SPOOF SPACE BY STEELE CODDINGTON  |  AUGUST 7, 2013

The new Comedy Central

Why is humor in the U.S. alive and well? Because America's most fertile field for ridicule is its enormous supply of new liberal politicians adept at producing failures with consequences that are joke material. The development of scathing punch lines exposing idiotic self-serving claims of progress benefitting society and the over-worked "middle class" are enlightening. Humorous indictments of political incompetents are as American as apple pie and are increasingly aimed at Comedy Central in Washington D.C., led by late night TV, blogs, newspapers, cable, e-mail and national conversation.

The new jokes are reminiscent of the abrasive one-liner truths delivered on the old Borscht circuit by Jewish comedians. Remember these?

"I just got back from a pleasure trip. I took my mother-in-law to the airport."
"Why do Jewish divorces cost so much? They're worth it."
"Why don't Jewish mothers drink? Alcohol interfers with their suffering."
"Where does a Jewish husband hide money from his wife? Under the vacuum cleaner."

But the new comedy circuit is in D.C. where the continuing government jokes, like higher taxes, unwanted and unworkable health care, dangerously misguided foreign policy, and joblessness in perpetuity aren't getting any laughs. They are getting back-lash from a new type Borscht humor with scathing questions ridiculing liberal policies that aren't funny. Here are some samples:

"What's the best comedy act in Washington? The ventriloquist in the White House telling his dummy in the Senate what mistakes to make next."

"Mr. Obama, what message do you get from the obscene excesses of public employee unions, pensions and health care, extensive corruption and outrageous debt that bankrupted Detroit?" "Detroit has been an outstanding blue print that tells us that if we can just eliminate corruption, the rest of our programs are right on track."

"Mr. Carney (Obama Press Secretary), what will the President's infrastructure program do to improve our road system?" "He plans to issue an executive order mandating that all American drivers begin driving in the left-hand lane of traffic like in the U.K. This should help move the country further to the left."

"Would changing the lanes improve our economy?" "No, but the confusion it would cause would reinforce the need to find more excuses to blame George Bush."

"Has the White House and Harry Reid's Senate become infected with some sort of bug that causes stupidity?" "Yes, both places are infected with left-wing 'loon-a-ticks.'"

"In spite of all the failed government stimulus fiascos, isn't the market up?" "Yes, but investors have learned that the real "Bull" Market in the Oval Office had nothing to do with it."

"What will an election win or loss mean for the future of Anthony Weiner and Elliot Spitzer?" "Either way, there will always be more IRS and Cabinet openings for qualified individuals."

"Will Secretary of State Kerry's efforts for peace between Israel and Palestinians end the conflict? "No, but his meddling might be 'Hari-Kerry' for the Israelis."

And a final joke by my dog Arbuckle: "The President's endless speeches are boring. What could improve them? An animal act featuring a swan-song."