The Week in Editorial Cartoons – So, Who’s the Hair Apparent Now? (Special Appeal)

(10 am. – promoted by ek hornbeck)

Crossposted at Daily Kos  and Docudharma

:: ::

Note: Sections 1-4 contain dozens of additional editorial cartoons and commentary.  I’m not sure why but I was getting the below error when trying to post the complete diary.  Check out the remaining portions of the diary at Daily Kos.

java.sql.SQLException: Incorrect string value: ‘xC2x8CxC2xA9=1…’ for column ‘extendedText’ at row 1

:: ::

With the death toll over 300 and rising, there are a number of ways in which you can help tornado victims both in the short and long term, particularly if you live in or near the states devastated by these horrendous storms

The massive devastation left behind by the April 27 tornadoes in Alabama and other southern states will take weeks, if not months, to clean. Rebuilding will take years and millions of dollars, and that’s just to replace material things like businesses and homes.

Barometric Pressure by Clay Bennett, Comics.com, see reader comments in the Chattanooga Times Free Press

:: ::

1. The American Red Cross is providing temporary shelter for the thousands of people who lost their homes in the tornadoes.  They’re also providing food, blood, emergency-response vehicles and other relief supplies. You can make a cash gift online or by visiting your local Red Cross office, and you can text message REDCROSS to 90999 to give a $10 donation via your mobile phone.

2. The Salvation Army is setting up mobile stations to feed thousands of people in storm-affected areas. You can give online at your local Salvation Army store. You can text message GIVE to 80888 to donate money via your mobile phone.

3. A new Facebook page is trying to reunite tornado victims with property and personal effects (photos, for instance) that were blown miles and miles away by the tornadoes.

4. The Governor of Alabama has posted information for people wanting to volunteer. Call one of the phone numbers here to begin your journey.

Twisters by Joe Heller, Green Bay Press-Gazette, Buy this cartoon

:: ::

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.

:: ::

:: ::

INTRODUCTION

:: ::

Crowe explains the rise of Donald Trump in terms of the weakness of the slate of 2012 presidential candidates put forth by the Republican Party.  Absent a compelling personality, it was somewhat inevitable that a huckster like Trump would grab media attention the way he did the past few weeks

It’s surprising enough that the Donald is being taken seriously in the polls. But you might think the Mr. Richie Rich would be more at home with the fiscally conservative corporate, free enterprise, business end of the GOP rather than the extremist, socially conservative right wing populated by the likes of the birthers.

Perhaps he thinks he needs the birther nonsense to balance his wealthy businessman persona. But then, you still have to pretend an egomaniacal reality TV show tycoon buffoon has any kind of credibility as a candidate. The fact that Trump is polling better than any other GOP candidate at this point is more of a reflection on the quality of the field than the potential for a Trump presidency.

As for the Rapunzel analogy, that’s a spoof.  I’m not convinced that thing on Trump’s head is a comb over. I think it’s a varmint with a mind of its own. Late at night, it sneaks out of the house and does terrible things out of pent-up anger.

Even so, it is worth noting that in the history of the Republic, only one person has ever been nominated as a major party presidential candidate who wasn’t either a vice president, governor, U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative, or a decorated military hero.  It was corporate lawyer Wendell Willkie in 1940, who captured the Republican nomination that year.

In 1940, with the winds of war fast approaching the shores of the United States, the incumbent Democratic President Franklin Roosevelt decided to seek an unprecedented third term.  The Republicans felt that Willkie’s background in business would make him an attractive opponent who could hammer the New Deal platform and pin the Great Depression upon the Democrats.  He would also do his utmost to keep the country out of World War II, which had started over a year ago in September 1939.

If Willkie is Trump’s model, he better think again.  Although Willkie captured a fairly respectable 45% of the popular vote, he lost in a landslide in the electoral college, 449-82 votes.

Trump should first decide to seek election as dog catcher in a small town like Schenectady, New York (pretty place, by the way) before he sets his goals any higher. I bet you he wouldn’t even win that election.

Over the past several weeks, Trump has appealed to the worst instincts of many voters in the Republican Party.  While his bombastic claims may have raised his public profile a lot, his blatantly racist dog whistles may have finally backfired on him.

A recent Pew Research survey showed the following results

Donald Trump has drawn a lot of attention in a slow-starting race for the GOP presidential nomination. Roughly a quarter of all Americans (26%) name Trump as the possible Republican presidential candidate they have heard most about lately, far more than volunteer any other candidate. Among Republicans, 39% name Trump as most visible — more than all other possible GOP candidates combined.

To be sure, Trump is standing out in a contest that has yet to draw much public interest or media coverage. In fact, about half of all Americans (53%) could not name anyone when asked which GOP candidate they have been hearing the most about.

Overall, just 20% of the public say they followed possible candidates for the 2012 presidential elections very closely last week and just 4% named it as their most closely followed story. The disaster in Japan was once again the most closely followed story (at 26%).

The Trump Boomlet may be coming to an end.

After his triumphant tour of the early 2012 primary state of New Hampshire — where he was greeted by millions of his diehard supporters — Donald Trump returned home to New York City.

He was seen earlier this morning taking a walk outside his luxury apartment in the city.  Given his new-found celebrity and deeply-held political convictions, he had finally decided to shed any pretensions of political partisanship and dress appropriately for the occasion.  It was a sight to behold.

(Ben Sargent, Washington Post/Universal Press Syndicate

— click link to enlarge cartoon)

:: ::

“Voodoo Economics” – The Sequel

This Republican proposal of “ending Medicare as we know it” provides those currently under 55 years old with vouchers to buy health insurance on the private market.  The purpose of this “reform” is obvious: continue to provide the economic haves in this country with more and more tax cuts!

The National Journal reports that anti-Republican ads have started to run in Republican-controlled districts.  This was a political gift to the Democratic Party and if Democratic strategists cannot successfully hang this idiotic and very unpopular proposal around the GOP candidates’ necks in the 2012 Elections, they ought to be fired for political malpractice.

(Shared Sacrifice by John Darkow, Columbia Daily Tribune, Buy this cartoon)

:: ::

I should mention that I have literally posted dozens of editorial cartoons by John Darkow in diaries and comments over the past two years and he isn’t always supportive of President Obama’s policies.  This cartoon will give you a bit of an idea of how the Ryan Budget Proposal is playing in a swing state like Missouri, one that the President lost very narrowly by less than 4,000 votes (out of over 2.9 million cast) in 2008 to John McCain.

For those of you unfamiliar with the term “Voodoo Economics”… it was first used in the 1980 Republican presidential primaries by George H.W. Bush.  He used it to describe candidate Ronald Reagan’s economic proposals in a mocking and unflattering manner.

Note: I’ll have a lot more on this Ryan Budget Plan in my next weekly diary.

I hope you enjoy this week’s offering of editorial cartoons.

:: ::

Note: Sections 1-4 contain dozens of additional editorial cartoons and commentary.  I’m not sure why but I was getting the below error when trying to post the complete diary.  Check out the remaining portions of the diary at Daily Kos.

java.sql.SQLException: Incorrect string value: ‘xC2x8CxC2xA9=1…’ for column ‘extendedText’ at row 1

5. RIP Phoebe Snow

:: ::

I featured Singer Phoebe Snow in my last diary, a tribute to Karen Carpenter and Eva Cassidy — “Death Doesn’t Always Get the Last Word” – A Tribute to Two Great Female Singers. A number of you remembered her immense musical talent and contributions.

:: ::

6. Final Thoughts

:: ::

Finally, are you on Facebook or do you use Twitter?  Sir Isaac Newton is.  Memo to self: don’t get left behind!

:: ::

A Note About the Diary Poll

:: ::

After President Obama revealed his long-form birth certificate a couple of days ago, does that put an end to this silly nonsense?  Is Birtherism finally dead?

Maybe not, according to Rob Rogers

Donald Trump is taking credit for forcing President Barack Obama to furnish his official birth certificate.  The President had to ask Hawaii officials to make a special exception and give him copies of the long form birth certificate (the short form has been available to the public for two years.) Obama claims he gave into the birther demands because the discussion was distracting everyone from more important matters.  Guess what?  They’ll find other reasons not to believe Obama is legitimate.

Don’t forget to take the diary poll.  I am interested in your thoughts about what the future holds for Birthers.

 Loading ...