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March 13, 2005
A handy guide to topical humor
Last night was the 120th annual Gridiron Dinner, a Washington event at which rich, powerful people gather to make jokes about lighthearted subjects such as war. While some might argue that this tradition seems extremely unfunny, or even grotesque, I say: Let them have their fun!
The problem, however, is that the jokes are only funny if you’re a news junkie. If you don’t read the paper, you’ll probably be left scratching your head. That’s why I’ve prepared a little guide to the evening’s humor for those who are too busy to keep up but who still enjoy a good chuckle:
-- There was a line about how U.S. soldiers in Iraq would like to borrow Donald Rumsfeld’s “Teflon coating.” This is funny because we don’t have enough bulletproof vests to go around.
-- President Bush made a joke about how the only good press he’s getting for Social Security reform is from journalist Armstrong Williams. This is funny because the Bush administration got caught bribing him. ***
-- One of the songs, sung to the tune of “Rawhide,” includes the lines “make it up, get it wrong – press corps!” This is funny because several recent scandals have shaken the public’s faith in the news media.
-- There was a joke about how the NCAA basketball tournament is a lot like our diplomatic relations because it starts with 64 teams “and they’re whittled down to one.” This is funny because a number of our close allies strongly oppose our foreign policy.
-- A humorous song called “God and Guns and Gays” was performed by a “heartland voter.” This is funny because each of the nouns in the song’s title begins with the letter “g.”
-- One joke mentioned sending Democratic advisor Bob Shrum to North Korea to help its leader, Kim Jong Il. This is funny because Shrum has presided over eight losing campaigns. It’s also funny because Kim Jong Il is crazy, has a nuclear weapons program, and hates the United States.
***Turns out that joke was planned but wasn't told (a newspaper reported it incorrectly and later issued a correction). But the bribing part is true. And, you know, kind of funny.
Posted by teb at March 13, 2005 12:56 PM