Satire is the Highest Form of Dissent?

Though Thomas Jefferson never said, “Dissent is the highest form of patriotism,” the well-applied use of satire is certainly one of the highest forms of dissent.  Jonathan Swift, after all, is more remembered for his grim irony in castigating the British and Irish for their collective humanitarian failures than for any contributions to the culinary arts.

Mad Magazine reigns supreme in creating a satirical crucible through which all subjects, social, cultural, political, artistic and philosophical typically pass.  The difference between valid satire and mere mockery being, of course, the elements of truth contained therein, it is sometimes difficult to rule out former as as being buried so deeply in the latter as to be inconsequential, particularly during political campaigns.  The editors of Mad would likely say that if such a line is drawn, they erase it, but nonetheless credibility rests on facts in satirical endeavors, humor being in the manner of delivery.  (more…)

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Tags: Burlington Township, Burlington Township School District, Dissent is the highest form of patriotism, G20, G20 protest
Posted Oct 7th 2009 at 12:06 pm in Art, Political Humor, Politics, Video | 23615849 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/sgraves/2009/10/07/satire-is-the-highest-form-of-dissent/Satire+is+the+Highest+Form+of+Dissent%3F2009-10-07+19%3A06%3A00Scott+Graves

Stand Up Notes from Flyover Country: Obama Announces New Apology Tour

President Obama has made the rehabilitation of the reputation of our country one of his top priorities. He wants to be the Sally Field of the international politics and know that other nations like us!  They really, really like us. To achieve that end he has apologized for just about every action of the Bush Administration and yet at the UN this past week several of the people the President has been trying to win over still seemed a bit distant. His new BFF Hugo Chavez did give him a nice “smells like hope” compliment, but several other still haven’t gotten the message.

President of all Iranians — both living and dead in the streets — Ahmadinejad still wants to build a few nukes even though Mr. Obama has told him not to. Colonel Qaddhafi, or Gaddahfi or Khaddafi, or Kaddafy or however you spell it, isn’t on board the love train either.

This has not deterred President Obama! Moving swiftly, he said he will name a new Apology Czar, rumored to be either Jimmy Carter or Maxine Waters and set a schedule for more apologies to settle all past wrongs of the United States. (more…)

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Tags: apology tour, czar, Hugo Chavez, Jeffrey Jena, Jimmy Carter
Posted Sep 30th 2009 at 11:36 am in Politics | 23563057 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjena/2009/09/30/stand-up-notes-from-flyover-country-obama-announces-new-apology-tour/Stand+Up+Notes+from+Flyover+Country%3A+Obama+Announces+New+Apology+Tour2009-09-30+18%3A36%3A30Jeffrey+Jena

Filed In Triplicate

Ed. note: many thanks to Charles Glasser for alerting me to this incredible business opportunity]

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THE UNITED STATES BUREAU OF JOLLITY AND HUMOR ADMINISTRATION
EVERETT DIRKSEN FEDERAL MERRIMENT CENTER
3000 JAMES EARL CARTER PARKWAY SOUTH
WASHINGTON, DC

FORM US/BJHA-1106(d) : AARA Budget Procurement Code LOL-431[ROFL]

APPLICATION FOR HUMOR CONSULTANT / CONTRACTOR

This space for official use

SYNOPSIS:

The purpose of this announcement is to seek qualified private contractors to provide amusement and humor-related services to career employees within a wide range of federal agencies, including but not limited to the Treasury Department, Department of Education, The US Census Bureau, and USDA Mohair Subsidization Board. Winning applicant(s) shall perform presentation program demonstrating mirth as defined herein and in BJHA document (k)670-110, “FY 2009 Federal Levity Handbook.” In particular, guidelines specify services rendered by applicants shall be funny “ha-ha,” not funny “peculiar.” 

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: (more…)

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Tags: bureaucracy, Department of Education, iowahawk, Political Humor, The US Census Bureau
Posted Aug 1st 2009 at 6:03 pm in Entertainment, Featured Story, Political Humor | 19615428 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/dburge/2009/08/01/filed-in-triplicate/Filed+In+Triplicate2009-08-02+01%3A03%3A23Iowahawk

Star Trek Reloaded

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Tags: Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Political Humor, star trek
Posted May 10th 2009 at 10:04 am in Entertainment, Political Humor | 13127826 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/cmuir/2009/05/10/star-trek-reloaded/Star+Trek+Reloaded2009-05-10+17%3A04%3A50Chris+Muir

I’m ‘Shocked’ But Still Take Full Responsibility

As all the politicians, left and right, run around feigning indignation at the bonuses paid to a few AIG executives I am reminded of the scene in the movie “Casablanca” when Captain Renault closes down Rick’s Café American. As his deputies empty the casino in the back room he exclaims with stunned surprise, “I’m shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!” He says this just as one of Sam’s employees brings him his winnings.

I am not sure what makes me angrier, that absolutely bogus attitude or their overwhelming incompetence, but that’s not what I want to write about today. I’m not going to write about a lot of stuff here. I am not going to write about fact that Chris Dodd wrote the rule that allowed these bonuses and then in perfect Clintonese quasi denied it when he said, “I can’t point a finger at someone who was responsible for putting those dates in. I can tell you this much, when my language left the Senate, it did not include it. When it came back, it did.” Then when confronted with his lie, he owned up to it. I won’t spend time on the fact he took a ton of campaign dough from AIG, headquartered in his state. (more…)

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Tags: AIG, AIG Bonuses, bailouts, Chris Dodd, economics
Posted Mar 23rd 2009 at 6:02 am in Featured Story, Politics | 8611880 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjena/2009/03/23/i-take-full-responsibility/I%27m+%27Shocked%27+But+Still+Take+Full+Responsibility2009-03-23+13%3A02%3A20Jeffrey+Jena

Onion Ignores Obama, Slams Rush

The Onion can’t find anything funny about President Barack Obama or his presidency yet. But it quickly jumped on the Democratic Talking Points bandwagon this week with a sour assault on talk show giant Rush Limbaugh.

The humor publication has been tap dancing wildly to avoid any articles that could so much as pierce the skin of the new president. But they took off the gloves when it came time to mock Limbaugh in the newest edition, now available everywhere.

To say the “Rush Limbaugh Returns” infographic isn’t funny is to be kind. It’s cruel and assumes both the worst about Limbaugh and his legion of fans. Humor needs to be based on a kernel of truth to work, but only a rabid left winger would think the material here is knee slapper stuff.

Here’s a sample of the faux incendiary comments Limbaugh has made, according to the publication:

(more…)

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Tags: biden, Obama, Political Humor, Rush Limbaugh, The Onion
Posted Mar 13th 2009 at 11:03 am in Media Criticism | 78746158 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/cftoto/2009/03/13/onion-ignores-obama-slams-rush/Onion+Ignores+Obama%2C+Slams+Rush2009-03-13+18%3A03%3A17Christian+Toto