What's the Secret of Comedy?
Peter Robinson ·
June 6, 2012 at 7:26am
Timing.
So goes the old joke--which just received a particularly hilarious demonstration from New York Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman.
On the very day during which Gov. Scott Walker was winning the recall election, proving to all the nation that an elected official could indeed behave like a mature and courageous adult, cutting spending and curbing the power of unions while still retaining the support of his constituents--on this very day, Thomas L. Friedman chose to begin his column thus:
One of the most troubling features of today’s global economic crisis is the lack of political leadership anywhere. No one has the courage to tell their people the truth.
To which, of course, there is only one possible reply.
A horse laugh.
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Apr '11
Re: What's the Secret of Comedy?
Well said, Peter.
Dec '10
Re: What's the Secret of Comedy?
Thomas Friedman should limit his observations to his area of expertise - though I doubt the Times would continue paying him the big bucks for a weekly report on the volume and texture of the lint in his navel.
Dec '10
Re: What's the Secret of Comedy?
Mel Brooks said, "Tragedy is when I cut my pinky finger. Comedy is when you fall in an open sewer and die."Wisconsin is making me give out with the belly laughs. No doubt it's making Friedman soak his pillow.
Jun '12
Re: What's the Secret of Comedy?
Perhaps we could admit that progressives suffer from a dearth of humor because they lack the secret of comedy, timing, preferring instead the secret of melodrama: the willing suspension of disbelief.
Jul '11
Re: What's the Secret of Comedy?
I would point to two men in Wisconsin with some huevos rancheros who might refute his point as well as a whole state full of enfranchised voters who can chordle at his stupidity as well. I am sure he meant democrat leaders though because he is right on the money there.
Jan '11
Re: What's the Secret of Comedy?
When Friedman laments that no one will tell the people the truth, he's just trying to imply that he will.
In self-adoration, he compliments himself for his own courage. You're not going to like what he's going to tell you. You see, you couldn't possibly disagree with Friedman because Friedman is wrong. No ... you must be suffering from some psychological defect.
Naturally, Friedman's solution is that when we had boom times, we didn't raise taxes. We could have taken all that money that we spent on wars and tax breaks, when the government could have invested it in strategic innovations for the economy, like solar panels and electric cars. Just imagine all the clever doo-hickeys we could have subsidized with those wasted billions!
And think of how much money we could have given to the education system, to bring about that next generation of deep-thinkers! OK, it's true that we've already been spending a gazillion dollars on education and have decreasing returns. But that's only because we're not spending enough.
Think of all the money Friedman could have advised how you to spend! What a waste!
Indeed.
Feb '11
Re: What's the Secret of Comedy?
This may have been my favorite line from the article: " If I were President Obama, I’d focus my entire campaign now on an effort to reforge a “grand bargain” with Republicans based on a near-term infrastructure stimulus tied with a Simpson-Bowles long-term fiscal rebalancing. At a minimum, it would show that Obama has a sensible plan to fix the economy — which is what people want most from the president —and many in business would surely support it. We cannot wait until January to do serious policy making again. We, and the world, need America to be a rock of stability — now."After arguing to be a rock of stability, to exemplify our fiscal sobriety, he says we should spend now, and cut spending while raising taxes in the "long-term." Because our politicians have a strong history of cutting long-term spending, right?
Jan '11
Re: What's the Secret of Comedy?
A horse laugh? Why the long face? Scott Walker won big! :)
Jun '12
Re: What's the Secret of Comedy?
Is that a horse laughing I hear, or a donkey braying? Hard to tell from here.
Jun '10
Re: What's the Secret of Comedy?
I listened to left-wing talk radio this evening to get their take on the defeat. Hoo-boy! The following is a list (in no particular) order of who is to blame: the Koch brothers, out-of-state donors for Walker (actually plausible to a degree), workers who don't understand their own self-interest, and the 140,000 voters who signed the recall petition but didn't show up to vote. The last one is a real rib-tickler. Apparently Adolf Hitler, Peter Pan and the Easter Bunny were no shows at the polls. Who'da thunk it?
May '11
Re: What's the Secret of Comedy?
I have to say, after all the hot air they've expended over the past several months I am enjoying a little bit of schadenfreude on Gov. Walker's victory (and the progressive's defeat).
Apr '12
Re: What's the Secret of Comedy?
Just because one has a great mustache does not make one a great writer. Off the top of my head - here is a list of successful and unsuccesful conservative executives who are showing political courage - Jindal, Christie, Scott, Kasich, and of course Walker. Then left underestimates then appeal of these reforms at their peril.
Re: What's the Secret of Comedy?
Pray God that the New York Times never dies. It provides such innocent delight to so many of us. And so regularly and effortlessly, too.
Apr '12
Re: What's the Secret of Comedy?
Irony.
Oct '10
Re: What's the Secret of Comedy?
One need only look at New Jersey to both prove and refute Friedman's point - Cory Booker and Chris Christie, respectively.
Feb '11
Re: What's the Secret of Comedy?
Peter Robinson: Timing.
So goes the old joke--…
I’ve tried to use Google to figure out how this old joke is supposed to work. I can’t find it. Can someone help me?
Jun '10
Re: What's the Secret of Comedy?
True. If the NYT and Tom Friedman didn't exist, we'd have to invent them.
Sep '10
Re: What's the Secret of Comedy?
Further evidence: the Wisconsin Democrat Party will host its annual convention this Saturday. Debbie Wasserman Schultz is scheduled to give the keynote speech.
Sep '10
Re: What's the Secret of Comedy?
A horse laugh.
They shoot horses, don't they?
Feb '12
Re: What's the Secret of Comedy?
"If it bends, it's funny. If it breaks, it's not funny."