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February 27, 2007
Conservatives and Comedy
Growing up one of my friends was a transplant from the South, having spent a few years of his youth down in Florida and Georgia before moving up to Illinois with his family. Despite living the vast majority of his life on this side of the Mason-Dixon Line, he continues to this day to call himself a Southerner.
He was also a moderate conservative. He was never very political through the 90s under Bubba - he reluctantly admitted he liked Clinton because things were going well, and realized how stupid it was to impeach a guy for lying about getting a hummer. But he still claimed to be a Southern Conservative, which is why he voted for George W. Bush in 2000.
When we were kids he was the one whose idea of humor was exaggeration. He couldn't tell a simple funny story - no, he had to go way over the top with everything he said. In essence, lying. But we were kids - we knew he was blowing things out of proportion - that was part of his schtick. As we got older I even busted him a few times making up completely fake stories just to get a laugh. But that was our Southern Friend - it's just how he was.
Then 9/11 happened. And some lever somewhere in his mind, and I think the minds of many Conservatives, flipped. His "jokes" became more and more mean-spirited. It was easier to make fun of someone than tell a funny story. All of a sudden anyone with darker skin who spoke with a weird accent was subject to a vicious punchline. And anybody who disagreed with the President wanted the terrorists to win. He didn't just exaggerate anymore: he flat-out lied to make his points, funny or not.
We're not close anymore. When he called me a terrorist for disagreeing with him and the President I knew we were pretty much at the end of the road with our friendship. But by that time the writing was already on the wall. He wasn't funny anymore. He was mean. I never knew if what he was saying was true, a blatant lie, or something he heard on Rush or Fox News that he was simply repeating because a conservative said it so it must be true. He had become a sad, bitter man with few friends other than his second wife. Unfortunately, the math seemed pretty clear to me: the more conservative he became, the less funny and less likable he became as well.
Now I'm not saying that's the case for everyone - of course not. But across the board it seems like more and more Bush Conservatives are following the same path. The more isolated they become (now around 28% of the population), the more cruel and quick to lie they've become. Facts be damned: if what they're hearing doesn't agree with what their President tells them, the person who's saying it is a terrorist.
And worst of all: conservatives aren't funny anymore. Dennis Miller is the poster boy. And did any of you see Fox News' new "comedy" answer to The Daily Show? Something called "The 1/2 Hour News Hour." It's painful to watch, especially with the horrible fake laugh track. It's pretty much lies and Republican talking points. But that's comedy to Bush supporters now.
So is Prickly City. I'm sure there's a group out there that will read today's tripe and think it's funny. It's not. Global Warming isn't some huge conspiracy when 99+% of the scientists in the world who study it agree that humans are contributing to the problem. And it's not funny that Winslow would take her to a "church" to prove his point.
I feel bad for guys like Stantis and my friend from the South (who has since moved back down there to be with his family, the only people who agree with him). They don't realize how THEY are the ones who are the fringe in this country, not the "lefty loons" they spent the past six years demonizing. The majority of Americans believe Global Warming is a problem. The vast majority of Americans want our troops out of Iraq. And the overwhelming majority of Americans think George W. Bush is a horrible president and wish he was out of office right now.
The only humor I see in the Republican party right now is that their leading candidates for President - McCain, Giuliani, and Romney - either have a handful of divorces in their past, were pro-choice up until a few years ago, or aren't even Christian. Now THAT'S funny.
Prickly City is not.
Comments
Nice post, Furnace. BTW, wtf is that in the final panel? Is that the Ark of the Covenant?
Posted by: willie lee at February 27, 2007 10:30 AM
I was tempted to spend the whole post trying to figure out what was in that last panel myself. I have no freakin' clue.
Posted by: The Furnace at February 27, 2007 11:50 AM
I think that's a lousy drawing of the little lamp shade sometimes on top of those church easel-boards or whatever.
Posted by: FredN. at February 27, 2007 12:23 PM
Yeah, what the hell IS that? I thought it was a propeller, but what would that have to do with anything?
Posted by: Snowman at February 27, 2007 03:29 PM
I'm not even gonna go there...
Posted by: Chris at February 27, 2007 03:45 PM
I think I figured out the last frame: it's a solar panel and a windmill.
Posted by: The Furnace at February 28, 2007 07:40 AM
