Miscellaneous Forum

I was browsing the Wikipedia article on the famous phrase "Klaatu barada nikto", spoken by the alien Klaatu in the original film, "The Day the Earth Stood Still". The order was to keep the robot Gort from destroying the earth after Klaatu was gunned down by frightened soldiers trying to recapture him. As someone in the article states, it is "the most famous phrase ever spoken by an extraterrestrial." Why am I talking about this? Because in the same Wikipedia article, I see the following: "The June 7, 1994, edition of the now-defunct supermarket tabloid Weekly World News reported that 12 U.S. Senators were aliens from other planets, including Simpson. Then-Senator Simpson's spokesman Charles Pelkey, when asked about Simpson's galactic origins, told the Associated Press: "We've got only one thing to say: Klaatu barada nikto." " Maybe it's just me, but I find it not only funny but reassuring that a spokesman could say such a flippant thing without fear of being fired by his boss... Bill

In terms of more conventional humor, I have always liked this story, attributed to all sorts of politicians... A politician arrives in a small farming town to make a speech. Seeing a number of people in a field near the town, he stops to greet them and say a few words. He looks around for something to stand on so that he would be more visible, but all he can see is a manure spreader. So he stands on the manure spreader and begins, "I have spoken about the other party's platform many times, but this is the first time I've spoken FROM it..." Bill

Here's one from way back...told by Republicans about Democrats but would just as well the other way... A Republican campaign worker goes door to door in a West Texas town, looking for people to vote Republican. He knocks on one door, and when the man answered the door, he told the campaign worker, "No, son, I'm a Democrat, just like my father before me, and his father before him." Undaunted, the Republican campaign worker asks if the man's wife is at home. The reply: "No, son, I'm not married, just like my father before me, and his father before him." Bill

Lordy, Bill, I know what you mean. We're getting ready to turn off the TV for the next 4 months!!! Here's my bit of (unbiased) humor: politicalhumor.about.com/lib... politicalhumor.about.com/lib... politicalhumor.about.com/lib...

I was at that rally! Humor can't exist when people take themselves seriously. There's plenty of humor out there these days, but unfortunately at the moment it's only present on one side. The self-aware side. (Which has nothing to do with political party.)

The biggest problem with political jokes is that they tend to get elected.

:O)

Not, sadly, my own line although I wish it was. I have no idea where I picked it up although it does about sum up my view of politicians.

Good one fergy. Sounds a lot like one of Will Rogers' one liners.

Australian politics at the moment wouldn't know if a joke came up and bit them on the b*m. It is so boring. Carole.

Could well bwe Hund. As I say, I genuinely have no idea where I picked that one up and really can't be bothered to search it on the internet!

***True Story*** One day in the 1980s, a neighbor of mine was having a reception at his house for "B.A." Wright, the wife of Jim Wright, who was not only a Congressman from Ft. Worth, but was also Speaker of the House (hence, 3rd in line to the Presidency). Please note that Jim Wright was a prominent Democrat as was my neighbor. Although I am Republican, my neighbor - a really decent guy - invited me to come because he knew I was interested in politics. B.A. was a tall, almost aristocratic woman. She was doing "three a days", in which she was going to three or more "teas" or "coffees" or whatever a day in order to speak on behalf of her husband. If you have never run for public office, I assue you that a campaign can be exhausting, and even though B.A.'s husband was from the other party, I (having run for public office myself) felt a great deal of sympathy. She looked tired. At the signal from her host, B.A. gave the standard stump speech, then everyone retired to eat some hors d'oeuvres or drink punch or whatever. Surprisingly, B.A. was by herself at the hors d'oeuvres table; no one was even speaking to her - this is unusual for the wife of such a dignitary. Like I said, she looked really tired and I really did feel bad for her. Some wild passion grabbed me, and I decided to shake things up...so I walked over to her and said quietly, "I know it's really hard to go multiple times a day and give the same speech and hear the same comments and know that you're going to be doing this for months...don't you wish someone would come up to you and talk about something different?" She looked at me curiously. So I said, "Wouldn't you like to talk about something different, you know, something different like sex?" B.A. looked at me, then threw her head back and produced a loud guffaw that stunned everyone in the room. My Democratic host looked across the room and his expression clearly showed his horror - "OMG, what did that Republican say to my guest???" As it was, B.A. was indeed glad to hear of something OTHER than the usual political banalities...and I lived to tell the tale. Bill

Simple: Negative advertising works. Sad, but true. People no longer want facts. Making things worse is the fact that both parties basically have their own 'news' networks and facts are ignored constantly. Honestly I think (or maybe I just hope) that both parties die out and independents become more prominant. One thing I do know from talking to residents of other countriesL they think we are insane and I find it more and more difficult to convince them otherwise.

Political correctness that's what!!!! I agree with Carole,Australian politics is as boring as 'bat sh!t' Political humour used to be so clever and witty ..Bring back the satire I say!!! Dorrise

I'm with you. Carole.

I'm in hysterics over 'bat sh!t' coming out of our Dorrise. Yep, pretty much sums it up the insanity, Dory! (I am a registered independent, BTW)

Bill you are indeed correct. I have never before seen such vile crap come out of U.S. politicians. It is no wonder that the rest of the world looks on in amazement. And yes, I know a lot of crap goes on in other countries aw well. But hearing a politician say things like: " I really like the idea/proposal presented by the other party, but because it comes from that other party, I will fight against it to the end". Not a direct quote but close. Thank the gods that back home in Iceland we have not lost our political sense of humor. I have mentioned this before, so forgive my redundency, but in 2009, after the finacial meltdown, a new political party was founded as a joke. Really. A local comedian started the Best Party, and it was headed by a bunch of actors and comics. Goal: satire, pure and simple. Well, guess what, - they won the Reykjavik election with the founder/comic being duly elected major of Reykjavik. Ihit you not! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Best_P... This video is the party song and party line. It has subtitles and it is bloody hilarious. youtube.com/watch?v=xxBW4mPz... This would be kind of equivelant to Jon Stewart (satire news program on Comedy Central), running for office, - and winning. Back home, - if you start a political party and follow the rules, you are entitled to everything the esablished parties get, i.e. TV time, newspaper coverage etc. So it should be in a democracy. Unfortunately it does not work that way in a republic. There is a certain pleasant ring to the fact that one can be elected, by simply looking at all the other party representatives and saying something on the lines of: "You are all so full ofhit. I will be corrupt, but I will be less corrupt than every one of you blah blah"

>>>So I said, "Wouldn't you like to talk about something different, you know, something different like sex?" LOL!!! Thanks Bill for the first Big Laugh of my day!! I've never been a "political" person. Like you I miss the old style, generic, humor relating to the politics/polititians of the day. I also miss the graceful tendency to reunite & respect the Office once the elections were over. I sort of have a story. A woman I went to school with, was a very sweet and lovely girl. She's involved in local politics here these days and we met at a get-to-gether. I won't mention her party or the year, only that it wasn't the same party as mine. I made a casual comment about the new President and her, still pretty face, twisted into an ugly mask as she spewed, "I hate the president!" It was a shocking sight and realization. Scott, I think that no one can define "facts" let alone get to them anymore. When I see/hear anything that seems like a negative approach, I either research it or ignore it as something out of context. It's amazing how far someone will go or how gullible some people can be. There's a saying I like: "You can't reason a person out of something they didn't reason into."

That is a howl!!!!

heh heh, that's what we should have for humor!!! Honest and funny at the same time!!! Bill