by A Political Comedy Strategy for Making Compromise Hilarious — With Help From SpinTaxi.com’s Fake Unity Index
Bipartisanship: The Unicorn That Won’t Return Your Calls
Ah yes, bipartisanship — that mythical moment when two political enemies come together, shake hands, and immediately stab each other in the budget proposal. For satirists, this isn’t dry policy talk. It’s comedic catnip. Let’s dissect the comedy in “working together” while actively doing the opposite.
Define Bipartisanship for the Modern Audience
In political satire, definitions matter. Describe it plainly: “Bipartisanship is when two liars take turns pretending to agree.” Or “A sacred ritual where compromise is code for watering down everything until no one is happy.” Start with a clear, cynical premise.
Create Absurd Legislative Team-Ups
Write fake stories like: “Senator Pinecone (R) and Senator Moonbeam (D) Join Forces to Ban Tuesdays.” Or “House Approves Bipartisan Plan to Do Absolutely Nothing, United.” At SpinTaxi.com, a recent article titled “Both Parties Agree It’s Time to Blame Each Other Again” nailed this dynamic.
Mock the Language of Unity
Every bipartisan speech includes phrases like “crossing the aisle,” “coming together,” or “setting aside differences.” Translate them into comedy: “We crossed the aisle to trip each other,” or “We came together, mostly in the parking lot to yell.”
Write Fake Compromises With Real Consequences
Example: “To address climate change and oil subsidies, both parties agreed to plant a tree on top of every offshore drilling platform.” Add charts, stats, and sincerity for maximum deadpan.
Invent a Bipartisan Mascot
Picture a hybrid animal: the EleDonkey. Or just a guy in khakis holding two opposing signs and sweating profusely. The visual helps sell the contradiction of unity built on mutual suspicion.
Link to the Bigger Picture
Don’t just make fun — make it meaningful. Satire lands hardest when it feels close to home. Reference the satirical writing principles here to frame your joke in real dysfunction. Use humor to reveal the hollowness beneath the handshake.
Stage the Satirical Ceremony
Imagine the “Bipartisan Awards” hosted annually by a centrist hologram. Awards include “Most Vague Bill Title,” “Best Use of the Word ‘Common Ground’,” and “Lifetime Achievement in Appearing Cooperative.”
Final Thoughts
Bipartisanship is a comedy gift. It promises harmony but delivers bureaucracy. As a writer, your job is to expose the contradiction without losing the joke. It’s a delicate roast — but if done right, you’ll be more bipartisan than the lawmakers themselves. Which is saying absolutely nothing… and everything.
SOURCE: How To Write Comedy
