When Mel Brooks made The Producers in 1968, World War II was a vivid memory. There were still plenty of people around who could testify to the horrors of the Third Reich in graphic detail. But Brooks had decided that the greatest weapon he could wield against the Nazis was to make fun of them. Enter "Springtime for Hitler."
He's still doing it at age 96, with a new show that includes the sketch "Hitler on Ice." We cats have to admit we laughed, despite the fact that in our Trumpy times, things seem to be alarmingly Nazified again. Nevertheless, Brooks's strategy is still a good one.
In fact, lots of folks are employing it against Florida Governor and budding fascist Ron DeSantis — even as the credulous press, always on the lookout for ratings, tries to build him up as The Great Trump Alternative. People have mocked DeSantis's short stature, his white go-go boots, his sad-sack demeanor at an event with President Biden, his Naval assignment as assistant urinalysis coordinator, and his recent silly game of catch with Brian Kilmeade. (The odd fashion choices of wife Casey have also been, um, questioned.) A wildly talented videographer put him in Cleopatra and Gone With the Wind. And of course, Benedict Donald himself has tried out several insulting nicknames — but we think "Tiny D," which was not one of Trump's, is the best.
Pretty soon we'll see a DeSantis imitator slipping and falling during a triple salchow on "Saturday Night Live." But even if we don't, the rumors that Rhonda's balloon is starting to deflate before it's even airborne have already begun.
As Mel knows, ridicule is a potent weapon. And the clown show that's today's GOP sure is handing us a lot of material. We cats PURR.
UPDATE: Goodness gracious — how could we have forgotten the "fascist snowflake" prank that Rhonda just fell for?
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