Posts Tagged ‘Media Humor’
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 »
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 »
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 »
Monday, October 10th, 2011
Herman Cain was interviewed by CBN’s David Brody and uttered this priceless quote regarding his readiness for “gotcha questions:”
“When they ask me who’s the president of Ubeki-beki-beki-beki-stan-stan I’m going to say you know, I don’t know. Do you know? And then I’m going to say how’s that going to create one job?”
Limerick Ode To Herman Cain
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Herman Cain has an answer he’ll lob
At the press in a weave and a bob:
When he’s gotcha-ness leery
He’ll sneer at the query,
“How’s that going to create one job?”
Tags: Campaign Satire, CBN, Christian Broadcasting Network, David Brody, Election Humor, Gotcha Questions, Herman Cain, Media Humor, Republican Primary
Posted in Campaign Humor, Election Satire, GOP Humor, Herman Cain, Media Satire, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, White House | 2 Comments »
Monday, October 3rd, 2011
Steve Benen has written an excellent post about the underreported voter suppression scandal:
Under the auspices of rooting out “voter fraud” — a problem that appears to exist largely in the over-active imaginations of GOP activists — Republicans are passing voter-ID measures, closing windows for early voting, and approving new laws restricting voter-registration drives, all targeting specific kinds of voters who happen to be traditional Democratic supporters.
And the Brennan Center For Justice has produced a frightening study of these “radical” voting law changes.
Now if only the media would take some time out from its hefty will-he-or-won’t-he Christie coverage, to report on this important issue.
Pressing The Press On Voter Suppression (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
The GOP war on our voting
Is a problem the press isn’t noting.
Unfair laws will suppress
Dem votes with finesse,
The Republican prospects promoting.
Tags: Brennan Center, Election Humor, GOP Humor, Legislation Humor, Media Humor, Republicans Humor, Steve Benen, Voter ID, Voter Suppression, Voting Limerick, War On Voting
Posted in Democracy Humor, Election Satire, GOP Humor, Legislation Humor, Media Satire, Political Commentary, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Voting Satire | 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 »
Wednesday, August 31st, 2011
Certain media people are doing Rick Perry a huge favor by lowering the bar with tales of Perry being a lousy debater.
Limerick Ode to Rick “Bad Debater” Perry
By Madeleine Begun Kane
When press people lower the bar,
They enable a pol to go far.
Exceed expectations,
Then get more ovations,
And become a political star.
Tags: Campaign Satire, Debate Limerick, Election Humor, Media Humor, Presidential Campaign Humor, Republicans Humor, Rick Perry
Posted in Campaign Humor, Debate Humor, Election Satire, Media Satire, Political Limericks, Rick Perry, Texas Humor | 2 Comments »
Thursday, June 30th, 2011
By now you surely know that MSNBC has suspended its senior political analyst Mark Halperin for calling President Obama “a dick” on Joe Scarborough’s Morning Joe. (Halperin, who is also an editor-at large for Time) usually does a better job of hiding his pro-Republican bias.)
Limerick Ode To Mark Halperin
By Madeleine Begun Kane
I always suspected that Mark
Had a bias unspeakably stark.
Well he gave it away
In a dickish display.
With his epithet, Mark jumped the shark.
Tags: Barack Obama, Epithets, Joe Scarborough, Liberal Media, Mark Halperin, Media Bias, Media Humor, Morning Joe, MSNBC, Time Magazine
Posted in Barack Obama, Language Humor, Media Satire, Partisanship Satire, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire | 7 Comments »
Wednesday, May 25th, 2011
Remember when Republicans opposed the automobile industry bailout, slamming Obama for his “government takeover?”
Now that Obama’s auto industry rescue plan is a raging success, Republicans have acknowledged their error and congratulated Obama on a job well done, right?
Hahahahaha!
So can we trust the media to make sure Republicans like Romney, Corker, Pawlenty, Kasich, and their ilk don’t scam people into thinking the bailout was their idea?
You’re kidding, right?
Revisionist History On Auto Pilot
By Madeleine Begun Kane
So what did Republicans say
To auto co bailouts? No way!
But the past they would edit
And try to take credit:
It worked, so that plan was “their” play.
Tags: Auto Industry Bailout, Automobiles, Bankruptcy, Bob Corker, Chrysler, Detroit, General Motors, John Kasich, Media Humor, Michigan, Mitt Romney, Revisionist History, Tim Pawlenty
Posted in Automobiles Satire, Barack Obama, Business Humor, GOP Humor, Media Satire, Mitt Romney Humor, Political Commentary, Political Limericks, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor | 4 Comments »
Wednesday, May 18th, 2011
It amazes me that anyone could call David Gregory’s Newt Gingrich interview a “gotcha” interview. Yet that’s exactly what Newt’s been doing in the wake of his campaign’s self-destruction.
However, if you read the Meet The Press transcript, it’s clear that nobody trapped Gingrich into condemning Paul Ryan’s Medicare plan as undesirable “right-wing social engineering.”
So here’s my theory: Newt and his fellow Republicans have been coddled and spoiled by Fox News. As a result, many of them have lost their edge and can no longer handle themselves when asked even-handed questions.
I never thought I’d be saying this but…
Thank You Fox News (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
While Fox has been tempting to mock
Cuz its cov’rage is mostly a crock,
Softball questions spoiled Newt,
Who can’t handle a brute
Like Dave Gregory — Fox News, you rock!
UPDATE: To add to my amusement, Newt Gingrich is trying to forbid people from quoting his Ryan Plan criticism in an ad. Here’s Newt: “any ad which quotes what I said on Sunday is a falsehood. Because I have said publicly those words were inaccurate.”
Lots of luck with that, Newt.
Tags: Campaign Satire, Conservatives Satire, David Gregory, Fox News, Gotcha Questions, Interviews, Media Humor, Medicare, Meet The Press, Newt Gingrich, Paul Ryan
Posted in Election Satire, Fox News Humor, Health Satire, Media Satire, Newt Gingrich Humor, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Wingnuts | 2 Comments »
Monday, May 9th, 2011
By now you’ve surely heard that the Brooklyn-based Hasidic newspaper Der Tzitung “disappeared” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and another woman from the iconic White House Situation Room photo, taken while the Osama bin Laden attack was going down:
The original photo, taken as the raid was occurring, famously shows Clinton in the center of the room, with her hand over her mouth. But the newspaper Der Tzitung, described by the Jewish Week as “ultra-Orthodox,” has a policy of never printing photos of women in its pages because it thinks they could be sexually suggestive. Thus, Clinton and counterterrorism director Audrey Tomason, who was seen standing at the back of the room, were removed from the picture.
In a non-apology apology, Der Tzitung said in part:
In accord with our religious beliefs, we do not publish photos of women, which in no way relegates them to a lower status. Publishing a newspaper is a big responsibility, and our policies are guided by a Rabbinical Board. Because of laws of modesty, we are not allowed to publish pictures of women, and we regret if this gives an impression of disparaging to women, which is certainly never our intention. We apologize if this was seen as offensive.
Some people may find the following limerick to be offensive. And to them I say, too damn bad!
Hillary Clinton — Bombshell? (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
What a shame that some men are so weak,
They can’t handle so much as a peek
Of a Hillary pic.
Seems they fear that their dick
Can’t withstand her alluring physique.
UPDATE: A very funny take on this same topic.
Tags: Audrey Tomason, Brooklyn, Der Tzitung, Feminist Limerick, Hasidic Newspapers, Hillary Clinton, Laws Of Modesty, Media Humor, Orthodox Media, Osama Bin Laden, Photoshopping, Rabbinical Board, Religion Satire, Situation Room, White House
Posted in Feminism Humor, Hillary Clinton, Media Satire, National Security Humor, Political Limericks, Religious Satire, White House | 22 Comments »
Tuesday, April 26th, 2011
People tend to assume that Trump owns all the stuff his name is emblazoned on. However, he isn’t nearly as wealthy as he’d have us believe. But he still has his good name. Or does he?
Donald Trump Outsmarts Himself
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Trump is playing a dangerous game:
His most noteworthy asset’s his name.
He gains media drama
With lies re Obama,
But devalues what’s left of his fame.
Tags: Barack Obama, Birthers, Donald Trump, Media Humor
Posted in 44 Humor, Barack Obama, Birther Humor, Donald Trump, Media Satire, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire | 22 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 »
Tuesday, February 8th, 2011
I was pleased to hear that Keith Olbermann has a new gig at Current TV.
In his new role, Olbermann will debut a new nightly show sometime in “late Spring.” The five-nights-a-week show will air in primetime (the exact timeslot, along with the precise start date are still undetermined), and Olbermann described it as “an improved and amplified” version of Countdown. The show will be produced at studios in New York City.
In addition to hosting the new show, Olbermann will consult and executive produce additional programming for Current, which could include bringing new hosts to the network as part of a primetime lineup of news and politics.
I thought I’d celebrate with a limerick:
Keith’s Current News
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Keith’s been hired by Current TV.
Will he rescue Gore’s baby? We’ll see.
He’ll be back to reports
That are newsy — not sports.
It bodes well for progressive esprit.
(My Limerick Ode To Keith Olbermann on his MSNBC departure is here.)
Tags: Current TV, Keith Olbermann, Media Humor, Progressives
Posted in Keith Olbermann, Media Satire, Television (TV) Satire | 3 Comments »
Tuesday, February 8th, 2011
I, for one, am enjoying the Bill Kristol / Glenn Beck feud:
Last week, Fox News’ Glenn Beck launched a week-long effort to explain developments in Egypt as only he can. The deranged media personality cooked up truly bizarre conspiracy theories — even by his standards…
Over the weekend, The Weekly Standard’s William Kristol, a Fox News contributor, had seen enough. “[H]ysteria is not a sign of health,” Kristol wrote in a new column. “When Glenn Beck rants about the caliphate taking over the Middle East from Morocco to the Philippines, and lists (invents?) the connections between caliphate-promoters and the American left, he brings to mind no one so much as Robert Welch and the John Birch Society. He’s marginalizing himself, just as his predecessors did back in the early 1960s.”
Now let’s face it — Glenn Beck’s behavior has to be pretty crazy for a neoconservative like Kristol to write that sort of critique. And that brings me to my latest limerick:
It’s Kristol Clear That Beck Is Nuts
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Bill Kristol said Beck’s gone too far,
Which means Glenn’s scaled a very high bar.
Cuz when Bill says enough
To a wingnut, that’s rough.
Yes, Glenn’s sanity’s way under par.
Tags: Conservatives Satire, Fox News Satire, Glenn Beck, Media Humor, Neoconservatives, William Kristol, Wingnuts
Posted in Bill Kristol, Fox News Humor, Glenn Beck Satire, Media Satire, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Publicity Hounds, Wingnuts | 6 Comments »
Saturday, January 22nd, 2011
I was stunned to learn that Keith Olbermann is leaving Countdown and MSNBC effective immediately. Although I sometimes disagreed with him and even poked fun at Keith in verse, Olbermann’s departure leaves a gaping hole in my podcast-watching schedule.
I’ll miss Keith and look forward to his next show, wherever he turns up. In the meantime, here’s a limerick in his honor:
Limerick Ode To Keith Olbermann
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Dear Keith, to my shock and dismay
I’ve learned that you’re going away.
Though I’ve mocked you at times
For bombacity crimes,
I miss you already. Oy vey!
Tags: Cable, Countdown, Keith Olbermann, Media Humor, MSNBC, TV
Posted in Keith Olbermann, Media Satire, Television (TV) Satire | 4 Comments »
Wednesday, October 6th, 2010
I’m a liberal New York Democrat, and I’ll say one thing for Carl Paladino — the guy has chutzpah. After his bizarre, near-violent attack on the New York Post’s Fred Dicker last week, he had the audacity to describe gubernatorial opponent Andrew Cuomo as “out of control.”
Apparently this is how an in-control candidate behaves:
1. Accuses his opponent (Andrew Cuomo) of cheating on wife.
2. Accuses Rupert Murdoch’s New York Post of bias because it didn’t ask Cuomo about wife-cheating.
3. Menaces and comes dangerously close to physically harming the old, frail-looking Fred Dicker because Dicker had the audacity to ask if he had any evidence that Cuomo cheated on his wife.
4. Promises to produce wife-cheating evidence at the appropriate time.
5. Denies that he promised to produce wife-cheating evidence.
6. After a video of his bullying, abusive, and near-violent attack on Dicker draws a negative response and a loose cannon perception, even among Republicans, tells the Wall Street Journal he wants to focus on the issues.
Limerick Ode To Carl Paladino
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Paladino is always irate,
Spreading venom and anger and hate.
He claims to be able,
But seems quite unstable.
If he wins, we are screwed — no debate.
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, Campaign Satire, Carl Paladino, Election Humor, Fred Dicker, Media Humor, New York Post, Rupert Murdoch, Wall Street Journal
Posted in Campaign Humor, Carl Paladino, Election Satire, GOP Humor, Media Satire, New York Politics, Political Commentary, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Publicity Hounds, Republicans Humor, Tea Parties, Wingnuts | 2 Comments »
Thursday, August 26th, 2010
I have a dream that one day crazed liars like Glenn Beck will no longer pollute our television and radio waves and the Internet.
I have a dream that one day the American people will stop being suckered by deranged media personalities like Glenn Beck.
I have a dream that one day Glenn Beck will headline a rally like his “restore honor” to America rally scheduled on the anniversary of Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream Speech” … and nobody will show up.
My Dream For Glenn Beck … And America (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Oh, I have a dream for Glenn Beck:
That he’ll lose his unending blank check
To spread mad, evil lies
That are greeted as wise,
When they’re really insidious dreck.
Tags: Deranged Media Personalities, Glenn Beck, Martin Luther King, Media Humor, Political Rally
Posted in Fox News Humor, Glenn Beck Satire, Media Satire, Political Limericks, Political Speeches, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Publicity Hounds, Speeches Satire, Tea Parties, Washington, Wingnuts | 7 Comments »
Pressing The Press On Voter Suppression (Limerick)
Monday, October 3rd, 2011Steve Benen has written an excellent post about the underreported voter suppression scandal:
And the Brennan Center For Justice has produced a frightening study of these “radical” voting law changes.
Now if only the media would take some time out from its hefty will-he-or-won’t-he Christie coverage, to report on this important issue.
Pressing The Press On Voter Suppression (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
The GOP war on our voting
Is a problem the press isn’t noting.
Unfair laws will suppress
Dem votes with finesse,
The Republican prospects promoting.
Tags: Brennan Center, Election Humor, GOP Humor, Legislation Humor, Media Humor, Republicans Humor, Steve Benen, Voter ID, Voter Suppression, Voting Limerick, War On Voting
Posted in Democracy Humor, Election Satire, GOP Humor, Legislation Humor, Media Satire, Political Commentary, Political Limericks, Political Verse, Politics Satire, Republicans Humor, Voting Satire | 2 Comments »