William Shanter and Sarah Palin

[bloodyminded]

What's a discussion without a spat here and there, eh? Pretty boring, I'd say.

True enough. No spats...and I don't think I'd even bother being here.

[sharkman]

I find it odd when people claim "the left" (ie everyone not to the Right of Pinochet) lack a sense of humor, because we don't think Palin or Rush Limbaugh are uproariously hilarious.

Palin the new high queen of comedy. Limbaugh the nuanced satirist.

It's odd because, in fact, the Right wing produces almost NO humour. At all.

Why does the overwhelming majority of comedy and comedians sprout from the liberal side of the spectrum? Because clearly that's the case.

I guess, given the arid wasteland of right-wing comedy, it makes sense that Palinites and dittoheads find these folks funny. But they're really not that funny; I mean, objectively, political views aside, they simply are not talented comedians.

Wow, how wrong can you get one simple clip. Shady's response is right, those on the left who dislike Palin find it impossible to view anything she does outside of their preconceived notions of her. She outdid Shatner, picking lines even more funny from his book. The crowd loved it and gave her a long ovation. Personally, I didn't think it great comedy, however.

Rush? You've got to be kidding, why don't you also reference O'reilly, Beck and Hannity.

[GostHacked]

Wow, how wrong can you get one simple clip. Shady's response is right, those on the left who dislike Palin find it impossible to view anything she does outside of their preconceived notions of her. She outdid Shatner, picking lines even more funny from his book. The crowd loved it and gave her a long ovation. Personally, I didn't think it great comedy, however.

Rush? You've got to be kidding, why don't you also reference O'reilly, Beck and Hannity.

You know how that works right? The APPLAUSE sign comes on and the crowd reacts to it while someone encourages the crowd to applause.

[sharkman]

I've actually been to that show when Leno had it. And I've watched his show enough to know the difference between a polite clap because the applause sign is on and a wildly enthusiastic response. You can tell the difference as well I'm sure.

Edited December 18, 2009 by sharkman

[Guest American Woman]

Wow, how wrong can you get one simple clip. Shady's response is right, those on the left who dislike Palin find it impossible to view anything she does outside of their preconceived notions of her. She outdid Shatner, picking lines even more funny from his book. The crowd loved it and gave her a long ovation. Personally, I didn't think it great comedy, however.

Personally, I didn't think it great comedy, however.

Which is exactly what we said. But I guess our finding it 'not great comedy' was because of our "preconceived notions of her;" while it's perfectly fine for you to critique it as not great comedy. again

I'll tell you who is reacting on their preconceived notions since you seem to be blind to the obvious -- ironically, it's you and the other shady-types reacting to your preconceived notions of us. one last time

[Shady]

Since you need it spelled out for you, it reinforces your belief that anything and everything Palin says or does is just sooooo super fantastic.

Nope. Not at all. I've never felt that anything and everything Palin says or does is fantastic. That's just hyperbole. However, some people (like you), will never get themselves to admit that they like anything about her. Even if it's just a funny clip from a late-night comedy show. It's pretty sad.

methinks you're the only one harboring strong feelings about this.

Again, you're completely and utterly wrong. There are several liberal blogs (Huffington Post, Democractic Underground) that have posted this clip on their sites. Many people, who have even more dislike and disregard for Sarah Palin than you, have enjoyed it, and found it very funny and entertaining.

I find it odd when people claim "the left" (ie everyone not to the Right of Pinochet)

Strawman.

lack a sense of humor, because we don't think Palin or Rush Limbaugh are uproariously hilarious.

I didn't mean to suggest that you don't have a sense of humor. It's just that you either lack an intellectual honesty to admit when somethings funny, even when it's from somebody you don't agree with politically, or that you let politics fog your judgement so badly, that you just can't see it. Either way, it's pretty sad.

And adding Rush Limbaugh is just another strawman. I never mentioned him, or posted a clip of him. So let's stick to what I posted. You can go argue about a phantom Limbaugh comedy insinuation somewhere else.

[Guest American Woman]

There are several liberal blogs (Huffington Post, Democractic Underground) that have posted this clip on their sites. Many people, who have even more dislike and disregard for Sarah Palin than you, have enjoyed it, and found it very funny and entertaining.

I didn't find this clip funny. At all. But if it makes you feel any better, I often find Palin funny and she often makes me laugh. Feel better now?

[Shady]

I didn't find this clip funny. At all. But if it makes you feel any better, I often find Palin funny and she often makes me laugh. Feel better now?

Yes. See, was that so hard?

[bloodyminded]

Nope. Not at all. I've never felt that anything and everything Palin says or does is fantastic. That's just hyperbole. However, some people (like you), will never get themselves to admit that they like anything about her. Even if it's just a funny clip from a late-night comedy show. It's pretty sad.

Again, you're completely and utterly wrong. There are several liberal blogs (Huffington Post, Democractic Underground) that have posted this clip on their sites. Many people, who have even more dislike and disregard for Sarah Palin than you, have enjoyed it, and found it very funny and entertaining.

Strawman.

I didn't mean to suggest that you don't have a sense of humor. It's just that you either lack an intellectual honesty to admit when somethings funny, even when it's from somebody you don't agree with politically, or that you let politics fog your judgement so badly, that you just can't see it. Either way, it's pretty sad.

I'm not quite sure what your objection is. I don't consider "Two and a Half Men" to be funny either. That has nothing whatever to do with any views or politics of anybody on the show.

It's not funny. That's all.

[Guest American Woman]

Yes. See, was that so hard?

Nope. Not at all.

[Shady]

I don't consider "Two and a Half Men" to be funny either.

Either do I.

[bloodyminded]

Either do I.

Good man.

[Machjo]

Yes. See, was that so hard?

It would have been much easier to just ask whether we think Sarah Palin could be humorous. I bet most of us would either have answered that we had witnessed he ber humorous at one point or another, or that we haven't witnessed it yet (bcause we don't watch much TV, keep up on the news about her outside of politics, or some other reason) but that maybe she could if she chose the right words.

To give an example of a particular clip that many of us might not find humorous does not prove in any way that we are incapable of finding humour in her words. All it means is that we could not find any humour in this particular clip.

Simple logic would have told you that.

[Machjo]

I'm not quite sure what your objection is. I don't consider "Two and a Half Men" to be funny either. That has nothing whatever to do with any views or politics of anybody on the show.

It's not funny. That's all.

And I don't find Jesus to be funny either, but that doesn't reduce my respect for him. After all, to get over a billion people following you (or even just claiming to be following you) about 2,000 years after you've ceased walking this earth in physical form, is nothing short of miraculous.

[Shady]

And I don't find Jesus to be funny either, but that doesn't reduce my respect for him.

Well, I'm not sure what Jesus has to do with what we're talking about, but I don't find "Two and a Half Men" funny, nor do I respect it.

[Machjo]

Well, I'm not sure what Jesus has to do with what we're talking about, but I don't find "Two and a Half Men" funny, nor do I respect it.

My point is that respect and humour are two separate entities. Whether one finds Sarah Palin funny or not in this video has no bearing on their respoct for her or their views on her ideological leanings. One could find her quite humorous in the video, think she ought to become a professional comidian, and still disagree profoundly with her political views. Inversely, a person could find the video totally lame, think she ought to stay clear of comedy, but still support her political views. And of course one might find her unhumorous and disagree with her political views, with neither view having a bearing on the other, or like both her humour and her political views. The two are totally unrelated issues. The idea that anyone could believe that he can know our political views based on our opinion of her comedic qualities is ridiculous. Comedy and politics are two separate things altogether and have little bearing on the other, and anyone who believes that they are one and the same could do all of us a favour and stay home on election day.

[bloodyminded]

And I don't find Jesus to be funny either, but that doesn't reduce my respect for him. After all, to get over a billion people following you (or even just claiming to be following you) about 2,000 years after you've ceased walking this earth in physical form, is nothing short of miraculous.

Ok...but we are talking specifically ABOUT whether this or that person seems humorous in this particular clip.

And I'm not too sure about a Palin/Jesus analogy...much less a Two-and-a-Half-Men/Jesus analogy.

[edit]Sorry, I see your point now, after your subsequent post.

Edited December 22, 2009 by bloodyminded

[Shady]

The two are totally unrelated issues

In general, yes, but not in this case. I could have predicted the response from many of the anti-Palin posters before they even watched the video. In fact, American Woman even refused to view the clip.

I, for one, am going to spare myself from being subjected to her "charms" by not clicking on the link.

Edited December 22, 2009 by Shady

[Guest American Woman]

In general, yes, but not in this case. I could have predicted the response from many of the anti-Palin posters before they even watched the video. In fact, American Woman even refused to view the clip.

Yep. I refuse to waste my time reading Ann Coulter, too. By the same token, I don't listen to Rush Limbaugh. And I'm guessing if I posted a video of, say, Michael Moore, saying he was something you don't think he is, I doubt if you'd rush to watch it, much less agree with my take on it. Ever. So I find it amusing that you are accusing me of something you are 'guilty' of yourself. No, I don't like Palin. I don't think she's qualified politically. I don't think she's charming. And quite frankly, I don't think she possesses any comedic skills. Does the latter have anything to do with not agreeing with her politics? Perhaps, since any comedy she attempts, to my knowledge, seems to have political undertones.

So for the record, when I said I often find Palin funny, I wasn't referring to her comedic skits.

[Shady]

Yep. I refuse to waste my time reading Ann Coulter, too. By the same token, I don't listen to Rush Limbaugh.

I'm not sure why you equate a non-political, non-partisan comedy skit on Conan O'Brien with reading Ann Coulter's work, or listening to Rush Limbaugh's work. They're two seperate things.

And I'm guessing if I posted a video of, say, Michael Moore, saying he was something you don't think he is, I doubt if you'd rush to watch it, much less agree with my take on it.

If Michael Moore was participating in a non-political, non-partisan comedy skit, I'd definitely take a look. I already watch The Daily Show and The Colbert Report, which definitely lean to the left. But if something's funny, I have no problem admitting it. And in many cases, they like to take shots at conservatives/Republicans.

In fact, this speech from President Obama was one of the funniest I've ever seen from a political figure, and from whom I share almost nothing with ideologically.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cen37qxA7E

For the rest of you more open-minded forumers out there. Be sure to check out McCain as well. He was pretty funny too.

So I find it amusing that you are accusing me of something you are 'guilty' of yourself.

No, I'm not guilty of it. You shouldn't project your prejudices on to other people. You may discriminate in that particular fashion, but I don't.

Your initial response of even refusing to view the clip illustrates your closed book mentality. You couldn't even get yourself to give it a chance, to absorb even one second of it. All because of blind political partisanship and a mindset that's closed to new ideas and new possibilities which may contradict or conflict with your own. Pretty sad.

[Guest American Woman]

No, I'm not guilty of it. You shouldn't project your prejudices on to other people. You may discriminate in that particular fashion, but I don't. Your initial response of even refusing to view the clip illustrates your closed book mentality. You couldn't even get yourself to give it a chance, to absorb even one second of it. All because of blind political partisanship and a mindset that's closed to new ideas and new possibilities which may contradict or conflict with your own. Pretty sad.

Speaking of falsely projecting one's ideas on other people, you seem to be doing a fair bit of that regarding me.

But here's the thing.

Not wasting my time on someone who doesn't interest me isn't a "prejudice;" it's simply a choice not to spend my time on someone who doesn't interest me. I know I would no more find Palin "charming" than I would find Bush "charming," and that's based on my experiences, not my prejudices. I bypass a lot in the media -- television, newspapers, radio, internet, whatever. I'm discriminate as to how I spend my time, and if I don't respect someone or if they don't interest me, I generally don't waste my time on them. If you do, so be it. Perhaps you have more time than I do, or perhaps you're just less discriminate. But if it's the latter, I've seen absolutely no proof of it, so I'll just continue to believe what I believe.

As for your "pretty sad" comment, methinks you're taking it a wee bit too seriously.

Edited to add:

I already watch The Daily Show and The Colbert Report, which definitely lean to the left.

Both shows/hosts definitely make fun of Democrats/the left, too. Is there even one show that leans to the right that also makes fun of Republicans/the right? Not that I'm aware of. Interesting, eh?

Edited December 22, 2009 by American Woman

[Shady]

Speaking of falsely projecting one's ideas on other people, you seem to be doing a fair bit of that regarding me.

I didn't need to do any projecting. You provided all the proof that was needed, by first refusing to even view the clip and then characterizing the preformance of the individual. Kind of like reviewing a book without reading it.

Not wasting my time on someone who doesn't interest me isn't a "prejudice;" it's simply a choice not to spend my time on someone who doesn't interest me.

That's all well and good, but if you don't wanna waste your time with something that doesn't interest you, one shouldn't be offering a critique of something they refuse to even view. You can't have it both ways.

Both shows/hosts definitely make fun of Democrats/the left, too. Is there even one show that leans to the right that also makes fun of Republicans/the right? Not that I'm aware of. Interesting, eh?

Not really. Hollywood usually leans left.

[Guest American Woman]

I didn't need to do any projecting. You provided all the proof that was needed, by first refusing to even view the clip and then characterizing the preformance of the individual. Kind of like reviewing a book without reading it.

Ummm. I admit I don't waste my time on people/things that don't interest me, but I didn't "characterize the performance of the individual" until after I'd seen the clip. So no, it's nothing like reviewing a book without reading it. It's like choosing not to read a book because the author/topic doesn't interest you.

That's all well and good, but if you don't wanna waste your time with something that doesn't interest you, one shouldn't be offering a critique of something they refuse to even view. You can't have it both ways.

And again, I didn't "offer a critique" until after I'd viewed the clip.

Not really. Hollywood usually leans left.

Yes, really. There are plenty of Right-leaning personalities/celebrities, and none of them ever make fun of Republicans/the Right.

Edited December 22, 2009 by American Woman

[Shady]

but I didn't "characterize the performance of the individual" until after I'd seen the clip.

And again, I didn't "offer a critique" until after I'd viewed the clip.

Saying that you didn't doesn't make it true. Unfortunately for you, anyone can navigate to the very first page, and see that you did.

No, thanks. Don't think I'll lose any sleep if I forgo that performance since I'm sure it's nowhere near as excellent as Tina Fey's performance was.

See, I'm sure you know all about what the Shatner/Palin clip is like, and how it compares to other people's comedy.

Hmm, I think the term is checkmate.

[M.Dancer]

The "Shatner interprets Palin as beat poetry" thing has been one of the funniest ongoing things in a long time.

-k

I just watched it. I saw the Shatner doing Palin awhile ago and thought this was the same one. It is comedy with a capital K...highly recommended