MovieChat Forums > The ½ Hour News Hour (2007) Discussion > Republicans, don't try and be funny

Republicans, don't try and be funny

posted 17 years ago by BurlBrule
35 replies | jump to latest

Because you simply aren't. Period. Humour takes wit, creativity and style, which is everything a conservative doesn't have, as they are permanently incapable of being cool in any sense. To be funny and creative, one needs a free mind and the conservative mindset doesn't allow for this kind of thinking. They obey authority instead.

Your humour, or what passes for it, it so stale, flat, boring, predictable, cliche, that's it is painful to witness.

Need an example, just watch this awful show. You know why is it so lame, because it is reactive only.

No one at Fox dreamed up this show out of the blue because they have great ideas, rather this show is on the air as a reaction to the success of the Daily Show and Colbert. Since they feel the need to 'balance' the media, this sloppy mess of a show turns up on the air. Dennis Miller needs some airtime too, since MSNBC canned his lame circle jerk show last year. Angry paranoid bitter baby boomers need a voice too, dangit!

This show is just as stale as christian music is to mainstream music, never innovative, only imitative, and horribly bad at that.

[–] awing89 17 years ago

What you mean is "Don't try *to* be funny." Saying "and" there means that Republicans should not try to be funny *and* that they should not be funny. This conflicts with your statement that conservatives can't be funny at all.

[–] MyOpinionIsFact 17 years ago

Wow, are you a writer for the show?

[–] ThingyBlahBlah3 17 years ago

Actually, what his sentence really means is, "Republicans, don't try, and be funny," as in, "You should stop trying to do anything, and just tell jokes instead." And I for one couldn't agree more. If Bush, Cheney, Condi, and the Fox News gang would all quit politics and become stand-up comedians, I'd be happy to go see them perform (but only if it meant that they'd already quit their day jobs).

[–] zwolf 17 years ago

Republicans are only funny in a "laugh *at*" sort of way. I have a very-Republican co-worker who's hilarious. She can't tell a joke to save her life and has never said anything clever, but she believes so many dumb and insane things that it cracks everybody up. She's always asking incredibly stupid questions, like "How big is a convertible?" and "What is Buddhism? I can't think about that without thinkin' of them people stickin' them pins in them dolls!" and "Gullible... that's two words, right? G-U-L-L, A-B-L-E?" or "How do you spell 'la la'?" or "Where can I go to get something engraved on a Christmas stocking?" or "What's bye-lee-ards? Is that a game?" (I looked at the paper she was reading from... it's "billiards.") She also believes the world is only 6,000 years old and thinks the sun goes around it, and that scientists are "crazy."

So, yeah, Republicans can be funny as something to laugh *at.*

For the most part, though, they absolutely don't get it... they're missing out on everything cool in life and are angry 'til they die because of it.

[–] ejavignon 17 years ago

I don't think your co-worker represents all Republicans zwolf, but the GOP has certainly been more successful at winning over the profoundly ignorant in American society. Bush's own stupidity has proven to be one of his greatest assets in a society that more and more regards intellectualism with suspicion and critical thought as a vice.

[–] grimmchoices 17 years ago

If all those things she said is true (and I do believe you), that is one of the funniest things ever. She could be a character on a TV show. No lie.

Your love of the halfling's leaf has clearly slowed your mind.

[–] BMFMONOXIDE 17 years ago

The OP is a fool. Conservatives can be just as witty as anybody. Many people are conservative without being closed-minded and prudish. All prudes are conservatives, however, not all conservatives are prudes.

For example, I consider myself to have a liberal mindset (actually....it's more libertarian) with conservative politics.

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] rubi6047 17 years ago

Mystery Science Theater 3000 is the funniest show ever on television. The host and something like 60% of the writers are Midwest conservatives.

Sweet sassy, when in God's name did any of them claim to be conservative, and how did that have bearing on their humor?
You cons will just try and claim anybody, won't you?

Do you know how you would sound if you were talking instead about, say, a minority group?

Now that, my friends, is comedy. And like all Republican comedy, it became a pitiful cliche when it was run into the ground 5 years ago.

[–] 1985movies_rock 17 years ago

Do you, rubi, and Jon Stewart for that matter, have nothing better to do than needle republicans? A sad existence indeed....

"Midnight Snack Movie Reviews"
http://drmetuza.blogspot.com

[–] rubi6047 17 years ago

You're grouping me and Jon Stewart? I must say, it's certainly consistent with Republican behavior, but even for one of you, it seems you're looking at the issue through a very narrow scope.
Frankly, I doubt science will ever be able to tell us how creatures like you are created, but your attempts at conversation always make for a fun time. I appreciate the vague, impotent attempts of gaining an upper hand somehow.

Hm... weren't we talking about something. Ah well. At least you changed the subject like any good Republican would. But I thought they only did that when backed into a corner? I'll have to add this to my research...

[–] muwx2002 17 years ago

Republicans, don't try and be funny... Because you simply aren't. Period. Humour takes wit, creativity and style, which is everything a conservative doesn't have, as they are permanently incapable of being cool in any sense. To be funny and creative, one needs a free mind and the conservative mindset doesn't allow for this kind of thinking. They obey authority instead.

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Well said! I knew from day one this show would not work out b/c conservatives aren't funny. I knew from early on Air America would not do well b/c Liberals don't sit around listening to boring talk radio... they are out enjoying life.

[–] nyykrmv 17 years ago

"Republicans, don't try to be funny...Because you simply aren't. Period. Humour takes wit, creativity and style, which is everything a conservative doesn't have, as they are permanently incapable of being cool in any sense. To be funny and creative, one needs a free mind and the conservative mindset doesn't allow for this kind of thinking. They obey authority instead."

Like, for example, the wonderful "free mind" you just exhibited by stereotyping an entire group of people just because you don't agree with them?

[–] rubi6047 17 years ago

Now THAT- accusing a "liberal" of being hypocritical by being intolerant and passing judgement on you just because you're an idiot- was original.

[–] nyykrmv 17 years ago

Thanks for your response. Calling me an idiot because I had the nerve to point something out.

Thank you so much for exposing yourself for the type of person you really are.

Please feel to keep posting.

[–] nyykrmv 17 years ago

Typo in last post:

Please feel free to keep posting.

[–] rubi6047 17 years ago

Honestly, you cons are getting boring. Of course anybody could see a mile away how you're going to reply to a post, being that your pool of responses is pretty limited, but now you're falling into amateur traps by being convinced to repeat yourself.

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] nyykrmv 17 years ago

It's interesting that you feel that way, since you've done nothing but fill your posts with insults based upon stereotypes.

And you say that, "anybody could see a mile away how you're going to reply to a post." And you say that the conservatives' "pool of reponses is pretty limited."

No, actually that's the way that you're behaving. Do you know what "projection" is?

Here's a link to help you out.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological_projection

P.S. One of my pet peeves is people who accuse of others of the very thing that they themselves are doing.

[–] rubi6047 17 years ago

Do you know what "projection" is?

Yes, it's psychobabble for "I know you are but what am I", and as such very much in line with con logic.

Ugh, what is it about you people continuing to talk well after you've made it clear you have nothing to add?

[–] nyykrmv 17 years ago

No, it is not simply that. What, you couldn't read the link?
Your childish post just proved my point again.

[–] rubi6047 17 years ago

It starts to get boring when you just sputter and repeat yourself, but that tends to happen with you guys around the third post or so.

[–] nyykrmv 17 years ago

It's also what tends to happen when you continue to prove me right.

[–] rubi6047 17 years ago

Oh look, a con just declared himself correct after flailing around like an idiot for awhile. You never see that, especially not on these boards. Yes, yes, I was the one proving you right.

From the beginning when you accused a stopid pomtsoking libarul of being intolerant of... something, I knew you would be a worthy opponent. The originality and intelligence just went from there, and there was not a single contrarian-for-the-sake-of-contrarian vibe through the whole ordeal. With such clearly-drawn arguments as the ones you displayed, it was inevitable. The fact that you got distracted to the point of repeating yourself in ever-fewer words can be overlooked.
And in true con fashion, I am sure you'll resist the urge to reply with impotent attempts at sarcasm, and ramble in vague and general terms about something you said being proven correct somehow.

So, do you have anything else besides a sad need to get the last word in or can we just agree Republicans can't tell a joke to save their lives?

Good. I see we're in agreement then. That's why 1/2 Hour News Hour was cancelled. The market decided, Commie. If you don't like it, you can move to China.

[–] nyykrmv 17 years ago

Here's the deal. All I did was respond to a post from someone (not even you) criticising conservatives for not being free-minded. He (or she) made an argument based upon blatant stereotypes. I simply pointed out that in doing so, while claiming to be free-minded, demonstrated hypocrisy. The way I was raised, free-minded people did not use stereotypes.

Then out of nowhere, you came along and did the following:

1. Immediately labeled me an idiot. Oh yeah, that's real free-minded and mature.
2. Continued to use vast generalizations and caustic, hateful insults against me.

I then tried to point out in my own way that not ony did your behavior not show me to be wrong, but actually only made you just as guilty as the original poster.

And here's the fun part. You continue to chastize me for "repeating myself" while failing to notice that every time you post such insults, you do nothing but show yourself to be a pathetic, hate-filled hypocrite. You are, simply put, as far from free-minded as an individual can be.

New flash for you: Insults and childish behavior do not constitute arguments.

However, unlike you, notice how I do not paint all liberals as being guilty of such things? As you like to put all conservatives into neat little stereotypes.

It's fine if you didn't like the Half-Hour News Hour. But to attack it by using stereotypes like "conservatives can't be funny," is no different fron any other stereotypes that people like to use against various groups of people.

Do you not understand that basing arguments upon stereotypes is wrong no matter who your target is?

For the love of God, you actually don't get it? You continue to post these stereotypical arguments against conservatives. Do you not see how wrong that is?

And here's my favorite line in your last post:

"That's why 1/2 Hour News Hour was cancelled. The market decided, Commie. If you don't like it, you can move to China."

Nowhere did I ever address the cancellation of that show. When did I say I was dismayed at all? My only argument was against the use of stereotypes.

So maybe you can help me. I can't decide of you're guilty of using the fallacious "strawman argument," or the "red herring argument." Here's some links:

http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/straw-man.html
http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/red-herring.html

I'm thinking "red herring." But feel free to weigh in.

[–] nyykrmv 17 years ago

Hey, I just noticed this in your post:

"From the beginning when you accused a stopid pomtsoking libarul of being intolerant of... something"

When did I describe that poster as such? Can you point that out to me? And where exactly, outside of the occasional typo that we are all guilty of, did I make such horrible spelling errors? Now aren't you wrongfully characterizing me when you do that? Isn't that an attempt by you to cast all conservatives in a negative light. In other words, using stereotypes?

Now not only are you guilty of using stereotypes, but you're now also guilty of projecting that behavior on to me.

Hey look, proof you really are guilty of projection! Beings I never attacked that poster beyond what I saw as their hypocrisy.

[–] rubi6047 17 years ago

Damn, you people have really gotten lost since this show was cancelled. All the raving psychos went back into hiding and all that was left was... you guys, the green ones. You really just end up using the complaints that the other cons stopped using years ago, deciding to evolve past the talking points they had repeated to the point that everyone could see them coming and easily manipulate them into a frothing mess over.

[–] BMFMONOXIDE 17 years ago

You people are still debating this loser? Leave him alone---he won't know what to do with himself.

[–] nyykrmv 17 years ago

And who exactly is the loser here?

Me, the one who uses actual arguments?

Or the other person, who uses nothing but insults and gross stereotypes while completely ignoring any point the person he's arguing with makes?

[–] nyykrmv 17 years ago

I just checked the thread and saw your other post.
I know who you were referring to now.

[–] SirCrimson 16 years ago

The only Conservative I would say who is funny is Kelsey Grammer. And even then, he's pretty much a social liberal as he is friends with openly gay David Hyde Pierce and supports Rudy Giuliani.

[–] JimLoneWolf 17 years ago

Man, BurlBrule, you bring up one good point after another in this post. I'm sure the conservatives have already flamed the hell out of you for it on this thread...but you're absolutely right in everything you say.

I've been trying to figure out what it is that makes Conservatives think in the (in my opinion) obtuse way they do. I just don't get why they wouldn't read (for example) your post and think to themselves "you know, he brings up a really good point". Could it be pride, the people they consider "friends", upbringing/cultural exposure, or something else? I wonder.

The thing is, I think a lot of it is that they don't really know where to begin in looking for alternatives to what they already find familiar. It seems more and more clear to me that there are certain ways the mind works, and our minds simply work differently than theirs...in the ways you mention.

It's scary in a way that people can be so diametrically opposed as to have almost no way to communicate with each other...almost like a yin-yang. A lot of it probably has to do with experiences during the formative years. For me, I spent much of my childhood watching movies and reading. I listened to a lot of music, and continued reading and watching movies in high school and college. I have a feeling most Conservatives read very little during childhood and probably watched few movies as well. In fact, they probably weren't exposed to much "art" during this time as judging by their near-hysterical hatred of the film industry. This isn't true of all, of course, but I have a feeling it's true of many.

In high school they probably took to history and political science/American Government, but subjects like English probably held no appeal. The die had already been cast by then.

I realize this post is a little aimless, but I'm trying to understand how their minds work and why they are so different from you or I. Do you think childhood experience/parenting may have played as significant role as I think it does? I was given quite a bit of freedom by my parents. They didn't let me go out and get into trouble, but I was watching R rated movies and reading Stephen King before I was 13. I wonder, were you exposed to stuff like that at an early age also?

Anyway, great post.

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=29663098

[–] rubi6047 17 years ago

It's less complicated than that.

Really, the thing is that all the liberal atheist scientists out there are so concerned with being PC, that they're hiding the obvious from us: Not only has the Missing Link been found, but it's still alive and flourishing today.

[–] nyykrmv 16 years ago

In your post you asked:

"I just don't get why they wouldn't read (for example) your post and think to themselves "you know, he brings up a really good point". Could it be pride, the people they consider "friends", upbringing/cultural exposure, or something else? I wonder."

Or could it be that I simply disagree with such an insulting characterization? And could it be that I resent your implication that because I'm a conservative I should consider this analysis to be inherently accurate and say to myself, "he brings up a really good point?" Do you really not see that by asking why we don't think that, what you're really asking is, "how come conservatives don't realize we are right and they are wrong about this, because...well, they're conservatives and we're liberals?"

Let's take this quote from your post:

"For me, I spent much of my childhood watching movies and reading. I listened to a lot of music, and continued reading and watching movies in high school and college. I have a feeling most Conservatives read very little during childhood and probably watched few movies as well. In fact, they probably weren't exposed to much "art" during this time as judging by their near-hysterical hatred of the film industry. This isn't true of all, of course, but I have a feeling it's true of many."

Do you have any idea how arrogant and condescending that reads?

[–] Ricochet84 15 years ago

Republicans may not be funny, but Liberal & Dumocrats sure are, it's just that Libs & dums are funny when they are Trying to be serious.