The poet William Stafford set himself the task of writing a poem a day. When someone asked him what he would do when his poem-of-the-day wasn't very good, he replied "I simply lower my standards." In order to increase output, the bar here is set at a low level - the point of this is to have some fun with current events and politics. I welcome contributions and comments. Now you can also follow Doggerelo on Twitter (@doggerelo). Because of continuing medical problems, I'm no longer able to post a poem-a-day. I'll continue to post poems, but at a reduced frequency, so please stay tuned.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Newt's Hour


Now is Newt’s time in the sun.
Though he’s not quite yet number one
It’s clear that his time has come.

He’s so darn good in debates,
He’s terrific with numbers and dates,
He’s one of the GOP’s greats.

The media he holds in disdain.
Their questions are simply inane.
They just can’t keep up with his brain

So he answers their queries with sneers
As if they were children, not peers,
While the right wing responds with their cheers.

He's a man of Olympian mien,
an intellectual machine
with the heart of a wolverine.

House Speaker he was in the past
But his reign was so filled with bombast
that his colleagues were often aghast.

His predisposition to whine
has often crossed over the line
and led to his stature's decline.

There's a problem for candidate Newt
and his family values repute -
turns out he's a horny old coot:

While Clinton he was attacking
his own sense of shame was lacking
'cause then he too was up-shacking

with a blonde he'd soon wed for life
as soon as he ditched his old wife -
his life with scandal's been rife.

But it's cheers on the right for old Newt
he's pudgy and cute and astute
and of course he's not Romney to boot.











Thursday, November 10, 2011

Italy and the Euro Zone

The European debt crisis deepens as investor fears drove yields on Italian bonds above the 7% level.  


It’s Italy’s turn on the block
The yields on its bonds are a shock
Its too big to fail,
Too big to out-bail
The zone’s ‘tween a hard place and rock.

Perry Forgets


In last night's debate, Rick Perry was unable to remember the name of the Department of Energy, one of the Federal Departments he said he would abolish.  

When I get to be President Perry
There’s three bureaus I’m going to bury
There’s Commerce, that’s one
And there’s  Edu-ca-tion
And the third’s, I dunno,…EPAry?

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Cain Raps Instructions to His Staff


Herman Cain's campaign is no longer answering questions about possible sexual improprieties allegedly occurring during his tenure as head of the National Restaurant Association.

Cain:
Y'all,  when they wanna know
somethin’ ‘bout them accusations,
those temptations, complications from 15
years ago - just say no, just lie low
don’t show ‘em no info' that’ll slow me up.
Those dough-faced Joes wanna mow me down,
 slow me down, blow me out of the water,
throw me out of the race, stow me somewhere
where I won’t be in their face,
it’s such a damn disgrace
they wanna take my place -
replace me ,displace me, erase me -
‘cause they can’t keep up the pace.
But I got more than one ace up my sleeve
just in case the goin’ gets rough
they’ll know soon enough who’s tough  –
I got lots of stuff on them, ya know –
so when they wanna know
just say no, just lie low
don’t show ‘em no info' that’ll slow me up.

Staff:
Stay on message, stay on message
Say 9-9-9 and we’ll be fine
Stay on message, stay on message
Say 9-9-9 and we’ll be fine…

Cain:
So I’m stayin’ on message
but I got a mess o’ rage in me
 ‘cause they’re  pressin’ me, messin’
with me, and you can guess what the press
is comin’ to, all that baggage
from the ‘90s was an age ago
some crazy girls tryin’ to wage
war on me with those out-sized lies,
 despising me, devising ways
 to keep me from the prize.
It’s all politicized
by those guys, Perry’s allies
in disguise, sneakin' around
and leakin' freakin' lies 
 from those girls who'd be speakin' out in public
(if I'd let 'em) 'bout them them accusations,
those temptations, complications from many years ago.
So just say no, just lie low
Don’t show ‘em no info' that’ll slow me up.

Staff:
Stay on message, stay on message
Say 9-9-9 and we’ll be fine
Stay on message, stay on message
Say 9-9-9 and we’ll be fine…

Cain:
If you’re in doubt,
you'll be fine if you just say 9-9-9
Over and out.  

Monday, November 7, 2011

Why Senator Lieberman Voted Against the Democrats' Jobs Bill


Our senator from Connecticut
Says jobs won’t rise until we cut

Our debt dramatically.
He says this so emphatically

He must not be aware
That nearly everywhere

They did it,
Employment skidded.

Friday, November 4, 2011

Herman Cain on Foreign Affairs


Herman Cain the other day
Said China’s on the way

To getting its own  A-
Bomb which they'll send away

to Cuba, a place that may
go Commie any day.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

The Storm

early snow gathers on leaves
     and branches - my nerves crack
with the trees

my house snaps into darkness
and grows slowly cold