Politics, Comedy and Women

A woman politician can only win when they have a wit that is bitingly funny and the confidence to use it. Facts are facts. Wit in politics is wielded like a machete, machine gun,or smart bomb. Sometimes you need to assassinate a policy or idea and sometimes you have to go for the character. In short a woman has to be wittier than a man... insert witticism here.

Margaret Thatcher is feared, to this day, for her Wit, as is Hillary Clinton and a select group of others. The rest are defined by the barbs from the men. Hey... don't shoot the messenger. Once you understand every joke has a motive... defence is easy. The trick is in determining what is a joke and when to use the wit.

I will use a successful Alberta politician as an example. For 2 years Danielle Smith has woven together a political party out of nothing but angry disaffected interests. The party is focused, has a structure in place and nomination meetings in almost every riding. Her policies are of the same voice for everyone on big issues. Danielle has done the almost impossible.

Last week the rival PC's came out against her, and here is where she missed the joke. Ted Morton, who had a dummy singing his praises on stage backfire, said he would change the slogan of Alberta from the Wildrose Province to a strong and free sheep or something. It is an obvious attack but it needs to be responded to in humour. Here is a suggestion on how to use wit...

Press Conference... 6 bored reporters and a podium.

Danielle Smith:

Gentleman I have read with interest the musings of a candidate for the nearly 1/2 century old PC's talk of renewal and change of the license plates and slogan for Alberta. I can see why license plates are in need of change as this is the last segment of Alberta to receive funding from the PC emergency recession pot of money. I also understand having a sheep on the license plate as they signify PC party unity.

An aide appears and whispers into Danielle's ear

Sorry I am mistaken, it seems the picture on the license is in fact a Ram so whatever Frueds your ship.

Removing the slogan "Wildrose Province" for "Strong and Free" is inspired and I can only applaud the courage they showed in the selection. I too am a proud Canadian and sing O'Canada during beer commercials of Olympic Hockey games as loud as the next person. I also understand wanting to please the Federal PC candidates who are supporting Ted's run for the ancient, weathered brass ring. I wonder if it is possible to put a Rob Anders picture in the license plate? A Where's Waldo kind of idea.

I as an Albertan seeking to represent Albertans kind of like Wildrose Province. As and Albertan who has seen the "benefits" of Federal Government forays into Alberta (hello NEP)I am a little confused as to why we need to have them represented on our license plates. But if Ted wishes to support Canada on the plates at least he should revise the Alberta Coat of Arms to signify the change. Perhaps a Beaver damning up a field of Wildrose to distribute the dirty oil soaked billions fairly to Quebec. I see a contest.

So in closing... well done. With such well reasoned and fiscally restrained policies like this coming from the most Conservative of the candidates I am sure the message of the Wildrose Party will be heard. At a time when the Province is billions in deficit the cost of implementing a new license plate fits well with other PC policy platforms and financial announcements. Maybe we could put some of the old plates in the new Museum or use the old plates for roofing material for the PC funded new home of the Edmonton Oilers.

Danielle, you don't have to ignore policy announcements like this. All Alberta would understand if you take the shot.

Jr Jokers

As I watch the staff at ZEDS prepare for another summer of Jr Joker training I am reminded why it started in the 1st place. The idea was to teach the skills and writing of comedy to children ages 12 - 17. They would learn set up and punchline, call back the 7 skills of joke, dealing with hecklers and group writing and participation. Sounded so easy.

Over the next 4 years 15 Jr Joker classes were run involving over 150 participants, 3 Board of Education Schools sponsored the events, radio, newspaper and TV tracked the progress. From mom's I heard glowing reviews of the method of instruction and results. From the kids I got grudging respect for the efforts and I learned kids are not funny.

I see the results of Jr Jokers in the person of Steele Duncan who will be running the class. Steele is a gifted artist stuck in the body of a comic as anyone who has witnessed his Harry Potter rap or Toys 'r Us set knows.

Kids who have the skill of stand up comedy have an advantage in life. Best of all it gets the whole family laughing. Of all the legacy project created by the CHEERS project Jr Jokers is one.

Election 2011 full of Fun!

Top 5 reasons to have another early election
# 5 Elected officials want to get it over before cottage season
# 4 Take the minds off hockey for Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa and Toronto
# 3 Creates a new drinking game for Universities as they drink every time “coalition” is mentioned
# 2 The anger over money spent on an unnecessary election will keep us warm
# 1 Frozen Canadians have missed Elizabeth May talking about global warming

NDP leader Jack Layton was in Edmonton during Earth Hour which is how he spun the dimming prospects for the NDP in the province.

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff is excited to participate in his 1st election saying the leaves on the trees in Harvard are especially striking in June.

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper was denied an opportunity to perform at the Juno awards on Saturday. Officials refused to give the Liberal, NDP and Bloc Quebecois a chance to sing a response saying it would take too long. A spokesman for the oppositions groups denied this would be a problem saying they would save time by singing from the same songbook.

The CBC has embraced a new tool, Vote Compass, which has people filling out a survey to determine who will win. So far the clear leader is Justin Beaver followed by Drake and Nikki Payne.

I’m not sure why the opposition parties are so upset with the Conservatives building more prisons. At some point all of the Ministers getting convicted have to be housed somewhere.

Jack Layton spent time in Quebec to condemn the oil sands tax breaks and the results were fantastic. Next up Layton will tour BC and complain about Toronto getting all the movies, Saskatchewan to complain Toronto gets all the tax breaks and Toronto to chastise the rest of Canada for hating Toronto.

In an attempt to connect with the younger voters all of the Parties are fully engaged in Social Media with Twitter accounts, Facebook pages and YouTube videos of them puking up a JaggeBomb. The candidates all have Facebook profiles with each of the parties trying hard to get people on Facebook to poke them. Asked to comment former PM Jean Chretien was confused saying Canadians were mad when he poked voters.

I asked the Wit and Writing for Women (www.cheersproject.com) comedy group to suggest Twitter names for the candidates. Here are some of the best:
Stephen Harper @sweatervest, @grumpypants, @dictator-in-waiting
Michael Ignatieff @homeinengland @smartiepants @packingjustincase
Jack Layton @pickmepickme @justafleshwound @Iheartcoalitions
Elizabeth May @chickenlittle @badmenwon’tplaywithme @1millionpeopleloveme
Gilles Duceppe @whereismypension @canadasuckswhereismypension @let’sseperatewhereismypension

I hope the leaders of the other parties who don’t have an elected member in Parliament don’t sue me for leaving them out of the jokes!

Giggle vs guffaw

Men complain that women aren't funny. Well, maybe it's because we're weighed down with a womb. Womb rhymes with tomb and who finds a tomb funny? How are we to be flouncy, frivolous and flippant with such serious matters as birth and death on our minds?

Besides, what makes men so funny? Well, OK, the tendency to develop a bald spot about the time a woman births her third child is good for a giggle. But what makes her giggle and him guffaw is often a difference in the taste in humor. Men gravitate to wisecracks, slapstick and gutter humor, while women prefer the sly, the dry and the wry humor. He rolls in the aisles when one stooge pokes two fingers in the eyes of another, while she smiles at the ironies of life and enjoys the last laugh. For without the womb there wouldn't be a single man around to complain that women aren't funny. Womb-envy, anyone?

Rhodiola and humour

There are studies and papers on the positive impact rhodiola has in the creation of fluids associated with laughter. Insert joke here...

I was hoping to introduce the Wits to rhodiola tea grown from Alberta, dried from Alberta and poured by a Saskatchewan boy. There are no Saskatchewan boys who know what rhodiola is so I am stuck with it...

We will not have time to do all the Wit class activities and fully appreciate the experience you have just been a part of in Wit Love. I try never to admit a show was great... it's a male thing... so... wow... Wit Love was great!

I am trying to acquire boxes of the 1st ever capsule... maybe...

The show demonstrated the reason I agreed to help. Women are funny and more important know haw to have a great time!

Happy Endings

It was my first night at Wit and Writing For Women.  I walked from the Bloggers room into the room of the Performers and noticed Eva on the stage.  She caught my attention when she shouted, “THANK YOU VERY MUCH!” and starts to pant.  The other Wits laugh at her.  I wish I knew what she was talking about.

Eva gives the Wits an assignment to create an ending for their performance.  She goes around the room and helps them with endings.  Derek (The Lone Male) is helping the Wits out as well.  I keep thinking to myself…lucky man to be surrounded by all these beautiful vivacious women!  No wonder he wants to instruct! 

I feel envious of the Performing Wits…I wish I was going to be on stage on Valentine’s night with the rest of them.  If only I joined this Meetup sooner.  I have to admit that I was so impressed at finding out so many Wits were performing for the first time. 

Each Wit starts sharing their creative endings for their performance.  As they are sharing their endings, all that can go through my head is…Happy Endings.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with Happy Endings…it is the type of ending that you get at the end of a massage at a parlor with special “add-ons” for their clients.  Yes, I have a twisted mind.  It may also explain why I think I am in the right Meetup group for me. 

There was so much laughter!  Eva and Derek helped each Wit with their creative endings by giving suggestions.  There is so much support in this group.  I am really looking forward to volunteering at the show.  Although it was my first night with this group, I felt like I belonged.  Thank you Eva for creating this group…and thank you for getting me out of my pajamas on Valentine’s night!

Is testosterone or dollars to blame?

There are many female comedy writers so we know women can write funny..., is it the female delivery that is to “blame” for the perception woman are not funny? Perhaps it is our presents. Our gift of sexy-ma!

Personally I think testosterone is up when a women’s in the room and sometimes, some fellows would rather lay than laugh. It must be so hard to laugh when, it’s hard. 


I read recently that when a male comic headliner is performing the bar sells more booze, women  comic they sell more food.  Is this simply an economics issue? Jeeps, that would be a relief!

~EvaPea