"Maybe I should come here more often"
One thing you can say about the GOP - unlike the Democrats, they know how to give and take a joke.
And their good humor might just help turn the laugh track in their favor in this election.
Democrats tend to nominated real stiffs, - George McGovern, Jimmy Carter, Walter Mondale, Michael Dukakis, Al Gore before he lost and ole John "TinMan" Kerry - come to mind. Luckily they've got Barack Obama this year, a man who seems to be able to make and, at least give the appearance of, take a joke.
Now I know, you're saying, what about Bill Clinton?
Well, I never really thought Bubba had much of a sense of humor, he just seemed to put one on because he used it as part of his charm. In that sense, the measure of the man is how much he could take being mocked, and, unlike George Bush Sr, who invited Dana Carvey over to the White House to mock him to his face with his uncanny impression of the then President back in the early 1990s, Bill Clinton never seemed to have to temperament or the peace of mind to like being made fun of. I think mockery assaulted his sense of how serious the man who never stopped giving late night TV new jokes, always felt a need to taken.
Which brings us to this week.
By all accounts, the Republicans should be unable to crack even a can of Diet Coke let alone a smile.
John McCain and Sarah Palin are behind in the polls. All across the country Republicans are suffering in various Congressional races.
Check out more of Dominic Patten's take on the 2008 Presidential election here - LAST NIGHT OF THE GOP CONVENTION
The entire GOP campaign seems to have been reduced to Joe the Plumber. John McCain mentioned the Ohio voter’s questioning of Barack Obama over taxes more in the debate on October 15 than anything else. Samuel Wurzelbacher will be appearing on former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee’s FOX News show tonight to talk about his new fame and infamy.
John McCain, on the other hand, can't and won't stop talking about Joe.
He brought the Plumber up when he apologetically appeared on David Letterman on Thursday. On what was his 14th time on the show, the Arizona Senator got the kind of drilling he wants to do offshore for oil from the late night host, who McCain blew off last month when he said he was suspending his campaign to go back to Washington to help lead on finding a solution to the economic crisis. Which was fine, except, leaving Dave high and dry less than 2 hours before showtime, McCain actually hung around NYC a bit and banged off a couple of other interviews including one with Katie Couric who is on the same network as Letterman.
So McCain went out there, told Letterman he "screwed up,” ate humble pie and ended up a winner. Why? Because Letterman's ratings went through the roof. Dave hasn't done this well since he had Oprah on in December 2005. More importantly than Ms. Winfrey, with 6.53 million viewers Letterman drew almost 2 million more viewers than rival Jay Leno, who had Democratic VP nominee Joe Biden on that night. Typically, it is worth noting, it is Leno who beats Letterman.
McCain also got some good ones off at the 63rd annual Al Smith Dinner at NYC's Waldorf Astoria on Thursday. With Senator Obama, who put in a good try himself but just didn't have the feel or to be honest the range of his opponent’s mirth, sitting just a few feet away, McCain warmed up and then went straight for some good old Democratic divisions.
"I come here tonight to the Al Smith Dinner knowing that I'm the underdog in these final weeks. But if you know where to look, there are signs of hope. There are signs of hope even in the most unexpected places -- even in this room full of proud Manhattan Democrats. I can't -- I can't shake that feeling that some people here are pulling for me
I'm delighted to see you here tonight, Hillary.
Where's Bill, by the way? Can't he take one night off from his tireless quest to make the man who defeated his wife the next president? A man who's a relentless advocate for the Obama campaign and he has this subtle approach to making the case. When a reporter asked him if Senator Obama was qualified to be president, Bill Clinton pointed out, sure, he's over 35 years of age and a U.S. citizen.
He was pandering to the strict constructionist crowd.
He's also been hammering away at me with epitaphs like American hero and great man. And with all the cameras running, he warmly embraced me at that Global Initiative of his. My friends, this is nothing but a brazen attempt to suppress turnout among anti-Clinton conservatives.
Finally, when Larry King asked President Clinton a couple weeks ago what was the delay and why wasn't he out there on the trail for Barack, Bill said his hands were tied until the end of the Jewish high holidays.
Now, you've got to admire that ecumenical spirit. I just know Bill would like to be out there now, stumping for Barack until the last hour of the last day. Unfortunately, he is constrained by his respect for any voters who might be observing the Zoroastrian New Year."
That's funny.
And what should be really funny, after weeks of getting it from Tina Fey and her spot on take on the Republican VP nominee, is Sarah Palin appearing herself on Saturday Night Live.
Of course the self-described pitbull with lipstick will make fun of herself and let them make fun of her, but the joke just might be on everyone else. You see, SNL has had stellar ratings this season due in great part to it's aggressive take on the Presidential campaign. Tonight Gov. Palin gets those eyeballs to herself. Sure, most of them are solidly pinned to the Democrats, but if she can charm enough of them by showing she can take a joke, the GOP might gain not only some great press but a bit of traction in some otherwise closely contested states.
CHECK OUT SOME OF SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE’S 2008 PRESIDENTIAL SKITS HERE
It's like what was said in 2000 when George W. Bush and Al Gore were up against each other, "which one would you rather have a beer with?" The fact is most people choose Bush, even though he's a recovering alcoholic who hasn't had a drink in years, over the smart but stiff Gore. Personality counts in politics and, like 'em or not, the Republicans are trying to show that they have a lot of it.
Speaking of George W. Bush, Oliver Stone's W, about that guy who still is the President, is performing much better than expected at the 2,030 screens it opened on yesterday. The thing is, with all those eyeballs, will W. swing voters?
Like with Palin on SNL If you dislike Bush, as I somehow think most of the people going to see the film do as most of the country does, will W. quell your negative opinion as it presents the President as more human? Will you laugh when Bush tells the overbearing Vice-President Cheney to "check his ego" as Palin will surely make fun of herself tonight on SNL?
Humor goes a long way to humanizing and it could prove to be the GOP's real October surprise.
Comments
Well that's my mind made up, the Republicans are just so funny hahahahhaha! it's all so hilarious that our economy is going down the crapper, so hilarious that the world now hates us, just so damn hilarious that we might prove stupidity and elect another Republican President because... why? Oh that's right! He's so damn funny and cute! HAHAHAHAHAHA! I almost got a cramp from not laughing!
Obama was AWFUL as usual in the debate! Saint Obama grows smaller the closer we approach him and find out the truth that CNN & MSNBC cable news pundits can’t seem to find or report? Obama is an empty suit. From the day he was sworn in to the Senate to the date he declared his run for the presidency, is only 145 days on the job. He has literally no experience. (Not figuratively, literally!) He's not qualified to run a Dairy Queen. No longer can Americans trust the media, which was given special constitutional privileges to look out for the folks. Obama was AWFUL as usual in the debate! Obama was no more than his usual bumbling, grunting, lost in thought, no nothing. Senator John McCain absolutely owned the final Presidential Aspirant debate this evening. It was a complete rout in favor of John McCain. Senator Barack Hussein Obama was not only schooled and spanked, he might as well had never shown up. I saw it in his body language and he even began copying the McCain Smirk. John McCain was all Presidential while Barack Obama was like the small child on the knee of a Great Sage. And, another thing...what is with the Barack "graying of the temples"? He didn't have that yesterday and he sure didn't have it earlier in the day today. Was someone trying to make him look older and wiser? If so, it didn't work. Clearly, McCain won this debate overwhelmingly this was all planned by Senator John McCain to unload on the enemy. It was brilliantly executed. A vote for Obama is a vote for the beginning of the END OF OUR GREAT BUT TROUBLED COUNTRY!
What possible reason could there be not to vote for Obama? Maybe because he isn't the right man for the job, regardless of race. Proven Obama has most liberal voting record in the U.S. Senate. Obama is to the left of Ted Kennedy, Hillary Clinton, Russ Feingold, Pat Leahy and Barbara Boxer. That's extremely difficult to do. Obama is a textbook big-government, tax-and-spend liberal. He plans to raise income tax rates; capital gains tax rates, Social Security taxes (by virtue of eliminating the cap), dividend taxes, inheritance taxes, and introduce a slew of new taxes. His plan will destroy this country.
"I think he can be ready, but right now I don't believe he is," Biden said in 2007. "The presidency is not something that lends itself to on-the-job training." In debate among Democratic hopefuls, moderator George Stephanopoulos pressed Biden whether he stood by a recent quote. Biden said, "I stand by that statement."
WE AGREE JOE!
If McCain becomes president, as the warmonger he is, he will immediately attack Iran - we don't want another war! We want the problems in our country resolved. McCain with 9 houses and 13 cars...ya think he can relate to the commonfolk? I'm voting for the person with one house and one (hybrid) car!
Obama/Biden '08
How can you agree with Joe, when he is not even a Joe? That is the problem with the republicans these days. They root for someone who does not pay taxes, works illegally and is a liar! Wow.. sounds like McBush and Pallin with scammers!
IOU.. get a brain and I wish there is a god cause I would like to see him be his biblical self on your kind. You kind lies, cheats, steals and then claims you are moral. NOT!
I don't like Obama or his followers either but please stop lying and making up stuff. We DON'T need McBush
What does telling or taking a joke have to do with fixing the economy? Nothing. So I guess aslong as you are laughing its ok that you are losing your job and house. But atleast you had a good laugh from the candidate. We want a real president that can fix the economy not a comedian. This article is dumb. 2 minutes ill never get back.
Poor Lisa is cramping again, and it is probably the fault of the Republicans.
She has no concept that the DEMOCRATIC run Congress has caused these problems with Fannie/Freddie. OBAMA has taken a LOT of money, and McCain has been fighting for years for reform. The Dems shut him down. But is all the fault of Bush, and therefore McCain, because Barack says so. When THE ONE is redistributing your income, don't be surprised. Besides, it makes you more Patriotic, according to Biden. Heck, Barack may even promise to help with your cramping, but it will probably include a huge Govt program and lots of partisan spending (as long as you get your pork, I guess).
What does telling or taking a joke have to do with fixing the economy? Nothing. So I guess aslong as you are laughing its ok that you are losing your job and house. But atleast you had a good laugh from the candidate. We want a real president that can fix the economy not a comedian. This article is dumb. 2 minutes ill never get back.
What does telling or taking a joke have to do with fixing the economy? Nothing. So I guess aslong as you are laughing its ok that you are losing your job and house. But atleast you had a good laugh from the candidate. We want a real president that can fix the economy not a comedian. This article is dumb. 2 minutes ill never get back.
Is this supposed to be an article we take seriously. Oh, I guess it's just a bad joke and I don't get.
Talk about spin-city. To the author: What has the Democrats done to be mocked thus far?
The GOP on the other hand... Sarah Palin is a landmine in herself.
But it's ok, go on thinking that by creating circumstances that can be easily mocked, then taking it in stride, somehow boosts your campaign for presidency. Ok!
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