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What Is the Purpose of Really Dumb Political Stunts?
Someone flew a giant inflatable chicken with Trump hair next to the White House.
I’m not sure why someone flew a giant inflatable chicken with Trump hair next to the White House, but apparently it made an important political statement. Perhaps something about animal rights, vegetarianism, or the importance of free-range conditions. Or that Trump is chicken for not doing something that the balloon owners want him to do. Maybe a basic cable channel is premiering a show that has something to do with flying poultry.
Regardless, the picture was passed around social media by people thinking it was a “sick burn,” as the kids liked to say a decade ago. But, as with most silly protests, I was left with a simple question: Why?
Really Dumb Political Stunts have long been a feature of the American political system. Candidates are regularly followed by sad oppo interns dressed as ducks, gorillas, or TV characters. At Barack Obama’s inauguration, someone inflated a giant George W. Bush effigy and invited attendees to toss shoes at it. But when a dedicated protestor donned a papier-mâché Dick Cheney head and a blood-spattered prison outfit with $100,000 bills falling out of its pockets, did a single undecided voter think, “that fellow makes a good point?”
Considering the cost and effort involved (custom inflatables run up to $25,000), political activists must mistakenly believe that Really Dumb Political Stunts help their cause. But will a giant inflatable chicken with Trump hair change one voter’s mind about whatever point the rogue ballooners are trying to make?
Published in Politics
So you’re basically saying the dough I spent flying a giant inflatable Rhino over Rob Long’s house was pretty much a complete waste. You could have said something earlier.
Hard to say until someone discerns what that point is, but judging by the level of discourse at other, non-Ricochet sites, I’d say yes. Someone, maybe lots of someones, may be persuaded by large, well-coifed poultry.
Has anyone released a statement of what it means or is supposed to mean to the perpetrators?
Could just be that someone thought it would be hilarious, and maybe a kick in the shins to Trump. Not quite sure there has to be a political statement there, or if there was one, it’s Eat Mor Chikin?
I’m hoping it’s a Chik-fil-A protest.
From what I’ve seen so far from the kind of people that would do something like this, the overlap of “hilarious” and “kick in the shins to Trump” is pretty low.
It won’t do a thing, but cause some really immature person (who hates Trump) to giggle briefly. It is possible that they would think to themselves: “Hey, why didn’t I think of that?!”
The problem with Really Dumb Political Statements is if you string enough of them together, they can morph into acceptance speeches.
The Progs always love puppets and theater….
Another thing I didn’t understand during the Bush era: liberals spelling his name “Bu$h.” He didn’t have as much money as John Kerry, and even if he did, I really like money.
I didn’t like “Bushitler.” I mean are you supposed to run it together—boo-shitler—or say it as two names, “Bush Hitler”? It just didn’t work.
That is hilarious! But not so much if no one knew about it til it was there……it could be holding a “problem”…A present from NK?…. I’d love to have a mini version! It’s cute.
If there’s one thing I can always count on liberals to do, it’s make me more accepting of voting for Republican candidates.
To make Really Dumb Political Points.
It’s South Park’s Underwear Gnome theory of activism:
1. Spend $25K on a Giant Inflatable Chicken
2. ???
3. Political Change!
I always assumed the emphasis was on the middle syllable.
Jon,
Damn it, Jon, I told you to control your thoughts. They can be turned into negative psychic energy and anything can happen.
Regards,
Jim
Not quite the same, but…
Maybe we could all chip in and buy a giant inflatable horse’s rear end. It wouldn’t be a one time thing as we could fly it anytime a Democrat gets in.
Obviously the message is that Trump is being too much of a chicken and needs to be more aggressive. I think the main message was he should nuke the Norks but it also is about kicking more Dem rear. Probably sponsored by MSNBC.
What a waste. Clear the park and let’s see who has really spent some time on the range. Where the heck is a wedding reception when you need one. Try getting your balloon deposit back now you dumb cluck.
Hey, my Virtue Signaling is waaaaaay cool !!!! And it makes Trump look so stoooopid!!!
Can’t say for sure, but almost everything dumb I’ve ever done was in a wasted effort to impress a girl.
Pptttthhhht. Who even knows what that means anymore?
But you’re still going to inflate that giraffe balloon at Troy’s, right?
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the master…Dick Tuck
“The people have spoken, the bastards.” –Dick Tuck’s concession speech following his loss in the 1966 California State Senate election.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Tuck
My first thought upon seeing the picture was “I could go for a chicken sandwich.”
ask this guy.
I bet they got it cheap from the Chinese mall it originally stood in front of.
If I were Trump, I’d personally find it somewhat flattering, though that’s probably not the intention. That fowl has some serious “Badtz-Maru” -type attitude going on.
Probably a trial balloon. If this one didn’t die in fire, they can send the next one filled with anthrax.