Coming soon to a theatre near you... OBAMA.
April 28, 2013 9:43 AM Subscribe
Oh dear, Daniel. You've pretty much nailed it, but that subtle yet unmistakeable use of blackface is not going to go over well here. :-)
Obama is cooler than George Bush. I realise this is not one of his more impressive achievements, but still.
posted by Decani at 9:56 AM on April 28, 2013 [7 favorites]
Obama is cooler than George Bush. I realise this is not one of his more impressive achievements, but still.
posted by Decani at 9:56 AM on April 28, 2013 [7 favorites]
"How does he walk around with those ears?" That was well done.
posted by arcticseal at 10:01 AM on April 28, 2013 [6 favorites]
posted by arcticseal at 10:01 AM on April 28, 2013 [6 favorites]
I think the one where Obama made fun of Trump's hair was pretty funny, but these things are beginning to seem pretty self-indulgent for your president, especially in the shadow of the sequester and the failure of gun control. I can't remember who said it, but every leader has a shelf-life of about 8 years, after which people grow bored and start to hate them. This is one of the reasons why Canada's Stephen Harper keeps such a relatively low profile in Canada.
posted by KokuRyu at 10:01 AM on April 28, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by KokuRyu at 10:01 AM on April 28, 2013 [5 favorites]
That sketch was part of Obama's speech during the dinner. His speech was very funny. Here is the entire speech.
posted by nooneyouknow at 10:01 AM on April 28, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by nooneyouknow at 10:01 AM on April 28, 2013 [3 favorites]
I realise this is not one of his more impressive achievements, but still.
Actually, I think it's really one of the only achievements in a long list of failures and betrayals.
posted by anewnadir at 10:02 AM on April 28, 2013 [8 favorites]
Actually, I think it's really one of the only achievements in a long list of failures and betrayals.
posted by anewnadir at 10:02 AM on April 28, 2013 [8 favorites]
"Why doesn't he get mad? If I were him, I'd be mad all the time."
Love it.
posted by jason_steakums at 10:08 AM on April 28, 2013 [14 favorites]
Love it.
posted by jason_steakums at 10:08 AM on April 28, 2013 [14 favorites]
Actually, I think it's really one of the only achievements in a long list of failures and betrayals.
Does it actually hurt when you smile?
posted by HuronBob at 10:14 AM on April 28, 2013 [65 favorites]
Does it actually hurt when you smile?
posted by HuronBob at 10:14 AM on April 28, 2013 [65 favorites]
anewnadir: "Actually, I think it's really one of the only achievements in a long list of failures and betrayals."
I never thought this thread would turn like that
posted by Red Loop at 10:17 AM on April 28, 2013
I never thought this thread would turn like that
posted by Red Loop at 10:17 AM on April 28, 2013
every leader has a shelf-life of about 8 years
He'll need to know that before his second four-year term is nearly done, and thus his presidency is almost over, and he can't run or serve again, per the 22nd amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Spielberg should let him know!
posted by raysmj at 10:21 AM on April 28, 2013 [2 favorites]
He'll need to know that before his second four-year term is nearly done, and thus his presidency is almost over, and he can't run or serve again, per the 22nd amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Spielberg should let him know!
posted by raysmj at 10:21 AM on April 28, 2013 [2 favorites]
That other guy is going to have to let his hair grow out if he's going to do Biden.
posted by HuronBob at 10:23 AM on April 28, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by HuronBob at 10:23 AM on April 28, 2013 [4 favorites]
He'll need to know that before his second four-year term is nearly done, and thus his presidency is almost over, and he can't run or serve again, per the 22nd amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Spielberg should let him know!
Hey, he's your president. If you want to be manipulated, it doesn't bother me.
posted by KokuRyu at 10:34 AM on April 28, 2013
Hey, he's your president. If you want to be manipulated, it doesn't bother me.
posted by KokuRyu at 10:34 AM on April 28, 2013
If they somehow could have had DDL in just the B-Roll, then it would have been iconic instead of just really funny.
posted by Sphinx at 10:35 AM on April 28, 2013
posted by Sphinx at 10:35 AM on April 28, 2013
Hey, he's your president. If you want to be manipulated, it doesn't bother me.
It's pretty ridiculous and harsh to assume someone's views on the man are being whitewashed by a funny skit, or that they aren't capable of simultaneously admiring his charisma and frankly assessing his real shortcomings.
posted by jason_steakums at 10:40 AM on April 28, 2013 [21 favorites]
It's pretty ridiculous and harsh to assume someone's views on the man are being whitewashed by a funny skit, or that they aren't capable of simultaneously admiring his charisma and frankly assessing his real shortcomings.
posted by jason_steakums at 10:40 AM on April 28, 2013 [21 favorites]
My favorite part is the idea of Tracy Jordan as Joe Biden.
posted by lunasol at 10:40 AM on April 28, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by lunasol at 10:40 AM on April 28, 2013 [3 favorites]
I never thought this thread would turn like that
Really? I'm amazed we got past three comments without "But Drones!"
posted by jeffen at 10:42 AM on April 28, 2013 [9 favorites]
Really? I'm amazed we got past three comments without "But Drones!"
posted by jeffen at 10:42 AM on April 28, 2013 [9 favorites]
If you want to be manipulated, it doesn't bother me.
Right, but when a person does something that makes me laugh, my laughter does not, by any stretch of the imagination, extend a blanket approval over every single other thing they do, have done, or will do in the future. I have not been tricked into supporting anything I would not otherwise be in favour of.
posted by elizardbits at 10:44 AM on April 28, 2013 [27 favorites]
Right, but when a person does something that makes me laugh, my laughter does not, by any stretch of the imagination, extend a blanket approval over every single other thing they do, have done, or will do in the future. I have not been tricked into supporting anything I would not otherwise be in favour of.
posted by elizardbits at 10:44 AM on April 28, 2013 [27 favorites]
#nerdprom
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 10:45 AM on April 28, 2013
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 10:45 AM on April 28, 2013
But Benghazi!
posted by machaus at 10:45 AM on April 28, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by machaus at 10:45 AM on April 28, 2013 [3 favorites]
What I really want to see now is Joe Biden playing Tracy Jordan in 30 Rock, with no script changes whatsoever.
posted by jason_steakums at 10:45 AM on April 28, 2013 [29 favorites]
posted by jason_steakums at 10:45 AM on April 28, 2013 [29 favorites]
Mod note: Let's not get sunk into a general Obama: Good Or Bad argument here?
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 10:45 AM on April 28, 2013 [6 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 10:45 AM on April 28, 2013 [6 favorites]
I do finda it just kinda ick-chummy the way "Lincoln" was described by Spielberg/Kushner as a metaphor for Obamacare, and now the feel-good Obama tie-in video with Spielberg and Obama.
Thank you rich leader persons, for your never-gonna-quit ad campaign making sure we don't forget the all-around awesomeness of our rich leader persons.
posted by crayz at 10:52 AM on April 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
Thank you rich leader persons, for your never-gonna-quit ad campaign making sure we don't forget the all-around awesomeness of our rich leader persons.
posted by crayz at 10:52 AM on April 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
...but every leader has a shelf-life of about 8 years, after which people grow bored and start to hate them. This is one of the reasons why Canada's Stephen Harper keeps such a relatively low profile in Canada.
It *may* be one of the reasons, but in Harper's case there are so many more worthy ones that boredom is awfully far down the list. I'd enumerate further, but ain't nobody got that kind of time.
posted by Mary Ellen Carter at 10:52 AM on April 28, 2013 [6 favorites]
It *may* be one of the reasons, but in Harper's case there are so many more worthy ones that boredom is awfully far down the list. I'd enumerate further, but ain't nobody got that kind of time.
posted by Mary Ellen Carter at 10:52 AM on April 28, 2013 [6 favorites]
Every time I watch any part of the Correspondents' Dinner I have two reactions:
1. Is this really real? All these media people are so aware that it's all a game that they can hang out and be chummy together? I mean really, there are people out there who can spend a whole night sitting next to a Fox News table and not punch any of them in the face?*
2. Media types really can't handle being mocked. The various pockets of frigid air that emerged after each one of Obama's zingers was palpable, even on video.
*-I, myself, am not a face-puncher. But I would make an exception for Hannity, Ingraham, Ailes, or several other of the more odious Fox News-types.
posted by LooseFilter at 10:52 AM on April 28, 2013 [7 favorites]
1. Is this really real? All these media people are so aware that it's all a game that they can hang out and be chummy together? I mean really, there are people out there who can spend a whole night sitting next to a Fox News table and not punch any of them in the face?*
2. Media types really can't handle being mocked. The various pockets of frigid air that emerged after each one of Obama's zingers was palpable, even on video.
*-I, myself, am not a face-puncher. But I would make an exception for Hannity, Ingraham, Ailes, or several other of the more odious Fox News-types.
posted by LooseFilter at 10:52 AM on April 28, 2013 [7 favorites]
Oh, please. Real politics is much more surreal and ridiculous.
posted by anarch at 10:54 AM on April 28, 2013
posted by anarch at 10:54 AM on April 28, 2013
I mean really, there are people out there who can spend a whole night sitting next to a Fox News table and not punch any of them in the face?*
Yeah, I assume all the Fox News people have to watch their food and drink really fucking closely.
posted by elizardbits at 10:55 AM on April 28, 2013 [2 favorites]
Yeah, I assume all the Fox News people have to watch their food and drink really fucking closely.
posted by elizardbits at 10:55 AM on April 28, 2013 [2 favorites]
I love smiling, but I didn't vote for Obama based on his ability to make me smile. Just because Obama is canny at self-deprecation doesn't mean he gets a pass. To the people saying that you can still laugh at Obama's jokes without agreeing with his policies, did you feel the same way when Bush was the butt of a joke or made a joke of his own?
It's okay to admit that your politics are essentially center-right, that you generally approve of Obama's foreign policy goals, and that you really don't care about the conviction of supposed supporters of terrorism using the testimony of anonymous witnesses in Federal court, or the record-breaking prosecution of whistleblowers under the Espionage Act.
I'm sure that the rural families in Yemen who are terrorized by drone strikes, the detainees in Guantanamo, and others who have been profoundly oppressed by this administration would also find time to have a few chuckles at this hilarious send-up of Obama's presidency. After all, they don't need to agree with his policies in order to still have a chuckle!
posted by anewnadir at 10:57 AM on April 28, 2013 [8 favorites]
It's okay to admit that your politics are essentially center-right, that you generally approve of Obama's foreign policy goals, and that you really don't care about the conviction of supposed supporters of terrorism using the testimony of anonymous witnesses in Federal court, or the record-breaking prosecution of whistleblowers under the Espionage Act.
I'm sure that the rural families in Yemen who are terrorized by drone strikes, the detainees in Guantanamo, and others who have been profoundly oppressed by this administration would also find time to have a few chuckles at this hilarious send-up of Obama's presidency. After all, they don't need to agree with his policies in order to still have a chuckle!
posted by anewnadir at 10:57 AM on April 28, 2013 [8 favorites]
I definitely laughed at jokes made by both Bush Sr and Jr. They were both funny, personable dudes with good senses of humour; Sr was more dry and witty where Jr was more "down-home"-y and goofy. I appreciate your determination to label us all as supporters of torture for laughing at a joke about big ears, though.
posted by elizardbits at 10:59 AM on April 28, 2013 [71 favorites]
posted by elizardbits at 10:59 AM on April 28, 2013 [71 favorites]
I must not have fun.
Fun is the time-killer.
Fun is for inferiors, servants and the help.
I will ignore fun.
I will work through it.
And when the fun is gone only I will remain--I, and my will to win.
Damn, I'm good.
-Doon
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 11:02 AM on April 28, 2013 [29 favorites]
Fun is the time-killer.
Fun is for inferiors, servants and the help.
I will ignore fun.
I will work through it.
And when the fun is gone only I will remain--I, and my will to win.
Damn, I'm good.
-Doon
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 11:02 AM on April 28, 2013 [29 favorites]
I mean really, there are people out there who can spend a whole night sitting next to a Fox News table and not punch any of them in the face?
Sure, most of the Democrats and Republicans also get along fine outside of debates and attack ads. It's mostly all a show.
posted by desjardins at 11:03 AM on April 28, 2013 [2 favorites]
Sure, most of the Democrats and Republicans also get along fine outside of debates and attack ads. It's mostly all a show.
posted by desjardins at 11:03 AM on April 28, 2013 [2 favorites]
anewnadir: "It's okay to admit that your politics are essentially center-right, that you generally approve of Obama's foreign policy goals, and that you really don't care about the conviction of supposed supporters of terrorism using the testimony of anonymous witnesses in Federal court, or the record-breaking prosecution of whistleblowers under the Espionage Act.
I'm sure that the rural families in Yemen who are terrorized by drone strikes, the detainees in Guantanamo, and others who have been profoundly oppressed by this administration would also find time to have a few chuckles at this hilarious send-up of Obama's presidency. After all, they don't need to agree with his policies in order to still have a chuckle!"
Yes, yes. That's what it means if you thought this was funny.
posted by Red Loop at 11:06 AM on April 28, 2013 [10 favorites]
I'm sure that the rural families in Yemen who are terrorized by drone strikes, the detainees in Guantanamo, and others who have been profoundly oppressed by this administration would also find time to have a few chuckles at this hilarious send-up of Obama's presidency. After all, they don't need to agree with his policies in order to still have a chuckle!"
Yes, yes. That's what it means if you thought this was funny.
posted by Red Loop at 11:06 AM on April 28, 2013 [10 favorites]
Here on pre-modernist Metafilter things can only have one meaning at a time.
posted by bleep at 11:06 AM on April 28, 2013 [16 favorites]
posted by bleep at 11:06 AM on April 28, 2013 [16 favorites]
This was ridiculous. DD Lewis doesn't quite cut it.
They shoulda picked Dustin Hoffman.
posted by mule98J at 11:06 AM on April 28, 2013
They shoulda picked Dustin Hoffman.
posted by mule98J at 11:06 AM on April 28, 2013
The CNN jab about the couscous (I think this was Conan's, not Obama's) was particularly funny, and I was struck how well Chris Christie can take jokes.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:09 AM on April 28, 2013
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:09 AM on April 28, 2013
If you laugh at this you are literally Hitler.
posted by brain_drain at 11:12 AM on April 28, 2013 [43 favorites]
posted by brain_drain at 11:12 AM on April 28, 2013 [43 favorites]
1. Is this really real? All these media people are so aware that it's all a game that they can hang out and be chummy together? I mean really, there are people out there who can spend a whole night sitting next to a Fox News table and not punch any of them in the face?
You have to remember this is the White House Correspondents Dinner. These folks rub elbows all the time doing their coverage. And ideology or no they all are doing basically the same job.
2. Media types really can't handle being mocked. The various pockets of frigid air that emerged after each one of Obama's zingers was palpable, even on video.
I didn't feel that. There were definitely some moments where that happened but for the most part I felt that people took things well.
Many media types are actually quite shy so having a spotlight on them when they don't have a prepared performance can be very uncomfortable.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 11:17 AM on April 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
You have to remember this is the White House Correspondents Dinner. These folks rub elbows all the time doing their coverage. And ideology or no they all are doing basically the same job.
2. Media types really can't handle being mocked. The various pockets of frigid air that emerged after each one of Obama's zingers was palpable, even on video.
I didn't feel that. There were definitely some moments where that happened but for the most part I felt that people took things well.
Many media types are actually quite shy so having a spotlight on them when they don't have a prepared performance can be very uncomfortable.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 11:17 AM on April 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
I must have missed the drone joke if there was one. I don't think there was.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:20 AM on April 28, 2013
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:20 AM on April 28, 2013
I am assuming he made a drone joke?
I am assuming you didn't WTFV?
posted by saul wright at 11:20 AM on April 28, 2013 [3 favorites]
I am assuming you didn't WTFV?
posted by saul wright at 11:20 AM on April 28, 2013 [3 favorites]
Holy shit, I knew there was a reason I fucking hated Lincoln - beyond the usual cutesy Spielberg bullshit and the out of place Oscar bait speeches.
When does the sequel come out where Lincoln presides over the "compromise" that introduces Jim Crowe/Obama fucks over future generations with chained CPI to impress David Brookes.
The self-congratulatory circle jerk does get nauseating.
posted by eagles123 at 11:22 AM on April 28, 2013 [2 favorites]
When does the sequel come out where Lincoln presides over the "compromise" that introduces Jim Crowe/Obama fucks over future generations with chained CPI to impress David Brookes.
The self-congratulatory circle jerk does get nauseating.
posted by eagles123 at 11:22 AM on April 28, 2013 [2 favorites]
I am assuming you didn't WTFV?
This was the event at which previously Bush did cheeky-chappy mime-looking for WMDs as media millionaire arseholes giggled, right?
posted by colie at 11:23 AM on April 28, 2013 [6 favorites]
This was the event at which previously Bush did cheeky-chappy mime-looking for WMDs as media millionaire arseholes giggled, right?
posted by colie at 11:23 AM on April 28, 2013 [6 favorites]
This was ridiculous. DD Lewis doesn't quite cut it.
They shoulda picked Dustin Hoffman.
But this is the beauty of the video. It *was* Dustin Hoffman. He was playing DDL playing the President.
posted by NoMich at 11:23 AM on April 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
They shoulda picked Dustin Hoffman.
But this is the beauty of the video. It *was* Dustin Hoffman. He was playing DDL playing the President.
posted by NoMich at 11:23 AM on April 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
I was struck how well Chris Christie can take jokes.
If you're overweight in the public eye in modern America, you learn to take a joke or you die.
posted by Etrigan at 11:32 AM on April 28, 2013 [7 favorites]
If you're overweight in the public eye in modern America, you learn to take a joke or you die.
posted by Etrigan at 11:32 AM on April 28, 2013 [7 favorites]
Two last thoughts:
1) He really did go easy on them this year, and did some extra hard sucking up. I guess if I had his poll numbers I'd be coddling the press too.
2) Goddamn that room was white.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 11:35 AM on April 28, 2013 [3 favorites]
1) He really did go easy on them this year, and did some extra hard sucking up. I guess if I had his poll numbers I'd be coddling the press too.
2) Goddamn that room was white.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 11:35 AM on April 28, 2013 [3 favorites]
At least call him a wanker for jokes he actually made.
posted by saul wright at 11:35 AM on April 28, 2013 [6 favorites]
posted by saul wright at 11:35 AM on April 28, 2013 [6 favorites]
Etrigan, well, yeah, but the jokes weren't just about his weight.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:35 AM on April 28, 2013
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:35 AM on April 28, 2013
At least call him a wanker for jokes he actually made.
That is a fair point.
posted by colie at 11:37 AM on April 28, 2013
That is a fair point.
posted by colie at 11:37 AM on April 28, 2013
Yeah, I assume all the Fox News people have to watch their food and drink really fucking closely.i do not think that people at the white house correspondents' dinner are poisoning each others' food and drink
posted by This, of course, alludes to you at 11:37 AM on April 28, 2013 [2 favorites]
Buzzfeed seems pleased with their part in Obama's joke about when he used to be a pot smoker.
posted by homunculus at 11:40 AM on April 28, 2013
posted by homunculus at 11:40 AM on April 28, 2013
I can't remember who said it, but every leader has a shelf-life of about 8 years, after which people grow bored and start to hate them.
That was probably FDR, who was so hated after 8 years of inaction and he was voted out of office in a landslide.
posted by DU at 11:43 AM on April 28, 2013 [14 favorites]
That was probably FDR, who was so hated after 8 years of inaction and he was voted out of office in a landslide.
posted by DU at 11:43 AM on April 28, 2013 [14 favorites]
I love that here we're having a thread about if laughing at Obama's jokes means you support (perhaps through being suckered) drone warfare, while down the front page we have a vocal contingent arguing that autonomous robot warfare is fine because it's the same deal as land mines.
Metafilter is large, it contains multitudes.
posted by Lemurrhea at 11:46 AM on April 28, 2013 [2 favorites]
Metafilter is large, it contains multitudes.
posted by Lemurrhea at 11:46 AM on April 28, 2013 [2 favorites]
Mod note: A few comments deleted; let's also not fight about whether we're fighting about whether Obama is good or bad either. No fighting in here gentlemen this is the etc.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 11:46 AM on April 28, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 11:46 AM on April 28, 2013 [4 favorites]
1. Is this really real? All these media people are so aware that it's all a game that they can hang out and be chummy together? I mean really, there are people out there who can spend a whole night sitting next to a Fox News table and not punch any of them in the face?
Those guys have much more in common with each other than they have with you or I, no matter their ideology (true believer or otherwise). I work in an industry--though not TV news--where there's a lot of cutthroat competition and chest-beating in the press and everyone assumes we're massive rivals that would fight each other given the chance, but we're all friends with each other because we're in the same line of work and you never know who you'll wind up working for and we all know the chest-beating is what the audience wants to see, not anything to actually take seriously.
The partisans and fanboys on either side of any media "conflict" are usually much more personally invested than anyone actually involved, at least on the ground level. They're all companies that want to take your money and convince you that buying things from them or consuming what they offer is a big part of your personal identity but you're still consuming crap, it's just Grape Or Cherry Flavored Crap, but of course, if we can get you personally invested and branding yourself as a Grape Flavored Crap Consumer and arguing about how Grape Flavored Crap is ideologically superior, you'll buy more Grape Flavored Crap and do tons of free marketing for us because you're convinced we are Good and Cherry Is Evil.
Besides, you punch Hannity and maybe even connect, then he smirks. Security drags you away and the assembled press paints you as a lunatic. Hannity goes on his show and says something like, "Folks, I apologize for my condition. A crazed member of the liberal media was so enraged he actually took a swing at me, completely unprovoked, at an event I was attending last night, which just goes to show you how liberals will get violent for no reason when they can't get their way." His smug visibly grows by three sizes and he is the sympathetic character in all the media portrayals. You sure showed him, though.
posted by Ghostride The Whip at 11:46 AM on April 28, 2013 [11 favorites]
Those guys have much more in common with each other than they have with you or I, no matter their ideology (true believer or otherwise). I work in an industry--though not TV news--where there's a lot of cutthroat competition and chest-beating in the press and everyone assumes we're massive rivals that would fight each other given the chance, but we're all friends with each other because we're in the same line of work and you never know who you'll wind up working for and we all know the chest-beating is what the audience wants to see, not anything to actually take seriously.
The partisans and fanboys on either side of any media "conflict" are usually much more personally invested than anyone actually involved, at least on the ground level. They're all companies that want to take your money and convince you that buying things from them or consuming what they offer is a big part of your personal identity but you're still consuming crap, it's just Grape Or Cherry Flavored Crap, but of course, if we can get you personally invested and branding yourself as a Grape Flavored Crap Consumer and arguing about how Grape Flavored Crap is ideologically superior, you'll buy more Grape Flavored Crap and do tons of free marketing for us because you're convinced we are Good and Cherry Is Evil.
Besides, you punch Hannity and maybe even connect, then he smirks. Security drags you away and the assembled press paints you as a lunatic. Hannity goes on his show and says something like, "Folks, I apologize for my condition. A crazed member of the liberal media was so enraged he actually took a swing at me, completely unprovoked, at an event I was attending last night, which just goes to show you how liberals will get violent for no reason when they can't get their way." His smug visibly grows by three sizes and he is the sympathetic character in all the media portrayals. You sure showed him, though.
posted by Ghostride The Whip at 11:46 AM on April 28, 2013 [11 favorites]
People used to think professional wrestling was real too.
"its real to me dammit!"
Oh, and for the whiners:
President Obama is so cool! His jokes are so funny! He like, knows who Jay Z is and goes to NBA games! He's so with it! I'm glad we have a President with so much swag!
I'd vote for him again 100 times!
posted by eagles123 at 11:52 AM on April 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
"its real to me dammit!"
Oh, and for the whiners:
President Obama is so cool! His jokes are so funny! He like, knows who Jay Z is and goes to NBA games! He's so with it! I'm glad we have a President with so much swag!
I'd vote for him again 100 times!
posted by eagles123 at 11:52 AM on April 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
At least call him a wanker for jokes he actually made.
That's true, he didn't threaten to drone the Jonas Bros. this year to a crowd of laughing sycophants. He just pretended to be Daniel Day-Lewis to a crowd of laughing sycophants. In the balance, this year is definitely a step up.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 11:53 AM on April 28, 2013 [2 favorites]
That's true, he didn't threaten to drone the Jonas Bros. this year to a crowd of laughing sycophants. He just pretended to be Daniel Day-Lewis to a crowd of laughing sycophants. In the balance, this year is definitely a step up.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 11:53 AM on April 28, 2013 [2 favorites]
In reference to the first comment above, the thing about the Press Correspondent's Dinner is that it's almost always carefully calculated safe humor until a Stephen Colbert happens.
Do you remember Jon Stewart's reaction, when Daily Show came back from break, to Colbert's performance, which had been passed around millions of times already on the internet by that point? "HOLY SHIT!"
posted by JHarris at 11:58 AM on April 28, 2013
Do you remember Jon Stewart's reaction, when Daily Show came back from break, to Colbert's performance, which had been passed around millions of times already on the internet by that point? "HOLY SHIT!"
posted by JHarris at 11:58 AM on April 28, 2013
I cringed at the drone joke too, but the Boston Marathon joke was too far.
posted by Brocktoon at 12:09 PM on April 28, 2013
posted by Brocktoon at 12:09 PM on April 28, 2013
Colbert? They should get Frankie Boyle to host.
posted by fullerine at 12:10 PM on April 28, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by fullerine at 12:10 PM on April 28, 2013 [2 favorites]
I work in an industry--though not TV news--where there's a lot of cutthroat competition and chest-beating in the press and everyone assumes we're massive rivals that would fight each other given the chance, but we're all friends with each other because we're in the same line of work and you never know who you'll wind up working for and we all know the chest-beating is what the audience wants to see, not anything to actually take seriously.
That they can be so chummy and all totally understand that it's a performance onscreen is exactly what is so offensive to me and speaks most loudly to the utter, complete corruption of the news media in the U.S. These people are not supposed to be performers or actors, they are supposed to be reporters and news anchors and sober editorial observers. Sitting in front of millions of viewers/listeners on a regular basis and playing a "character" who espouses ignorance and extreme political viewpoints has extraordinary practical consequences on the lives of millions of people, and that this is done so openly and shamelessly that it's now standard operating procedure for the industry is mind-numbingly morally and ethically bankrupt to me.
It is not art, it is not a performance, it's supposed to be the goddamn fourth estate, something we the people need as an impartial observer and source of information so we can keep power/greed/etc. among the ruling class in check. So this dinner always seems surreal, not because I'm naive enough to really think "OMG, they actually all get along??" but rather "OMG they really do all knowingly participate in the fraud and sham their profession has become." That smug, ethics-less self-awareness is what gobsmacks me.
posted by LooseFilter at 12:13 PM on April 28, 2013 [21 favorites]
That they can be so chummy and all totally understand that it's a performance onscreen is exactly what is so offensive to me and speaks most loudly to the utter, complete corruption of the news media in the U.S. These people are not supposed to be performers or actors, they are supposed to be reporters and news anchors and sober editorial observers. Sitting in front of millions of viewers/listeners on a regular basis and playing a "character" who espouses ignorance and extreme political viewpoints has extraordinary practical consequences on the lives of millions of people, and that this is done so openly and shamelessly that it's now standard operating procedure for the industry is mind-numbingly morally and ethically bankrupt to me.
It is not art, it is not a performance, it's supposed to be the goddamn fourth estate, something we the people need as an impartial observer and source of information so we can keep power/greed/etc. among the ruling class in check. So this dinner always seems surreal, not because I'm naive enough to really think "OMG, they actually all get along??" but rather "OMG they really do all knowingly participate in the fraud and sham their profession has become." That smug, ethics-less self-awareness is what gobsmacks me.
posted by LooseFilter at 12:13 PM on April 28, 2013 [21 favorites]
Buzzfeed seems pleased with their part in Obama's joke about when he used to be a pot smoker.
Actually, since the Commander in Chief is so open about his own past use of marijuana, maybe he could provide some words of support towards this situation.
posted by homunculus at 12:14 PM on April 28, 2013
Actually, since the Commander in Chief is so open about his own past use of marijuana, maybe he could provide some words of support towards this situation.
posted by homunculus at 12:14 PM on April 28, 2013
His smug visibly grows by three sizes and he is the sympathetic character in all the media portrayals. You sure showed him, though.
That only matters if my punch is a performance, if I care about the court of public opinion. If I were to actually punch Sean Hannity in the face it would be because he fucking deserves it and as a fellow human being I'm not going to be in the same physical space as him and let his odious influence on our society--on our very civility toward one another--go unremarked upon. And the only comment I personally would have for him is a fist to the face.
This is probably why I'm not involved in the field of diplomacy in any way.
posted by LooseFilter at 12:16 PM on April 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
That only matters if my punch is a performance, if I care about the court of public opinion. If I were to actually punch Sean Hannity in the face it would be because he fucking deserves it and as a fellow human being I'm not going to be in the same physical space as him and let his odious influence on our society--on our very civility toward one another--go unremarked upon. And the only comment I personally would have for him is a fist to the face.
This is probably why I'm not involved in the field of diplomacy in any way.
posted by LooseFilter at 12:16 PM on April 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
That's true, he didn't threaten to drone the Jonas Bros. this year to a crowd of laughing sycophants. He just pretended to be Daniel Day-Lewis to a crowd of laughing sycophants. In the balance, this year is definitely a step up.
Obama still has a way to go before he gets in range of Dubya's WHCD career low of "Those weapons of mass destruction have gotta be somewhere. {…} Nope, no weapons over there. Maybe under here." Those DC sycophants - more or less the same crowd - yukked it up just as hard to that one, even applauding.
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:16 PM on April 28, 2013 [9 favorites]
Obama still has a way to go before he gets in range of Dubya's WHCD career low of "Those weapons of mass destruction have gotta be somewhere. {…} Nope, no weapons over there. Maybe under here." Those DC sycophants - more or less the same crowd - yukked it up just as hard to that one, even applauding.
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:16 PM on April 28, 2013 [9 favorites]
more like Obummer amirite
posted by El Sabor Asiatico at 12:17 PM on April 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by El Sabor Asiatico at 12:17 PM on April 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
the Boston Marathon joke was too far.
A race-related gag from Obama?
posted by colie at 12:26 PM on April 28, 2013 [8 favorites]
A race-related gag from Obama?
posted by colie at 12:26 PM on April 28, 2013 [8 favorites]
I'm not going to be in the same physical space as [Hannity] and let his odious influence on our society--on our very civility toward one another--go unremarked upon.
Metafilter: We'll punch you in the face to remark upon the decline of civility.
posted by lambdaphage at 12:34 PM on April 28, 2013 [11 favorites]
Metafilter: We'll punch you in the face to remark upon the decline of civility.
posted by lambdaphage at 12:34 PM on April 28, 2013 [11 favorites]
it's supposed to be the goddamn fourth estate, something we the people need as an impartial observer and source of information so we can keep power/greed/etc. among the ruling class in check.
The "fourth estate" thing is a masterful piece of propaganda pushed by the group calling themselves "the fourth estate." Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain, etc.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 12:37 PM on April 28, 2013 [2 favorites]
The "fourth estate" thing is a masterful piece of propaganda pushed by the group calling themselves "the fourth estate." Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain, etc.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 12:37 PM on April 28, 2013 [2 favorites]
I was struck how well Chris Christie can take jokes.
If you're overweight in the public eye in modern America, you learn to take a joke or you die.
Etrigan, well, yeah, but the jokes weren't just about his weight.
Trust me, if you can take the umpteenth jab about your weight -- an intensely personal issue for the vast majority of overweight people, who have mostly been a walking free-fire zone for jokes and comments and concern trolling for their entire lives -- then you can take any joke about your policy.
posted by Etrigan at 12:38 PM on April 28, 2013 [5 favorites]
If you're overweight in the public eye in modern America, you learn to take a joke or you die.
Etrigan, well, yeah, but the jokes weren't just about his weight.
Trust me, if you can take the umpteenth jab about your weight -- an intensely personal issue for the vast majority of overweight people, who have mostly been a walking free-fire zone for jokes and comments and concern trolling for their entire lives -- then you can take any joke about your policy.
posted by Etrigan at 12:38 PM on April 28, 2013 [5 favorites]
Metafilter: We'll punch you in the face to remark upon the decline of civility.
(fair enough, and funny, but one must speak to hypothetical Sean Hannity in a language he will understand.)
posted by LooseFilter at 12:38 PM on April 28, 2013
(fair enough, and funny, but one must speak to hypothetical Sean Hannity in a language he will understand.)
posted by LooseFilter at 12:38 PM on April 28, 2013
If you think, as I do, that Ghostride the Whip's scenario is likely to be pretty accurate, I don't think hypothetical Hannity could be said to "understand" whatever "language" you're "speaking."
posted by valrus at 12:42 PM on April 28, 2013
posted by valrus at 12:42 PM on April 28, 2013
If his scenario is accurate, though, hypothetical Sean Hannity is completely aware he's playing a character and thus would understand such a reaction (if that character isn't intended to be thoroughly provocative, he's an accidental savant) and public plays for sympathy per GtW's scenario would be equally cynical and calculated. He would understand perfectly why he'd been hit in the face--his character wouldn't.
And I can't believe my comments accidentally spawned this weird conversational tributary. I promise that in real life, I keep the face punching to myself.
posted by LooseFilter at 12:49 PM on April 28, 2013
And I can't believe my comments accidentally spawned this weird conversational tributary. I promise that in real life, I keep the face punching to myself.
posted by LooseFilter at 12:49 PM on April 28, 2013
i do not think that people at the white house correspondents' dinner are poisoning each others' food and drink
I believe that elizardbits was talking about all the minimum wage earners that work in the service industry who are impacted by Fox news and their ilk calling them lazy and campaigning to deny them access to healthcare.
posted by arcticseal at 1:04 PM on April 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
I believe that elizardbits was talking about all the minimum wage earners that work in the service industry who are impacted by Fox news and their ilk calling them lazy and campaigning to deny them access to healthcare.
posted by arcticseal at 1:04 PM on April 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
i do not think that people at the white house correspondents' dinner are poisoning each others' food and drink
Neither do I, because that would be fucking stupid.
posted by elizardbits at 1:12 PM on April 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
Neither do I, because that would be fucking stupid.
posted by elizardbits at 1:12 PM on April 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
My favorite part is the idea of Tracy Jordan as Joe Biden.
Don't forget, Tracy has experience in this genre.
posted by dhartung at 1:17 PM on April 28, 2013
Don't forget, Tracy has experience in this genre.
posted by dhartung at 1:17 PM on April 28, 2013
This was the event at which previously Bush did cheeky-chappy mime-looking for WMDs as media millionaire arseholes giggled, right?
Actually, that was at the 2004 Radio and Television Correspondents' Association Dinner^, a similar (but generally less prestigious) annual event. Others that sometimes result in press coverage include the Gridiron Club dinner and the Washington Press Club Congressional dinner.
posted by dhartung at 1:26 PM on April 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
Actually, that was at the 2004 Radio and Television Correspondents' Association Dinner^, a similar (but generally less prestigious) annual event. Others that sometimes result in press coverage include the Gridiron Club dinner and the Washington Press Club Congressional dinner.
posted by dhartung at 1:26 PM on April 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
That only matters if my punch is a performance, if I care about the court of public opinion. If I were to actually punch Sean Hannity in the face it would be because he fucking deserves it and as a fellow human being I'm not going to be in the same physical space as him and let his odious influence on our society--on our very civility toward one another--go unremarked upon. And the only comment I personally would have for him is a fist to the face.
Congratulations! You just made things worse, and made Hannity's life a lot easier and better. You think he wouldn't absolutely love for someone to take a swing at him at the correspondent's dinner? You think he'd ever let that go?
posted by kafziel at 1:32 PM on April 28, 2013 [3 favorites]
Congratulations! You just made things worse, and made Hannity's life a lot easier and better. You think he wouldn't absolutely love for someone to take a swing at him at the correspondent's dinner? You think he'd ever let that go?
posted by kafziel at 1:32 PM on April 28, 2013 [3 favorites]
"Hi, I'm Jo Biden." Oh please let this become a meme.
Also, I am with him on the ears thing. 100% sort of thing.
posted by marienbad at 1:46 PM on April 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
Also, I am with him on the ears thing. 100% sort of thing.
posted by marienbad at 1:46 PM on April 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
Ha ha I just saw this on Facebook and came over to MetaFilter to look for it and here it is and now I'm happy. And sad. But mostly happy I guess.
Sigh.
Funny.
But not.
But yeah.
Funny.
posted by trip and a half at 1:57 PM on April 28, 2013
Sigh.
Funny.
But not.
But yeah.
Funny.
posted by trip and a half at 1:57 PM on April 28, 2013
the Boston Marathon joke was too far.
A race-related gag from Obama?
:golfclap:
posted by Sebmojo at 2:07 PM on April 28, 2013 [2 favorites]
A race-related gag from Obama?
:golfclap:
posted by Sebmojo at 2:07 PM on April 28, 2013 [2 favorites]
Give the guy a break, he's managed to get to this point hasn't he?
posted by infini at 2:20 PM on April 28, 2013
posted by infini at 2:20 PM on April 28, 2013
Wow, I can't be too bothered about the Lincoln sketch, whatever, but I can't believe the President made a joke about predator drones. There's no question that it's a pretty "funny" joke in an amoral sense-- Obama has a good instinct for comedy, as do most smart, charismatic people-- but come on. If you don't have the decency to stop murdering civilians halfway across the world, at least don't be all jokey-smiley about it on fucking national TV.
posted by threeants at 2:45 PM on April 28, 2013
posted by threeants at 2:45 PM on April 28, 2013
Oops, my bad; I didn't realize the Jonas Brothers drone joke was from the 2010 dinner. I can only hope the President has done some soul-searching in the intervening three years.
posted by threeants at 2:59 PM on April 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by threeants at 2:59 PM on April 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
A good link to both the Obama and Conan video, plus hilites of some of the better lines.
posted by anothermug at 3:07 PM on April 28, 2013
posted by anothermug at 3:07 PM on April 28, 2013
Those of you grumbling about "laughing sycophants" - this is a celebratory dinner. What exactly do you expect them to do - boo?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:19 PM on April 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:19 PM on April 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
Or balling in the ballroom.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:36 PM on April 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:36 PM on April 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
So his new entrance music is All I Do Is Win featuring Rick Ross.
He addressed the controversy swirling around Jay Z's track Open Letter, noting that Jay is now one of his problems, but failed to address Ross's controversial verse on U.O.E.N.O. and indeed used Ross as his entrance music. Is Obama tacitly supporting Ross? I'd like to hear some real talk from Obama about U.O.E.N.O. At least acknowledge the verse by the man you used as your entrance music Obama.
posted by Ad hominem at 3:37 PM on April 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
He addressed the controversy swirling around Jay Z's track Open Letter, noting that Jay is now one of his problems, but failed to address Ross's controversial verse on U.O.E.N.O. and indeed used Ross as his entrance music. Is Obama tacitly supporting Ross? I'd like to hear some real talk from Obama about U.O.E.N.O. At least acknowledge the verse by the man you used as your entrance music Obama.
posted by Ad hominem at 3:37 PM on April 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
I am disappointed. Even Conan's lame reading of his stream of tame jokes was better entertainment than (most of) this thread. Next year, do better or I'm switching to, er, Buzzfeed?
posted by kemrocken at 5:12 PM on April 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by kemrocken at 5:12 PM on April 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
What about the families in Pakistan who can't even hear the tame jokes because of drone strikes?
posted by Ghostride The Whip at 5:21 PM on April 28, 2013
posted by Ghostride The Whip at 5:21 PM on April 28, 2013
I love Obama and I love this.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 5:22 PM on April 28, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by Potomac Avenue at 5:22 PM on April 28, 2013 [3 favorites]
This is actually quite funny!
"If I were him, I'd be mad all the time."
posted by Kevin Street at 5:35 PM on April 28, 2013
"If I were him, I'd be mad all the time."
posted by Kevin Street at 5:35 PM on April 28, 2013
This raises a kind of interesting issue. Presumably we all have some line beyond which, if the teller is sufficiently horrible in our eyes, we will refuse to laugh at the teller's jokes. You don't have to go remotely as far the big H for most people, I would imagine. For many on the left, for instance, if Cheney was telling the joke -- particularly if it was 2004 -- no matter how funny, either one would not laugh, or try to resist laughing and feel manipulated and a bit dirty if one did so. So for those objecting to the Obama's-not-funny folks, is it that no one should have this political resistance to humor, even if the guy one is ill-disposed to seems like a really bad person? Or is it just prima facie silly to dislike Obama in particular that much? It's interesting that many on the left are these days a bit more willing to condone those who strongly dislike Obama (from the left), but aren't willing to go so far as to grant that it is reasonable to dislike him so much that you find any effort at humor unfunny.
posted by chortly at 6:10 PM on April 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by chortly at 6:10 PM on April 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
Presumably we all have some line beyond which, if the teller is sufficiently horrible in our eyes, we will refuse to laugh at the teller's jokes
The Halo/Horns Effect
posted by Uther Bentrazor at 6:17 PM on April 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
The Halo/Horns Effect
posted by Uther Bentrazor at 6:17 PM on April 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
I don't know. If Obama were joking about some of the more pointed criticisms of his policies, like bombing people with drones or prosecuting whistleblowers, it wouldn't be very funny. (Just as it wouldn't be funny if Cheney himself made a joke about shooting people in the face - although it works when other people do it.) But making gentle fun of the way people perceive him (thus showing that he's aware of those perceptions) is pretty effective.
posted by Kevin Street at 6:38 PM on April 28, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by Kevin Street at 6:38 PM on April 28, 2013 [3 favorites]
This conversation makes me wonder if some people morally could not find the President of the United States funny. I'm not talking about Obama specifically, but anyone who occupies that office. Whoever is in it is directly or indirectly responsible for sins of omission or sins of commission that something that you find morally reprehensible will be found. Perhaps it's attacking another country and letting people die. Perhaps it's not intervening and letting people die. Perhaps it's not pardoning someone on death row or not putting in a policy that cause millions to lose their livelihoods or putting a policy that does the same thing. They have such disproportionate power that there will be some life or death decision that you find unforgivable. Any president I think would fail this test. Maybe it's like joking with God; he's just too powerful and responsible for everything to have his jokes be funny anymore. This isn't to say that there aren't different levels of good or bad in each president, but I can't think of any president that didn't some sort of act that would render all of their jokes not funny to at least some of the people here.
I'm sure the same applies to different leaders in different countries, though of course the more powerful the country, the more they would be held accountable for what they've done/not done.
posted by Lord Chancellor at 7:34 PM on April 28, 2013 [3 favorites]
I'm sure the same applies to different leaders in different countries, though of course the more powerful the country, the more they would be held accountable for what they've done/not done.
posted by Lord Chancellor at 7:34 PM on April 28, 2013 [3 favorites]
This was ridiculous. DD Lewis doesn't quite cut it.
They shoulda picked Dustin Hoffman.
mule98J, maybe it was because I watched it on my crappy cellphone screen, but I thought it kinda looked like it was Dustin Hoffman playing Daniel Day Lewis (playing Obama).
Whoever it was, they need to get a better wig-dresser. Not believable.
posted by IAmBroom at 8:34 PM on April 28, 2013
They shoulda picked Dustin Hoffman.
mule98J, maybe it was because I watched it on my crappy cellphone screen, but I thought it kinda looked like it was Dustin Hoffman playing Daniel Day Lewis (playing Obama).
Whoever it was, they need to get a better wig-dresser. Not believable.
posted by IAmBroom at 8:34 PM on April 28, 2013
I think Lord Chancellor is on to something, but it's not that Obama is responsible for some horrible decisions; it's that these performances are like Nero singing before a crowd. It doesn't matter how amusing the President is, the audience really is reacting to the Great and Powerful Leader condescending to clown around for their benefit. It's a sycophantic reaction, not a natural one, and it demeans both them and the Presidency.
posted by Joe in Australia at 9:09 PM on April 28, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Joe in Australia at 9:09 PM on April 28, 2013 [2 favorites]
Joe, I didn't know that the United States had expanded to include Australia. Interesting.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:17 AM on April 29, 2013
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:17 AM on April 29, 2013
That was probably FDR, who was so hated after 8 years of inaction and he was voted out of office in a landslide.
Yeah, if by hated you mean beloved by millions and elected to 2 more terms and if by inaction you mean the first and second New Deals that brought the country back from the brink of ruin. So, no.
posted by MidStream at 5:42 AM on April 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
Yeah, if by hated you mean beloved by millions and elected to 2 more terms and if by inaction you mean the first and second New Deals that brought the country back from the brink of ruin. So, no.
posted by MidStream at 5:42 AM on April 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
I didn't know that the United States had expanded to include Australia.
If the amount of fawning media coverage given to this jolly Obama jape means anything, then England seems to be part of the United States as well.
posted by colie at 7:03 AM on April 29, 2013
If the amount of fawning media coverage given to this jolly Obama jape means anything, then England seems to be part of the United States as well.
posted by colie at 7:03 AM on April 29, 2013
Yeah, if by hated you mean beloved by millions and elected to 2 more terms and if by inaction you mean the first and second New Deals that brought the country back from the brink of ruin.
I believe that is what he means. Humour, you know.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 7:30 AM on April 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
I believe that is what he means. Humour, you know.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 7:30 AM on April 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
At least for the Obama sketch he didn't have to wear a big fake mustache. Daniel's most challenging role was that of Tash: Man of Oil.
posted by mcstayinskool at 7:56 AM on April 29, 2013
posted by mcstayinskool at 7:56 AM on April 29, 2013
Daniel's most challenging role was that of Tash: Man of Oil.
Strangely, now I wanna hear Obama holler "I DRINK YOUR MILKSHAKE!" just to see what that sounds like.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:59 AM on April 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
Strangely, now I wanna hear Obama holler "I DRINK YOUR MILKSHAKE!" just to see what that sounds like.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:59 AM on April 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
Actually, that was at the 2004 Radio and Television Correspondents' Association Dinner^, a similar (but generally less prestigious) annual event. Others that sometimes result in press coverage include the Gridiron Club dinner and the Washington Press Club Congressional dinner.
Yes, that's the one I linked to earlier but mistakenly called a White House Correspondents Dinner.
Bush and Obama have also appeared at the Girdiron dinner, Obama as recently as last month. While he joked about the sequester, Bob Woodward, Chuck Hagel, etc., he concluded, "But while we’ll always have disagreements, I believe that we share the belief that a free press — a press that questions us, that holds us accountable, that sometimes gets under our skin — is absolutely an essential part of our democracy."
At Bush's last appearance in 2008, he sang "The Brown, Brown Grass of Home" about his retirement, with such lyrics as "Down the lane I look, and here comes Scooter/Finally free of the prosecutor." Although humor is hard to translate across the political spectrum, there's only so much one can do with the historical material from Dubya's administration.
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:05 AM on April 29, 2013
Yes, that's the one I linked to earlier but mistakenly called a White House Correspondents Dinner.
Bush and Obama have also appeared at the Girdiron dinner, Obama as recently as last month. While he joked about the sequester, Bob Woodward, Chuck Hagel, etc., he concluded, "But while we’ll always have disagreements, I believe that we share the belief that a free press — a press that questions us, that holds us accountable, that sometimes gets under our skin — is absolutely an essential part of our democracy."
At Bush's last appearance in 2008, he sang "The Brown, Brown Grass of Home" about his retirement, with such lyrics as "Down the lane I look, and here comes Scooter/Finally free of the prosecutor." Although humor is hard to translate across the political spectrum, there's only so much one can do with the historical material from Dubya's administration.
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:05 AM on April 29, 2013
But while we’ll always have disagreements, I believe that we share the belief that a free press — a press that questions us, that holds us accountable, that sometimes gets under our skin — is absolutely an essential part of our democracy.
SHEFUCKINGNANIGANS
posted by JHarris at 11:53 AM on April 29, 2013 [2 favorites]
SHEFUCKINGNANIGANS
posted by JHarris at 11:53 AM on April 29, 2013 [2 favorites]
'Fuck You,' Obama Says In Hilarious Correspondents' Dinner Speech
posted by brain_drain at 1:19 PM on April 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by brain_drain at 1:19 PM on April 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
Obama wasn’t joking at the White House correspondents’ dinner.
posted by Richard Holden at 2:20 PM on April 29, 2013
posted by Richard Holden at 2:20 PM on April 29, 2013
Jon Stewart Slams ‘F@#ktard’ Congress For Only Fixing The Part Of The Sequester That Affects Them
posted by homunculus at 12:52 AM on April 30, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by homunculus at 12:52 AM on April 30, 2013 [2 favorites]
The Degraded Correspondent's Dinner - discusses the history of the correspondent's dinner and its evolution into #nerdprom.
Then in 1987 a young reporter for the Baltimore Sun hit upon the idea of inviting an attractive, young White House secretary who had been getting attention as a central figure in the gathering Iran-Contra scandal. The reporter was Michael Kelly, who went on to an illustrious career as writer and editor for such publications as the New York Times Magazine, The New Republic, National Journal and The Atlantic. (He died covering the Iraq War in 2003.) The secretary was Fawn Hall, assistant to White House aide Oliver North and noteworthy for her ability to shred official documents with impressive dispatch.posted by the man of twists and turns at 11:42 AM on April 30, 2013
Obama's Justice Department Cracking Down On California Pot Shops
Feds threaten medical pot dispensaries with 40-year sentences
I guess the Buzzfeed joke at the dinner was not a signal that Obama might be chilling out on the marijuana issue.
posted by homunculus at 4:28 PM on May 1, 2013
Feds threaten medical pot dispensaries with 40-year sentences
I guess the Buzzfeed joke at the dinner was not a signal that Obama might be chilling out on the marijuana issue.
posted by homunculus at 4:28 PM on May 1, 2013
I have no idea how anyone can maintain that level of cognitive dissonance.
posted by Joe in Australia at 6:57 PM on May 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Joe in Australia at 6:57 PM on May 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
I have no idea how anyone can maintain that level of cognitive dissonance.
I imagine he has a good sense of who he is, who the federal government is and who the American people are and just keeps juggling and trying not to drop one.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 11:52 PM on May 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
I imagine he has a good sense of who he is, who the federal government is and who the American people are and just keeps juggling and trying not to drop one.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 11:52 PM on May 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
My Racist Encounter at the White House Correspondents' Dinner
posted by bardophile at 5:11 AM on May 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by bardophile at 5:11 AM on May 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
well, bardophile, that's a big pile of shit.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 3:59 PM on May 8, 2013
posted by the man of twists and turns at 3:59 PM on May 8, 2013
The secretary was Fawn Hall, assistant to White House aide Oliver North and noteworthy for her ability to shred official documents with impressive dispatch.
Speaking of Ollie: Fox News Invites Convicted Cover-Up Expert Oliver North To Comment On Alleged Benghazi Cover-Up
posted by homunculus at 8:17 PM on May 8, 2013
Speaking of Ollie: Fox News Invites Convicted Cover-Up Expert Oliver North To Comment On Alleged Benghazi Cover-Up
posted by homunculus at 8:17 PM on May 8, 2013
well, bardophile, that's a big pile of shit.
I hope you mean this person's experience, and not my comment.
posted by bardophile at 8:50 PM on May 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
I hope you mean this person's experience, and not my comment.
posted by bardophile at 8:50 PM on May 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
bardophile: no, the way she was treated. Awful, awful.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 9:00 PM on May 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by the man of twists and turns at 9:00 PM on May 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
yes. I am so grateful never to have had to put up with something like that.
posted by bardophile at 9:11 PM on May 8, 2013
posted by bardophile at 9:11 PM on May 8, 2013
My Racist Encounter at the White House Correspondents' Dinner
New thread.
posted by homunculus at 10:36 AM on May 9, 2013
New thread.
posted by homunculus at 10:36 AM on May 9, 2013
Or not. Little red box came up just as I was about to hit 'Post comment'.
posted by homunculus at 10:41 AM on May 9, 2013
posted by homunculus at 10:41 AM on May 9, 2013
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posted by Jernau at 9:54 AM on April 28, 2013 [9 favorites]