"Barack Obama gets a surprise visit in the night from ex-Presidents Bush Sr., Bush Jr., Clinton, Ford, Reagan and Carter to get a few pointers about the Consumer Financial Protection Agency and why it's so important."
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| Will Farrell, Dana Carvey and Dan Akroyd in Funny or Die's Presidential Reunion video. |
What is this video getting at you ask? Basically, wake up Obama, your presidency is sinking unless you establish the Consumer Finance Protection Agency and get it through Congress.
Presidents dead and alive, reunite in an all-star SNL skit we would all want to see if SNL was still the hot star minting commodity it was in the 80s and 90s. The video stars Jim Carrey as Ronald Reagan, Will Farrell as Bush Jr., Darrell Hammond as William Jefferson Clinton, Dana Carvey as Bush Sr., Dan Akroyd as Jimmy Carter, Chevy Chase as Gerald Ford, Fred Armisen and Maya Rudolph are Barack and Michelle Obama. Directed by Ron Howard, the comedians of SNL past and present still have a dream.
The Obama character's dream is reminiscent of "A Christmas Carol," but differs in that it is a pep talk rather than a nightmarish scenario. Ebenezer Scrooge's ghosts of the past and the present were ever more scary. This Funny or Die video incapsulates for us the nightmare that has been American leadership over the years. Moving forward a precipice beckons if Main Street does not get more support. Government came to the aid of the Banksters and failing auto giants but so far no real relief for average folks.
The lines from Jim Carrey's Ronald Reagan (spot on portrayal!) most tickled my funny bone: "Well, I'm dead, but I'm going to be a guest on Dancing with the Stars" or "Grow some balls [Obama]" or "I went against Tip O'Neil with nothing but a psychic oracle and these pendulous balls." Instant classic!
Obama, all the presidential funny men affirm: "we messed everything up royally," but "Tag you're it" and "Grow some nuts for the Gipper."
Jimmy Carter was the exception, as the video points out. He warned about the stew the U.S. would be in if there wasn't an effort to conserve energy and do the hard and unpopular things. Of course Reagan came into power and removed the solar panels that Carter had installed on the White House. Ballsy act, but dead wrong.
The Democrats are showing "signs of life." The good news is that there was a forum for open debate about healthcare with the President (the summit on healthcare) and since bipartisanship is not something that interests the Republicans, the Democrats have said they will pass healthcare reform with a simple majority or the reconciliation process that will bypass the Party of no's filibusters.
As a vocal critic of president Obama, I have to give him credit when it's due. Yesterday, Obama made it clear that he'd drawn a line and reached a point where he was moving forward with his health care plan, with or without the Republican party.
This is a decisive, strong leadership move. It's coming late, but better late than never.
Now 35 Democratic Senators support passing a Public Option through reconciliation. Democracy for America has the list. You can become a citizen co-sponsor.
Visit the Funny or Die website for a couple of good laugh.
Funny or Die's Presidential Reunion
"Barack Obama gets a surprise visit in the night from ex-Presidents Bush Sr., Bush Jr., Clinton, Ford, Reagan and Carter to get a few pointers about the Consumer Financial Protection Agency and why it's so important."
When you're done laughing, hold Congress accountable for protecting us consumers and visit this website: The Main Street Brigade is all about protecting the consumer. And that's no laughing matter.
