Toy Story
Poet Dale K. Nichols lends some rhyme and rhythm to the pro-democracy movement. Proceeds from paid subscriptions go to support pro-democracy legal organizations
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Dale K. Nichols
Toy Story
First ICE Barbie, then Pam Blondie
Thrown out with the trash
Donnie Two Dolls pitched them both
Babe Blondie on her ass
When he bought and paid for them
They were his favorite toys
Luscious apples of his eye—
And all the MAGA boys!
But over time of them he tired
Their botoxed smiles wore thin
Barbie first he tossed aside
He swapped her for a Ken
Blondie quickly followed, yes
She too was shown the door
All she did to please her kid
For nought—he wanted more
As Donnie cleans his Cabinet shelves
Who will be next to go?
Howard? Lori? or dare we hope
The boot for GI Joe?
Editor’s Note
by Michael Broder
I have nothing much to add, so I will offer some identifications. Howard refers to Howard Lutnick, the commerce secretary (whom Adam Mockler calls “Howard Nutlick”; gotta love that college dropout), and Lori refers to Lori Michelle Chavez-DeRemer, the secretary of labor. Both are reportedly on the hot seat. Ken refers to Todd Blanche, the deputy attorney general who is heading the justice department in the wake of Bondi’s departure. And G.I. Joe is—you guessed it—none other than Pete Hegseth.
—MB
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About the team
In the words of Dale K. Nichols, Poet
Whatever I might feel about the merit of particular aspects of the MAGA agenda, I believe that Trump, as the movement’s standard-bearer and chief instigator, is a clear and present danger to the future of America and our way of life. That we the people decided to elect him to a second term points to certain dark undercurrents in our nation’s psyche that had been pushed to the shadows for decades until they were recently coaxed back into broad daylight. For those of you who are Harry Potter fans, I believe that Tom Riddle has reemerged as Lord Voldemort, and we Muggles are in the midst of an ugly Wizarding War that has already suffered many casualties.
In the words of Michael Broder, Editor
I am a gay white male and lifelong registered Democrat. I took this project on because I believed Dale’s work could create community around the kind of satiric political poetry that used to be more prevalent in American life.While I am indeed a Harry Potter fan, my pop-culture metaphor for the Orange Menace is Burgermeister Meisterburger, the sadistic, oppressive, and abusive mayor of Sombertown who despises toys—and will arrest anyone who plays with or owns a toy—in the classic 1970 stop-motion Christmas television special, Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town.
Love it! So clever!
Kinda like my ole two bit hound, I'm as crazy as a loon, the wrath of me is coming soon, as we circle round the moon. I have lots of toys in my cabinet that I like to truly abuse. It's all about my Toy Story, old toys I throw out, then I get the new. It doesn't matter much to me, I'll throw them under the bus, I'll set em free. You see, I'm building a castle, I knew Lincoln but you know, I say screw his logs and we'll silence all those lambs and I'll eat with, my herd, of deceptive fork tongued frogs. I wonder what Woody and Buzz would say cause you know I've changed the plot. With Barbie, Blondie and so many others now gone. How many more? Alot! Im kinda like my ole two bit hound, this Toy Story makes me drool as I keep unwinding what's left, of the Democratic spool.