Why has the Simpsons let w. Bush off so lightly?

[Arwon]

Basically , the Simpsons don't do real politicians very much, or directly attack real people in general.

They prefer to use broad caricatures, Krusty the Clown and Kent Brockman instead of real entertainers and journalists, Mayor Quimby and Chief Wiggum instead of real politicians and authority figures. Remebmer the "OH MY GOD, A LITTLE GIRL IS LOSING FAITH IN DEMOCRACY" gags?

With Bush Senior it was personal, he directly attacked the show in a speech, so that's a totally different situation. Clinton was, and is, comedy gold. A loveable buffoon who was easy to mock with affection--they never had a go at his policies or anything, just the general idea of this Arkansas redneck in power. Carter, Reagan and Ford are history and they often have reasons to use them. I seem to recall Ford was only used as a continuance of the Bush Senior gags.

The Bush admin however, isn't funny. It's just depressing.

I've also noted a massive lack of Nixon jokes, especially compared to Futurama. Same with Al Gore, actually.

 

[gangleri2001]

The Simpsons is a decadent TV series. Its golden age is over.

 

[Arwon]

(we don't use decadent and decadence in that manner in English, the word you want is "declining" or possibly "jumped the shark")

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Maybe they are trying to be original.

 

[gangleri2001]

(we don't use decadent and decadence in that manner in English, the word you want is "declining" or possibly "jumped the shark")

Anyways, everyone understands what I mean. And if english doesn't use latin words with their actual meaning, then it's english fault, not latin-derived languages'.

 

[holy king]

Anyways, everyone understands what I mean. And if english doesn't use latin words with their actual meaning, then it's english fault, not latin-derived languages'.

i didnt understand it.

 

[Chandrasekhar]

I recall that the Simpsons Movie had a lot of hippie political commentary, and that it portrayed Arnold Schwarzenegger as an incompetent leader as well.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Hippie political commentary?

Really now

 

[zxcvbnm]

Actually, the parody of the correctional institute isn't that far-fetched:

Invoke a terrifying internal and external enemy. -Al-Qaeda, terrorists in general
Create secret prisons where torture takes place. -Gitmo, etc.
Develop a thug caste or paramilitary force not answerable to citizens. -Blackwater
Set up an internal surveillance system. -Done
Harass citizens' groups. -a bit
Engage in arbitrary detention and release. -"enemy combatants"
Target key individuals. -not yet, AFAIK
Control the press. -Iraq war lies and the "do you accept that guy to comment your war plans" idiotisms
Treat all political dissents to be traitors. -unpatriotic, not traitors yet
Suspend the rule of law. -in regard to some cases


although it might not be all correct, it's scary still

 

[QuoVadisNation]

The simpsons have already some anti-bush stabs.

In one episode, homer says, "dropping out of school, eh? Fine, but you know where they'll send you, boy? Iraq. And who knows where next, Syria, Iran, North Korea? Anything's possible with captian koko bananas in charge."

In another episode, Homer is cut off on the high way and in a fit of rage, homer promptly pulls out a baseball bat and tries to break the other car's windows while driving sixty miles per hour with his family inside. Marge tells homer that revenge is never the answer, and homer responds, "then what are we doing in Iraq?!"

I haven't watched the Simpsons regularly in four years, but if I can pull those examples off the top of my head from the very few episodes I've seen recently, try to think of all the other stabs?

Simpsons may be a liberal cartoon, but they're never ever preachy about it. Simply because the writers probably realize that a substantial part of their viewerships are conservatives and they don't want to be told that their opinions are constantly wrong. The simpsons isn't just for liberal leftists, they probably have just decided to leave the blatant Bush bashing for South Park.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

South Park bashes Bush on a regular basis?

The only time I can remember Bush being in an episode is when they were making fun of conspiracy theorists.

 

[Arwon]

They lampoon liberals too, through Lisa, it's just that they treat her with kid gloves because she's generally the voice of the writers and creators.

 

[QuoVadisNation]

South Park bashes Bush on a regular basis?

The only time I can remember Bush being in an episode is when they were making fun of conspiracy theorists.

I said they probably only left the Bush bashing for South Park. I didn't say South Park actually does it (although I wouldn't know, seeing how I don't watch it : ) )

 

[Swedishguy]

I've also noted a massive lack of Nixon jokes, especially compared to Futurama. Same with Al Gore, actually.

"Mr Vice President!"
"Yes?"
"Somebody bought your book!"

I think he's had a few hits.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I watched every one of them, barring the new season.

I think Matt Stone and Trey Parker vote conservative, but that's just something someone told me sometime, so don't take my word for it.

Al Gore a couple of times. Opera, Hillary.

 

[holy king]

"Mr Vice President!"
"Yes?"
"Somebody bought your book!"

I think he's had a few hits.

but that was looong before "the awful truth" and manbearpig...

 

[Arwon]

I watched every one of them, barring the new season.

I think Matt Stone and Trey Parker vote conservative, but that's just something someone told me sometime, so don't take my word for it.

Al Gore a couple of times. Opera, Hillary.

They're libertarians of the cranky internet nerd variety.

 

[emzie]

"Well, the Earthlings continue to resent our presence," Kang says. "You said we'd be greeted as liberators!"

"Don't worry," says Kodos. "We still have the people's hearts and minds." In the show's characteristic over-the-top sarcasm, Kodos then holds up a brain and heart.

"I don't know," says Kang. "I'm starting to think 'Operation Enduring Occupation' was a bad idea."

Kodos disagrees. "We had to invade. They were working on weapons of mass disintegration."

As the two survey the smoking ruins of their town, Kang deadpans the last line of the segment. "This sure is a lot like Iraq will be."

Last line was cut. But I think there's something political there. It only aired 2 days before the 2006 election.

 

[I'm Cleo!]

Al Gore's daughter was also a writer for Futurama. That's why he always appeared (as his head in a jar, of course).

Cleo

 

[Dr Tiny]

I remember in the commentary for one of the Simpson's DVDs (I think the episode is the one that has a school play with a singing Mount Rushmore and a line up of 'unknown' US presidents). Matt Groening says that every US president has appeared in the Simpsons, he says the only one who will never appear is the current George Bush because he dislikes him a lot.