Sarah Palin must be the final insult to poor Hillary. To be so close to breaking the ultimate glass ceiling, and to feel you were mistreated by the media, and then to see some gun-tottin', Bible-thumpin' hottie hockey mom, with even less experience than that punk you were supposed to have crushed, strut in using a ready-made "the media is sexist" defense. Every time Palin evokes her name on the campaign trail, Hillary must die a thousand deaths.
When I first sketched this toon, I had Hillary saying something like "What have I begot?" But as I was looking at it on the art board, the final caption wrote itself. It's the unspoken word that's been in the background this entire whole campaign (and notice that it's still unspoken). It seemed pretty obvious that's "What Hillary Must Be Thinking." (Archive 0831)
That's all for this week. Back in seven.
Cheers,
Andrew toon@offthewahl.com
Post Script . . . Please peruse the news share just a journey away. Click the "There's More" phrase at the bottom of this treatise and travel further into times and toons.
Whether you are a Republican or a Democrat the cry is the same, "We want change!" For well over a year Americans have heard the words. Barack Obama is "The change we can believe in." Currently, the cry is McCain is the change candidate, and certainly, he is. This Presidential aspirant, a celebrated "maverick," has altered the conversation and transformed his candidacy. More than once, the media counted the former prisoner of war, John McCain, down and out; yet, the Arizona Senator rose as a Phoenix from the flames. Many Americans trust that the formidable fellow who fought for his country with blood, sweat, and tears is the best person to serve as President of the United States.
Above the crowd chants, Americans can hear the roar of resentment. The Republicans have weighed in. Sarah Palin is the saintly small town American. She has traditional conservative values. And the venom needed to spread the McCain message with a vengeance. The Grand Old Party says, Sarah Palin is just what they needed to excite the base. The senior Senator, John McCain, the Republican Presidential pick was too dry, too dull, or too dogmatic. He did not seem to possess the magnificence of a maverick as he once did.
What do you talk about when you, a Presidential or Vice Presidential candidate have nothing good to say of yourself? What can be said to encourage people to endorse you when your proposed policies will hurt them? What do you talk about when you cannot explain, the last years that define the failure of your Party?
You speak of others. Then, no one will notice what you do not want them to acknowledge. When you are not as wondrous as people hope you will be, criticize someone else. Slice, dice, and place people on the defensive. Lessen the worth of one who looms too large for your liking. Then, attention will be diverted away from you. A common enemy can be your cause. If people in your Party have someone to actively oppose they will joyfully join you in a quest to conquer.
Women are in leadership roles in every avenue of life. Today, two have risen far above the fray. They have accomplished more than many a man. Senator Hillary Clinton and Governor Sarah Palin each saw the top of glass ceiling and put cracks in the upper limits. For these exceptional persons, the sky was not high enough. They sought to be more, to be all that they could be. Perchance, the pair succeeded. Yet, as these skillful and courageous females spoke of what they had achieved, or could, were there no constraints, frequently, the reaction from others was sadly, as could have been expected. For centuries, conventional wisdom may have weighed women down. At least words of woe have dampened the spirit of daughters of Eve who hoped to soar.
Man, not even a week in, and the Palin family is a gift that won't stop giving. This Alaskan crew comes with more baggage than the Clintons (but hopefully not with as much political skill!) So many scandals, so little cartoon space: I decided to go with "Having It Both Ways" [Archive No. 0830], an angle on the McCain campaign and the Right's deliberate attempt to reignite the culture wars. I'm sure there will be plenty of future chances to come back and visit the colorful (though not in skin tone) Palin clan.
Speaking of the future, I'm back at my art board and settled in to deliver weekly toons for the Election '08 homestretch. The hand is pretty much healed; thanks for all the kind e-mails!
A Vietnam veteran and America's potential Commander-In-Chief, needed to make the decision of a lifetime. As a candidate for President, would he superficially vet his choice for a possible Vice Presidential candidate, or might he substantially examine what could be exposed in the press before he picked the preferred Sarah Palin. The choice was clear. Yes, he, a former prisoner of war, would prepare for what could be a battle. This crucial determination might define his career. Presidential aspirant, John McCain would evaluate the essentials. However, he did not engage in this process post-haste.
Subscribe to Site [RSS]
