A Predictive Parody?

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With President Barack Obama firmly ensconced in the Oval Office, it seems natural to look back 8 years to the inauguration of his predecessor.

Just days before George Bush was sworn into office, “The Onion” provided a parody of the Bush inaugural — one that proved amazingly prescient.

“My fellow Americans,” Bush said, “at long last, we have reached the end of the dark period in American history that will come to be known as the Clinton Era, eight long years characterized by unprecedented economic expansion, a sharp decrease in crime, and sustained peace overseas. The time has come to put all of that behind us.”

In this parody article, then-House Majority Leader Dennis Hastert (R-IL) is mock-quoted as saying:

“Under Bush, we can all look forward to military aggression, deregulation of dangerous, greedy industries, and the defunding of vital domestic social-service programs upon which millions depend. Mercifully, we can now say goodbye to the awful nightmare that was Clinton’s America.”

A predictive parody, and a little painful to read.

It was meant to be funny. I guess the joke’s on us.

Kent Anderson

@kanderson

Kent Anderson is the CEO of RedLink and RedLink Network, a past-President of SSP, and the founder of the Scholarly Kitchen. He has worked as Publisher at AAAS/Science, CEO/Publisher of JBJS, Inc., a publishing executive at the Massachusetts Medical Society, Publishing Director of the New England Journal of Medicine, and Director of Medical Journals at the American Academy of Pediatrics. Opinions on social media or blogs are his own.

Discussion

2 Thoughts on "A Predictive Parody?"

Days after George Bush was sworn into office, …

Umm, no. It was days before Bush was sworn into office. That’s what makes Onion fantabulously special.

Onion’s report is dated 17 January 2001, and starts with this: “Mere days from assuming the presidency and closing the door on eight years of Bill Clinton, president-elect George W. Bush assured the nation …”