Save the Ha Ha
I stood by him when he defended his racist minister and threw his dear grandmother under the you-know-what. I dismissed his terrorist connections and shady real estate deals. I defended his FISA cave and his faith-based whatevers. I even excused his bowling. But I have just learned that Barack Obama is anti-humor, and as I am a lifelong member of humoritarian wing of the Democratic party, I have no alternative but to offer my vote to someone else this November.
I know that you Obamanauts will say that it's no big deal. You'll drone on about the war and abortion and the environment and blabbelyblabla. But this party was built on humoritarianism. When Whig candidate Benjamin Harrison's supporters yelled out "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too," the Democrats had a witty and memorable rejoinder: "Ripsey Rampsey, Rumpsey Dumpsey, Colonel Johnson Shot Tecumseh." ROFL. We've been the party of funny ever since. The Republicans have Limbaugh, Coulture, and O'Reilly. We have Stewart, Colbert, and Kinky Friedman. Without the funny, we'd be the party of quixotic campaigns, petty bickering, and endless self-examination. With the funny, we're the party of quixotic campaigns, petty bickering, endless self-examination, and the funny.
The sad truth is that the Republicans have been closing the funny gap recently. Funniest primary candidate this year? Squirrel-poppin' Mike Huckabee, Republican. And John McCain is no funny slouch either. "Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, Iran." LOL. That's what I call humoritarian. Even better than "Rumpsey Dumpsey." Or remember this gem: "Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly? Because her father is Janet Reno." I choked on my coffee when I heard that one. Or I would have if I drank coffee. It was more like a dry heave. It is true that G.W. isn't much of a jokester, but he has nonetheless fostered humoritarianism by nobly sacrificing his own gravitas to provide fodder for the stand-ups. Indeed, I suggest that the greatest gains in the history of the humoritarian cause have been made under his administration.
As the Republicans surge, the Democrats cut-and-run. Faced with painfully unfunny nominees like Gore and Kerry (he of the "botched joke"), we take the stealth approach. "Of course," we knowingly assure one another, "I've heard that [insert Democratic politician] is very funny in person." Even Hillary Clinton was rumored to be "funny in person." But Barack Obama? He's anti-funny. Too lofty, too gravitas-y, too--you know--black-y. Yes, I know, he did Letterman's top 10, and he did that stand-up thing during the primary. But really, he shouldn't quit his day job. For crying out loud, the man uses proper grammar. How are we supposed to make jokes about a black man with good grammar?
Last week, the proud New Yorker took a stand. The editors of that citadel of American humoritariansim, whose cartoons have caused liberal elites to chuckle condescendingly for generations, refused to surrender to the anti-funny forces destroying our way of life. And what did the Obamanauts do? They threw the New Yorker under the b-word. LIBERALS THREW THE NEW YORKER UNDER THE B*$&#!!! That's like Hindus throwing the cow under the elephant. I never thought that I would live to see the day. I am ashamed. I am appalled. I am really frigging POed. No, I will never vote for McCain even though he can run in funny circles around Obama. But I cannot in good conscience offer my vote to an anti-humoritarian villain who would deny us our constitutional right to think that things are funny. In protest, I will write in someone with a funny name. Like Barack Hussein Osama.
I know that you Obamanauts will say that it's no big deal. You'll drone on about the war and abortion and the environment and blabbelyblabla. But this party was built on humoritarianism. When Whig candidate Benjamin Harrison's supporters yelled out "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too," the Democrats had a witty and memorable rejoinder: "Ripsey Rampsey, Rumpsey Dumpsey, Colonel Johnson Shot Tecumseh." ROFL. We've been the party of funny ever since. The Republicans have Limbaugh, Coulture, and O'Reilly. We have Stewart, Colbert, and Kinky Friedman. Without the funny, we'd be the party of quixotic campaigns, petty bickering, and endless self-examination. With the funny, we're the party of quixotic campaigns, petty bickering, endless self-examination, and the funny.
The sad truth is that the Republicans have been closing the funny gap recently. Funniest primary candidate this year? Squirrel-poppin' Mike Huckabee, Republican. And John McCain is no funny slouch either. "Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, Iran." LOL. That's what I call humoritarian. Even better than "Rumpsey Dumpsey." Or remember this gem: "Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly? Because her father is Janet Reno." I choked on my coffee when I heard that one. Or I would have if I drank coffee. It was more like a dry heave. It is true that G.W. isn't much of a jokester, but he has nonetheless fostered humoritarianism by nobly sacrificing his own gravitas to provide fodder for the stand-ups. Indeed, I suggest that the greatest gains in the history of the humoritarian cause have been made under his administration.
As the Republicans surge, the Democrats cut-and-run. Faced with painfully unfunny nominees like Gore and Kerry (he of the "botched joke"), we take the stealth approach. "Of course," we knowingly assure one another, "I've heard that [insert Democratic politician] is very funny in person." Even Hillary Clinton was rumored to be "funny in person." But Barack Obama? He's anti-funny. Too lofty, too gravitas-y, too--you know--black-y. Yes, I know, he did Letterman's top 10, and he did that stand-up thing during the primary. But really, he shouldn't quit his day job. For crying out loud, the man uses proper grammar. How are we supposed to make jokes about a black man with good grammar?
Last week, the proud New Yorker took a stand. The editors of that citadel of American humoritariansim, whose cartoons have caused liberal elites to chuckle condescendingly for generations, refused to surrender to the anti-funny forces destroying our way of life. And what did the Obamanauts do? They threw the New Yorker under the b-word. LIBERALS THREW THE NEW YORKER UNDER THE B*$&#!!! That's like Hindus throwing the cow under the elephant. I never thought that I would live to see the day. I am ashamed. I am appalled. I am really frigging POed. No, I will never vote for McCain even though he can run in funny circles around Obama. But I cannot in good conscience offer my vote to an anti-humoritarian villain who would deny us our constitutional right to think that things are funny. In protest, I will write in someone with a funny name. Like Barack Hussein Osama.
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I feel your pain.
July 17, 2008 1:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Allow me to throw you a rope: those people who you thought were throwing the New Yorker under the bus, were actually satirically throwing the New Yorker sarcastically under the bus. Does that help?
You see, by complaining about the New Yorker, they were actually mocking how the Republicans would act if they had been the victim of such a satirical treatment!
July 17, 2008 2:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
they were actually mocking how the Republicans would act if they had been the victim of such a satirical treatment!
Apparently the joke is on you. The Wingnut 'Pubs ARE the target of the satire. It's only the earnestness addicts who aren't getting that on the Dem side.
July 17, 2008 2:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Everyone realizes (I hope) that the Republicans were the target of the original satire, but very few realize they are also the target of the stealth satire of those who are pretending to be outraged by the original satire.
July 17, 2008 2:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
But even fewer realize that the Republicans were actually behind the stealth-stealth satire, the ultimate stealth target of which is actually the feline avatar community
July 17, 2008 2:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
The question remains: are you also immune to iocaine powder?
July 17, 2008 2:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yinz guys are jest to sub-tull for me.
July 17, 2008 3:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Those who make light of the assault on the feline avatar community do so at their own peril. Someone who will attack kittens will do anything for power.
July 18, 2008 9:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
I don't attack kittens... I eat them. Yum.
Where's the canine avatar community? Doesn't anyone have dogs anymore?
July 18, 2008 9:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Bush is so funny we kept him for four more years. Yesterday he said:
"The economy is growing, productivity is high, trade is up, people are working. It's not as good as we'd like, but—and to the extent that we find weakness, we'll move.”
Woody Allen couldn’t write stuff like this">http://www.slate.com/id/76886/">this.
July 17, 2008 2:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
...stuff like this?
July 17, 2008 2:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think Bush really took comedy to a new level when he waved goodbye to the G8 "from the world's largest polluter" (or whatever the exact quote is). Comedy gold. Pure unadulterated genius. But McCain is looking like a worthy successor.
July 17, 2008 3:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
On a serious note (sorry), your "Ripsey Rampsey, Rumpsey Dumpsey, Colonel Johnson Shot Tecumseh" rhyme forced me into Google mode to determine whether that was a Genghis original or actual history. As a result, I learned a little about Colonel Johnson, who was Martin Van Buren's Vice President from 1837-1841. This Vice President, for all intents and purposes, had a black wife. It was illegal in Kentucky at the time due to miscegenation laws (not surprisingly), so it was only a de facto marriage and not a de rigeur marriage, but it sounds like the love was real and that he treated her with respect (even if legally she was his slave). Naturally, this caused much derision from the public at the time.
July 17, 2008 2:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Awesome. To give credit where it's due, I learned about the Rumpsey Dumpsey rhyme from a Gail Collins column.
July 17, 2008 2:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not to put a damper on the funny thread, but is it really love or marriage if one party owns the other (not just figuratively by by force of law)? My recollection is that most slaves didn't really have a choice in the matter if they were "chosen" by the master. It very well may have been, but the inherent power that he had as owner makes the question of free will an obvious one.
July 17, 2008 2:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's a valid question. We have no way of knowing to what degree she freely returned his affections.
July 17, 2008 2:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
my mouse saw your radioactive emanations and ran under the bed ...
July 17, 2008 5:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Your mouse made me hungry. You wouldn't like me when I'm hungry…
July 17, 2008 6:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow. A cat that can pick its nose with its tongue for hours with metronomic rhythm!
July 17, 2008 10:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Test
I want to try this..
July 17, 2008 11:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wikipedia:
"Following his wife's death, Johnson engaged in a relationship with another family slave. When she left him for another man, Johnson had her captured and sold at an auction. He then began a relationship with her sister."
Kind of puts a damper on the love story...
July 17, 2008 7:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
On the other hand, had the tale started with "I guess I love a good slavery joke as much as the next guy..." as in "Did you hear the one about the guy who sold his slave "wife" at auction?"
July 17, 2008 8:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yikes. I wanted a good story, so I believed in a good story.
July 18, 2008 12:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Speaking of "the funny":
http://sendables.jibjab.com/
July 17, 2008 2:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
After two terms of GWB, I am ready for a President with gravitas. To hell with the funny!
July 17, 2008 2:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
The real problem here is that the liberal elite has a horrible sense of humor. Those New Yorker cartoons? I have never laughed at a single one. To paraphrase Ben from the other day, I get the joke - I just don't laugh. Perhaps Obama is not anti-humor, but pro-laughter.
July 17, 2008 3:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe you'll think they're funny when you're able to change your own underwear.
July 17, 2008 3:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Or maybe we'll find them funny when we have to wear diapers again. ;)
July 17, 2008 3:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've always thought people who purported to find them funny didn't really get them either, but were too scared of being thought lacking in urbanity and sophistication to admit it.
Hmmm, there could be a sitcom script in that idea somewhere . . .
July 17, 2008 4:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
With urbanity and sophistication, I'm sure your sitcom will knock "Extreme Home Makeover" and "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?" right off the Nielsen top ten.
July 17, 2008 6:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't know. Maybe not a sitcom, but I think "Are You More Urbane Than an Upper West Side Liberal?" might pull some viewers . . .
July 18, 2008 12:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think the BBC has already done something similar. It is called "Keeping Up Appearances". Funny Stuff :)
July 18, 2008 12:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
Or maybe the Seinfeld episode where they did exactly what NCSteve was alluding to. (I assumed he was already aware of that episode, and was making light of it.)
July 18, 2008 12:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree. I have the same issue with the New Yorker. With the not laughing. That was my problem with the cover. Maybe I'm not an elitist after all.
July 21, 2008 3:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
Excellent post, Genghis. For a moment I thought you'd morphed into McCain Pal.
It's common knowledge that McCain is a barrel of monkeys.
July 17, 2008 3:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
You just proved you are indeed a true satirist & a legitimate humoritarian. Your a lot like Colbert, love that word.
July 17, 2008 3:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm not sure people just glancing at your post in passing will get it. You shouldn't have written it. Maybe your recs are down lately?
July 17, 2008 4:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
I take it back. I apologize for the entire post. I reject it, I denounce it, I anti-recommend it, I drive over it with a f$#%ing b@*. This sad excuse for a post is interfering with important FISA discussion.
July 17, 2008 4:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Quit whining. Next time, try an Obama Limerick thread.
July 17, 2008 4:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
There was a black dude named Obama
Who got slapped once for saying "Yo' Mama"
He switched to "Missus" instead
But the rep that it bred
Was that he was too tied up with Drama.
Please allow me to recycle another one of mine:
Michelle in a candid interview described their early marital years in the tough South Side. She once asked Barack to take out the garbage. Police found it floating face down in the Chicago River.
July 18, 2008 12:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
FISA!
July 18, 2008 10:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
Great, here come the FISA trolls. With their fearless leader at the helm. Is no thread safe from their malevolent designs?
July 18, 2008 1:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Genghis. It's teh funny.
Get it right. Er, correct.
July 17, 2008 4:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good job. That's coming from one of those effete intellectual snobs, though, so you might want to disown my comment.
Actually, I must admit I'm one of those phony effete intellectual snobs who is sometimes flummoxed (as in "huh?") by some New Yorker cartoons, can't always make the funny out right away sometimes, it is possibly a defect from having been a Midwesterner until age 29? Most are certainly not "lol" funny to me, and I am not a simpleminded slapstick laugher.
On another note, am I the only one who always thought Rush Limbaugh humor to be counter-effective to his other goals from day one? It made his original fans appear very frat boyish and sophomoric, when in actuality a lot of them were 90's Wall Street types into pushing supply side economics. Imus' humor also always struck me as very frat boy, and I thought that degraded his brand. I think both could have gone farther as far as punditry having influence with more sophisticated, less frat boy humor. Of course, that's not what they wanted, I guess, they wanted male spending demographic.
July 17, 2008 4:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rush Limbaugh is funny?
Perhaps in an ironic kind of toilet-level grade school way.
Really, he's just mean.
Very, very, VERY mean.
July 17, 2008 4:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
If it helps, JibJab has their latest spoof video song: Time for Some Campaignin
July 17, 2008 4:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
I suggest we call ourselves DemLOLcrats from now on...
July 17, 2008 4:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can haz paper trale now?
July 17, 2008 5:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tecumseh was a great Indian chief. A native of Ohio he was so instrumental in Canada's successful defense against an American takeover in the War of 1812 he is ranked 37th on the Greatest Canadian list. Not bad for a dude who wasn't even Canadian.
The US Navy also named four ships USS Tecumseh, the first one as early as 1863. We remember today by a line of lawn mower engines.
Johnson? There's no real evidence he shot Tecumseh. He is remembered today as a slang word for "penis".
July 17, 2008 5:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry dude. We traded David Frum for Tecumseh back in 2000.
Enjoy!
July 18, 2008 12:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Republicans have Limbaugh, Coulture, and O'Reilly. We have Stewart, Colbert, and Kinky Friedman.
Kinky Friedman? He ran as an independent in Texas, and also he's a total douche.
July 18, 2008 3:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
It was a joke
July 18, 2008 9:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
This was really cool. I think the thread petering out, oddly, is a compliment. Some of the funnier and more recommended snark just kind of stands alone. This was one of those for me.
The one quip I would have worked in was the promise to veto every beer. That's priceless.
July 18, 2008 1:44 PM | Reply | Permalink