Todo Tiene Su Como-Se-Llama

Don't Close the Money Hole!

Personally, I think we should outsource the Money Hole.

The Death of Political Humor

So, there have been a lot of articles and blogposts and whatnot entertaining the speculation that political humor is about to have to go on a 4-year (at least) hiatus. Really? You think Obama has sucked all of the air out of the Funny Room? Honestly, I would just guess that people are bored and looking for any topic to fill the post-election vacuum, but let's see how the idea holds up anyway.

At first I was confused as to why no one seemed to consider that conservatives would be quick to step in with a joke or two at the expense of the new administration, but then I remembered that conservatives aren't very funny. Does anyone remember The 1/2 Hour News Hour, Fox News's answer to The Daily Show? No, because while the latter is in its thirteenth year and has been joined by an equally-successful spin-off entering its fourth year, the Fox offering flopped like a drunken diver after six months on the air. Why? It wasn't funny, so no one watched it.

Meanwhile, one example of conservative political humor that I've heard during the last week is: "So did you hear that the White House is now the Black House?" This, while lacking the caustic and embittered tone of most of what I've been hearing, sounds like something an elementary-age child dreamed up. In short, we can't expect the right-wing to pick up the slack in the humor department.

But do we really think that moderate and liberal humorists will be forced to abandon a suddenly-dry well of topical humor? Surely not, and as an example of what I mean, I present to you two hilarious videos from the past few days. The first is from a website I just discovered (236.com), and should be avoided if you find profanity offensive (there are, like, two).

The second is a clip from The Daily Show, which should answer specifically an article I saw which wondered if Stewart's comedy could survive an Obama presidency. Granted, he takes a few shots at Bush and spends the lion's share of the clip on his favorite target (the media), but there are some definite jabs in Obama's direction. Enjoy:

Shillelaghs and Shamrocks!

An Irish band called "Hardy Drew and the Nancy Boys" (yes, really) presents a celebratory election song: "There's No One as Irish as Barack Obama."

You can tell they're really from Ireland because they think Texas is celebrating McCain's loss. Catchy song, though.

President Obama

Well, it's over. The race has been called, an overwhelming victory for Barack Obama. McCain has given his concession speech and walked gracefully off the stage with that woman. I would like to take this opportunity to wish Gov. Palin a safe flight home to Alaska, where I hope she will have the sense to remain.

Seriously, though, this is a really really big deal. No matter how you feel about the new president-elect, take a moment to reflect on this milestone. The last time a 3rd party carried any electoral votes was in 1968, when George Wallace won 5 southern states on an anti-desegregation platform. 40 years later, there is a black man in the White House. Try to be proud of it, because it is worth being proud of. Be proud because, if nothing else, we have collectively chosen our president out of hope rather than out of fear. The hope may be misplaced, but the fear was certainly misguided.

Even more importantly, though, I would like to take this moment to offer some advice to McCain voters. Don't spend the next four years (or even the next four days) weeping and gnashing your teeth. Get over it, and get over it fast. There's nothing to be afraid of, and there never was. (And I would like to point out that, Palin aside, I was never really concerned by the idea of a McCain presidency.)

In fact, we could even make a deal. You try really hard not to go ape about an Obama presidency, and I will do my best not to laugh at you (at least not out loud) when all of your outrageous predictions for the next four years fail to come about. Whaddya say?