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Saturday, December 15, 2007
Kan't attack today
Are you ready for something more substantial in the political satire vein than "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me"? Well, this Kant attack ad (video) at Crooked Timber may not be it, but it'll do while you're waiting.
I'll check that out at home where my computer has speakers, but actually "Wait Wait" has its moments in this regard. The interview they did with Peter Fitzgerald, which just happened to take place shortly after Dubya commuted Scooter Libby's sentence, was priceless. Peter Sagal (or his writers) managed to make all the right points, quite pointedly, while cheerfully working around having agreed not to directly ask Fitzgerald about the matter.
The best political satirist on TV nowadays though is, and this is as big a shock to me as to anyone else, of all people Jay Leno. (Or, again, maybe his writers.) He regularly gets off digs which are sharper, more pointed and simply funnier than anything coming from Bill Maher or Letterman or even Jon Stewart. Everyone assumes that Leno is still just doing intern-blowjob jokes (and he still does indulge in some of those) but no, he's doing very funny stuff about actual issues and policy choices. How or why that change came about, I have no idea.
A few recent (that is, from just before the writers' strike put everything into reruns) examples:
"Anybody notice that for daylight saving, the change is later this year? It was supposed to be last week. According to the New York Times, Congress made this decision in part from pressure from the candy lobby, who wanted an extra hour for trick or treating. Isn't that unbelievable? I mean, the research lobby can't get stem cell research through. The consumer lobby, we can't get lead out of toys. But by God, when it comes to an extra hour of eating sugar, the candy lobby has the power."
"Another prominent Republican has been caught in a gay sex scandal. This time it's a state representative from the state of Washington, a man named Richard Curtis. He admitted to dressing up in women's clothing, having sex with a guy twice in one night, but he says he's not gay. Fortunately, the other guy was..."
"Karen Hughes, a former adviser to President Bush, is leaving the State Department after working the last two years trying to improve the rest of the world's opinion of America. Congratulations on a job well done. Time to bring out that 'Mission Accomplished' sign again."
"Vice President Dick Cheney went out hunting again today. God, I didn't even know it was lawyer season. ... No, actually Dick Cheney said he was in Upstate New York to hunt peasants. Uhh, pheasants. I'm sorry."
"This past weekend, Senator Craig was inducted into the Idaho Hall of Fame. See, I don't know how these things work. Is he a pitcher or a catcher?"
"A globe of the world once owned by Adolph Hitler is going to be auctioned off. ... So, Hitler's globe if you're thinking about getting a Christmas gift for Ann Coulter."
"Last week, Al Gore won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to fight global warming. Congratulations to Al Gore. ... Not to be outdone, today the oil companies named President Bush 'Man of The Year.'"
"Mitt Romney said the other night at the debates that he's the one of all the candidates who is the most optimistic about the future. Well, there's a shock -- a rich, white guy with $200 million in the bank. What's everyone worried about?"
"According to the latest poll, New Hampshire voters -- kind of prickly voters -- are unexpectedly warming to Hillary Clinton. So, this could be the proof of global warming -- Hillary thawing."
"While out on the campaign trail, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney says that Republicans have to start acting like Republicans. I don't know, last week they avoided a debate with black people. You can't get more Republican than that."
"Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has proposed that $5,000 be given to every baby in America at birth. Every baby would get a $5,000 bond. And today, Barack Obama topped that with $6,000 and a year's supply of turtle wax."
3 comments:
I'll check that out at home where my computer has speakers, but actually "Wait Wait" has its moments in this regard. The interview they did with Peter Fitzgerald, which just happened to take place shortly after Dubya commuted Scooter Libby's sentence, was priceless. Peter Sagal (or his writers) managed to make all the right points, quite pointedly, while cheerfully working around having agreed not to directly ask Fitzgerald about the matter.
The best political satirist on TV nowadays though is, and this is as big a shock to me as to anyone else, of all people Jay Leno. (Or, again, maybe his writers.) He regularly gets off digs which are sharper, more pointed and simply funnier than anything coming from Bill Maher or Letterman or even Jon Stewart. Everyone assumes that Leno is still just doing intern-blowjob jokes (and he still does indulge in some of those) but no, he's doing very funny stuff about actual issues and policy choices. How or why that change came about, I have no idea.
Patrick Fitzgerald, but yes, I agree. As for Jay Leno, I confess it never occurred to me to look. But now I will.
A few recent (that is, from just before the writers' strike put everything into reruns) examples:
"Anybody notice that for daylight saving, the change is later this year? It was supposed to be last week. According to the New York Times, Congress made this decision in part from pressure from the candy lobby, who wanted an extra hour for trick or treating. Isn't that unbelievable? I mean, the research lobby can't get stem cell research through. The consumer lobby, we can't get lead out of toys. But by God, when it comes to an extra hour of eating sugar, the candy lobby has the power."
"Another prominent Republican has been caught in a gay sex scandal. This time it's a state representative from the state of Washington, a man named Richard Curtis. He admitted to dressing up in women's clothing, having sex with a guy twice in one night, but he says he's not gay. Fortunately, the other guy was..."
"Karen Hughes, a former adviser to President Bush, is leaving the State Department after working the last two years trying to improve the rest of the world's opinion of America. Congratulations on a job well done. Time to bring out that 'Mission Accomplished' sign again."
"Vice President Dick Cheney went out hunting again today. God, I didn't even know it was lawyer season. ... No, actually Dick Cheney said he was in Upstate New York to hunt peasants. Uhh, pheasants. I'm sorry."
"This past weekend, Senator Craig was inducted into the Idaho Hall of Fame. See, I don't know how these things work. Is he a pitcher or a catcher?"
"A globe of the world once owned by Adolph Hitler is going to be auctioned off. ... So, Hitler's globe if you're thinking about getting a Christmas gift for Ann Coulter."
"Last week, Al Gore won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to fight global warming. Congratulations to Al Gore. ... Not to be outdone, today the oil companies named President Bush 'Man of The Year.'"
"Mitt Romney said the other night at the debates that he's the one of all the candidates who is the most optimistic about the future. Well, there's a shock -- a rich, white guy with $200 million in the bank. What's everyone worried about?"
"According to the latest poll, New Hampshire voters -- kind of prickly voters -- are unexpectedly warming to Hillary Clinton. So, this could be the proof of global warming -- Hillary thawing."
"While out on the campaign trail, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney says that Republicans have to start acting like Republicans. I don't know, last week they avoided a debate with black people. You can't get more Republican than that."
"Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has proposed that $5,000 be given to every baby in America at birth. Every baby would get a $5,000 bond. And today, Barack Obama topped that with $6,000 and a year's supply of turtle wax."
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