For those in the business of political mockery, the last 16 years have been a glorious golden age. If Bill Clinton was a full-employment act for political comedians, then George W. Bush was a welfare program.
But when Barack Obama takes the oath of office on Jan. 20, the era of easy presidential punch lines may be coming to a close.
What's in store for political humor in the age of Obama? Will he be the president who presides over the bursting of the comedy bubble? Or can he find a way to bail out the comedy industry too?
There's no better way to find out than directly from those on the front lines of the comedy crisis -- the comedians, joke writers, and satirists tasked with the urgent work of fortifying our nation's strategic humor reserves.
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Comments
Great job finding some really funny people to quote. Thanks for a good laugh.
good read, love the site
Maria
Funny Shizit
Based on the funny responses by these writers, I would say that the future of political comedy is in good hands.
Obama-Biden constitute a classic comedy duo. Obama is the Abbott to Biden’ Costello! Every good goof (no disrespect toward Biden intended) needs a straight man.
While it’s true that the jokes may be less obvious, I believe the finest humorists will persevere. Observe Robin Williams, who claimed that once Obama arrived at the White House, he would populate his staff with: “Lil Ray-Ray, Kanye, Kobe and Collin Powell, who is bad to the bone.”
What’s funny about Obama is he’s so straight and ernest, always trying to help. He’s like so many adult role models I had growing up – scout leaders, teachers, youth pastor and career counselors. He’s the guy who’s awkward attempts to be “with it” and connect with “the young people” made him the target of spitball throwing smartasses. He’s the Tommy Newsom of politics, which suggests a vein of good comic material. For example:
After one week of the new administration, we’re learning that President Obama is not exactly our funniest president. He’s so not funny, it funny…
…He’s the English teacher who’s always saying, “All right, grow up. I think we all know that’s not what Shakespeare meant by ‘bring me the bosom lover of thy lord.’”
…He goes through every speech and crosses out potentially comedic words such as “rod,” “sack” and “Bush.”
…He forgot to end his “clinging to guns and religion” quip with “LOL.”
…Told to open his next speech with a joke, Obama replied “Who do you think I am? Ralph Nader?”
…Responds to “Yo Mama” jokes by pointing out that, even if his mother had been overweight, the constituion prevents her ass from having its own congressman.
…He thinks the comedy of Bill Cosby is “just too darn black.”
…He can’t think of anything after, “There once was a gal from Nantucket…”
…He thinks sitcom is a spy sattellite.
…He’s the the Boy Scout Leader always saying, “Okay, now apparently, some people don’t know the differene between having fun and being silly.”
…He’s the guy at the office who’s always bugging you to jazz up your presentations with more full-color pie charts.
…He’s the kid in junior high who says things like, “You’ve had your fun. Please give me back my pants.”
…His favorite insult is “Yo Mama’s so fat, she at risk for developing adult onset diabetes.”
…His favorite insult is “Yo Mama’s so poor she qualifies for multiple federal aid programs.”
I’ve been wondering how Jon Stewart is going to fare in the Obama era. If the recent Elmo skit is any indication, I’m very afraid.