John Cleese Offers To Write For Obama

AFP:

Monty Python legend John Cleese is to offer his services as a speechwriter to Barack Obama if he wins the Democratic nomination to become US president, he told a British newspaper out Tuesday.
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The British comedian, who lives in California, told the Western Daily Press regional paper that his jokes could help the Illinois senator get into the White House.

"I am due to come to Europe in November but I may be tied up until then because if Barack Obama gets the nomination I'm going to offer my services to him as a speechwriter because I think he is a brilliant man," the 68-year-old said.

Read the whole story: AFP

Comments

[AgathaX]

It would only work if no one knew he was doing it. Else, everyone would be listening thinking "Did he write that? Did he write that?" I could see him more doing campaign ads. Or public service announcements for Obama to communicate with people to get them to pressure their representatives. Sort of a: this is the health care plan in 20 seconds or less, tell your Congressment you want him to support it. Here's a website you can check to see if he is supporting change. Cleese could do that sort of thing without it mattering so much that he did it. And they would probably be the best spots ever.

[FZliveson]

The American people will eat just about anything that is spoonfed to them by someone with any public recognition. Some Americans won't swallow it, though. Cleese would bring an edge to Obama that would raise his image. He could help Hillary a ton, but she's not on his list.

[bish66]

I guess that Obama is England's best shot at getting the colony back.

Take a look at http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/blrevocation_cleese.htm:

"To the citizens of the United States of America, in the light of your failure to elect a competent President of the USA and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective today."

[Neocon187]

Actually, W was (and still is).
As far as the last quote, that should have happened in 2004.

[nogimmicks]

The Great John Cleese, wow! It is increasingly clear that people with heart, with taste, with a sense of life and humor, with compassion can not stand Hillary's entourage and evil masters, all that hypocrisy and the lack of integrity. She speaks against Columbia deal while Bill is actively working for it, she speaks about being the main proponent of the troops withdrawal (today) while voting for the war, etc.

Bravo, John!

[2liveNdie]

Nobody needs or wants a slimy Brit writing for an American President!!! Write for your Prime Minister instead! VIVA AMERICA!!!

[StanDaMan]

Ya, you're right. The president should stick to the time-tested lies and distortions put into his mouth by home-grown corrupt henchmen, like Rove and Cheney.

[markkraft]

John Cleese, who is married to a US citizen and who has lived in California for the past 13 years volunteering for the Obama campaign..­. bad.

Elton John, who lives in Britain, doing a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton that clearly violates the spirit of campaign finance laws against foriegn contributo­rs... good?!

[allaheadfull]

Damn Right! We need an amendment to the US Constitution to stop these presidential candidates from using any of the writings of those pesky Brits. No more quotes from the likes of Shakespeare,or Dickens. Let's expunge any reference by them to the words of Churchill, regardless of the wit and wisdom that they may contain. Let's forbid the dystopian warnings of George Orwell because, after all, he is not 100%, born and bred American.L­et our presidential candidates use nothing but the words of Americans.
Hey, why don't we create our own language? After all, the English language comes from those damned Brits.

[lovethesinner]

I've always loved John Cleese. I have a movie idea I'd love to see him produce (I offer it here, free of charge) It's a spoof on the absurdity of American religion and it's a take off on the old classic "The Russians Are Coming! The Russians are Coming":

"The Pastors Are Coming! The Pastors Are Coming!"

Based on "The Russians Are Coming! The Russians are Coming" the story pits a small New England town against a U-Boat filled with black preachers, led by Rev. Jeremiah Write. The comedy centers around a love story, and a thrilling scene where the local boy is saved from falling off a church steeple by one of the black preachers.

Pat Buchanan plays the signature role of the old mailman who rides through town yelling "the Pastors are coming!" at odd moments, seemingly oblivious to the fact that everyone knows this. (remarkable acting on the part of Pat Buchanan who somehow rides his bike "no-hands" while chopping the air in hatchet like motions to emphasize his point)

In the last scene, the previously frightened town folk help the pastors escape out of gratitude for saving the young boy, the lovers part with resigned looks, and and Pat Buchanan, still ranting, "The Pastors Are Coming" at the top of his lungs, rides his bike off the end of a pier to the delight of all.

Obama-Webb '08

(P.S. Get "The League of Gentlemen" to play the locals.)

[biglover]

OBAMA WEBB 2008 -Lovethesinner = I like your style. My choice for Veep is Webb. The best choice Obama can make bar none.

[jayburd]

Obama: Senator, how do you propose to win the war in Iraq? What's the plan?
McCain: Well, I -
Obama: FIVE! FOUR! THREE! TWO! ONE! ZERO!
McCain: But -
Obama: Too late! Now, how do you propose we solve the housing crisis?
McCain: I don't know what to say.
Obama: Well say something.
McCain: Well, I -
Obama: FIVE! FOUR! THREE! TWO! ONE! Z-
McCain: Squuuaaaawwwwk!
Obama: Good! Very good!

[PepeLePu]

"Don't mention the war."

Basil Fawlty

[UkieOlie]

Cool reference!

[TerenceHartnett]

Yes, I think there is an opportunity here.

Obama's inauguration speech--with Bush sitting there--can begin: "And now for something completely different . . ."

lol

[Strywever]

Now THAT'S funny! Good on ya, Terence -- I needed a laugh.

[jayburd]

I think Cleese would be better as a debate coach...

McCain: Look, this isn't a debate!
Obama: Yes it is.
McCain: No it isn't, it's just contradiction
Obama: No it isn't.
McCain: It is!
Obama: It is not.
McCain: Senator, you just contradicted me.
Obama: I did not.
McCain: Oh you did!
Obama: No no no.
McCain: You did just then
Obama: Nonsense, Senator.
McCain: Oh this is futile!
Obama: No it isn't.
McCain: I came here for a good debate.
Obama: No Senator, you came here for a debate.
McCain: A debate isn't just contradiction.
Obama: Can be.
McCain: No it can't. A debate is a connected series of statements intended to establish a political position.
Obama: No it isn't.
McCain: Yes it is! It's not just contradiction.
Obama: Look Senator, if I debate you, I must take up a contrary position.
McCain: But it isn't just saying "no it isn't."
Obama: Yes it is.
McCain: No it isn't!!!

[Neef]

lol, Bravo!!

[rini]

Maybe Cleese can become part of the Obama administration in 2009.

Then we can have a ministry exclusively devoted to silly walks.

[dsmyre]

ROFL! I can just imagine Obama and Cleese -- two extra-tall lanky men -- doing the 'silly walk' together across the stage. I luv 'em both for different reasons. They'd make a fun duo.

[JudgeCrater]

And don't forget Dick Cheney!

Brave Sir Richard ran away.
Bravely ran away, away!
When danger reared its ugly head,
He bravely turned his tail and fled.
Yes, brave Sir Richard turned about
And gallantly he chickened out.
Bravely taking to his feet
He beat a very brave retreat,
Bravest of the brave, Sir Richard!

[LivingStardust]

As much as I love Cleese for his humor (I can quote Python with the best of geeks), you are paying him a great disservice if you have not seen his industrial films on the workplace. He not only has a keen insight into what is funny in human nature, but human nature in general. Cleese would be a great asset in more ways than one. Plus it would be nice to get a chuckle out of a SOTU address and not have it be gallows humor from watching King George the Destroyer.

[JudgeCrater]

HRC: Listen, lad. I built this candidacy up from nothing. When I started here, all there was was a swamp of my husband's lies. Others said I was daft to build a lie on a bunch of other lies, but I built it all the same, just to show 'em. It sank into the swamp. So, I built a second one. That sank into the swamp. So I built a third one. That burned down, fell over, then sank into the swamp. But the fourth one... stayed up! And that's what you're gonna get, lad: the strongest lie left in this campaign!

[StanDaMan]

Son: But I don't want a lie. I want...
HRC: Well?
Son: I want to... sing... the praises of Obama.
HRC: Stop that, stop that. We'll have no singing here.
Son: But, the (wo)man I want to vote for has that...
HRC: Yes?
Son: ... certain... special... something.­.. integrity.
HRC: Listen, you're voting for me whether you like it or not. Guards!

[SubparDude]

:

Who better to lead us on the Trail of the Holiest of Grails?


:

[chlllfactor]

Cleese would be an excellent, brilliant addition to Senator Obama's campaign., more diversity and humor. Humor appeals to people living in a country where we are so beseiged with the humongous failures of our leaders.

[ZsaZsa]

Since Barack Obama's message centers around change, how about this for a slogan:

"And now for something completely different - Obama '08"

By the way, if you don't think Keith Olbermann will include this tidbit of news on his show tonight, you're crazy.