Although no one dared mention it at the time, a pall lurked about the margins of the inauguration of Barack Obama on January 20, 2009.
A great passing was imminent, many feared.
Broad swaths of our cultural landscape were about to become more barren.
Society would feel the loss, keenly.
Many of those left bereft would weep. Especially Jon Stewart's writers.
The ascension of Barack Obama to the presidency portended -
The End of Comedy.
It was feared America would not laugh again. The Obama presidency promised to be Earnest and Accomplished, Serious and Intelligent, Compassionate and Family-oriented. It would even be Witty and Sharp.
But it would not be Funny. No, not Funny.
Enter the Republicans.
Michelle Bachmann, historian and political scientist extraordinaire.
Bill Kristol, alchemist nonpareil, turning chicken shit into chicken salad on a regular basis.
Pat Buchanan, toll-taker on the Bering land bridge.
John Boehner, master of the Tanning Booth Show and Tell.
Glenn Beck, -
ahhh, Glenn Beck. The Teabagger's Teabagger.
And - finally - we have Neal Horsley. Neal Horsley, who proves with a vengeance that the United States is a place where anyone - anyone - can rise above their past, even if that past includes a stepladder.
Thank you, Republicans, for proving that Comedy Is Not Dead - it's just added an "R" after its name.
Thanks for reading! Please, share your Republican Comedy Gold in the comments!