by 5 people |
The moment the first human strode to the front of a group and proclaimed "I'm in charge, here," there was undoubtedly some other human in the back of the group snickering to his friends about their new leader's odd regional accent and hyperactive sweat glands. Since then, the price of power has been to become the butt of jokes.
Through mockery, satire, parody, wit, and the good old fashioned joke, the comic's job is to reveal the hypocrisy and insanity of the world; nowhere is their job made easier than in the realm of politics. While the pundits strain for balance, the punsters try as hard as they can to tip the scales, to strip away the pretense and pomp and show us the fleshy pink underbelly of governance.
True humor isn't funny just because it's cutting. A dull sword is a brutal weapon, and it's effects are sickening. But a razor-sharp scalpel, in the hands of a talented surgeon, can perform miracles. Talented humorists wielding a razor-sharp wit can have the same effect. I hope you will find the humorists here to be of that ilk.
Caveat Interneter: Some of the humor linked to from this page is blunt, rude, and tasteless. Just like politics. You've been warned.
Blogs and Websites
Regular irregular humor
- The Onion
- The definitive satirical newspaper is now online and as biting as ever. Not always safe for work... especially if you work in politics.
- Fafblog!
- Fafblog? Yes, Fafblog! Transcendantly brilliant, bizarre, painfully funny, and sometimes so on-target that you can't even laugh. Truly, the world's only source for Fafblog.
- Fanatical Apathy
- Adam Felber of NPR's Wait, Wait -- Don't Tell Me! maintains this commentary and satire blog. Very intelligent and very funny.
- Open Source Poor Man
- Righteous angry rants mixed with viciously on-target humor. Oh! And kittens!
- About.com's guide to Political Humor
- Funny & topical, the way a good political humor website should be.
New Political Humor
At the Huffington Post, playwright Chris Durang breaks the story of President Bush's new speechwriter.
Silver Screen Satire
Bob Roberts
Tim Robbins, wrote, directed, and starred in this 1992 mockumentary about the campaign of a guitar-slinging political candidate.
Amazon Price: $9.98 (as of 11/15/2009) 
Bulworth
Another auteur-made movie, Warren Beatty plays Senator Bulworth, a politician who, with nothing to lose, finally starts telling it like it is.
Amazon Price: $9.98 (as of 11/15/2009)
Doonesbury's lost "Harriet Meirs" series
The bestest lost Doonesbury series ev-ar!
Dear Leader's Daily Thought
Diary of a President.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byBooks
Remember books?
America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction
Subtitled, "A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction," this textbook parody (in both senses of that phrase) was a number-one best seller for umpteen weeks, and is still in the top 100 on Amazon.
Amazon Price: (as of 11/15/2009)
Parliament of Whores: A Lone Humorist Attempts to Explain the Entire U.S. Government
Think conservatives aren't funny? P.J. O'Rourke will prove you wrong.
Amazon Price: $10.08 (as of 11/15/2009)
Why Not Me?: The Inside Story of the Making and Unmaking of the Franken Presidency
A fictional account of an Al Franken presidential campaign.
Amazon Price: $11.97 (as of 11/15/2009)
Political Jokes
...of the intentional variety
- You know why they cancelled the nativity in Washington D.C. this year? Because they couldn't find three wise men and a virgin.
- How many politicians does it take to change a light bulb? None. Politicians only promise change.
- How many dead politicians does it take to change a lightbulb? As many as possible.
Focus On
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
- The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
- For over seven years, Jon Stewart and the producers and writers of Comedy Central's The Daily Show have been laying the smackdown on politicians and the media. Their blazing wit and dead aim have earned the show multiple Emmy awards, a long-running best-seller (for the parody textbook America (The Book)), and even a prestigious Peabody award.
Separately, Stewart's appearance on Crossfire, in which he begged Paul Begala and Tucker Carlson (and, by extension, the rest of the media) to "stop hurting America" has become an iconic piece of American culture, and was cited by the head of CNN when the show was cancelled.
TV on DVD
Big laughs on the small screen
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart - Indecision 2004
Some of the best political humor on television, The Daily Show writers have won multiple Emmys and even a Peabody! Indecision 2004 includes the best of the show's election coverage.
Amazon Price: $28.99 (as of 11/15/2009)
Smothered - The Censorship Struggles of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
Two clean-cut musicians, Tom and Dick Smothers, acted as beards for the counter-culture political humor of the late 60s and early 70s. The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour launched the perennial mock political campaign of Pat Paulsen.
Amazon Price: $22.49 (as of 11/15/2009)
Yes, Minister/Yes, Prime Minister 2-Pak
A BBC sitcom about the clashes between party ministers and civil servants, this classic comedy series was funny and instructive. If you want to learn about why things fail to happen in government, watch this show and the sequel, Yes, Prime Minister.
Amazon Price: $103.99 (as of 11/15/2009)
Radio
- The Capitol Steps
- A group of current and former Congressional staffers sing parodies and perform comedy sketches skewering their colleagues and superiors. If you've listened to NPR on a holiday, you've probably heard their radio specials. If not, check out the site for a few online treats.
- A Prarie Home Companion
- Really? Oh, yeah. Don't let the laconic delivery and the Minnesota Lutheran sensibility fool you; Garrison Keillor is a keen observer of life in these United States, and, when the occasion calls for it, he can burst a bubble or two with the best of them.
- The Al Franken Show
- Another Minnesota native, SNL alum Al Franken's radio show on the Air America network brings the hammer of truth down on the... um... "truth-deficient" right-wing politicos and their media brethren. Franken's dry, acerbic wit can sometimes offend, but he is smart, well-informed, and passionate.
Reader Feedback
I want to know what you think. What do you find funny?
- Reply
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Reply
- LeslieBrenner LeslieBrenner Feb 12, 2008 @ 11:14 pm
- I love David Rees' witty cartoons at Get Your War On. Also love Tom Tomorrow at Working Assets.
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Reply
- RinchenChodron RinchenChodron Jan 31, 2008 @ 4:35 pm
- Hi, This lens should be interesting! I just created a lens on a travel book, by an NPR correspondent and no kidding, I found myself laughing out-loud even tho I was alone. It's about international travel and searching for the geography of Bliss!
Check it out
http://www.squidoo.com/ericweiner
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Reply
- ErikaM ErikaM Sep 24, 2007 @ 3:46 pm
- I share your love of political humor. Great lens! Are you familiar with the political parodies on FlowGo.com - Political Cartoons? they're silly, but genius in their ridiculousness.
by stumax
old. My first attempts at political humor came from doing my best
impersonation... (more)
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