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I suppose humor and political stances are inherently tied. Not to say conservitives aren't funny - they're just funny to other conservitives? Perhaps. I'm still not seeing the humor in many of them besides the truely absurd styleings of Pat Buchanan. Even just restricted to this board, there's not one conservitive-minded poster who I think is funnier than the vast majority of Liberal minded ones. Stone, veggie and frostwolf certianly included.
"Yes, we call that the Dennis Miller ratio."
Yeah, sure, many conservative politicians may be personable or even funny on a personal level, but they are still not funny in the way I'm talking about. They're not really capable of the sort of ironic, biting detachment so necessary to good, humorous writing.Quote:
Originally Posted by frostwolf ex
Bill Maher is funny, yes, but he is conservative by no definition of the word.
Thomas Sowell is about as funny as Mallard Fillmore, which is to say not at all.
Yeah, that's what I think too. They say all comedy comes from suffering, and that you can't be funny unless you have some understanding of the concept. Still, I don't understand why there aren't more (or any, to my knowledge) truly funny conservative authors from these sorts of backgrounds.Quote:
2. comics tend to come from blue collar or middle class backgrounds, usually fertile ground for democrats, due to their populist roots and strong union affiliations(though not as much nowadays they fared very poorly in the more southern rural areas and typically blue collar areas in the last presedential election.). so naturally from that background, they are typically more liberal. Plus, not that a lot of the better known writers are baby boomers,they are typically more liberal.
That's not really what I'm talking about at all. In my experience, conservatives (at least the ones who are my age) do all this stuff as much as liberals do. Inversely, one doesn't have to partake in this sort of behavior to be funny. "Fun" perhaps (by some people's limited definition), but not funny. You can have a gift for humor without lighting up a single bong in your lifetime.Quote:
3. there is a public perception that conservatives are more stern and disciplined whereas liberals are more fun. keep in mind, bill clinton did turn the democrats into the "party of the blowjob" so they are more identified with fun. My favorite comparison is, republicans are the stern uncles who make you save your money and go to the dentist, whereas the democrats are the stoner uncle who lets you take a hit off his joint and play videogames till 3 am. one is responsable, one is fun.
George Carlin, Steve Martin, Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence, Richard Belzer, Steven Wright, Bill Maher... actually, most of the good comedians are over 30.Quote:
4. conservatives are typically older, look at today's stand up comics, i dont see a lot over 30. Witht he notable exception of the baby boomers, who i argue never grow up, the funny comes from the young.
But I don't really think age has an impact on it. Conservatives are a much more diverse lot these days, which makes me expect that there'd be some funny new blood out there, but alas I have yet to see it.
Not at all. You all have your moments.Quote:
7. WAIT, you are saying that stone, veggie and i arent funny??? bastard!
I've heard this lately, and to be honest, after watching his comedy for over a decade I don't understand how anyone can consider him "conservative." Then again, I haven't read his books or seen his HBO show, so maybe he became a right-winger after a decade of bashing the Reagan/Bush administration on SNL. *shrug*Quote:
Dennis Miller: Extremely intelligent, funny as hell and Conservative.
Well, I've watched him plenty, through SNL to now, loved his HBO show and have seen plenty of interviews with him. Just because he bashes other conservatives doesn't make him any less conservative. He calls himself conservative and even does a comedy spot on Fox News' Hannity & Colmes, which Colmes (the Democrat) never agrees with. I saw an interview not too long ago with him asking him how he deals with being a conservative in a really liberal town and industry. He said most of his friends are liberals and they just have to agree to disagree. You could probably download some of his "Rants" (that's what he called his show closers on HBO) from a p2p.Quote:
Originally Posted by sleeveboy
All that I have to add is this: Franken was funny on SNL, and on that show he's a comedian. Franken's books, while funny, are trite, mean and hateful. In real life, he passes off his vitriol as satire when his scathing intentions are clearly seen underneath. I loved the Rush book, it was great. I haven't read the one about Fox News, but I'm sure it's hilarious. That doesn't change the fact that he's ill-meaning and rude underneath the thin layer of comedy.
And that's coming from a registered Democrat and a liberal.
Stone used to be REALLY liberal up until like a year ago, then he started changing his opinions. But before he started changing, he didn't seem to care about being funny. He's always been a really focused, serious guy.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tracer
Almaci's funny, but I don't think he's trying to be, kind of like Pat Buchanan. ;)
I think you should read the "Liars" book. I don't think it's trite, mean, or hateful at all. Passionate, perhaps, but also quite honest and occasionally even humble.Quote:
Originally Posted by Calliander
See, to me, Franken always has that "humble" air about him. Did you read that "Oh! The Things I Whatever!" whatever book? He uses that self-deprecating stuff a lot to sort of balance out the absurdity of some of the things he says. I'm at work right now without the books in front of me, so don't ask for me to prove it yet, but he does say some pretty far-out-there things.