Presidential Humor

I think all presidents make attempts at humor. For anybody that watched them, John McCain on late night comedy shows was great. Even entering into a hostile environment after snubbing David Letterman, McCain was cracking jokes and seemed to be having a great time. So much so that I remarked he may make a better late night television show host then president.

Bush loves to make jokes. He makes jokes all the time.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/01/10/bush-says-refused-bail-republicans-iraq-withdrawal/

Unlike his son, the elder President Bush served only one term, leaving him to wonder about "things I'd like to have done" on his "unfulfilled agenda." But he has remained active since leaving the White House, even skydiving well into his golden years. He plans another jump in June, when he will be 85."I think he's a nut to jump out of airplane at age 70, 75, 80 and 85," remarked his son, who added: "Actually, I think it's cool." His dad, who now walks with a cane, agreed. "You don't want to sit around just because you're an old guy, drooling in the corner," the elder Bush said. "Old guys can still do stuff." To which his son quipped: "You can drool and jump at the same time."


One can argue if this is funny or not (it's certainly gross) but Bush really tries to use humor frequently in interviews.

I think Obama really sets a different tone with the press and on TV. Instead of using humor (as in actual jokes) he instead talks about parts of his family's life that make us think "oh, they are just like us!". The new dog for the white house would be the best example. Saying "we want to get a mutt, just like me" isn't really humor, but it is endearing anyway.

I'm not sure what I prefer in a president. It was inspiring to see Bush so angry and moved after 9/11. I think the country as a whole, for a moment, wanted to go kick some ass. But Bush's stubborn and reactionary leadership proved to be a determent in the long term. His humor came off in a bad way after a while. The infamous clip of him giving the middle finger to a cameraman has been viewed millions of times on youtube.

Which is preferable, a likeable and relatable president or a president who try to be "professional" and keep his calm at all times? I don't mean to try and compare Bush and Obama, I mean in general. I am certainly more like Bush in my responses to everyday life (I yell on the phone half of the day) and try to use humor frequently throughout my days. I sort of envy Obama's permanent sense of calm. My dad remarked this morning that it was that sense of calm that made him not trust Obama. He wanted to be able to see through body language how the president was feeling. I thought this was strange, as my dad has this aura of intellectual calm about him as well.

Maybe there is a clip out there of Obama being a dumbass in front of a camera too, and it just takes time for these things to get out there. I'm not really sure. Was Clinton funny? Is this a democratic thing? I'm not sure, I didn't really watch Clinton on TV.

I can understand the need to be liked (I really enjoyed McCain on Letterman) but in my opinion just because your job is so public doesn't mean you can be unprofessional. I think it is funny to hear presidents joke, but I would overall prefer a more serious person in the role. I don't think not smiling is a qualification for president, or that is somehow makes Obama more qualified to be an effective leader. It just reassures me that we have a president who has an overall plan, and it not as reactionary as past leaders have been.

Just some thoughts on a Sunday afternoon.