Author's posts
Oct 05 2009
The Week in Editorial Cartoons – Palin Resolves Nuclear Problem
Crossposted from Daily Kos
THE WEEK IN EDITORIAL CARTOONS
This weekly diary takes a look at the past week’s important news stories from the perspective of our leading editorial cartoonists (including a few foreign ones) with analysis and commentary added in by me.
When evaluating a cartoon, ask yourself these questions:
1. Does a cartoon add to my existing knowledge base and help crystallize my thinking about the issue depicted?
2. Does the cartoonist have any obvious biases that distort reality?
3. Is the cartoonist reflecting prevailing public opinion or trying to shape it?The answers will help determine the effectiveness of the cartoonist’s message.
:: ::
Hobson’s Choice
Mike Luckovich, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sep 28 2009
The Week in Editorial Cartoons – International and Domestic Wingnuts
Crossposted from Daily Kos
THE WEEK IN EDITORIAL CARTOONS
This weekly diary takes a look at the past week’s important news stories from the perspective of our leading editorial cartoonists (including a few foreign ones) with analysis and commentary added in by me.
When evaluating a cartoon, ask yourself these questions:
1. Does a cartoon add to my existing knowledge base and help crystallize my thinking about the issue depicted?
2. Does the cartoonist have any obvious biases that distort reality?
3. Is the cartoonist reflecting prevailing public opinion or trying to shape it?The answers will help determine the effectiveness of the cartoonist’s message.
:: ::
Mahmoud, Hugo, and Muammar… Meet Rush, Glenn, and Sean
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune
Jun 25 2008
McCain Camp Compares Obama to a Bond Movie Character
Crossposted from Daily Kos
It had to happen sooner or later.
In spite of John McCain being a technological Luddite with no apparent computer skills, the McCain Camp had to prove conclusively that their guy is hip and fully in tune with the American mainstream and pop culture.
What better way than to invoke the image of a movie character that many Americans are familiar with. So… they compared Barack Obama to ‘Dr. No’ of the James Bond movies.
Does Obama welcome this comparison? It isn’t as if Obama doesn’t have the flair for the dramatic, as he demonstrated prior to the Texas Primacaucus. He’s an ‘Urban Cowboy’ himself!
vs 
Dr. No and Barack Obama – coming soon to a theater near you
May 26 2008
A Few Thoughts On Orwell, Kipling, Hillary, and Gore
(crossposted from Daily Kos)
George Orwell once referred to Rudyard Kipling as the “prophet of British imperialism.” That he unquestionably was.
Which is not to suggest that Kipling wasn’t a great writer. He was that too.
As Orwell wrote in this brilliant essay
Kipling is the only English writer of our time who has added phrases to the language. The phrases and neologisms which we take over and use without remembering their origin do not always come from writers we admire.
One of Kipling’s most famous poems offers lessons to Hillary Clinton on how she ought to conduct herself as this marathon, bruising fight for the 2008 Democratic nomination draws to a close. And the need for party unity becomes paramount to coalesce behind a once-in-a-generation candidate who is poised to succeed in the General Election in November.
The choice is obvious: either we succeed collectively or fail individually — only to see a continuation of the most destructive domestic and foreign policies in the post-WW II era.
That is simply what is at stake in this election.
Feb 28 2008
Aristotle, Shakespeare, and Dickens Set Free in China
Crossposted at Daily Kos and also at Truth & Progress
Lost in the hoopla and frenzy of the 2008 Presidential Campaign over the past couple of weeks was an overlooked (though important) anniversary in the Peoples Republic of China. In February 1978 — a year or so after Chairman Mao Zedong’s death — the Chinese communist government lifted a ban on the writings of three of the greatest minds the world has ever seen.
This was a critical development for from their graves, three men long dead — Aristotle, William Shakespeare, and Charles Dickens — were finally free to peddle their ‘subversive’ ideas about the complexity of the human condition.
Aristotle, William Shakespeare, and Charles Dickens
Feb 15 2008
The 1861 SOTU Speech by President Hillary Clinton
Crossposted at Daily Kos
Just as trouble was brewing in Fort Sumter, South Carolina — and consistent with her style to explain complicated issues to the nation and soothe inflamed passions — President Hillary Clinton made an important announcement from her weekend retreat just across the Patawmack River in the beautiful Ballston section of Arlington County in the State of Virginia.
According to the Disassociated Press
Washington, DC, March 4, 1861 — After careful deliberations, President Hillary Clinton has concluded that the designation of United States as presently comprised of Northern states, Southern states, and Territories is not what the founding founders of the country intended.She will address the United States Congress tonight at 9:00pm to give her reasoned, well thought-out, and intellectually coherent speech.
Several surprises are expected. Her supporters are calling it the ‘A-House-Divided-Against-Itself-Can-Stand Speech.’
The Disunited States of America in 1861
Feb 08 2008
In the 2008 Election, An Historic Overlooked First
Crossposted at Daily Kos
Every student of American History knows that only two serving United States Senators (Warren G. Harding in 1920 and John F. Kennedy in 1960) have ever been elected directly to the Office of President of the United States. Add James Garfield in 1880 as the only serving member from the United States House of Representatives and that’s all the serving legislators ever who have gone directly from the national legislature to the White House since 1789.
Barring a major and unexpected surprise, another first will occur in presidential politics in November 2008: for the very first time in our political history, nominees of both major political parties will be serving United States Senators. Mitt Romney’s withdrawal from the Republican race today also ensures a first in American politics since the 1960 Election: it’s a near certainty that a serving United States Senator will be elected President.
In the intervening forty eight years since JFK’s election, dozens of serving Members of Congress had tried, with most of them failing miserably. In fact, only four even became their party’s nominee — Goldwater ’64, McGovern ’72, Dole ’96, and Kerry ’04 — only to lose in the general election.
Is this historic first an utter coincidence?
Feb 07 2008
How to Beat Obama: A ‘Money Plan’ for Hillary
I get emails every day. Tons of them. Most are from political organizations, newspapers, blogs, pollsters, and, yes, even from presidential candidates asking me for money. Well, just as this story was breaking this afternoon, I received this email from Hillary Clinton herself
Dear JekyllnHyde,We had a huge night last night — we won the biggest states and the most votes, and we are ahead in the overall race for delegates. But this race is far from over.
We don’t have time to catch our breath — the next races are just three days away, and there are 10 more contests in February alone.
Let’s meet this moment with bold action worthy of those who have put their faith in us. We are setting a big goal for the next three days: raise $3 million to fund our history-making campaign.
Thank you,
Hillary
Something, though, was missing from her email: it’s a bit vanilla. And I, like many people, prefer Haagen Daaz’ creme brulee flavor.
Feb 05 2008
The Definitive One-Minute Guide to Super Tuesday (w/Poll)
Crossposted at Daily Kos
What I wanna know is this: historically speaking, who’s supporting whom? With conflicting signals coming from all over the blogosphere, I have compiled a simple guide for undecided voters so that they can make an informed decision tomorrow aka “The Mother of All Election Days.”
No need to read intricate health care proposals. Or, trying to figure out who’s for or against granting drivers licenses to undocumented aliens. Or, agonizing over as to who has more experience or better judgment. Or, wasting your precious time listening to talking heads on this or that cable news show. Or, keeping track of which of the numerous Kennedys is for Obama or for Hillary.
Folks, it ain’t that difficult to figure all of this out.
Simply read my one-minute guide and I’m hopeful that you’ll do the right thing.
Feb 03 2008
What Are Your Fav TV Show Themes/Songs (w/Poll)
Ever since Mad About You and Seinfeld ended their runs almost a decade ago, I must confess I’ve watched very little, if any, prime time network television. I suspect that’s not unusual as many of us changed our viewing habits and became political junkies once cable news channels became widely available by the mid-1990’s.
The Virginia and Maryland suburbs had cable television available at least a decade before we here in Washington, DC were introduced to it in the early 1990’s. I’m not really sure what the reasons were for the delay. Difficulty in digging ditches in the city to lay cable and the resulting traffic jams, I’m sure, was a major reason. Bureaucracy — which we specialize in and is found in abundance in the DC city government — undoubtedly was an impediment too. And you thought the old Soviet Union had a monopoly on centralized bureaucracy? Nope. We even have a Safeway food store here in the DuPont Circle area, one of the few in the immediate neighborhood and one affectionately referred to as the “Soviet Safeway.” Residents buy whatever the store offers for sale. Choices are few.
The introduction of cable television in DC did re-acquaint me with some of my favorite shows from years gone by.
Jan 30 2008
Bush Declared FL Primary Winner; Democrats Despondent (w/Poll)
Crossposted at Daily Kos
In a stunning political development this evening according to the Associated Press, the Florida Supreme Court has intervened in the Florida Republican Primary and declared George W. Bush the winner over Mitt Romney, John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, and Mike Huckabee.
Senator John McCain, ever the patriot and loyal soldier, had this response
I knew in my heart of hearts that I’d never be able to win in a state full of geezers. Even so, I’m delighted that the prize deservedly went to President Bush. In anticipation of this development, I hopped on a plane to Washington, DC and personally congratulated the President. The voters of Florida have chosen wisely.
Jan 25 2008
Scholar, Athlete, Actor, Singer, Linguist, Activist, and More
(I had problems with HTML tags last night. Hence the delay in posting this — JnH)
Crossposted at Daily Kos and Truth & Progress
On this day, January 23, 1976, one of the greatest Americans of the twentieth century died a nearly forgotten man in self-imposed seclusion in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Over the last three decades or so, you rarely, if ever, hear his name mentioned in the popular media. Once every few years, you might hear someone on PBS or C-Span remember him fondly and explain as to why he was one of the more important figures of the past century. In many respects, he had as much moral authority as Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks; he was as politically active as Dick Gregory, Harry Belafonte, John Lewis, and Randall Robinson; and, as befits many men and women motivated by moral considerations, he conducted himself with great dignity. For much of his life, not surprisingly and not unlike many of his worthy successors, he was marginalized and shunned by the political establishment of his time — until events validated their ‘radical’ beliefs and resurrected their reputations.
What did this man do that propel so many to ignore his numerous contributions and conveniently forget the crucial role he played in our culture and politics? Or, a few others to remember him with deep reverence and respect?