First lady treats husband to rib and roast

CNN & AP ^ | 5-1-2005

[kingattax]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- First lady Laura Bush stole the show with a surprise comedy routine that ripped President Bush and brought an audience that included much of official Washington and a dash of Hollywood to a standing ovation at a dinner honoring award-winning journalists.

The president began a speech late Saturday at the 91st annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner, but was quickly "interrupted" by his wife in an obviously planned ploy.

"Not that old joke, not again," she said to the delight of the audience. "I've been attending these dinners for years and just quietly sitting there. I've got a few things I want to say for a change."

Link to story: First lady treats husband to rib and roast

[Cobra64]

It strikes me that the new generation of conservative yuppie-lites wants a Washington DC that has all 300 Dishnet channels, unlimited laughs, and low taxes. It doesn't want any absolute moral truth either, and, so when the First Lady degrades herself, and her husband's office, we are supposed to "lighten up." After all, man, we got a laugh! The notion of the Bush family huddled around the TV set watching Hollywood pop culture just doesn't seem very comforting to me. Sorry.

I've been a VRWC FReeper here for about four years. In my personal estimation, my demographic estimation is that most of us are either retire military and >50 years old. Soooo, I may be wrong, I'm 55 years old and most of us relate on a brotherly basis. That said, I would not label FReepers as Yuppies. IMOHO

[Cobra64]

Well done in responding to Farmer18th. Though I'm not convinced that he/she would ever understand. He/she must lead an extremely lonely and boring life. What a shame that people can't smile at themselves when being harpooned with small barbs. All of my friends joke, kid, insult each other all the time. It is called FUN And it keeps the mind sharp.

IMOHO

[farmer18th]

A sense of humor is solely held by humans.

Humor isn't on trial here. Pandering, degrading humor is. If suggesting a visual of the vice president's wife tipping a male stripper doesn't cross the line of dignity, very little ever could.

[ladyinred]

I know quite a few "first class ladies," but I can't imagine one of them making a Chippendales joke. This was first class pandering to the gutter ethics of the national press corps.

LOL! Chippendales is not nearly as bad as all that! This lady has watched the dancers on video, and I sure didn't feel as if I had been in the gutter. Perhaps you could lighten up a bit? No? Oh well, to each his or her own! :-)

[farmer18th]

Heres my favorite farmer joke. Two farmers wives

I guess you're first lady material these days. Happy day.

[Cobra64]

Humor isn't on trial here. Pandering, degrading humor is. If suggesting a visual of the vice president's wife tipping a male stripper doesn't cross the line of dignity, very little ever could.

My uncle, a 74 year old man, who is a Methodist Minister living in Ohio, thought that this roast was clever and funny.

BTW, Laura was dressed like a Nun... as always. Soooo, you might want to get a life. I'v been working on it for 55 years as a Vast Right Wing Conservative Capatalist, Presbyterian, married for 32 years.

(shaking head and rolling eyes to those with zero sense of humor or ability to smile).

[farmer18th]

He/she must lead an extremely lonely and boring life

Yes, I must tell you the near absence of Hollywood pop culture has constituted a huge sensory deprivation around here. The inability to think in Simpsonese has made it difficult relating to the under-class, but we do the best we can.

[sine_nomine]

I can imagine what people on this forum would have said if Lady MacBeth said the same thing about Bill. I thought the humor was truly wretched. This is class? Low class. Sophomoric locker room drivel and not funny.

[farmer18th]

Methodist Minister

Ah, yes, the true fountain of contemporary wisdom--Methodism, where some of the congregations have even taken to devoting communion to the Roman Goddess of wisdom. You'll have to do better than that.

If Laura dresses like a nun and talks like a slut, then what is she?

[farmer18th]

Finally. A freeper who isn't a moral philistine. I was beginning to think that Free Republic was ready to excuse Laura Bush even if she wrapped her bra around the microphone.

[farmer18th]

Laura Bush is the classiest First Lady that we have had. She is a first class First Lady.

Apparently, she gets more classy every day, which means, I guess, she might try dead baby jokes next. I'm not sure if she was speaking to the National Press Club or a Snap-ON tool dealers convention. Which was it?

[farmer18th]

Sheesh. Take a deep one and chill. Just when folks were cutting you some slack you reaffirm the suspicion that you drag your knuckles.

"Chill," "slack," "knuckles," and "sheesh." I'm beginning to understand why Laura Bush's gag lines appeal to you. She's reaching out to trailer trash America.

[farmer18th]

it's attitudes like yours that give conservatives a bad rap as being rightwing religious fanatics who wish to control everyone else's life.

Let's see now: if you think the President's wife shoudln't act like a slut before the national press corp, you are a "rightwing religious fanatic."

On the contrary, it's shallow, moral philistines like yourself who don't understand the connection between a gutter culture at the top and a welfare state at the bottom.

[anniegetyourgun]

Revealed in the news this morning: Neither Laura Bush nor the President have ever seen a single episode of Desperate Housewives. The joke's on those who actually want to hang the "slut" term on the First Lady. I suppose they actually believed Cedric the Entertainer when he cast Condi as a girlfriend chillin' on the phone or ready to beat someone up. Can't take a joke? Don't listen/watch these toasts/roasts.

[beyond the sea]

This picture will go down in history.

[beyond the sea]

Take a deep breath farmer, and get your name on the list for a humor transplant. ----- Nobody thinks that she went to Chippendale's. That's part of what makes the joke funny. ----- To the rest of us.

Ditto

[Horn_Dude]

farmer18th,

Dude? It was a freakin Roast!! Get a clue!

[Riptides]

You, Sir, are a come mierda.

[Miss Marple]

You will be happy to know that arch-liberal David Corn shares your opinion, of course getting in a few digs on how James Dobson would react to the jokes.

I seem to remember you on the threads attacking Jenna Bush for her behavior and dress, as well. Methinks you have standards too high for the Bush family, but I am afraid until Cotton Mather's heir is in the White House, you are just going to have to live with it.

[farmer18th]

you have standards too high for the Bush family

Exactly. But how could they be lower?