Archive for the ‘Money & Finance Humor’ Category
Monday, February 11th, 2013
As Obama’s State of the Union address draws nearer, the press (thanks to GOP prodding) has become obsessed with one question: Why the focus on a liberal agenda, instead of jobs and the economy?
Open Limerick To The Media
By Madeleine Begun Kane
“Where’s your focus on jobs?” asks the press,
As Obama contends with a mess
Of issues galore,
Cuz his job at its core
Is to many dilemmas address.
So dear media, try this new task:
Press Republicans: Tough questions ask!
Like “Just what have THEY done
About jobs. Name just one
Thing they do besides block, bitch, and bask.”
Tags: Congress Humor, Economy Satire, Employment Humor, GOP Humor, Jobs Jobs Jobs, Liberal Agenda, Media Humor, Obstructionism, President Obama, Press, Republicans Humor, SOTU, State Of The Union Address
Posted in 44 Humor, Congress Humor, Economy Humor, GOP Humor, Hypocrisy Humor, Legislation Humor, Media Satire, Money & Finance Humor, Money And Finance Humor, Political Limericks, Political Speeches, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Tax & Budget Humor, White House | 2 Comments »
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 »
Friday, May 25th, 2012
Memo To Republican Parents of College-Age Children: When federal student loan rates double this July, you’ll only have yourselves to blame:
Senate Republicans filibustered a bill to extend the current interest rate on federal student loans, blocking an extension from moving forward by a vote of 51-43 (with 60 votes needed to advance the bill). They blocked a similar effort earlier this month. Without an extension, interest rates will double in July from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent.
Limerick Memo To Republican Parents
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Sen. Republicans live in a bubble,
Untroubled that loan rates will double:
They repeatedly block
A Dem bill that would lock
In low rates, treating students like rubble.
Tags: College Loans, Federal Student Loans, Filibuster Humor, Loan Rates, Republicans Humor
Posted in Education Limerick, Filibuster Humor, GOP Humor, Money & Finance Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Student Loan Humor | 3 Comments »
Wednesday, March 28th, 2012
Mitt Romney has big plans to “eliminate government programs and shutter cabinet agencies.” Which ones are on his dump-list? He refuses to say, responding, with a warped sort of honesty, that providing specifics could cost him the election.
Or as Jonathan Chait amusingly puts it: “One of the things I have found in previous elections is that announcing my plans makes people want to vote against me!”
Mitt’s “Telling” Message (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
There are agencies Mitt doesn’t like
And programs he’s planning to spike.
But he won’t tell us which
He’s intending to ditch.
You want pre-voting facts? Take a hike.
Tags: Budget Cuts, Cabinet, Campaign Humor, Election Satire, Federal Agencies, Federal Budget, Federal Programs, Jonathan Chait, Mitt Romney, Voting Limerick
Posted in Campaign Humor, Election Satire, Fiscal Policy, GOP Humor, Mitt Romney Humor, Money & Finance Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Tax & Budget Humor | 3 Comments »
Monday, March 5th, 2012
I’m starting to think Ann Romney doesn’t want to be First Lady. Why else would someone with a family net worth of $250 million make stupidly transparent remarks like this?
“We can be poor in spirit, and I don’t even consider myself wealthy, which is an interesting thing, it can be here today and gone tomorrow.”
Poor Mitt (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Dear Mitt, you should tell your wife, Ann,
To stop trying to help out her man.
For your cause, it ain’t healthy
To claim you ain’t wealthy:
Ann’s not feeling rich doesn’t scan.
Tags: Ann Romney, Campaign Humor, Election Satire, First Lady, Mitt Romney, Wealth Humor
Posted in Campaign Humor, Election Satire, GOP Humor, Mitt Romney Humor, Money & Finance Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor | 2 Comments »
Friday, November 25th, 2011
Patrons pepper-spray
their fellow store customers.
Emulating cops?
(Yes this really happened at Wal-Mart.)
Tags: Black Friday, Cops, Law Humor, Pepper Spray, Police Humor, Shopping Humor, Wal-Mart
Posted in Law Satire, Money & Finance Humor, Political Haiku & Senryu, Political Verse | 2 Comments »
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 »
Sunday, September 25th, 2011
Steve Benen points us to yet another example of the media blaming the wrong political party. According to the Washington Post, the Democrats, in resisting Republican precedent-changing demands for FEMA disaster relief offsets, was starting a “fight over a side issue:”
But Democrats decided to pick a fight over a side issue: an insistence by the GOP to pay for more disaster relief funding by cutting a popular auto-industry loan program. Republicans refused to back down.
So let me get this straight: Republicans try to change the rules, thereby holding disaster victims hostage … and it’s the Democrats’ fault?
This calls for two poems: a limerick and a tanka:
Dear Washington Post, you are wrong
With your Democrats started it song.
Disaster relief
Is the cause of this beef.
Give those offset demands a loud gong.
*****
Republican pols
Demand FEMA fund offsets—
Hold victims hostage,
While “liberal media”
Blames Dems for starting the fight.
*****
Tags: Blame Game, Congress Satire, Disaster Victims, FEMA, Fiscal Humor, Media Humor, National Disasters, Republican Hostages, Republicans Humor, Steve Benen, Washington Post
Posted in Fiscal Policy, Government Services, Media Satire, Money & Finance Humor, Political Limericks, Republicans Humor | 3 Comments »
Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011
When a candidate tries to distance himself from, say, his doctoral thesis, or a book written a dozen years ago, this passes the straight-face test.
But when Rick Perry tries this with Fed Up! (a book published last fall) it’s hard not to laugh out loud.
Perry’s problem, of course, is that his book is packed with extreme positions, too radical even for his own Republican party. So Perry’s campaign would have us believe that Perry’s Social Security is unconstitutional position from last year is no longer operative. The same goes for his call to repeal the 16th amendment and replace income taxes with a national sales tax.
Limerick Ode To Rick “Fed Up With My Book!” Perry
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Dear Perry, that book you’d disclaim
Was written by you — you’re to blame.
And it’s new — ink’s not dry.
Yet you’re wondering why
We’re on to your radical game.
Tags: 16th Amendment, Campaign Satire, Election Humor, Fed Up, Income Tax, National Sales Tax, Political Books, Rick Perry, Social Security, Texas, U.S. Constitution
Posted in Books, Campaign Humor, Election Satire, Fiscal Policy, Money & Finance Humor, Political Books, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Rick Perry, Texas Humor, White House, Wingnuts | 7 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 »
Thursday, July 28th, 2011
Not only does Mitt Romney have a bad habit of flip-flopping on issues, but he appears afraid to pick a position on the key issue of the day — the debt ceiling. Does he embrace John Boehner’s debt ceiling plan? Nobody knows (except maybe Mitt’s hairdresser) because Romney refuses to commit:
Limerick Ode To Timid Mitt Romney
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Dear Romney, it’s time to take heed:
The job of a leader’s to lead.
So for once be a man:
Do you back Boehner’s plan?
Not choosing’s a cowardly deed.
Tags: Debt Ceiling, Federal Budget, Federal Debt, Federal Default, John Boehner, Leadership Humor, Legislation Satire, Mitt Romney, Patriotism Humor, Personal Finance Humor, Presidential Campaign Humor, Republicans Humor
Posted in Campaign Humor, Economy Humor, Election Satire, Fiscal Policy, GOP Humor, John Boehner, Mitt Romney Humor, Money & Finance Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor | 4 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 »
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 »
Tuesday, March 1st, 2011
Styrofoam is back.
“Green the Capitol” is gone.
Job, jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs?
*****
Rotund Rush Limbaugh
says Michelle Obama’s fat—
that’s hard to swallow.
*****
Freedom from taxes
demanded by those who crave
what taxes give them.
*****
The mental midget
mentioned an affinity
with Rush — no surprise.
*****
Showing up to vote—
a yearly exercise in
unrequited hope.
*****
(More political haiku here. And more Rush Limbaugh humor here.)
Tags: Childhood Obesity, Ecology Haiku, Economy Haiku, Employment, Environment, Environmental Haiku, Green The Capitol, Michelle Obama, Political Haiku & Senryu, Rush Limbaugh, Styrofoam, Taxes
Posted in Economy Humor, Environment Satire, Fiscal Policy, GOP Humor, House Satire, Michelle Obama, Money & Finance Humor, News Haiku & Senryu, Political Haiku & Senryu, Republicans Humor, Rush Limbaugh | 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 »
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
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 »
Limerick Ode To A Failed Presidency
Monday, August 1st, 2011Paul 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 »