Wednesday, November 19, 2008

So Much Snark - So Little Time

David Letterman called this ...

President-Elect Meets President-Inept



Seemed to suit the moment. Although I do think "inept" is far too kind. But hopefully history, special investigations and the courts will sort that out.

If you don't watch Dave you should at least catch his 'Great Moments in Presidential Speeches' spots. Probably on his site and Youtube. Soak in the contrast between a speech by 'W' and any other President - ever!! Even before there were recording devices!!

Because after January 20 we are going to need to get reacquainted with what the English language sounds like coming from the White House. Whole sentences, complete thoughts and not a folkism to be found.

Imagine that!! I can.

47 comments:

Schmoop said...

Ha. I catch a replay of Letterman's Presidential Speeches on Scarborough in the morning.

As far as Dubya's classic, comic gold, quotes, I will forever miss him. Cheer Di!!

Linda Reeder said...

Watching W makes me squirm. I may pass.

Jay said...

I don't know what the late night shows are going to do without Dubya to kick around. They'll all go through withdrawals.

Happy Elf Mom (Christine) said...

Love ya, but I think you're misunderestimating President Bush's intelligence. :] Actually, I don't agree with everything he has done, but I will miss him, all things considered.

I think it remains to be seen how well Mr. Obama governs our nation. Bear in mind that while he won the election, it was by no means a landslide even though McCain was sure nothing to crow home about. Contrary to what I read on the more liberal blogs, I feel that has very little to do with racism, but a very fundamental difference in ideals in terms of where to steer our nation.

And may I say that the two "sides" of each issue are becoming more polarized? Less likely to listen to one another? How is our nation to work toward a common goal if the goals are NOT held in common?

Bless you, my friend, as always!

Anonymous said...

Oh I am so glad to have discovered your blog, for so many reasons, the snark being real high on my list. I just saw this new post title in my blog alert, and started laughing (out loud, ask my cat!) before I even got here. I used to watch Letterman a long time ago, but switched over to Leno. But when he retires I will def go back to Dave. We all have our little likes and dislikes, and for some reason I'd rather chew aluminum foil than watch Conan. Well, time to go check out the political videos you mentioned; it's so gosh-darned refreshing to listen to Obama instead of Dubya!

Anonymous said...

I used to take hope and inspiration from watching the hard fought US elections, with all the "passion", then despite their differences the majority of American people rallied to support their President, respecting the Office of President.

8 years ago that changed. I'm sad to see this regrettable practice continues even at the cost of self sabotage!

I know I'm just an outsider, an observer from afar, but this is what I see.

CG said...

Oh this really nade me laugh. I will miss President Bush but for all the wrong reasons...!

Dianne said...

matt-man - I find Scarborough so difficult to watch lol
I wonder if W's Presidential library will include a comedy corner - that would bring them in.

linda - I know what you mean although it gets easier the closer to 1/20 we get.

jay - and they have all been saying that!! Craig Ferguson said he wanted McCain to win simply and selfishly for the comedic value. I suppose they can keep hoping Sarah doesn't shut up.

mrs c - 'misunderestimated' is one of my all time favorites!!! Actually I think there's a book of Bushisms or there soon will be. My friend Jeni posts from the calendar of Bushisms.
I agree about the polarization and it worries me big time but I want to see how Obama will overcome that. Already I'm not too happy with some of his cabinet choices and since I am considered far left of center I guess that means he's doing something right.

deborah - I love people who appreciate snark and sarcasm. I have been getting on my own nerves with my overly sentimental need to be some kind of fucking uniting force on the Internet tubes. I don't wish to divide or offend intentionally but I'm not going to sacrifice my sense of humor in the bargain. When Dave said "President Inept" last night I just had to share and it felt so good to be snarky once more. As Better Midler (who will play me in the movie) always says - "fuck em if they can't take a joke"

Dianne said...

rob - as a citizen of the world you're no outsider to me :)
and you're right. divide and conquer is Bush's legacy. he started it during his campaign and he perfected it after 9/11. Obama has so much work to do just to get people back to the table.

cg - missing him for all the wrong reasons is exactly it!! I love it.

Sylvia K said...

We had our TV service shut off, but I watch a lot of stuff on YouTube. Never could watch Scarborough. It will be interesting to listen to whole sentences again -- complete thoughts! Wow! like classical music instead of hillbilly -- I like some country music, but you get the picture!

Dianne said...

sylvia - Youtube is a fantastic resource. Also CBS.com is actually quite good about putting up clips and monologues - especially for Craig Ferguson - he comes on after Dave and is brilliant.
And I totally get the classical music v. hillbilly picture. I'm also looking forward to the end of celebrating being stupid and proud of it.

Raven said...

I'm so looking forward to coherent language again. And someone who doesn't talk down to us in sound bites. And someone who tells the truth...

I'll have to go check out letterman. Imagine we might have an attorney general who has respect for the law. Wow. Oh, I'm getting snarky myself, now...

Leighann said...

I don't know why it's so hard for everyone to understand W.... I mean, all you have to do is stand on your head, sqeeze your buttcheeks and gnaw on tin foil!

Voila!

Jeni said...

I dearly love snark and sarcasm! All three of my kids are pretty darned good at dealing out generous dollops of both of those things too so when the four of us get together, Katie ba the door!
As to things still being around -looks like Ms. "I can see Russia from my house" Palin is still schlepping around, putting out generous doses of lies and misinterpretations about the election so that makes her still available then on the S&S stage, doesn't it?

bobbie said...

I will actually start watching and listening to Presidential addresses again. I could not force myself to watch W at all.

Ivanhoe said...

Yup, that's going to be quite a change ;o)
I hope he can do much more then quality speeches though :o)

Anonymous said...

Let’s celebrate the triumph of eloquence and largesse over ignorance and mean spiritedness. While the world was still reeling from the shock of 911, the unifying potential of the event was subverted to the cynical motivations of the Bush administration. Under the narrow banner of jingoism, voices were silenced. Phil Donahue was fired for speaking out against the invasion of Iraq. Late night hosts were under a gag order to suppress any impulse to satirize “our dear leader.”

Now that we are coming to the end of a political ice age, I do not fear for lack of humor. There will always be personalities and events to lampoon. And it will be so refreshing to have a young and vibrant family in the White House. I hope we never take ourselves so seriously as to not be able to laugh at ourselves.

I too am concerned about some of Obama’s appointments: recycled Clintonistas and neoliberal economists Summers and Rubin. Today Eric Holder was tapped for the office of Secretary General. He supports the Patriot act, stiffer penalties for drug crimes and he is currently defending Chiquita brands against working families in Columbia. It will be up to us to put pressure on Obama to move in a progressive direction, to transform symbol into substance.

Is there an award for queen of snark? Keep it up sister Diane!!!

Daryl said...

A few clips from his address at the Economic Dog & Pony Show he hosted was enough to make my ears bleed .. the contrast to the press conference P-E Obama gave a few days earlier was amazing.

No smirks, no leaning on an elbow whilst making a pointless point, no folksy swallowed/cut off word endings.

But I will say this .. P-E Obama has to stop saying TA in place of TO .. that's it, that's my nit and I've picked it. Now I am done.

:-Daryl

Dianne said...

raven - not to mention an Attorney General with a memory ;)

leighann - the truth comes out!! that's how I hurt my ankle ;)
during a press conference

jeni - my poor SIL - when my brothers and I and the rest of us were all together it was just to much to keep with ;)
now she's my ex-SIL though I doubt sarcasm had anything to do with that lol

bobbie - I know!! with 'W' I had to read the transcipts and even those bugged me. I'll never forget 20 minutes of a press conference spent on whether or not a reporter was wearing a seersucker suit. OY!!

ivanhoe - that is a valid concern. I think he can. Plus the first part of the battle is getting people to understand, to listen and he is very good at that.

gabrielle - I haven't had a chance to research Holder yet. That is very disturbing. It's funny (ironic really) how so many people think Obama is left when he is so far center it sometimes worries me.

Dianne said...

daryl - you mean his bits of "I'm a regular guy from the streets"? I nitpick that. But so much pressure not to be 'elite'

maryt/theteach said...

Great post Dianne! I'll have your award pasted in about 15 minutes... Thanks so much again! :)

Kaylia Metcalfe said...

heh

I have nothing to add
I am just so darn happy.

Out with the W... in the with O!!!

Vinny "Bond" Marini said...

We might get bored with the English language spoken correctly.... NAH!

Dianne said...

mary - I saw the post!! You picked 2 great people to pass it on to :)

kay - election night when Ohio was called a friend called me screaming into the phone (she didn't even say hello first) - "Lordy it's the Big O, the Big O I tell you"
Priceless moment

bond - Nah is right ;) Or actually - No sir I shall not LOLOLOL

Anonymous said...

The American political arena has moved so far to the right that center appears to be far left. I remember noting that Obama was somewhere to the right of Eisenhower on someone's blog and getting blasted from both sides. Anyway, the dialectic is at work and we are regaining our balance.

Anonymous said...

Oy, once again with the anonymous. It's me, gabrielle.

Queen-Size funny bone said...

I'd love to be a fly on the wall when these two are together.

Travis Cody said...

Right now I'm dealing with a couple different kinds of opinions around me. Opinion the first is "so, he's been elected now where's all this change he promised?" Opinion the second is simply a rehashing of how we got to this point in our history and who is to blame.

My position is that we all have to be ready and willing to make changes in our own lives, and I'm not just talking about going green or tightening the budget to get through these tough economic times. I'm talking about respecting that people are going to disagree, and talking things through without shouting at each other.

I don't expect a magic recovery pill at one minute past noon on 20 Jan 2009. Nor does the entire first term fail at two minutes past noon on 20 Jan 2009.

As to the comedy, the cream shall rise to the top. Comics might have to work a bit harder to find the gems.

Rambling Woods said...

I do love those speech clips..what a contrast..

New Rambling Woods Site

Linda Murphy said...

I heart Obama. A LOT can be said for eloquence and diplomacy. I am looking forward to the whole sentences and correct pronunciations myself!

Dave's Great Moments are AWESOME!

I wanted to ask you how your foot is doing lately...haven't heard any updates, but just checking in.

Dianne said...

gabrielle - I love the Oy lol
and yes, center is left to many which is why I seem so out there when I'm really just progressive. what a mess.

queen size funny bone - did you see McCain and Obama together? Now that really looked uncomfortable, even when they talked football

travis - I agree with one modification. Sometimes people have to agree to disagree BUT they have to let people move forward at the same time. Gay marriage is a perfect example. People keep telling me it's a disagreement. It's not - it is a movement to deny human rights. People want to believe homosexuality is wrong - fine - but get out of the way of others. I'd love to see all parochial schools closed. I'd love to see most churches and their groups - the Knights of Columbus for example - denied tax free status. But that doesn't mean I'm going to stand in front of schools keeping kids for going in.

rambling - they are funny!! I loved the one the other night where he's just staring off into space saying 'who cares about Africa' - priceless

snoop - it's acting up again. swelling is back, brace isn't strong enough, PT needs to be reviewed by insurance co. I am sooooo sick of myself!! thanks for asking. I read that Obama was going to mandate that autism therapies be covered by insurance. Am I understanding that correctly?

RW said...

Who's president Bush?

kenju said...

I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to that!!

Debo Blue said...

This was cute:)

Snark and sarcasm. It's in my DNA.

Anonymous said...

I'm so looking forward to not cringeing when the news goes over to the White House :)

Fran said...

Hi Dianne! Thanks for stopping by my blog!

I love this post - inept, snort!

It is great to ponder full sentences and wise, reflective thoughts combined with thoughtful actions in the White House, isn't it?

Dianne said...

roger - ;) you're so cute when you're funny
It's the 'end of an error'


kenju - you, me and many millions :)

debo - then you've got some great DNA ;)
love the picture!!

jackie - yes!! another bonus, the rest of world won't think we're all illiterate cowboy wanna-bes. I remember a press conference where Bush was in really rare form - mispronouncing left and right. At his side was some official from the Middle East. When he spoke his English was so crisp and proper. It was pathetic.

FranIAm - thanks!! glad you liked it. I have about 60 days to get it all out of system. Unless there are trials of course - Oh My.
I too am looking forward to the return of thought.

Tink said...

Wow, a president who doesn't make us all look like blubbering idiots. Whatever will we do?! ;)

Diane Mandy said...

WOn't it be dandy?

Did you hear a week or so back the some GOP analysts were actually criticizing Obama's speaking ability and encouraging him to speak more like Bush? Seriously. I couldn't find the original story, but someone blogged about here.

http://oxdown.firedoglake.com/diary/1677

Crazy, huh?

Dianne said...

tink - hopefully it will inspire more people to speak as though they are thinking LOL
welcome back sadie sadie married lady :)

diane - it's crazy but doesn't surprise me. there is an element in this country who want to equate intelligent with arrogant - elite as they always called them. they do it so they can revel in their ignorance as Palin does.

Unknown said...

I wish I'd been a fly on the wall for that meeting!

Unknown said...

Ok. I never said it during the entire, long campaign but...besides being a master speaker and a very intelligent and articulate man; he is also very easy on the eyes.

And it'll be so cool to have little kids in the white house.

Those are my sort of "regular American" observations. :-)

Dianne said...

boliyou - LOL!! too bad Nixon wasn't still around, he'd have tapes of it all

pagan - OH I agree!! he is very good looking, and it will be fun to have a young family in the White House.

OldLady Of The Hills said...

Indeed, Indeed! I love Letterman....And That particular segment is always Hilarious, YET, terribly depressing. I watch it and laugh sometimes, but ALWAYS Shake my head in disbelief---That this man is the Leader of The Free World, and what an e,barassment he is! Help Us Oh Lord!

It will be a joy to finally hear the English Language spoken, once again! It cannot happen soon enough for me! (lol)

Dianne said...

oldoldlady of the hills - I love Dave too, been watching him from the start. Can't happen soon enough for me either. Imagine how awkward Inaguration Day is going to be - all those farewell shots of a President who few people care is gone. I'd still love to see him leave in handcuffs.

Anndi said...

Do you suppose the nay-sayers that have been crying about Obama being the second coming of Marx would be willing to admit he did good if/when he actually manages to make a positive difference and restore some dignity to the highest office in your land?

Me either...

Dianne said...

anndi - I'm sorry to say I don't think so either. Not to mention the fact that dignity has little value among that ilk.