Archive for the ‘Politics Satire’ Category
Monday, March 2nd, 2015
Most Want President to Have a High School Diploma
A new Public Opinion Polling survey finds that 62% of voters think it’s important for the President to have a high school diploma, compared to only 31% who think it doesn’t matter.
Interesting: “There’s a large partisan divide on the issue: Democrats by an 81%-14% spread think it’s important, while Republicans are evenly divided on the matter at 45%-45%.”
When asked to respond to this poll, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker said, “Only elitists and ISIS supporters would buy into that requirement, whereas Senator Rand Paul said, “Have I mentioned that I’m a doctor?”
Former Texas Governor Rick Perry, a fellow presidential hopeful, disagreed with both men, saying “Don’t glasses make me look smart?”
*****
UPDATE: I was chagrined to learn that my column has fallen afoul of Poe’s Law. What the heck is Poe’s Law? The “literary adage which stipulates that without a clear indicator of an author’s intended sarcasm it becomes impossible to tell the difference between an expression of sincere extremism and a parody of extremism.”
So for anyone who read this and accepted the poll as real and/or any of the quotes as real, this is hundred percent parody. It was inspired by an actual poll related to whether people believe a U.S. President should have a college degree.
UPDATE 2:
Poe’s Law compressed into a haiku:
In extremist times
reality/parody
appear to have merged.
Tags: Campaign Satire, Education Humor, Election Humor, Fake News, GOP Humor, News Parody, Parodies, Poe's Law, Rand Paul, Republicans Humor, Rick Perry, Scott Walker
Posted in Campaign Humor, Election Satire, Fake News, GOP Humor, News Parodies, Political Limericks, Politics Satire, Rand Paul, Republicans Humor, Rick Perry, Scott Walker, White House | 3 Comments »
Monday, February 23rd, 2015
Why Republicans Embolden Our Enemies (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
A government shutdown sounds sordid,
And I’m hoping it’s somehow aborted.
But the House GOP
Views the dangers with glee;
They assume they’ll again be rewarded.
Tags: GOP Idiocy, Government Shutdown, Homeland Security, House Republicans, Republicans Humor, Terrorists
Posted in GOP Humor, Government Services, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Terrorism | Comments Off on Why Republicans Embolden Our Enemies (Limerick)
Tuesday, February 3rd, 2015
Limerick Ode To Science Disbelievers
By Madeleine Begun Kane
The Republican problem with science
Is their members respond with defiance
To facts that are proved.
(Have their brains been removed?)
They spread lies to excuse non-compliance.
*****
Refusing vaccines,
Don’t-Tell-Me-What-To-Doers
now infect us all.
*****
Exodus of thought–
an exodus of science–
the GOP way.
*****
Misinformation
delib’rately spread by Fox–
blindly accepted.
*****
Republican pols–
implacable enemy
of fairness and facts.
******
The truth-challenged pols
have taken over Congress–
therein LIES the rub.
*****
Tags: Anti-Science, Climate Change, Climate Science, Congress Humor, Fox News, Global Warming, GOP, Health Humor, Media Humor, Political Haiku & Senryu, Republicans Humor, Science Haiku, Science Humor, Science Senryu, Vaccine Humor
Posted in Climate Change, Global Warming, Health Satire, Media Satire, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Science Verse | Comments Off on Limerick Ode to Science Disbelievers plus Sundry Haiku
Saturday, January 31st, 2015
Mitt Bows Out (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Mitt Romney won’t run. What a blow!
He took stock and decided no-go.
Now I won’t get to mock
His new populist crock
As the dough flows to Dubya’s bro.
Tags: Campaign Satire, Election Humor, Mitt Romney, Presidential Campaign Humor
Posted in Campaign Humor, Election Satire, GOP Humor, Mitt Romney Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, White House | 1 Comment »
Friday, January 2nd, 2015
I was very saddened to hear that former New York Governor Mario Cuomo has died. He was a fine governor and might very well have been a good president or U.S. Supreme Court Justice.
In reading his obits, I recalled that back in 1991 I wrote a Hamlet-style soliloquy for New York Newsday, related to Mario Cuomo’s indecisiveness about running for president. So I dug it out of my ancient archives, and here it is:
To run, or not to run: that is the question:
Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous deficits
Or to take arms against a sea of Republicans,
And by opposing, defeat them. To reign at home:
Or to sleep at home no more: and by running to say we’ll end
The fiscal heart-ache, and the thousand natural shocks
The northeast is heir to, ’tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish’d. To quit, to run;
To run: perchance to lose: ay, there’s the rub;
For in that White House quest what brutal press may come,
When we have shuttled off this Albany soil,
Must give us pause: there’s the respect
That makes calamity of so long New York;
For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,
The opponent’s wrong, the public abuse,
The pangs of disprized voters, the law’s delay,
The insolence of office, and the spurns
That Democrats suffer from the media snakes,
If the Governor simply plays it safe
In the comfort of his Statehouse? Who would those burdens bear,
To drone that keynote speech night after night,
But that the dread of a crash in ’93 ,
A wrecked economy from whose depths
There is no return, puzzles the will,
And makes us rather bear those ills we have
Than fly to Washington finding who knows what?
Thus conscience does make cowards of us all,
And thus the native hue of resolution
Is sicklied o’er with fear of the polls,
And primaries of great pitch and moment
Seem less appealing as we fear each loss
And lose through sheer inaction.
Tags: Hamlet, Mario Cuomo, New York, Political Parody, Shakespeare
Posted in New York Governors, New York Politics, Politics Satire | Comments Off on My 1991 “Ode To A Perplexed Governor” as published in New York Newsday (With Apologies to William Shakespeare)
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)
Saturday, December 27th, 2014
A Holiday Of Sorts (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
How I savored my marvelous break
From political venom — each snake
Of a pol now defanged,
And no one harangued.
At the time, though, I wasn’t awake.
Note: This limerick started out as haiku, inspired by the Twitter prompt word “venom.” But just as I was about to post it, I noticed I’d placed the word “break” (which has tons of rhyme words) at the end of line one. And it occurred to me to try to turn it into a limerick. Of course, as soon as the rhyme word “awake” hit me, I had my last line. So NOT writing a limerick would have been criminal.
Here’s my original haiku:
Imagine a break
from political venom–
puffed up pols defanged.
***
Here’s this year’s excellent roundup of some of the best posts from liberal blogs, chosen by the bloggers themselves.
#jonswift2014
Tags: Political Humor, Political Limerick, Political Satire
Posted in Campaign Humor, Election Satire, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire | 2 Comments »
Friday, December 19th, 2014
Better Late Than Never! (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Immigration and Cuba, oh my!
Net neutrality, China, oh why
Did Obama delay
His assertive display?
Welcome boldness! To meekness, goodbye!
Tags: China, Cuba, Immigration, Net Neutrality, Obama
Posted in Barack Obama, China Humor, Immigration Reform, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, White House | Comments Off on Better Late Than Never! (Limerick)
Wednesday, November 19th, 2014
Inconvenient Facts (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Republicans love to get traction
By using executive action
As a pretext to jaw:
“Barack breaks the law!”–
Despite similar acts by their faction.
Immigration reform, for example:
Though Bush Senior and Reagan did ample
Such executive acts
It would seem, despite facts,
That on laws only Democrats trample.
Here’s a must-read, if you really want to understand the debate over deportations.
Tags: Barack Obama, Democrats Humor, Deportation Humor, Executive Action, Feigned Outrage, George Bush Sr., GOP, Immigration Humor, Immigration Reform, Republicans Humor, Ronald Reagan
Posted in Barack Obama, GOP Humor, Immigration Reform, Impeachment Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, White House | Comments Off on Inconvenient Facts (Limerick)
Wednesday, November 19th, 2014
Republican gals
awarded but one House chair–
housekeeping gavel.
Twenty-one gavels–
GOP guys get twenty.
One lone gal “keeps house.”
For those who are keeping score, Rep. Candice Miller is the only woman who will be wielding a gavel in the Republican-controlled House. Twenty committee chairmanships go to guys (mostly white), while the least prestigious one — the House Administration Committee — goes (again) to Miller.
Miller’s committee runs the day-to-day operations of the House. So if there’s a hearing about problems with the House cafeteria or bathrooms, Candice Miller’s “The Man.”
To be fair, the Administration Committee’s other principal function is oversight over federal elections. So I suppose Miller can also hold hearings on how to make it harder for Democrats to vote.
Tags: Candice Miller, Chairmanships, Election Humor, House Administration Committee, House Committees, House Republicans, House Satire, Republicans Humor
Posted in Election Satire, GOP Humor, House Satire, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor | Comments Off on The Party Of White Guys Strikes Again
Wednesday, November 5th, 2014
Election Reflections (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Our nation’s elections have ended
With results rather distant from splendid.
As Republicans cheer,
I won’t cry in my beer;
I’ll need gin for our nightmare extended.
***** Sundry Post-Election Haiku *****
Dreadful election
has killed my sense of humor,
so stuck with haiku.
Election’s over–
my worst fears are realized.
Say bye to Senate.
Dems disempowered,
Republicans emboldened.
Brace for impeachment.
Election wipeout–
Americans even more
stupid than I thought.
“Was the election
a Clinton epic failure?”
Latest lame headline.
Sense of humor gone;
If you have held on to yours,
may I borrow it?
***** Post-Election Tanka *****
Watching the returns,
I memorized who won what,
but taxing my mind
proved to be unwarranted–
The Republican guys won.
Tags: Campaign Satire, Election Haiku, Election Humor, Election Tanka
Posted in Campaign Humor, Election Satire, GOP Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor | 1 Comment »
Monday, November 3rd, 2014
Writing Verse, When Things Go from Bad to Worse
By Madeleine Begun Kane
My goal is political mockery,
Poking fun at election-time squawkery.
But the polls are so bad
And the news is so sad,
That all I can do is throw crockery.
Tags: Campaign Satire, Election Humor, GOP Lies, Media Humor, Political Polls, Poll Humor
Posted in Campaign Humor, Election Satire, GOP Humor, Media Satire, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Polls, Republicans Humor | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, October 22nd, 2014
Chris Christie Wages War On Low-Wage Workers (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Chris Christie says minimum wage
Is too boring — he’s on a new page.
Dare to mention that matter—
He’ll spew out rude chatter.
Suggest raising it? Brace for his rage.
Tags: Chris Christie, GOP, Income Humor, Minimum Wage, Money Humor, New Jersey, Republicans Humor
Posted in Business Humor, Chris Christie, Employment Humor, Fiscal Policy, GOP Humor, Job Humor, Money And Finance Humor, New Jersey Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Wage Humor | Comments Off on Chris Christie Wages War On Low-Wage Workers (Limerick)
Wednesday, October 15th, 2014
Open Limerick To Political Pollsters
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Dear pollsters, you’re going to town
With predictions that force me to frown.
Each projection I hear
Feeds dejection. I fear
Evil clowns will be taking us down.
How I yearn for a spark that gives hope
And will somehow allow me to cope
With our national news
And the venom that spews.
Until then, I’ll continue to mope.
Tags: Campaign Satire, Election Humor, Political Polls, Poll Humor, Pollster Humor, Pollsters
Posted in Campaign Humor, Election Satire, GOP Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Polls, Republicans Humor | Comments Off on Open Limerick To Political Pollsters
Friday, October 3rd, 2014
I’m looking forward to leadership from our Surgeon General, especially now that the Ebola outbreak has reached our nation.
Oh wait … we don’t have one. Why not? Because Vivek Murthy, Obama’s excellent nominee, has the audacity to view guns as a health issue.
What To Do About Ebola? Don’t Ask Our Surgeon General (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Though an expert on health would be nice
At this time of Ebola, no dice!
NRA’s GOP
Blocked a great nominee,
And our nation is paying the price.
Tags: Ebola, Epidemics Limerick, Health Limerick, NRA, Obama Verse, Republicans Humor, Senate Satire, Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy
Posted in Barack Obama, Firearms & Guns Humor, GOP Humor, Health Satire, NRA Limerick, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor | Comments Off on What To Do About Ebola? Don’t Ask Our Surgeon General (Limerick)
Thursday, October 2nd, 2014
Please don’t rat me out. But while the Secret Service wasn’t looking, I swiped this limerick from President Obama’s desk:
Dear Republicans, thank you for caring.
I’m touched by the worries you’re airing.
Then again, you’ll concede
That my death might impede
Your aspersions on me, now unsparing.
Tags: Obama, Republicans Humor, Secret Service
Posted in Barack Obama, GOP Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, White House | Comments Off on Purloined Limerick
Tuesday, September 2nd, 2014
How’s this for a non-shocker: Ousted House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) is headed to Wall Street. Cantor is “joining investment bank Moelis & Co. as vice chairman and managing director” and “stands to earn $3.4 million in cash and stocks as a signing bonus, with $1.2 million guaranteed in just his first year.”
Limerick Ode To “Poor” Eric Cantor
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Though he lost to a Tea Party ranter,
Please feel free to stop weeping for Cantor,
Cuz he’s striking it rich.
Ain’t his life just a bitch?
Wall Street moolah is quite the enchanter.
Tags: David Brat, Election Humor, Eric Cantor, Financial Verse, House Satire, Money Poetry, Republican Primaries, Tea Party, Wall Street Woes
Posted in Election Satire, GOP Humor, Money & Finance Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Tea Parties | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, August 27th, 2014
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, formerly a Common Core enthusiast, now claims that the U.S. Education Department’s initiative is an Obama “power-grab.” He’s even suing the federal government, in an appeal to wingnutty Tenthers.
Ka-ching!
Sleazy To The Core (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Bobby Jindal has filed a fed suit
To get Common Core given the boot:
Obama, claims Bob,
Did a power-grab job:
A prez wannabe, raising some loot.
Tags: 10th Amendment, Barack Obama, Bobby Jindal, Campaign Funds, Campaign Satire, Common Core, Constitution Verse, Education Department, Education Humor, Federal Lawsuit, Fund Raising, Litigation Humor, Louisiana, Obama Verse, Power-Grab Humor, Republican Hypocrisy, States Rights, Tenthers, Wingnut Humor
Posted in Barack Obama, Campaign Humor, Constitution Humor, Education Limerick, Election Satire, GOP Humor, Law Satire, Legal Limericks, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, States Rights, Tenthers, White House, Wingnuts | Comments Off on Sleazy To The Core (Limerick)
