Archive for the ‘Media Satire’ Category
Tuesday, February 5th, 2013
You don’t have to be a “recovering lawyer” like me to know that such a lawsuit would be frivolous:
During a guest appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno last month, Maher quipped that Trump must be “the spawn of his mother having sex with an orangutan” (Exhibit A: his orange hair). In a riff off of Trump’s own offer to give $5 million to the charity of Barack Obama’s choice if the President released his college paperwork, Maher said he would do the same for Trump if the real estate mogul supplied proof that he is not descended from an ape.
Trump, who apparently was able to prove he wasn’t fathered by an orangutan, has announced on Fox & Friends that he’s suing for the $5 million.
Trumped Up Lawsuit (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
A man who I’d rather not mention
Is relentlessly seeking attention:
With his Birther schtick stale,
He is desp’rate to nail
Lots of cov’rage through lawsuit dissension.
Tags: Ape Humor, Bill Maher, Donald Trump, Fox News, Jay Leno, Law Satire, Lawsuits, Legal Humor, Litigation Humor, Media Humor, Orangutan Humor, Publicity, Tonight Show
Posted in Birther Humor, Donald Trump, Fox News Humor, Legal Limericks, Media Satire, Political Limericks, Publicity Hounds | 3 Comments »
Wednesday, December 5th, 2012
Earlier today, I posted about Karl Rove and Dick Morris being benched by Fox News. I couldn’t resist writing another limerick on the topic:
Ousted Pundits (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Dear Morris and Rove, what a blow:
Fox has noticed you ain’t “in the know.”
Special leave is now needed
Before we are treated
To blowhards like you on a show.
Tags: Dick Morris, Election Punditry, Fox News, Karl Rove, Media Humor, Pundit Humor, Roger Ailes
Posted in Fox News Humor, GOP Humor, Karl Rove, Media Satire, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, December 5th, 2012
Apparently, Karl Rove’s election night histrionics pushed Roger Ailes too far. Rove’s been benched.
…Ailes has issued a new directive to his staff: He wants the faces associated with the election off the air — for now. For Karl Rove and Dick Morris — a pair of pundits perhaps most closely aligned with Fox’s anti-Obama campaign — Ailes’s orders mean new rules. Ailes’s deputy, Fox News programming chief Bill Shine, has sent out orders mandating that producers must get permission before booking Rove or Morris.
Karl Rove’s Ailing Punditry (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Roger Ailes appears sick of Rove’s failin’
To get anything right, so he’s bailin’:
Fox News has been told
Not to book that old scold.
But alas, Fox still carries Ms. Palin.
Tags: Bill Shine, Dick Morris, Election Punditry, Fox News, Karl Rove, Media Humor, Pundit Humor, Roger Ailes, Sarah Palin
Posted in Election Satire, Fox News Humor, GOP Humor, Karl Rove, Media Satire, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Sarah Palin | 3 Comments »
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 »
Wednesday, November 14th, 2012
I’ve been trying to ignore the David Petraeus, John Allen, Jill Kelley, Paula Broadwell, shirtless FBI agent brouhaha. But it’s really hard to avoid.
The Press Laid Bare (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Juicy emails! Illicit affair!
FBI guy whose chest is quite bare!
In gen’ral the press,
Now bored with our mess,
Prefers fare with a sexual flair.
Tags: CIA, Cyberstalking, David Petraeus, FBI Agents, Frederick Humphries, Jill Kelley, John Allen, Media Humor, National Security, Paula Broadwell, Press
Posted in CIA Satire, FBI Humor, Media Satire, National Security Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire | Comments Off on The Press Laid Bare (Limerick)
Wednesday, August 1st, 2012
Mitt Romney’s image-bolstering trip to Great Britain, Israel, and Poland was jam-packed with gaffes. Yet according to Mitt, none of this is his fault: The biased media’s to blame.
But as Maddowblog’s Steve Benen puts it:
…it wasn’t news organizations’ fault when he insulted the British; it wasn’t news organizations’ fault when he misquoted the Australian finance minister; it wasn’t news organizations’ fault when his campaign kinda sorta gave the green light on a unilateral strike on Iran; it wasn’t news organizations’ fault when he used borderline-racist language at his Israeli fundraiser; it wasn’t news organizations’ fault when he praised a socialized health care system he claims to abhor; and it wasn’t news organizations’ fault when his press secretary said, “Kiss my ass. This is a Holy site.”
Limerick Ode To Mitt “Foreign Fumbler” Romney
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Mitt Romney’s big trip. Oy Gevalt!
A tri-country gaffe-filled assault:
Poland, Israel, Great Britain—
Still reeling from Mitten.
But of course it’s the “media’s fault.”
UPDATE: Cool news! KPCC’s Patt Morrison announced the results of her political limerick contest on her show and here. The two winning limericks are the one I posted above and one by Mason Kroll.
Tags: Campaign Humor, Election Humor, Foreign Policy, Foreign Relations, Great Britain, Israel, Media Humor, Mitt Romney, Poland
Posted in Campaign Humor, Election Satire, Foreign Policy, GOP Humor, Media Satire, Mitt Romney Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, July 17th, 2012
A VEEP pick this early in the campaign would be very unusual. Yet the media is packed with rumors saying Romney’s VP announcement is imminent. Gee … I wonder just who’s feeding those rumors.
Running-Mate Rumblings (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Here’s a rumor conveyed with a swoon:
Romney ‘s VEEP pick may come very soon.
Mitt is desp’rate for eyes
On NOT-Bain: No surprise
That the news now is VEEP-gossip strewn.
*****
Mitt Romney, on his post-February 1999 affairs:
I did not have corporeal relations with that company, Bain Capital!
Tags: Bain Capital, Campaign Humor, Election Satire, Media Humor, Mitt Romney, News, Running-Mates, Veepstakes, VP Humor
Posted in Campaign Humor, Election Satire, GOP Humor, Media Satire, Mitt Romney Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, White House | Comments Off on Running-Mate Rumblings (Limerick)
Wednesday, May 16th, 2012
Every so often I read a news item that sounds so crazy, I’m sure it must be from the Onion. For instance:
Two months from now, [George W. Bush] plans to publish a book outlining strategies for economic growth.
Please Say It Ain’t So (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
An economy book by George Dub,
Whose presidency was a flub:
That’s the news of the day,
And I’m sorry to say
That this isn’t a joke — there’s the rub.
Tags: Economic Meltdown, Economy Satire, George Bush Satire, George W. Bush, Political Books, White House
Posted in Economy Humor, George Bush Satire, GOP Humor, Media Satire, Political Books, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Tax & Budget Humor, White House | 6 Comments »
Wednesday, May 9th, 2012
Remember Jonah Goldberg? The fellow whose pundit career got a huge boost from his mommy Lucianne Goldberg’s role in the Bill Clinton impeachment.
Well, he’s out with a new liberal-bashing book. I wouldn’t even mention it, but for the amusing dustup over its dust cover:
On the dust jacket of his new book, “The Tyranny of Clichés: How Liberals Cheat in the War of Ideas,” best-selling conservative author and commentator Jonah Goldberg is described as having “twice been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.”
In fact, as Goldberg acknowledged on Tuesday, he has never been a Pulitzer nominee, but is merely one of thousands of entrants.
What’s surprising in Goldberg’s case is that he has been called out for the same résumé padding before, when his previous book was published.
Jonah Goldberg’s Dust Cover Dustup (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Jonah Goldberg has written a book
Claiming liberals cheat, as its hook.
Check its dust jacket. Why?
To laugh at this lie:
Nominee for two Pulitzers? Schnook!
Tags: Clinton Impeachment, Jonah Goldberg, Liberal Bashing, Lucianne Goldberg, Media Humor, Political Books, Pulitzer Prize, Resume Humor, Resume Padding
Posted in Bill Clinton, Media Satire, Political Books, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor | Comments Off on Jonah Goldberg’s Dust Cover Dustup (Limerick)
Sunday, April 8th, 2012
RIP Mike Wallace!
Limerick Ode To Mike Wallace
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Mike Wallace, a man without peer,
As a journalist often struck fear
In villainous hearts
With persistence and smarts.
Let us toast his distinguished career.
Tags: CBS, CBS News, Celebrity Limerick, Death Of Mike Wallace, Journalism, Journalist Obit, Journalists, Media, Mike Wallace
Posted in Celebrity Verse, Media Satire, Obit Limericks, Political Limericks, Television (TV) Satire | 5 Comments »
Tuesday, March 27th, 2012
Newt Gingrich is going to be very lonely on the campaign trail: He just lost his last two embedded print reporters.
Limerick Ode To Embedless Newt
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Poor Gingrich, his embeds have fled.
Print journos won’t follow his tread.
Those so-called “elites”
Have found far better beats.
Were he prez he’d say, “Off with their head.”
Tags: Campaign Humor, Election Humor, Embedded Reporters, Media Humor, Newt Gingrich
Posted in Campaign Humor, Election Satire, GOP Humor, Media Satire, Newt Gingrich Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor | Comments Off on Limerick Ode To Embedless Newt
Wednesday, March 14th, 2012
I was glad to read that the Rush Limbaugh ad boycott is still going strong.
Yet Another Limerick Ode To Rush Limbaugh
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Rush’s national ads are suspended.
Will his wingnutty program be ended?
Though we don’t know for sure,
I’ll bet there’s no cure—
That his rep simply can not be mended.
(Related Post: Limerick Ode To Rush Limbaugh)
Tags: Advertiser Boycott, Birth Control Limerick, Bullies Humor, Contraceptives, Feminist Limerick, Media Humor, Misogyny Satire, Republicans Humor, Rush Limbaugh, Sandra Fluke, Sexism, Sexist Humor, Talk Radio
Posted in Birth Control Humor, Contraception Humor, Feminism Humor, GOP Humor, Media Satire, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Rush Limbaugh | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, March 6th, 2012
Political Spam of the Day (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
“Stand by Rush,” shrieks the mail in my box,
Which rails against Rush’s “hard knocks.”
But I don’t give a damn
About GOP spam.
They must think that I like to watch Fox.
(Related Post: Limerick Ode To Rush Limbaugh)
Tags: Advertiser Boycott, Birth Control Limerick, Bullies Humor, Contraceptives, Feminist Limerick, Fox News, Media Humor, Misogyny Satire, Republicans Humor, Rush Limbaugh, Sandra Fluke, Sexism, Sexist Humor, Spam Humor, Talk Radio
Posted in Birth Control Humor, Contraception Humor, Feminism Humor, GOP Humor, Media Satire, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Rush Limbaugh | 7 Comments »
Tuesday, March 6th, 2012
Limerick Ode To Super Tuesday
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Super Tuesday’s arrived at long last.
Will Mitt’s wins be decisively vast?
Will his delegate count
Impressively mount,
Thereby ending the press fun too fast?
Tags: Campaign Humor, Election Satire, Media Humor, Mitt Romney, Republican Primary, Super Tuesday
Posted in Campaign Humor, Election Satire, GOP Humor, Media Satire, Mitt Romney Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor | 2 Comments »
Monday, March 5th, 2012
After decades of misogyny, talk radio bully Rush Limbaugh is finally paying a bit of a price: Advertisers are fleeing, and Republican pols, who previously bowed down to him, are publicly (albeit mildly) criticizing him. Rush was even forced to give a just-pretend apology to his latest target, Sandra Fluke:
Recently, [Rush Limbaugh] made himself and the political right look ridiculous by verbally abusing Sandra Fluke, the Georgetown University law student who tried to testify before Congress about the cost of birth control.
Mr. Limbaugh twisted Ms. Fluke’s comments beyond recognition. In her statement (now posted on YouTube), Ms. Fluke drew attention to a friend who was prescribed birth control pills for cancer treatment, and had to pay for the treatment out of pocket. She said nothing whatsoever about her own sex life, or about her friend’s sex life.
But in Mr. Limbaugh’s propaganda chamber, her testimony became a declaration of sexual promiscuity. He accused her of expecting taxpayers to pay her to have sex, and suggested that she post videos of herself having sex on the Internet. He called her a “slut” and a “prostitute” and said she was “round heeled.”
Career-ending? I doubt it. In fact, Limbaugh remains an inspiration to many fellow bullies. And there’s even a Rally For Rush movement afoot.
Nevertheless, the movement against Rush is a step in the right direction. And this wingnut radio spectacle sure is fun to behold.
Limerick Ode To Rush Limbaugh
By Madeleine Begun Kane
A rebuke for Rush Limbaugh at last,
As his smears leave good people aghast.
He’s lost ads — it’s no fluke —
Even managed to spook
Those who always sucked up in the past.
Tags: Advertiser Boycott, Birth Control Limerick, Bullies Humor, Contraceptives, Feminist Limerick, Media Humor, Misogyny Satire, Republicans Humor, Rush Limbaugh, Sandra Fluke, Sexism, Sexist Humor, Talk Radio
Posted in Birth Control Humor, Contraception Humor, Feminism Humor, GOP Humor, Media Satire, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Rush Limbaugh | 4 Comments »
Wednesday, February 8th, 2012
Pity the poor political journalist (or political satirist), who must conjure up constant commentary about a race that’s effectively over.
So it’s no wonder that the media’s in a tizzy over the Rick Santorum Sweep … even though it yielded Rick zero delegates.
Rick Gives Them Something To Talk About (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
The press was beginning to mope.
But Santorum’s three wins offer hope
That the race isn’t done,
Mitt may NOT be the one.
But does Rick stand a chance? Answer: Nope!
Tags: Campaign Humor, Colorado, Election Satire, Journalism, Media Humor, Minnesota, Missouri, Mitt Romney, Republican Primary, Rick Santorum
Posted in Campaign Humor, Election Satire, GOP Humor, Media Satire, Mitt Romney Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Rick Santorum | Comments Off on Rick Gives Them Something To Talk About (Limerick)
Tuesday, January 24th, 2012
Newt Gingrich seemed way off his game at last night’s Florida debate. And at first, I attributed this to Mitt Romney’s new, improved debating style.
But Newt apparently needs the adrenalin rush that comes with cheers and applause. And last night’s NBC debate rules precluded such a rush: Audience feedback was limited, in the interest of using the time for actual debating.
So now Newt (always on the outlook for another excuse to bash the media) is petulantly threatening to boycott any debate that limits the audience’s free speech:
Mr. Gingrich’s performance in the debate in Tampa on Monday night was far more muted. Critics noted that he seemed to be off his game. The National Journal, which co-hosted the NBC debate, compared Gingrich to “a stand-up comedian whose routine suffers without echoes of laughter egging him on.”
Mr. Gingrich clearly noticed something was off, too. “We’re going to serve notice on future debates,” he told Fox. “We’re just not going to allow that to happen. That’s wrong. The media doesn’t control free speech. People ought to be allowed to applaud if they want to.”
Hmmm…., I wonder how Newt feels about boos.
Limerick Ode To Newt’s Latest Temper Tantrum
By Madeleine Begun Kane
No cheering at last night’s debate!
This has Gingrich quite peeved and irate.
He says cheers from the crowd
Simply must be allowed.
Without cheers, will Newt Gingrich deflate?
Tags: Campaign Humor, Debate Limerick, Election Humor, First Amendment, Florida, Free Speech, Media Bashing, Media Humor, Mitt Romney, NBC, Newt Gingrich
Posted in Campaign Humor, Debate Humor, Election Satire, GOP Humor, Media Satire, Mitt Romney Humor, Newt Gingrich Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor | 9 Comments »
Monday, January 2nd, 2012
A Cautionary Election Year Limerick
By Madeleine Begun Kane
At long last, a new year is upon us,
And the fate of our land hinges on us.
Pay attention to news
And beware of skewed views.
Time to stop letting evil pols con us.
Tags: Campaign Satire, Election Humor, GOP Lies, Politicians Limerick, Pols, Voter Apathy, Voting Limerick
Posted in Campaign Humor, Election Satire, GOP Humor, Media Satire, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Voting Satire | Comments Off on A Cautionary Election Year Limerick
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 »
Saturday, December 10th, 2011
Tonight’s Drake University, Iowa Republican Presidential Debate, hosted by ABC News and moderated by Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos, looks to be pivotal:
Gunning For Gingrich (Limerick)
They’re gunning for Gingrich tonight.
Opponents are poised for a fight.
The GOP’s freaking:
No more are they seeking
Non-Romney, with Newt as their plight.
Tags: ABC News, Campaign Satire, Debate Limerick, Diane Sawyer, Election Humor, George Stephanopoulos, GOP Humor, Iowa, Newt Gingrich, Presidential Election
Posted in Campaign Humor, Debate Humor, Diane Sawyer, Election Satire, George Stephanopoulos, GOP Humor, Media Satire, Newt Gingrich Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor | 2 Comments »
