I need a vocabulary word regarding Sarah Palin (no joke intended)

[Larry in KC]

Is there a literary term, for example, for the following satisfying and frequently-used sort of humor?:

the insufferable person, especially one who is in a position of power or authority, who doesn't realize that the humor is because, while he or she is taken with his/her own brilliance, everyone else can see they're an idiot(or certainly the reader/viewer can)? Of course, we've been going through eight years of it already, with Bush's smirks at the podium.

Also, I'd love to see contributions to a list of characters who are good examples of this, both in fiction and in real life.

[HopeFor2006]

1. The Emperor has no Clothes

[Larry in KC]

6. Ah, of course, great example! That's a good term for it, too, and I know it's often used...

...but is there a single word for it, possibly?

Also, while the emperor's pride makes him do that stupid thing, I'd really like an emphasis on his/her own general stupidity, which is always obvious to the audience.

[minnesota_liberal]

13. That was my first thought

[chieftain]

28. But she knows how to wear a towel.

[fishnfla]

2. if you read " Lucky Jim " by Kingsley Amis

I'm sure that sort of term is used.

[11 Bravo]

3. Twunt

From Denis Leary and the incomparable "Rescue Me".

[msanthrope]

16. Wonderful. Can we try something that doesn't reveal your

obviously deep-seated issues with female genitalia, and perhaps doesn't insult Palin for her gender?

Why is her gender something to be insulted?

[patrice]

18. Thank you.

[ogneopasno]

20. Agreed. Well said.

[XemaSab]

31. Word

n/t

[patrice]

4. One of my favorite websites:

http://thesaurus.reference.com/browse/vain

.....................

How about: conceited fool or narcissistic fool

[patrice]

5. P.S. also Try H.L. Mencken and Mark Twain

[Larry in KC]

8. Yes, I 've been thinking of Huck Finn

The Duke and the Dauphin are good examples (although they often fool the other characters), and Huck himself is often a figure of fun for the reader because of the ignorance he doesn't realize he's showing, although he's certainly not vain.

[patrice]

17. There's a really good, full text, searchable online library called Questia.com

It's $20.00 a month, but I think they have a free trial membership. It sure would be a good thing to see them include a pay-per-search option.

[seaker]

24. Dolt

[patrice]

7. P.P.S. And also Bartlett's Famous Quotes - you can search quotes by topic, e.g.

politics
conceit
stupidity . . .

[Kalyke]

9. A boor.

1. A person with rude, clumsy manners and little refinement.
2. A peasant.

Synonyms: boor, barbarian, churl, lout1, vulgarian, yahoo
These nouns denote an uncouth and uncultivated person: listened to the boor talk about himself all night; a barbarian bewildered by the art exhibit; offended by the churl's lack of manners; was married to an uncaring lout; refused to invite the vulgarian; acted like a yahoo at the restaurant.

[4lbs]

10. How about "oblivious" ?

He/she was oblivious to what people thought of him/her.


http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oblivious


Main Entry: obliv·i·ous
Pronunciation: \-vē-əs\
Function: adjective
Date: 15th century
1 : lacking remembrance, memory, or mindful attention
2 : lacking active conscious knowledge or awareness —usually used with of or to
— obliv·i·ous·ly adverb
— obliv·i·ous·ness noun

[Chef Eric]

11. Chauncey Gardener of "Being There" comes to mind...

although Chauncey never thinks himself of as intelligent.

[Eric J in MN]

12. The character of Peggy Hill on the cartoon "King of the Hill"

...has confidence which exceeds her ability.

She's a substitute Spanish teacher who thinks she's fluent in Spanish, but isn't.

[votetastic]

14. laughingstock

[lunatica]

15. Cognitive delusion

self-deception, delusion and denial, clueless, malapropism, gaffe, uncomical, unfunny, ludicrous, facetious

[madamesilverspurs]

19. Projectile Vapidity

[BleedingHeartRN]

21. Obtuse harpy

meaning an intellectually dim, shrewish woman that makes those around her miserable.

[crossroads]

22. *ding dong* the witch is dead!

[Bravo Zulu]

23. "A face in the crowd"

Lonesome Rhodes: This whole country's just like my flock of sheep!
Marcia Jeffries: Sheep?
Lonesome Rhodes: Rednecks, crackers, hillbillies, hausfraus, shut-ins, pea-pickers - everybody that's got to jump when somebody else blows the whistle. They don't know it yet, but they're all gonna be 'Fighters for Fuller'. They're mine! I own 'em! They think like I do. Only they're even more stupid than I am, so I gotta think for 'em. Marcia, you just wait and see. I'm gonna be the power behind the president - and you'll be the power behind me!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050371/quotes

[CitizenPatriot]

25. Tartuffe.

(full title: Tartuffe, or the Hypocrite, French: Tartuffe, ou l'Imposteur) is a comedy by Molière, and arguably his most famous play. It was written in and first performed in 1664 at the fêtes held at Versailles, and almost immediately censored by the outcry of the dévots ("devout" ), who were very influential in the court of King Louis XIV. While the king had little interest in suppressing the play, he eventually did so because of the dévots. The word dévots referred to those who claimed to be very religious, but as Molière points out in Tartuffe, these same people were often religious hypocrites.

[TuxedoKat]

26. William Collins from Pride and Prejudice

Suggested words, buffoon, coxcomb, fop, dandy, churl, popinjay -- can you tell I've read too many Regency novels? Just found this one: rudesby -- a loud-mouthed, ill-mannered boor. This is too fun; I'm sure there are many other great, obscure words for this type of person too. If I find some more I will let you know!

Blatherskite fits too, in some respects.

TK
(longtime logophile)

[TheDoorbellRang]

27. blatherskite = A noisy talker of blatant rubbish; foolish talk or nonsense

Yup. That one fits pretty well.

I'd say William Collins epitomizes the typical Republican congressman in Bush's admin -- toadeaters all.

Mrs. Bennett in "Pride and Prejudice" seems more Palinish in many ways -- ignorant and clumsily ambitious.

[TuxedoKat]

29. Isn't that a great word?

My dad used to enjoy using it; I got my love of words from him. I forgot about Mrs. Bennett, good catch. Here's a few more, probably not exactly what the OP was looking for but appropriate in some respects:

blinkard - a reproachful name for one who perpetually winks or blinks; one who lacks intellectual perception.

bombaster - (archaic, but maybe we should bring it back!) -- bombastic, inflated, turgid.

boeotion - (Lionel likes to use this word to describe Bush) -- dull, stupid.

Is there a DU Logophile forum? Maybe we should start one!

[cayuga]

30. The word for the happy discovery that she is an idiot:

sarah-dip-ity