Posts Tagged ‘Progressives’

Misplaced Progressive Outrage (3-Verse Limerick)

Monday, December 5th, 2016

Some progressives are savaging Gore
And giving the guy a what for.
What drum are they beating?
Al’s climate change meeting
With Donald is making them sore.

His attempting to give Trump a clue
And guide him on what he should do
Is wrong, so they say;
He should wish Trump away–
Not legitimize prez you-know-who.

To progressives who take this position,
There’s no reason to fault Al Gore’s mission;
Yes, the Donald is vile!
But it STILL is worth while
To attempt to improve Trump’s cognition.

Limerick Ode To The New, Improved Obama

Tuesday, September 20th, 2011

This devout progressive has been very hard on Obama lately … and with good reason. But the debt ceiling debacle, liberal anger, and sinking poll numbers seem to have woken him up. Suddenly, Obama is the new, improved, assertive, populist President. And many former fans are welcoming back the President they thought they elected.

So, am I cheering? Well, let’s just say I’m giving Obama guarded applause. For while I like some of his jobs and tax proposals, and I love his newly confident, aggressive tone, I’m not convinced that any of this will last.

And that brings me to my latest limerick:

Limerick Ode To The New, Improved Obama
By Madeleine Begun Kane

It fin’ly has dawned on Barack
That with lib’rals he’s lost lots of stock.
His base and foundation
Could be his salvation.
I just hope his new stance ain’t a crock.

A Limerick Farewell To Anthony Weiner

Thursday, June 16th, 2011

Limerick Farewell To Anthony Wiener
By Madeleine Begun Kane

I’m feeling forlorn, but resigned.
We have lost a great liberal mind.
There was really no choice
But to lose Weiner’s voice—
His behavior put Dems in a bind.

Let’s hope this is only a pause—
That one day he’ll be cured of his flaws—
With the passage of time
He’ll arise from the slime
And further our liberal cause.

Keith’s Current News

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.)

Obama’s Half-Assed Message

Wednesday, September 29th, 2010

Dear President Obama:

Please enlighten me. What exactly is your strategy to win back your base and persuade liberals to vote this November?

Does your plan involve pissing off progressives even more? Does it entail compensating for your lack of strength and progressive vision by blaming progressives for our own apathy?

If so, then you’re doing a really good job.

Obama’s Half-Assed Message (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane

Dear Obama, you’re right — Dems must vote.
But there’s something I simply must note:
You’re weak and a muck up.
Don’t tell your base “Buck up!”
All you’re doing is getting our goat.

Open Limerick To Robert Gibbs and President Obama

Tuesday, August 10th, 2010

I was both annoyed and amused by Robert Gibbs’ anti-left freak out. Apparently, we progressives don’t sufficiently appreciate President Obama — wa wa wa!

Gibbs’ subsequent apology for his “inartful” attack on the left doesn’t mitigate the need for this open limerick to Mr. Gibbs and his boss:

Open Limerick To Robert Gibbs and President Obama
By Madeleine Begun Kane

Mr. Gibbs is thin-skinned, it appears.
From the left, he wants only big cheers.
But lefties just seek
A Dem Prez who ain’t weak.
White House courage is deep in arrears.

This verse is for Robert Gibbs’ boss.
Ignoring the left is your loss.
And a loss for the nation.
Our former elation
Is gone with your liberal gloss.

Liberal Drilling? Chill, Obama, Chill!

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

Like so many of my fellow progressives, I am dismayed by Obama’s plans to open offshore areas to oil and natural gas drilling for the first time.

Before I get to my latest limerick, here are some other bloggers who are aggravated by plans to open coastal waters to oil exploration: skippy, John Amato, Melissa McEwan, Taylor Marsh, and Jonathan Turley.

And now, my limerick:

Liberal Drilling? Chill, Obama, Chill!
By Madeleine Begun Kane

Obama’s pronouncement ain’t thrilling.
He plans to expand off-shore drilling.
As a gal from the left
I am Mad and bereft.
Tell me, what has Obama been swilling?

Dear Obama, Enough With The Voltaire!

Thursday, February 18th, 2010

I don’t know about you, but I’m getting really tired of this line frequently used by Obama and other pols: “America can’t afford to let the perfect be the enemy of the good.”

Obama usually uses this Voltaire paraphrase as an excuse to disappoint progressives yet again.

The original Voltaire quote is “The perfect is the enemy of the good,” translated from the French, “Le mieux est l’ennemi du bien.” (The literal translation actually should be, “The best is the enemy of the good.”)

This brings me to my latest double limerick:

Dear Obama, Enough With The Voltaire!
By Madeleine Begun Kane

There once was a guy named Voltaire,
A Frenchman whose wisdom pols share.
They say, “Perfect, though fine,
Is hardly divine
When it blocks the essential. So there!”

Dear Obama, this line is just guff —
An excuse for not doing enough.
So instead of excuses,
Fight right-wing abuses.
Voltaire is annoying. Hang tough!