Obama urges $75-billion bailout for ‘responsible’ Vegas gamblers

Rivenburg, Roy. “Obama urges $75-billion bailout for ‘responsible’ Vegas gamblers.” 2009. Viewed 27 March 2009. .

This piece is part of a larger satirical online newspaper by Roy Rivenburg. The paper entitled Not The Los Angeles Times is created in a way that makes it look similar to the New York Times. The paper is intended for an audience that has an understanding of the current events and also has a sense of humor.

This article states that Obama wants to bailout “responsible gamblers” who were “duped into emptying their wallets by predatory blackjack dealers, cheap cocktails and fancy slot machines with hypnotic flashing lights." The article then takes the joke a step further by saying that the plan will also help people who have lost money in arcades playing the crane game. This pokes fun at Obama because he campaigned on the idea of fiscal responsibility but has bailed out people that were fiscally irresponsible. This has been seen as a contradiction by many.

High School Bars Criticism of President Obama

Semmens, John. “High School Bars Criticism of President Obama.” 24 January 2009. Viewed 26 Mach 2009. .

This satire is about a high school in Indiana that banned students from criticizing President Obama. The administration claimed that this was done because it is every American’s duty to fully support Obama in all of his endeavors despite the fact that criticizing former President Bush was allowed.

Of course none of this actually happened, but it does raise an interesting point, few people are criticizing President Obama, and those that do tend to be attacked for it. This article pokes fun at this idea by stating that all criticism is banned and essentially unpatriotic. The article is aimed at people who have some knowledge of current events, as layer 2 would be lost on those who were not.

John Semmens has written numerous articles, both satirical and not, that have appeared in such places as the Wall Street Journal and Washington Times.

Choices for a Barack Obama Cabinet

Cameron, Chris. “Choices for a Barack Obama Cabinet.” 6 November 2008. Viewed: 21 February 2009.

This short satirical column outlines who Obama should choose for various cabinet positions. The piece briefly comments on many problems the country is facing such as the economy and education in addition to poking fun at some people in the national spotlight such as Jesse Jackson and Ron Paul. The author also seems to be commenting on the fact that just because someone is technically qualified for a job doesn’t mean they are the best choice.
Chris Cameron posts a new article every Thursday on Radioactive Liberty.