Political Toys: The Laughing Pen

Madeline Holler — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 22:42:00 GMT

Political Nanny knows it's wrong to giggle at this laughing pen, but it cracks her up. And mind you, she loves Hillary Clinton as much as the other candidates and thinks ridiculing Hillary based on her laugh -- which is infectious, well-timed and rarely inappropriate -- is, well, laughably ridiculous.

There's something so compelling and fun about all the opportunistic junk that's out there and related to this campaign -- Political Nanny wants one of everything. Is it advances in technology that make it all so possible? Our open-trade borders that allow for cheap production and quick turnaround? If John Kerry were running this year, would we be able to buy a Swift Boat Lego set (with bonus wind-surfing figurine)?

Who knows. But between onsies for Obama (whether appropriate or not), Pat the Politician, wearable campaign art, pin-up girl calendars and now this Hillary Pen (with a jaw that moves up and down ... the whole thing comes with replacement batteries), this has to be the election year with the best collectibles ever. Go here to listen to pen.

"I Like Ike" buttons seem quaint/tacky in comparison.

NB: Political Nanny only plays with campaign toys when the candidates aren't around, delicate self-esteems of her dwindling group to consider and all.

via LA Times Top of the Ticket

Photo: Etsy.com (Obama fingerpuppets also available)

Toys For Political Junkies' Babies

Madeline Holler — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 22:08:00 GMT

Many of you have privately confessed to Political Nanny how your obsession with this election has cut into your quality parenting time. Days and nights of on-demand newsfeeding. The agony of letting pundits cry it out. You know everything about the remaining candidates, yet you've forgotten your own flesh-and-blood's birth weight and shoe size.

No need to abandon either of your babies. You can rear children and obsess about the nation's future at the same time. There are plenty of activities to bridge these two seemingly opposing interests.

Political Reading for the Whole Family:

Political Nanny already told you about the children's book Why Mommy is a Democrat, wherein loving, kind, Democratic squirrels watch in disbelief as elephants behave rudely. Now the companion, Why Daddy is a Democrat is available to promote a smug satisfaction in progressive voting. In these beautifully illustrated pages, we are told that Democrats support schools (of fish!) and make the earth feel better (it gets sick!) and give police and firefighters the support the need to do their jobs well. Why ever do liberals get accused of having simple, simple minds?

Go interactive with Pat the Politician #2. In the manner of the children's touch and feel classic, Pat the Bunny, this new twist on an old favorite let's kids get in touch -- literally -- with the candidates.

According to the catalog, kids can ... Pull Hillary's purse strings. Fluff John Edwards hair. Scratch John McCain's war rhetoric. And don't forget to wave bye-bye to George Bush. Pat the Politician #2 is perfect for every voter, Democrat or Republican. Features 20 interactive pages with 22 color illustrations.

Role-Play With Political Finger Puppets:

Are your little ones missing the finer points of all this political rhetoric? Act it out in words they understand with these presidential candidate finger puppets. There are five candidates in the set -- Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Rudy Giuliani, George Bush in a dunce cap and, sadly, Fred Thompson. After you exhaust all three minutes of play with the Thompson puppet (mimicking in real time his failed campaign's light scheduling), turn Thompson into Romney with thick crop of black hair (just clip a patch from your child's Webkinz dog and stitch or glue as necessary). Only have white fur? Fine. He'll be Ted Kennedy. Just position him on your thumb so he can be near his new BFF Barack, who is inspiring the rest of the toybox atop your index finger. Alternately, insert ball bearings into Thompson dolls face and play-act an angry John McCain.

Is your child more of an issues voter? Consider the hours of fun with the gay marriage finger puppets (two men, two women and a priest). Are you raising a security toddler? Then go for the five-man axis of evil "Terrorism" set.

So you're a childless cat lady but you read a parenting blog? No judgment here, we promise. And there's something for you and your much-neglected Fluffy too. Political Pet toys. A soft, safe chew toy for the light of your life. Choose from world leaders, presidential candidates and controversial filmmakers (that's Michael Moore, right?).

Go ahead and start watching the Florida returns. Enjoy all two hours of the debates in Los Angeles on Thursday. Tune into Hardball without guilt. That baby you hear crying? She doesn't need you. She's just interviewing fingerpuppet Hillary. And the swearing? Don't worry. That's her playing with post-Florida Rudy.

Political Nanny : political toys

Political Toys: The Laughing Pen

Toys For Political Junkies' Babies