11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Both Sides Take Well-Deserved Humorous Heat, October 1, 2004
This review is from: You Know You're A Republican/Democrat If... (Paperback)
When I picked up "You Know You're a Republican/Democrat If..." I expected a collection of off-color, just the usual "I hate Bush," or "Kerry's just a rich liberal" puns. I thought, given the title, the writer, like Jeff Foxworthy in his redneck series, just picked low-hanging fruit.
It is quite witty. Some jokes are reiterations of ones heard on Leno and Letterman, redone in the "You know you're a" style, but others are current, fresh and funny.
I tried to guess the writer's political leaning, but the jokes are well-balanced. He honestly pokes fun at whatever his side is, and thoroughly jabs the other. My hat is off to him for not revealing who will get his vote.
Ironically, left side of each spread is a Republican joke, and the right side is a Democrat joke.
Some of the jokes are based on simple stereotypes, like, "You know you're a Republican if... you think Florida election officials are fair and unbiased. You know you're a Democrat if you think 'fair Florida elections' is a contradiction in terms."
Other jokes show keen wit, and understanding of the deeper philosophical differences and inadequacies between each party and their adherents, like, "You know you're a Republican if you've thought about becoming a Libertarian, but have trouble with their philosophical support of prostitution, gay marriage, and uninhibited personal freedom. You know you're a Democrat if you've thought about becoming a Libertarian, but have trouble with their support of free trade." Another: "You know you're a Republican if you prove your racial sensitivity by saying 'gracias' to your gardener. You know you're a Democrat if you're strongly committed to racial equality even if you don't personally know anyone of a different race."
Two of my favorites is, "You know you're a Republican if you're afraid of the IRS. You know you're a Democrat if you're afraid of the FBI," and "You know you're a Republican if you support George W. Bush's plan to put a man on Mars. You know you're a Democrat if you want that man to be George W. Bush."
Maybe the gem in the whole book is "You know you're a Republican if you think Colin Powell might make a good President, if he wasn't black. You know you're a Democrat if you think Colin Powell might make a good President, if he wasn't conservative."
This is a book worth stocking in the bathroom, or for reading aloud on trips. Both sides take some heat, so no will be offended.
Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Clever writing makes for humorous & unique book, August 12, 2004
This review is from: You Know You're A Republican/Democrat If... (Paperback)
It may not be "gut-buster" humor, but I found myself (and others) making punctuated outbursts of laughter, delight and recognition while reading through the book. It cleverly portrays the knee-jerk-stereotypes, which are so ingrained in the Republican / Democrat ideology, as to make each feel the other is getting roasted while one's own camp gets off relatively easy! If truth is in the eye of the beholder, this work shows each one of us as being oblivious to our own biases and the assumptions underlying them...which is pretty laughable!
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Couldn't put it down until I was finished, August 9, 2004
This review is from: You Know You're A Republican/Democrat If... (Paperback)
Really loved this book. It was fun to look at the jabs taken at both Democrats and Republicans.. and to be honest, they both are very accurate. Democrat or Republican, you'll enjoy this book!
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