Life Imitates Simpsons: 2006 Elections

Karnick on Culture ^ | 11/10/06 | S. T. Karnick

[S. T. Karnick]

If you want to understand the huge tail-whuppin' the Republican Party took this week, there's a great Simpsons episode of a few years back that explained it all in advance.

You may remember the episode, "Sideshow Bob Roberts." In this classic installment, "Diamond" Joe Quimby, the blatantly corrupt, sleazy, porkbarreling, free-spending, incompetent, unprincipled, oversexed, self-indulgent jackass mayor of Springfield, is running for reelection for the umpteenth time, in this instance challenged by Sideshow Bob, the murderous TV clown.

During their televised debate, Quimby, suffering from the flu, flounders badly, and, brushing his hair back off of his sweaty forehead, even looks as if he has devil horns. The TV station broadcasting the debate instantly chooses to surround the beleaguered mayor with a circle of flames, to complete the job of characterizing him as a devil, adding the disclaimer, "Flames added for effect."

It's a hilarious moment, and it's exactly what happened to the Republicans this year. They governed all too much like Mayor Quimby in recent years, squandering their hard-earned reputation for fiscal respnsibility, realism, relatively limited government, and efforts to combat political corruption (the latter represented by the Gingrich House's reforms in the '90s). Instead of these things, they came to be known for spending worse than drunken sailors (a correct characterization), sexually sleazy (unfair in that they were probably no worse than the Democrats overall, had anyone cared to look), corrupt (fairly accurate, given the real scandals in which they were involved, although a similar attention to the Democrats would undoubtedly have revealed at least an equal amount of vile ooze), and incompetent (again, fairly accurate, alas).

So the Republicans, despite numerous warnings from many quarters (including the present author), went their merry way and received the just fruits of their efforts. In short, they looked exactly like Mayor Quimby.

The U.S. press, with great glee, added flames "for effect," and the deed was done.

From Karnick on Culture.

[sionnsar]

Welcome to Free Republic.

[inkling]

"I, for one, welcome our new Democratic overlords."

ORIGINAL HERE

[mylife]

"get that punk's name, nobody makes a fool of Diamond Joe Quimby"

[GourmetDan]

It's just part of the plan.

When voters elect what they think are 'conservatives', those conservatives sell them out until they frustratingly turn to the greater of 2 evils.

Then the party really starts.

"If voting really changed anything, it would be illegal." Emma Goldman

"In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way."
Franklin D. Roosevelt

[NittanyLion]

And as I recall once elected mayor Sideshow Bob resorted to massive fraud "to protect the people from themselves".

Sounds about right...

[mylife]

Bob as he is hauled off to jail:

I'll be back. You can't keep the Democrats out of the White House forever. And when they get in, I'm back on the street! With all of my criminal buddies! Ba-ha-ha-ha-ha!!

[hometoroost]

It's Sideshow Nancy the evil Congressional Clown. No need to add any effects to THAT picture. Although a red nose would look good.

[philled]

I've always thought they replaced the name "Kennedy" with "Quimby" to avoid litigation. Quimby is the only one in Springfield with a North Eastern accent...

[NetLiberty]

"Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos" (--sorry, had to inject another Simpsons reference ;)

[PhilCollins]

I think that "The Simpsons" takes place in Springfield, Mass. In one episode, Smithers told Mr. Burns, "One of your dogs bit Senator Kennedy." Mr. Burns said, "Good."

[AnotherUnixGeek]

You may remember the episode, "Sideshow Bob Roberts."

Ah, yes. Back when "The Simpsons" was still funny.

[motzman]

Not Massachusetts

"Fort Springfield was the site of a Civil War battle, suggesting it's in the southeast quadrant of the USA. The architecture at the fort suggests it's more of the type of Great Plains fort used in wars against American Indians. It was a Union fort since its troops wore blue."

Plus, Homer yells at Sideshow Bob, "Go back to Massachusetts, pinko!"

Plus, Flanders talks about people "back east"

Plus, there is no "Shelbyville" in Mass.

[BlueMondaySkipper]

I thought I read somewhere they they picked Springfield because every state has a town by that (or containing that) name.

[NittanyLion]

I thought I read somewhere they they picked Springfield because every state has a town by that (or containing that) name.

Technically, the only four states with a Springfield and a Shelbyville are TN, LA, MO & KY. Unfortunately none of these states has a Capital City, so I don't think that the Simpsons' Springfield is really based upon an actual place.

[BlueMondaySkipper]

Technically, the only four states with a Springfield and a Shelbyville are TN, LA, MO & KY. Unfortunately none of these states has a Capital City....

Well Duh!!

Everyone knows that Shelbyville and Capitol city are made up.

[motzman]

71 Springfields in 36 states and possessions

* Springfield, Alabama x4
* Springfield, Arkansas x2
* Springfield, California
* Springfield, Colorado
* Springfield, Florida x2
* Springfield, Georgia x9
* Springfield, Idaho
* Springfield, Iowa
* Springfield, Illinois
* Springfield, Indiana x2
* Springfield, Kentucky
* Springfield, Louisiana
* Springfield, Massachusetts
* Springfield, Maryland x4
* Springfield, Maine
* Springfield, Michigan x2
* Springfield, Minnesota
* Springfield, Missouri
* Springfield, Mississippi
* Springfield, North Carolina x4
* Springfield, Nebraska
* Springfield, New Hampshire
* Springfield, New Jersey x2
* Springfield, New York
* Springfield, Ohio
* Springfield, Oregon
* Springfield, Pennsylvania x2
* Springfield, South Carolina x3
* Springfield, South Dakota
* Springfield, Tennessee x2
* Springfield, Texas x3
* Springfield, Virginia x8
* Springfield, Virgin Islands
* Springfield, Vermont
* Springfield, Wisconsin
* Springfield, West Virginia

[motzman]

the following Shelbyvilles are known to exist:

* Shelbyville, Arkansas
* Shelbyville, Illinois
* Shelbyville, Indiana
* Shelbyville, Kentucky
* Shelbyville, Michigan
* Shelbyville, Missouri
* Shelbyville, Tennessee
* Shelbyville, Texas

[Chewie84]

"Welcome.
I liked that episode of the show. Then again, I like pretty much all of the episodes with Sideshow Bob. Kelsey Grammer gives a great performance each time, and there are many episodes in which Sideshow Bob, evil as he is, appears to be one of the most sympathetic villains I've seen in quite a while. I mean, in his first episode, when he takes over Krusty's show, he tries to introduce the children to a little culture and intellectual stimulation (i.e. reading to them from 'The Man in the Iron Mask'), and in the episode where he attempts to force Springfield to abolish television, he does so because he personally sees the mind- numbing effect it has on his fellow inmates. Also, in the episode where he is put on a work- release program, it looked like he had really reformed before his brother screwed it up for him. Plus, you can't help feeling just a little bad for him in the "Cape Fear" parody episode, as he goes through all those incredibly painful experiences to get to Bart (i.e. the now- legendary rake scene).

[Schweinhund]

My favorite take on elections by the Simpsons has always been this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uf_pJmKFY70