Conservative Humor Revisited

First Image from source, Free Republic (click to embiggen); Second Image by Editor, Greenlee Gazette

I've taken a lot of pleasure in poking fun at the denizens of Free Republic, the fringe right-wing online outpost. At other times, it is not so much a pleasure as a jaw-dropping, flabbergasting trip to another world. But one of the things that often makes me feel a mixture of delight and utter confusion is when FReepers try to be funny.

I've acknowledged that "their side" is fairly talented at graphic arts, but is often especially challenged in the humor arena. Sure, they think it's funny, but often times the joke is either tangential to the subject, or completely nonexistent. Today, in a standard-issue thread dedicated to defending the indefensible Michelle Bachmann, I found a rare instance of a good graphic, that is also sort of amusing. It depicts a slate of attractive female Republicans, alongside a--shall we say--not so attractive roster of female Democrats.

At first blush, it's pretty funny. Of course, it relies upon the typical "before and after" type pictures favored in weight loss ads. The "pretty" lady photos are all glamor shots. The "ugly" lady ones are the worst possible photos of women who have had much more flattering pictures taken. Still, not a bad job.

It would be just as easy to compile a reverse joke, even using some of the same women. Michelle Malkin and Ann Coulter for instance, have had laughably awful pictures appear. But upon further reflection, I had to wonder if beauty has anything to do with whether a political ideology is better or not. For me, brains probably say a little more about that. And here is where the humor doesn't serve as a very good argument.

Surely, many--if not most--of the women in both examples have had some ding-batty moments. And some of the women featured there are completely off of my radar (Debbie Schlussel? Andrea Dworkin?). But just as surely, Hillary Clinton, Madeline Albright are very intelligent women. Helen Thomas probably falls into that category, and it's not her fault she's old. Barbra Streisand may not impress people with her political bromides, but she's no dummy as a business woman, sustaining a multi-faceted career for over forty years. Susan Estrich has a funny voice, but also comes off as pretty smart. Janet Reno too.

By the way, another take on this might be to present the men of the two parties. Republican: Fred Thompson, Rudy Giuliani, Lindsey Graham, Mitch McConnell, Dick Cheney, Karl Rove, Bill O'Reilly, Rush Limbaugh. Democrat: George Clooney, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Hal Sparks, George Stephanopolous, Matt Taibbi, Barack Obama. No contest. But you see the flaw. Easy to flip-flop that idea too.

Anyway, I started this post with the intention of making my own reverse list, and I still may do that. Maybe I'll do an update on the weekend. Just not feeling that ambitious right now. For now, just an easy one. . .