Humor.
It’s been around, especially the political kind, since the first cave dweller stepped forward to lead the tribe. It’s funny, cutting, and entertaining. You can find it in Greek drama, Shakespearean tragedy, and in Mark Twain who famously wrote, “Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress; but I repeat myself.”
Technology has opened the doors to all political comedians. From JibJab and The Simpsons to Randy Rainbow and Stephen Colbert – and you and me. Screens are alive with pictures, songs, jokes, and stories. In these times of pandemic humor rarely a day goes by without a funny political treasure in your email or on your cell phone, passed through countless URLs, hash tags, and Facebook posts.
Who is the favorite target? The Orange Man in The White House.
As Michael Bloomberg said, “I’m a New Yorker and I know a con when I see one.”
Laugh on, my friends.
From drinking Clorox to eating banned drugs (hydroxychloroquine), Mr. Trump is an ongoing source of political humor. Just ask Colbert, Fallon, Meyers, and Kimmel, the late-night hosts who Trump describes as “nasty” and “having no talent.”
“Happy Cinco de Mayo Mr. President!” Kimmel tweeted. “Now get back to work royally messing everything up.”
I guess the Orange Man didn’t think it was very funny.
The next day this showed up in my email.
The Orange Man in the White House holds a special place in political humor. There’s a rich American history of making fun of our leaders and their policies. Check out this cartoon from 1848, published right before the Whig National Convention:
Library of Congress #LCUSZ62.69613
A “political guillotine” was a colorful way of getting rid of the competition. General Zachary Taylor (Whig) defeated Lewis Cass of the Democratic Party for the Presidency.
He didn’t slice off Cass’s head – only his political ambitions.
Yesterday, I received a similar solution to the present incumbent.
Then there are those political cartoons where words are not necessary. All you need to do is look and laugh.
NOTE: AFL does NOT either advocate or suggest that you do this. Really!
NOTE: And yeah, don’t do THIS, either.
In 1866 this cartoon appeared in Harper’s Weekly. The goal was to support Radical Republicans who objected to President Andrew Johnson’s plan for Reconstruction. A year later, Johnson was impeached but not removed from office.
Compliments of www.virginiamemory.com/Shaping the Constitution
One hundred and thirty-one years later Bill Clinton was impeached in an unpopular partisan battle. He wasn’t removed from office either.
The third president impeached was . . . can you guess?
Now that the 2020 election is almost here there’s a lot of room for laughter from Luna Tick and Sleepy Joe. There are so many jokes, satires, monologues, and songs it can fill all your extra pandemic time.
We all know who is the King of Political Humor.
“It has not been easy for me. And, you know, I started off in Brooklyn. My father gave me a small loan of a million dollars,” Trump grins.
He’s always good for a laugh.
