edwards’ antiwar speech.
* I have a plan for bringing Terri Schiavo back from the dead.
[tags]Iraq War, Terror, Surge, War Escalation[/tags]
Posted in Foreign Policy, George Bush Satire, GOP Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, White House | 8 Comments »
Wednesday, January 10th, 2007
Yet Another Bush Impeachment Limerick
By Madeleine Begun Kane
It is time for another Bush speech,
Which leaves honor and facts in the breach.
Please do not expect reason:
Just more acts of treason.
Enough with this nonsense. Impeach! [tags]Bush Speech, Iraq, War Strategy Speech, The Way Forward In Iraq, Impeach Bush, Iraq Troop Surge, War Powers[/tags]
Posted in Foreign Policy, George Bush Satire, GOP Humor, Impeachment Humor, Iraq War Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, White House | 5 Comments »
Monday, December 11th, 2006
“A Way Forward?” To Where, Exactly?
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Iraq’s current state is abysmal,
With its prospects of peace rather dismal.
Dubya started this war,
Yielding blood, sweat and gore,
And success odds quite infinitesimal.
=========
And now some links, for your reading, listening, and viewing pleasure:
* The Talking Dog Interviews Michael Berube
* Year In Review: GOP ‘Takes A Perp Walk On The Wild Side’
* War Is Relative
* Top Ten Funniest Political Moments of 2006
* Melissa Block talks with voice-over artists Dennis Steele and Scott Sanders about how to make a threatening voice for a political ad. (All Things Considered Audio Clip.) [tags]Iraq War, Iraq Study Group, A Way Forward, War Satire[/tags]
Posted in Foreign Policy, George Bush Satire, GOP Humor, Iraq War Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, White House | 3 Comments »
Wednesday, December 6th, 2006
Ode To Diminished Expectations
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Unanimous yeses for Gates,
Cause it’s clear that he has what it takes
To be better than Rummy.
He isn’t a dummy!!!
That’s life in our Bush-induced straits.
[tags]Bob Gates Satire, Robert Gates, Confirmation Humor, Defense Secretary, Senate Armed Services Committee[/tags]
Posted in Bob Gates, Congress Humor, Foreign Policy, George Bush Satire, GOP Humor, Iraq War Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Rumsfeld Humor, Senate Satire, White House | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, December 5th, 2006
Uncivil Drivel
By Madeleine Begun Kane
The pundits incessantly muse,
“Is it civil or not?” I’m confused,
Cause by all definitions
Dub’s ill-advised “mission”
Ignited a civil war fuse.[tags]Civil War, Iraq War, Pundits, Mission, Satire[/tags]
Posted in Foreign Policy, George Bush Satire, GOP Humor, Iraq War Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Republicans Humor | 1 Comment »
Sunday, November 5th, 2006
As SNL’s Churchlady used to say, “How con-veeeeeeee-ni-ent!” I’m referring, of course, to the Saddam Hussein death by hanging sentence, which just happened to be announced two days before Election Day. Uh-huh … right.
A Convenient Noose (Haiku)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Saddam’s death sentence.
Serendipitous? Hardly!
Leave no scheme behind. [tags]Saddam Hussein, Death Penalty, Death By Hanging, Election Day Humor, SNL’s Churchlady [/tags]
Posted in Election Satire, Foreign Policy, George Bush Satire, GOP Humor, Iraq War Humor, Karl Rove, Law Satire, News Haiku & Senryu, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, White House | 7 Comments »
Wednesday, October 25th, 2006
Dear Dub,
You seem to be having a tough time telling the difference between “tactics” and “strategy.” Perhaps this haiku will help:
Tactic: Language games.
Strategy: Deceive voters.
Goal: Win at all cost.
[tags]Bush Haiku, Election Humor, Voters, Bush Lies, Language Games, Iraq Strategy, War Tactics, War Goals[/tags]
Posted in Foreign Policy, George Bush Satire, GOP Humor, Iraq War Humor, News Haiku & Senryu, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, White House | Comments Off on Leave No Bewildered Bush Behind (Haiku)
Wednesday, October 25th, 2006
The “He Misled” Theme Song (Sing to the Mr. Ed Theme Song.)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Bush never said “stay the course,” of course.
And no one can challenge this ass of horse.
He lies, perforce, to change the course of election day ahead.
Go right to the source. He’ll lie of course.
Won’t give you an answer that you’ll endorse.
He’s never on a truthful course.
Lies you will be fed.
Pundits yakkity yak a streak and waste your time of day.
And talking heads will rarely challenge the lies that the Bushies say.
George Dubya has no remorse, of course,
And Georgie will lie till his voice is hoarse.
He’d love to rule all the world by force.
But listen to this:
Happy days ahead!
(My previous “stay the course” humor is here and my song parodies are collected here.)[tags]Stay The Course, Election Day, Bush Misled, Bush Lies, Talking Heads, Pundits[/tags]
Posted in Election Satire, Foreign Policy, George Bush Satire, GOP Humor, Iraq War Humor, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Song Parodies, White House | 4 Comments »
Monday, October 23rd, 2006
Watching Dubya lie isn’t exactly a novelty. But claiming he never said “stay the course” is pretty damn brazen, even for Bush. And that brings me to my latest limerick:
Bush Stays His Lying Course
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Of Iraq Dubya said, “stay the course.”
He repeated it till he was hoarse.
Yet he lies and avers:
I never used those words.
From the facts and the truth Dub’s divorced.
For more on this topic, check out Last Days Of President Bush, Just One Minute, Balloon Juice, Donklephant, Media Matters, The Washington Post and, on a lighter note, Don Davis.
[tags]Stay The Course, Bush Lies, Iraq Humor[/tags]
Posted in Foreign Policy, George Bush Satire, GOP Humor, Iraq War Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Terrorism, White House | 1 Comment »
