Michelle Malkin: The Wonkette-ization of Laura Bush

Michelle Malkin ^ | May 3, 2005 | Michelle Malkin

[EveningStar]

Most of Mrs. Bush's humor at the correspondents' dinner was just right: Edgy but not over the edge. But I think the stripper and horse jokes were totally beneath her.

Just put it to the other-shoe test: If it were Teresa Heinz Kerry standing up on the dais telling the same jokes, the conservative commentariat would be buzzing for the rest of the year about what a tasteless skank she is.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

Well I am not here to throw stones at the First Lady.

[Jorge]

She was great and could pull it off precisely because she has class and is not the same as liberal women. As Rush said, if anyone was offended, they need to get a life.

Exactly!
The overwhelming response has been positive.
But there will always be a few sticks in the mud.

[Paul Atreides]

First, let me say that it was very surprising to hear Laura telling the horse joke. That said, I remember a movie from the '50s, starring Shirley MacLaine as a woman who has a long succession of husbands who die in one form or another and leave her very well-off. One of the husbands, played by Robert Mitchum, buys a farm with Shirley, and dies when he, a city-slicker, tries to milk what he thinks is a cow, but is in reality a bull. The bull kicks him through the wall of a barn.

Now, the male stripper joke doesn't seem that harmful. For one thing, when was the last time anyone ever heard of the Chippendales dancers mentioned? I thought they went out in the early 80s. If anything, the joke is nothing more than a retread.

I'm not saying that I would have encouraged her to tell the horse joke, but she wasn't explicit in what she said.

[Primetimedonna]

The frustrating thing is that it is apparently impossible to say I wish she hadn't said something without being accused of attacking. That's sad.

There is nothing wrong with discussions, and not every one finds the same things humorous, but like many things in life, that's what keeps the world interesting. But many have been so judgemental and downright nasty about this. Your comments were fair inasmuch as you stated you wished she hadn't said it (you didn't find it humorous) but I didn't see where you attacked the First Lady personally as many have. Also, it's fine to say you didn't approve without implying that anyone who did find the remarks funny were obviously classless. Many on this thread imply that if you don't agree with their view of the world you should be "drummed out of the corps".

[Peach]

It hasn't really gotten better around here, has it?

Until today I haven't been around so much and now I see why.

[k2blader]

I think the actual writer of the jokes is to blame a lot more than Laura Bush. I got the sense that she was just reading something someone had handed to her a couple hours before with the instructions, "Here's your speech, First Lady. Enjoy!"

It's possible she didn't even understand some of what she was reading. Or maybe she understood it but had no idea how to get herself out of the situation.

Or I suppose it's still possible she understood how raunchy some of the jokes were and didn't mind presenting herself that way. But this I find a little hard to believe.

[sinkspur]

How are your little altar boys???

Palladin, everything seems to have a sexual connotation to you.

Get help.

[Celtjew Libertarian]

Yep. That horse is dead. No sense beating it more.

LOL!

[mountaineer]

Not too many, I hope.

[Howlin]

He called me an alcoholic while ago. Go figure.

[Mo1]

grow up

[Xenalyte]

Would you want to hear those jokes with your family present?

My family already told me those jokes.

[WVNan]

Me either. I think ohioWfan has been having fun with them though. I don't have the time or energy for this useless debate. Hope you are well. Later

[Killborn]

I'm an FR "Taliban".

Her jokes were appropriate. Nothing wrong with it.

[GungaLaGunga]

"LIGHTEN UP, EUGENE"

- Sgt. Hulka (Best Buddy and Big-Toe)
Stripes 1980

[Howlin]

ROFLMAO!!

[Primetimedonna]

"We were well on the way to being a Big Tent party and that day seems to be over."

Hopefully this isn't true, and that we just get a lot more exposure to the right wing extremists as well as the far left agitators on Free Republic! We need people like you to take these people on occasionally, since your point is probably shared by the majority of the "lurkers" and a lot more people agree with you than you know. I lurked for a long time before I got brave enough to join in....keep up the good work! Battle when you can, but don't let the turkeys get you down!!

[Peach]

It's almost time for the SBR. LOL

[Melas]

I grew up with a saying that describes the Malkin type: She wouldn't say ---- if she had a mouth full.

[Peach]

Thank you for your kind words and encouragement. Some days I really wonder why I bother.

And my husband thinks I'm plain nuts. LOL