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Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: karajorma on June 20, 2011, 04:32:22 am

Title: Republicans : Able to dish it out, unable to take it
Post by: karajorma on June 20, 2011, 04:32:22 am
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13834179

Quote
An Obama impersonator was shown off the stage at a Republican gathering after making jokes about the party's White House contenders and the real president's mixed-race heritage.

Reggie Brown mocked the Mormon faith of Republican hopeful Mitt Romney.

He also said President Obama, who had a black father and white mother, celebrated half of Black History Month.

Mr Brown's microphone at the Republican Leadership Conference was cut off when he made a joke about the Tea Party.

Initially the audience applauded when Mr Brown made jokes about Anthony Weiner, the disgraced Democratic Congressman who resigned after sending lewd photographs of himself to women.

But then Mr Brown began ridiculing Republican presidential candidates.

I'm sure you Americans have already heard about this one but I still loved it :lol:
Title: Re: Republicans : Able to dish it out, unable to take it
Post by: Grizzly on June 20, 2011, 05:09:27 am
Thought it was pretty silly actually. :blah:
Title: Re: Republicans : Able to dish it out, unable to take it
Post by: Klaustrophobia on June 20, 2011, 05:13:57 am
i don't think ANY political jokes are funny.
Title: Re: Republicans : Able to dish it out, unable to take it
Post by: Grizzly on June 20, 2011, 05:36:51 am
I do think that political jokes are funny, but the way these guys deal with them is quite horrible. The ability to laugh about yourself implies a certain sense of self awareness and self reflection, which is vital to anyone involved in making important discussions.
Title: Re: Republicans : Able to dish it out, unable to take it
Post by: Luis Dias on June 20, 2011, 06:13:55 am
It's awefully sad, really. What a bunch of losers...
Title: Re: Republicans : Able to dish it out, unable to take it
Post by: Pred the Penguin on June 20, 2011, 06:17:37 am
Ridiculous politicians are ridiculous... The really sad thing is, this doesn't surprise me.
Title: Re: Republicans : Able to dish it out, unable to take it
Post by: Astronomiya on June 20, 2011, 06:58:01 pm
Uh, this was a Republican political convention.  I'm really not going to laugh about them not liking it when a comedian made fun of the people they're supporting at their own conference.  This wasn't a Comedy Central roast or anything like that.  Besides, the guy had failed to get laughs for three or four minutes straight when they cut off his mike; he'd have been yanked in any other situation as well had that happened.
Title: Re: Republicans : Able to dish it out, unable to take it
Post by: Dragon on June 20, 2011, 07:06:11 pm
Instead of cutting off his mic, they should have yanked him off the stage with a shephard's crook (aka. the classic "Vaudeville Hook").  :)
Title: Re: Republicans : Able to dish it out, unable to take it
Post by: Luis Dias on June 20, 2011, 07:06:58 pm
So it's fine if they cut off the guy they employed to make a humorous speech? At least Bush did leave Colbert do his thing till the end, that shows respect, if nothing else. This just shows (1) incompetence (at choosing the right person for the job) and (2) lack of respect towards others with different opinions.

Problem is, the full republican line up is ****ing ridiculous, and so when someone makes fun of them, it gets "unfunny" because it's too true, and an embarrassement to any republican who is represented by this line-up. And so it hurts them. As it should.
Title: Re: Republicans : Able to dish it out, unable to take it
Post by: IceFire on June 20, 2011, 07:46:19 pm
The biggest problem with American politics IMHO is a lack of comedians and satire. It's a well established tradition up here with several comedians and comedy groups going after politicians relentlessly regardless of political stripe...even in front of them. One of the more bold shows is called This Hour Has 22 Minutes. They will plant themselves in conventions and at political rallies and get themselves in front of the leaders... almost no matter what.

For example...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9oN87Lq2Wo

Of course if you don't get political satire... you may not like it :) (Bear in mind that it is a few years old)

I realize it's a bit different as this was a Republican political rally... but honestly American political groups take things too seriously and too directly.
Title: Re: Republicans : Able to dish it out, unable to take it
Post by: Scotty on June 20, 2011, 07:47:36 pm
We've got the Daily Show and Colbert Report for political satire and comedy, at least.  Say what you will about either show, at least they exist.
Title: Re: Republicans : Able to dish it out, unable to take it
Post by: IceFire on June 20, 2011, 07:51:58 pm
They aren't bad... they do remind me of Canadian satire shows. I think the difference is that those are both "new" and still need some time to work things out whereas political satire shows of both radio and the TV variety are nearly an institution up here. The shows and hosts change over the years but they are, in a way, accepted by the politicians. Maybe as a necessary evil :)

I don't think the Republicans or the Democrats are there yet... maybe another 50 years :)
Title: Re: Republicans : Able to dish it out, unable to take it
Post by: Kosh on June 20, 2011, 11:32:38 pm
We've got the Daily Show and Colbert Report for political satire and comedy, at least.  Say what you will about either show, at least they exist.


What's sad is all their subject material is real........
Title: Re: Republicans : Able to dish it out, unable to take it
Post by: General Battuta on June 20, 2011, 11:37:17 pm
i don't think ANY political jokes are funny.

I, too, believe it is important to be absolutely humorless about some things
Title: Re: Republicans : Able to dish it out, unable to take it
Post by: karajorma on June 20, 2011, 11:44:33 pm
You're obviously watching the wrong shows. :p




Uh, this was a Republican political convention.  I'm really not going to laugh about them not liking it when a comedian made fun of the people they're supporting at their own conference.

I'm pointing out that they did laugh when he went after Obama but as soon as he turned his attention to them, suddenly he wasn't funny. If they aren't prepared to listen to people make jokes about them maybe they shouldn't hire someone to make jokes about their opponents.

Besides, the guy had failed to get laughs for three or four minutes straight when they cut off his mike; he'd have been yanked in any other situation as well had that happened.

He didn't get laughs because they weren't prepared to sit through what they thought was so funny when it was about someone else. Objectively I don't think his jokes were any less amusing.
Title: Re: Republicans : Able to dish it out, unable to take it
Post by: BrotherBryon on June 20, 2011, 11:54:47 pm
We've got the Daily Show and Colbert Report for political satire and comedy, at least.  Say what you will about either show, at least they exist.


What's sad is all their subject material is real........

Actually what is really sad is that they are the only truly reliable news shows in this country. Hell half their bits involve using facts to poke fun at how wrong the regular news shows are.
Title: Re: Republicans : Able to dish it out, unable to take it
Post by: Scotty on June 20, 2011, 11:59:33 pm
i don't think ANY political jokes are funny.

I, too, believe it is important to be absolutely humorless about some things

:colbert: ?
Title: Re: Republicans : Able to dish it out, unable to take it
Post by: rscaper1070 on June 21, 2011, 12:58:18 am
The GOP invited Stephan Colbert to the White House Correspondent's Dinner in 2006. In their minds they saw Jon Stewart as being for the Democrats and the Liberals and Stephan Colbert was their guy. Unfortunately they didn't understand that a lot of what Colbert does is satire and that both shows aren't stumping for either party. At first GW was into it and laughing along but eventually the look on his face was not pleased.

Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa-4E8ZDj9s (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa-4E8ZDj9s)

 Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Y97-37xfMo&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Y97-37xfMo&feature=related)
Title: Re: Republicans : Able to dish it out, unable to take it
Post by: Mikes on June 21, 2011, 02:27:46 am
In Bavaria we have a yearly event where all/most major politicians from both parties are present to watch a play that includes lookalikes for most/all of them performing the most ridiculous jokes (and even songs) possible.
( Nockerberg 2011, Part1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBma0DOmSVQ )

You guys in the US really need to lighten up. ;)
Title: Re: Republicans : Able to dish it out, unable to take it
Post by: Spicious on June 21, 2011, 06:22:29 am
You need a group like the Chaser (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABtlI2Wk3Ws).
Title: Re: Republicans : Able to dish it out, unable to take it
Post by: Luis Dias on June 21, 2011, 06:47:52 am
Yeah rscaper, but like I said, at least Bush took it gentlemanly (perhaps he didn't have a chance, since the room was packed with journalists who might have taken an alternative as an offense to them). And Colbert wasn't that funny, his gig was a big fade-to-black kinda thing.
Title: Re: Republicans : Able to dish it out, unable to take it
Post by: pecenipicek on June 21, 2011, 08:21:23 am
In Bavaria we have a yearly event where all/most major politicians from both parties are present to watch a play that includes lookalikes for most/all of them performing the most ridiculous jokes (and even songs) possible.
( Nockerberg 2011, Part1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBma0DOmSVQ )

You guys in the US really need to lighten up. ;)
wasnt merkel pissed off by them a lot? :p
Title: Re: Republicans : Able to dish it out, unable to take it
Post by: Flipside on June 21, 2011, 09:23:22 am
I think the world would be a lot better place if Politicians could actually realise why people make jokes about them, but it seems to be a mutually exclusive set of skills, self-aggrandizing humour and political aspirations, possibly because one requires that you understand your own faults, and the other means never admitting that you have any except in a 'I used to be a sinner' kind of way.
Title: Re: Republicans : Able to dish it out, unable to take it
Post by: Luis Dias on June 21, 2011, 12:06:56 pm
Ah come on Flipside don't be so pessimistic.

Watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH1RfcuNNoI