Greatest American Satirist

[Autonomy]

I am using the term satirist broadly here. Any American who gives a witty and insightful commentary on American politics and culture could qualify. Feel free to nominate a write-in candidate, and I will edit him/her in while I can.

[eallen]

1. Mark Twain

[hobbit709]

2. Ditto

[Autonomy]

5. dang

I forgot Sammy Clemens! I was thinking of him just before posting, but somehow blanked on including him. Good catch.

[Aviation Pro]

8. His best line....

...to me anyway.

"Suppose you were an idiot and suppose you were a Congressman, but I repeat myself."

You can use it for all purposes, hence:

"Suppose you were an idiot and suppose you were a Bush, but I repeat myself."

"Suppose you were an idiot and suppose you were a neocon, but I repeat myself."

[hobbit709]

33. "First God made idiots

that was for practice.
Then He made school boards"

[TaleWgnDg]

3. . . . deleted . . .

[Autonomy]

7. Did you read the OP?

[TaleWgnDg]

15. better, yet, did I have my historical thinkin cap on? nope . . .n/t

[Autonomy]

18. That's ok

I forgot to include Mark Twain. Where was my thinking cap for a moment...?

[NYCGirl]

9. He sure was:

http://www.amazon.com/Fart-Proudly-Writings-Benjamin-Franklin/dp/1583940790

Fart Proudly: Writings of Benjamin Franklin You Never Read in School

Book Description
A mention of flatulence might conjure images of bratty high school boys or lowbrow comics. But one of the most eloquent - and least expected - commentators on the subject is Benjamin Franklin. The writings in Fart Proudly reveal the rogue who lived peaceably within the philosopher and statesman. Included are "The Letter to a Royal Academy"; "On Choosing a Mistress"; "Rules on Making Oneself Disagreeable"; and other jibes. Franklin's irrepressible wit found an outlet in perpetrating hoaxes, attacking marriage and other sacred cows, and skewering the English Parliament. Reminding us of the humorous, irreverent side of this American icon, these essays endure as both hilarious satire and a timely reminder of the importance of a free press.

[TaleWgnDg]

12. Yup, I stand corrected . . . twasn't thinking, s'all.

[Caution]

11. Read the following

http://www.franklinpapers.org/franklin/framedVolumes.jsp?vol=20&page=389a

"Rules by Which a Great Empire May Be Reduced to a Small On"
-- Benjamin Franklin

This is one of the single greatest pieces of satire ever written.

It is just a small sample of Franklin's satirical writing.

[TaleWgnDg]

14. Must be summin in my drinking water? . . . ha . . . n/t

[Corgigal]

4. Great OR Greatest ?

After what Colbert did the Bush and those Pentagon types at the Correspondence Dinner. I'm voting for him. That was too great and the media avoided it at all cost. Another plus.

[Caution]

6. This discussion begins and ends with Mark Twain

You should also include Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

Top three in my not so humble opinion are:

1.) Mark Twain
2.) Kurt Vonnegut Jr
3.) Benjamin Franklin

[Autonomy]

13. I love Vonnegut

but I am not including him in the poll. He's not exactly a comedian or writer of comedic essays.

[Caution]

17. If you think this is the case then you haven't read nearly enough Vonnegut.

His essays are amongst the best American literature has to offer.

Plus from your OP:
"Any American who gives a witty and insightful commentary on American politics and culture could qualify."

Kurt Vonnegut clearly fits this criteria.

[Autonomy]

19. Okay

I might as well add Joseph Heller, then, too. List is now full.

[Caution]

22. I honestly can't believe I forgot about Joseph Heller. Catch-22 and Something Happened

are two of my favorite books (Catch-22 is #1 for me personally).

<smacks self on forehead>

Top five:
Mark Twain
Kurt Vonnegut
Benjamin Frankliln
Jospeh Heller
Washington Irving

[MrCoffee]

10. Father Lenny. I thought of him before I even read the choices.

[NYCGirl]

16. Lenny Bruce is the greatest influence on the way I think about everything.

I'm a native San Franciscan; we loved Lenny.

[pooja]

20. Henry Thoreau

If you are using a loose term.

[Autonomy]

23. Hmmmmm

I'd have to rate him over Heller to include him on the list... if the topic were American philosophers/activists/some other category, then definitely...

[pooja]

27. Yes... he's usually thought of for that.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

21. Mark Twain. With a great big nod to Joseph Heller.

[acmavm]

24. The hidden satire in such a simple story as Huckleberry Finn

is amazing. The use of analogy and symbolism (such as society represented by the riverbanks, and everytime Jim and Huck left the safety and isolation of the raft for the riverbank they got in nothing but trouble) still makes that one of my favorite books after almost 4 decades.

[devilgrrl]

25. Frank Zappa

Frank Zappa - Hungry Freaks, Daddy Lyrics

Mister America

Walk on by

Your schools that do not teach

Mister America

Walk on by

The minds that won't be reached

Mister America

Try to hide

The emptiness that's you inside

When once you find that the way you lied

And all the corny tricks you tried

Will not forestall the rising tide of

Hungry freaks, Daddy . . .



They won't go

For no more

Great mid-western hardware store

Philosophy that turns away

From those who aren't afraid to say

What's on their minds

(The left-behinds of the Great Society)



Hungry freaks, Daddy . . .



Mister America

Walk on by

Your supermarket dream

Mister America

Walk on by

The liquor store supreme

Mister America

Try to hide

The product of your savage pride

The useful minds that it denied

The day you shrugged and stepped aside

You saw their clothes and then you cried:

THOSE HUNGRY FREAKS, DADDY!



They won't go

For no more

Great mid-western hardware store

Philosophy that turns away

From those who aren't afraid to say

What's on their minds

(The left-behinds of the Great Society)

[Journeyman]

26. Despite my avatar, I chose Twain. . .

the breadth of his commentary, and the influence of his style (he was easily 40 years ahead in awareness from his contemporaries), continue to make him as relevant today as he was in his life.

[AspenRose]

30. Despite my avatar, I chose Twain too

Best ever. :thumbsup:

[dennis00]

28. DOONESBURY

you can't forget Garry Trudeau.

[Autonomy]

29. For some reason

I always think of Garry Trudeau as Canadian. Must be the last name. Maybe I am unconsciously confusing him with Pierre. Gotta love the Doonesbury, tho. He's been the most consistent and accessible satirist of America in my lifetime.

[Quixote1818]

31. Twain with Bill Maher second. nt

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

32. Dann Coulter. n/t

[dchill]

34. Comparing anyone to Mark Twain is unfair...

but I guess it is democratic.