White House Get Serious...about humor...

usickenme

usickenme

CAGiversary!
with everything else going on, it is a wonder they find time for this stuff.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House is not amused by The Onion, a newspaper that often spoofs the Bush administration, and has asked it to stop using the presidential seal on its Web site.


The seal was still on the Web site www.theonion.com on Tuesday at the spot where President George W. Bush's weekly radio address is parodied.

With headlines like "Bush To Appoint Someone To Be In Charge Of Country" and "Bush Subconsciously Sizes Up Spain For Invasion," The Onion is popular with readers looking for a little laughter with their politics.

White House spokesman Trent Duffy said people who work in the executive mansion do have a sense of humor, but not when it comes to breaking regulations.

"When any official sign or seal is being used inappropriately the party is notified," Duffy said.

"You cannot pick and choose where to enforce that rule. It's important that the seal or any White House insignia not be used inappropriately," he said.

Duffy said while he does not personally read The Onion, he admitted knowing others in the White House who do. "Like everyone else, we like a good laugh."

Scott Dikkers, editor-in-chief of the satirical newspaper, said its lawyer disagrees with the White House assessment.

"I've been seeing the presidential seal used in comedy programs most of my life and to my knowledge none of them have been asked not to use it by the White House," Dikkers said.

"I would advise them to look for that other guy Osama (bin Laden) ... rather than comedians. I don't think we pose much of a threat," Dikkers said.
Click to expand...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051026/od_nm/onion_dc
 
"I've been seeing the presidential seal used in comedy programs most of my life and to my knowledge none of them have been asked not to use it by the White House," Dikkers said.
Click to expand...

Like every SNL episode during presidential elections. :lol:
 
[quote name='Ikohn4ever']white house and Jack Thompson, need to learn about parody[/QUOTE]
Hey, at least Dubya didn't scream death threat.
 
[quote name='zionoverfire']Like every SNL episode during presidential elections. :lol:[/QUOTE]


See that's the point though. The same "Bush is dumb" punchline has been used for over 5 years now. I mean, come on, if for no other reason I hope they cease and desist to save comedy as a whole. Hell, even the Chapelle's Show quotes burned themselves out after about 6 months. We've heard just about every Bush is dumb or incompetent joke by now, can we please just stop now?
 
[quote name='RedvsBlue']See that's the point though. The same "Bush is dumb" punchline has been used for over 5 years now. I mean, come on, if for no other reason I hope they cease and desist to save comedy as a whole. Hell, even the Chapelle's Show quotes burned themselves out after about 6 months. We've heard just about every Bush is dumb or incompetent joke by now, can we please just stop now?[/QUOTE]

And that has what to do with the Presidential seal?
 
[quote name='evanft']And that has what to do with the Presidential seal?[/QUOTE]

Oh come on, you an I both know that the reason the White House is making a big stink about the seal is because they can't attack the jokes directly because of free speech.
 
[quote name='RedvsBlue']Oh come on, you an I both know that the reason the White House is making a big stink about the seal is because they can't attack the jokes directly because of free speech.[/QUOTE]

So they attack it indirectly? Well that's fantastic.
 
[quote name='b0bx13']Hey, at least Dubya didn't scream death threat.[/QUOTE]

He doesn't need to scream, he just wispers it into the mic in his lapel.
 
[quote name='RedvsBlue']See that's the point though. The same "Bush is dumb" punchline has been used for over 5 years now. I mean, come on, if for no other reason I hope they cease and desist to save comedy as a whole. Hell, even the Chapelle's Show quotes burned themselves out after about 6 months. We've heard just about every Bush is dumb or incompetent joke by now, can we please just stop now?[/QUOTE]
When he stops being dumb and incompetent, the jokes will stop.
 
[quote name='MrBadExample']When he stops being dumb and incompetent, the jokes will stop.[/QUOTE]


Yes that's fine, we get it. Seriously though, its horrible comedy and terribly overdone. Like him or not, you have to concede that fact. I can't remember a funny or ORIGINAL joke about Bush that I've heard in about the last 4 years. Basically, it was just like the tired old "Clinton's pants around his ankes" jokes for about the last 4 years of his presidency. Regardless of your political sentiment, the same joke over and OVER again gets incredibly boring and dry.
 
[quote name='RedvsBlue']Yes that's fine, we get it. Seriously though, its horrible comedy and terribly overdone. Like him or not, you have to concede that fact. I can't remember a funny or ORIGINAL joke about Bush that I've heard in about the last 4 years. Basically, it was just like the tired old "Clinton's pants around his ankes" jokes for about the last 4 years of his presidency. Regardless of your political sentiment, the same joke over and OVER again gets incredibly boring and dry.[/QUOTE]


Sorry skippy but Bush's F-ups aren't a joke but we gotta cope somehow.

And your bizarre take that we should "stop criticizing the pres because it is no longer funny and we should "save" comedy" That is odd.

p.s. The Onion presents a wide range of jokes beyond Bush is dumb.
 
[quote name='RedvsBlue']Yes that's fine, we get it. Seriously though, its horrible comedy and terribly overdone. Like him or not, you have to concede that fact. I can't remember a funny or ORIGINAL joke about Bush that I've heard in about the last 4 years. Basically, it was just like the tired old "Clinton's pants around his ankes" jokes for about the last 4 years of his presidency. Regardless of your political sentiment, the same joke over and OVER again gets incredibly boring and dry.[/QUOTE]


This has been the case for every President in my lifetime though and probably before that. One thing is harped upon the entire presidency. Ford was clumsy, Carter was a hick, Reagan was forgetful, etc. This is nothing new and the next President will have another fatal flaw.
 
I wonder, is it better to be clumsy, forgetful, a hick, a sex maniac, or just plain stupid?

Though here's hoping the next presidents fatal flaw will be a vagina.
 
[quote name='usickenme']Sorry skippy but Bush's F-ups aren't a joke but we gotta cope somehow.

And your bizarre take that we should "stop criticizing the pres because it is no longer funny and we should "save" comedy" That is odd.

p.s. The Onion presents a wide range of jokes beyond Bush is dumb.[/QUOTE]

You read way too much into my posts. I never even said criticisize in any of my posts for one. I don't like Bush as a president but that's a seperate issue altogether here. The issue is that, the same punchline, for 5 years, regardless of what its addressing, gets old REAL quick. I haven't heard a funny Bush is dumb joke in a LONG time because they're all pretty much rehashes of one that's already been told.

Oh and my name is not skip or skippy, I don't work for the skippy peanut butter company, and I do not skip when I walk, so therefore you calling me skippy is just silly.
 
[quote name='RedvsBlue']You read way too much into my posts. I never even said criticisize in any of my posts for one. I don't like Bush as a president but that's a seperate issue altogether here. The issue is that, the same punchline, for 5 years, regardless of what its addressing, gets old REAL quick. I haven't heard a funny Bush is dumb joke in a LONG time because they're all pretty much rehashes of one that's already been told.

Oh and my name is not skip or skippy, I don't work for the skippy peanut butter company, and I do not skip when I walk, so therefore you calling me skippy is just silly.[/QUOTE]

OK slappy..

I just thought given the fact that presidents are routinely characterized as one-dimensional, we would be sort of used to it by now.

By the way..The Onion also uses the Bush doing things would wouldn't expect (like going on a hunger strike for human rights) to mine some humor. They are better at it than most. Lame Bush jokes do suck but I was mostly defending this particular brand, a particular brand which just happens to be the target of this article.
 
[quote name='RedvsBlue']You read way too much into my posts. I never even said criticisize in any of my posts for one. I don't like Bush as a president but that's a seperate issue altogether here. The issue is that, the same punchline, for 5 years, regardless of what its addressing, gets old REAL quick. I haven't heard a funny Bush is dumb joke in a LONG time because they're all pretty much rehashes of one that's already been told.

Oh and my name is not skip or skippy, I don't work for the skippy peanut butter company, and I do not skip when I walk, so therefore you calling me skippy is just silly.[/QUOTE]

Generic political jokes are stupid.
http://archive.salon.com/comics/boll/2000/03/30/boll/story.gif

However, political comics on current events are much more funny. It provides a satiritcal spin on what would be a serious event.
http://www.salon.com/comics/boll/2003/11/20/boll/story.gif

and, well, this one's hot
http://archive.salon.com/comics/boll/2000/04/13/boll/story.gif
 
[quote name='RedvsBlue']See that's the point though. The same "Bush is dumb" punchline has been used for over 5 years now. I mean, come on, if for no other reason I hope they cease and desist to save comedy as a whole. Hell, even the Chapelle's Show quotes burned themselves out after about 6 months. We've heard just about every Bush is dumb or incompetent joke by now, can we please just stop now?[/QUOTE]

Actually I was aiming for the fact that political candidates are always ripe for satire. SNL has been mocking presidents, and presidential candidates for a lot longer than The Onion has been around.
 
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