BS: Politicians with a sense of humour

Subject: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: Cllr
Date: 19 Oct 01 - 07:11 AM

Some people say " never trust a politician who does not have a sense of humour" Personally I think that politicians with a sense of humour are the most dangerous Cllr

And from Mr Mcgrath of Harlow

Now that is an interesting observation by cllr.

Having a sense of humour, for example, makes Ann Widdicombe a much more appealing politician to people who disagree with her politics than Margaret Thatcher ever was. I suppose that might make her more dangerous in some circumstances. If Reagan and Bush junior hadn't had a sense of humour they'd probably never have been elected, and if the American voters hadn't had a sense of humour they'd never have elected them. (Well, in the case of Bush junior they didn't really, but that is another matter.)

All right I've started the thread comments anyone?

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: LR Mole
Date: 19 Oct 01 - 08:50 AM

I believe I want to distinguish "sense of humor" from "cynical, avaricious cackling".

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: Willie-O
Date: 19 Oct 01 - 09:01 AM

Who the hell is Ann Widdicombe? Sounds like an English folksong character. A merry widow perhaps?

If Mssrs Reagan and Bush Jr (shrub) are considered by Americans to have (had) a sense of humour, then Americans as a people have a lot to learn about humour. The main talent either of those two have shown is reading remarks written by others on teleprompters.

Sad commentary really on the country that gave us Mark Twain and George Carlin. Of course it's better known these days for Rush Limbaugh and Howard Stern, which says something right there....

Maybe y'all should get Molly Ivins to run for president. With Spaw for veep. I'd pay money to attend any of their campaign events!

Willie-O
unAmerican

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: Paul from Hull
Date: 19 Oct 01 - 09:05 AM

Well, Willie-O, Ms Widdlicome is most certainly NOT Fair!!!...

*LOL*

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: Paul from Hull
Date: 19 Oct 01 - 09:07 AM

"Widdlicome"???

*LOL*

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: Cllr
Date: 19 Oct 01 - 09:07 AM

No she is dark haired but certainly a maiden.

Cllr

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: A Wandering Minstrel
Date: 19 Oct 01 - 09:24 AM

She was I think accurately summed up by a certain comedians announcement to the effect:

For those of a nervous disposition the following program contains strong language , scenes of a sexual nature and an appearance by Anne Widdicombe!

She is an English lady politician of a certain age....

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Oct 01 - 12:31 PM

I do appreciate a politician with humor, especially when he makes jokes about himself or his own circumstances without deprecating others.

I saw Al Gore on C-SPAN recently begin a speech with these jokes:

"Hi! I'm Al Gore. I'm the guy that used to be the Next President of the United States."

"Well, you win some, you lose some, and then there's that third category that people hardly ever talk about…"

"Right now they call me a 'Visiting Professor.' That's 'VP' for short. See, I hang onto everything I can…"

I think Al Gore is one of the funniest politicians in the US -- when he wants to be, which wasn't often enough, in my opinion. Another is Ann Richards, former governor of Texas.

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: DougR
Date: 19 Oct 01 - 01:31 PM

I think a sense of humor is admirable in anybody, including politicians. Two of the most humorous ones: Bob Dole, and Mo Udall, both former members of the U. S. Congress.

It also think Reagan and GWB have a good sense of humor and can laugh at themselves.

I haven't heard Al Gore at his humorous best, Jim, but those are certainly funny lines, I think.

I don't think it is so important that they write their own humor. Most comedians rely on others to supply them with jokes, including Bob Hope, Jay Leno, ...heck, I don't know any that don't. It's all in the delivery, anyway.

I had some contact with one of the the greatest comedian of all times: Jack Benny. I was with him for a week in preparation for a concert with our symphony orchestra. He was the most un-funny person off stage I've ever known.

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: Mr Red
Date: 20 Oct 01 - 12:07 PM

If Ms Widdlicombe ever went to the Fair she would have worn out Tom Pierce's mare all on her own.
Kinnock & Haig had senses of humnour and where are they now?
A small but relevant point BUT appart drom Alec Douglas-Home (who lasted how long?) how many PM's have we had without a head of hair? We will leave the "Blair-do" out of this just for the moment.

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: Gareth
Date: 20 Oct 01 - 12:31 PM

Mr Red

Balding Prime Ministers

Churchill

Atlee

Neither were second division make weights

Gareth

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 20 Oct 01 - 01:10 PM

I'd like clr to expand on why he reckons politicians with a sense of humour might be more dangerous. I suppose if it makes people like them more than they deserve, that's a bit dangeroius.

Or I suppose that a top politicians with a penchant for practical jokes and so forth might entail risks. Whoopee cushions for example for visiting VIPs - though thewre the big danger would be if they didn't have a sense of humour.

And when Reagan jocularly announced that the USAF was bombing Russia without realising that the tapes were still running, that wasn't such a great idea.

I suppose what I really mean by a sense of humour is not so much being particularly funny, it's an ability to share a joke against yourself, and genuinely find it funny. It's an aspect of humility, and I think that's rather important. I don't think it's very charcteristic of professional comedians either.

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 20 Oct 01 - 01:16 PM

Mmm Jeffrey Archer - he was hysterical!

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: Joe_F
Date: 20 Oct 01 - 07:15 PM

When Pres. Kennedy was awarded an honorary degree at Yale, he said: "Now I have the best of both worlds -- a Harvard education, and a Yale degree".

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: DougR
Date: 20 Oct 01 - 07:26 PM

McGrath, I'm curious. Have you ever approved of one of your country's PMs?

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: Little Hawk
Date: 20 Oct 01 - 08:07 PM

Pierre Trudeau had a cutting wit and a great sense of humour...not always appreciated by his political opponents, though. He was a PM to remember. My mother hated him as though he were the devil himself. I ended up really liking him eventually.

- LH

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: heric
Date: 20 Oct 01 - 08:12 PM

Remember when he wore white sneakers to Brazil? (I bet you don't.) Cool as a cucumber he was.

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: Little Hawk
Date: 20 Oct 01 - 08:13 PM

Sounds vaguely familiar...was Margaret on that trip?

- LH

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: heric
Date: 20 Oct 01 - 08:15 PM

I don't think so. The guy got his picture on front pages internationally all by hisownself for nothing more than a pair of sneakers.

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: Little Hawk
Date: 20 Oct 01 - 08:18 PM

Yeah. He was the one and only. Nixon remarked somewhere in the Watergate tapes about "that asshole Trudeau".

When the press asked Trudeau for his reaction, he smiled and said "I have been called worse things by worse men."

Great answer.

- LH

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: heric
Date: 20 Oct 01 - 08:26 PM

I remember that as a proud moment even without the rejoinder.

Did you know that Joe Clark is now selling signs (for Jim Pattison)?

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: Little Hawk
Date: 20 Oct 01 - 08:28 PM

Hmmmm...well, better than selling used cars, I guess.

- LH

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: rangeroger
Date: 20 Oct 01 - 08:48 PM

Gee LH, I thought Nixon was talking about Gary Trudeau.

rr

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: Little Hawk
Date: 20 Oct 01 - 08:51 PM

I guess he could have been, but no, I believe it was Pierre he was referring to. I don't doubt that he detested Gary Trudeau.

- LH

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 20 Oct 01 - 09:53 PM

Have you ever approved of one of your country's PMs

I'd have like to see John Smith as Prime Minister, but he went and died before he got the chance. But I think that, as in America, the people who would be the best for that kind of job don't normally get there - in any party.

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: DougR
Date: 21 Oct 01 - 01:36 AM

So, McGrath, essentially you are saying you have never approved of any of your PMs. Interesting.

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Oct 01 - 01:52 AM

Clinton did a very funny tape spoof of himself for the Washington Press Corps a couple of years ago. It took his staff several weeks to get it all filmed and edited. In one scene he was riding a bicycle through the White House corridors.

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: Gervase
Date: 21 Oct 01 - 06:32 AM

I miss humour in politics.
The problem withthe current regime in the UK is that it's so bloody po-faced, puritanical and humourless - in the gold Old Labour days the annual party conference was remarkable for the level of backstabbing and the amazing craic. People would stay up to see the dawn, plotting, bitching, singing and telling jokes.
Today the plotting and bitching goes on, but the singing and the jokes? Forget it!

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 21 Oct 01 - 07:25 AM

I strongly suspect that I'm in a majority in that Doug - maybe that's a difference between your country and the one I'm living in. I don't think in terms of approving of politicians generally - I think in terms of liking them as people or disliking them, or approving of some of their actions and disapproving of others. The two things don't always go together.

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: GUEST,Leveller
Date: 21 Oct 01 - 09:22 AM

DougR,

What's the problem with Mcgrath not liking any of his country's prime ministers? Your comment of interesting seems vaguely sinister. In a democracy you have a choice you don't have to like your current leader or any other potential leader. You get the result you get. In the UK you vote for a local representative but have no say in who becomes the eventual "national representative" for lack of a better word. In the US you vote for a president - in the UK it doesn't work like that. At the moment we have Blair acting as president come Marie Antoinette many people are not happy. that's how it is. We don't have to love them - they are there and we can criticise and change our votes. The current war is meant to be all about freedom of choice and not being ruled by a self selecting few.

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 21 Oct 01 - 09:29 AM

McGrath -I don't approve of politicians generally -but John Smith he was one on his own. Makes me cry just to think about his loss,.

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Oct 01 - 10:47 AM

Guest "Leveler" said In the US you vote for a president - in the UK it doesn't work like that. .

I wish we could say it worked like that in the U.S., but as we saw last year, more people voted for Al Gore. Dubya was for all intents and purposes appointed by the Reagan appointed Supreme Court.

I must say, this spawned some excellent humor at Shrub's expense, but I'd still prefer to have Gore in office and be chuckling at his more subtle humor. I agree with Dixon above. Gore can be very funny, and at his own expense. When I look at Dubya, I can now see why Bush senior selected Dan Quayle (of p-o-t-a-t-o-e fame)as his VP. They're very similar in their limitations.

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Oct 01 - 10:49 AM

Please Leveller, don't load DougR down with facts. That would require him to actually think for himself, rather than the way he is told to think by his Great American Leaders, and he hates that.

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 21 Oct 01 - 11:50 AM

Tomget back to the difference between having a sense of humour and being funny. I'd say that Charlie Chaplin for example was a man who was able to be extremely funny, but appears to have had not a shred of what a sense of humour, in the meaning it carries in this thread.

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: Bagpuss
Date: 21 Oct 01 - 01:08 PM

I was just wondering whether John Smith would have got elected if he had lived to have the chance. I certainly would have liked to have seen it. One of the very few politicians I really had some respect for.

I visited his grave on Iona a few years back - the cemetery there is supposed to have several Kings of Scotland buried there.

Bagpuss

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: DougR
Date: 21 Oct 01 - 03:05 PM

Leveler: Sorry you felt my comment (Interesting)was sinister. It wasn't intended to be. I simply have noted for the past couple of years that everytime politics arises in these threads and comments are made about govenmental leaders of Great Britain, I rarely have heard a kind word said about any of them. Nor do I recall any posters from Great Britain providing strong support for any of them. I really do find that interesting.

Over here, as you probably have noted, we are pretty much supportive of our president, or we are not, and there are lots of people on either side. As you point out, perhaps it is the election process that accounts for that.

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Oct 01 - 05:03 PM

Who is this "we" you are invoking DougR? You got a kemasabe in your pocket?

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 21 Oct 01 - 06:36 PM

My impression is that generally enthususiastic supporters of all parties tend to say that the politicians in other parties are pretty dire.

By and large I tend to think they are right. Just because you point out that a guitar is out of tune it doesn't mean that you should feel some obligation to pretend that the mandolin is in tune when it isn't.

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: bill\sables
Date: 21 Oct 01 - 06:47 PM

I would have liked Screaming Lord Sutch, of The monster Raving Loonie Party, to have become PM in the UK. He never went to Eaton or Oxbridge but what a sense of humour. He too died before being elected.

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: DougR
Date: 21 Oct 01 - 06:51 PM

That's not my impression, McGrath. Not here, at least. It is my impression that supporters of all parties tend to say that the policies proposed by other parties are pretty dire. I rarely hear personal attacks on politicians made by other politicians.

Yep, Guest, I got myself a kemasabe but I keep it under my pillow.

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: Little Hawk
Date: 21 Oct 01 - 06:51 PM

Yes, Lord Sutch would have been a refreshing alternative. In Canada we had the Rhinoceros Party, who were quite similar to the MRLP. They have, sadly, vanished from the scene.

- LH

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: bill\sables
Date: 21 Oct 01 - 07:09 PM

I seem to remember another party in the UK a few years ago, I'm not sure what they were called but as British TV have to give every party an equal exposure they showed this bunch of would be politicians bouncing around a large room on their arses.
There must be some humour in British politics else how could government ministers run a scientific research programme on mad cow desease with the possibility of proving the desease to be in sheep brains, and after a couple of years of paying large wages to the researchers find they forgot to supply any sheep brains to research.
Perhaps we should do a research programme on politicians brains, but I suppose that would be too expensive as they seem to be very rare.
Bill

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: GUEST, I, hurricane
Date: 21 Oct 01 - 10:12 PM

LH: Okay, back to reminiscing: Do you recall the Rhinoceros party (or whatever Silly Party, I think that was it) went and got a legitimate Peace Treaty signed with The Netherlands, then trumpeted it around as the centrepiece of their platform and proof of their legitimacy? That was pretty darned good. ("Legitimate" in that they got the darned piece of paper signed by the appropriate leader of other said country (might've been Denmark).)

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 22 Oct 01 - 12:17 AM

Bill-The yoga guys were from The Natural Law Party, I am not sure what their policies were but it involved doing yoga on a big mat! I think it is interesting to note that many of the policies of The Monster Raving Loony Party wich were ridiculed at the time, have been succsesfuly introduced (passports for pets etc).

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: mooman
Date: 22 Oct 01 - 07:40 AM

Even Mrs Thatch had a "go" at a joke at a recent Bye-election appearance did she not?

Some thing like "When I was driving into town I saw a cinema advertisement I thought was very appropriate... well here I am 'The Return of the Mummy!'"

Quite!

mooman

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: Mac Tattie
Date: 22 Oct 01 - 01:44 PM

For all who would like to see Ann Widdicombe in fun mode??? check out www.mtv.co.uk/content/fun/games/stereo-mps/index.html cheers.

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Oct 01 - 01:46 PM

Bill,

"...and after a couple of years of paying large wages to the researchers ....."

Having worked on the scientific side of the Civil Service in the UK, I can say "large wages?" NAH !

Walrus

Subject: RE: BS: Politicians with a sense of humour
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 22 Oct 01 - 05:06 PM

"I rarely hear personal attacks on politicians made by other politicians." (Doug)#

True enough. Most of the time professional politicians know they are in the same game and need their opponents as badly as tennis players do.

But I didn't say professional politicians, I said "enthusiastic supporters of all parties". And even on this mild well mannered forum here I seem to recall quite a lot of pretty sharp personal antagonism shown to various politicians.

I just tend to agree with both sides when they are being rude about each other.