CSotD: Drawing on the Independent Side of the Brain
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Gary Varvel is a conservative cartoonist.
I don't often agree with his point of view, and, more than once, I've found his work more mean-spirited than incisive. But I admire this particular cartoon, perhaps more in context than on its own, but on its own as well.
The facial expressions are priceless, as are Obama's flailing fists.
All of which I realize is kind of a left-handed compliment, but, then, I'm a leftist, so waddayagonnado?
A few days ago, I ran several examples of the graffiti-sorts of graphics that were all over Facebook as the debate was unfolding, and noted that the actual, for-real cartoonists would have their reactions up in a day or two.
Which has now happened, with some good ones, some not-so-insightful ones and a few "huhs?" which is par for the course.
And, okay, I'll grant I've chuckled at some anti-Romney cartoons that were more mean-spirited than incisive. Not a full belly-laugh, but I did smile a bit.
However, political predelictions aside, what I find truly distressing is the dearth of conservative criticism of Romney's sudden lurch to the center.
There has been quite a bit of criticism of Obama from his own side of the cartooning aisle, particularly over the issue of drones, to the point where some of them provoke a whine of "Whose side are you on?"
But, hey, you can't give the guy a pass just because it's campaign season, can you? I mean, if you're going to be part of his campaign staff, have the good sense to get your name on the payroll. Otherwise, your job is to comment on current events, not beat the drum for one candidate or the other.
And let me suggest this: Criticism of Obama's military strategy seems unlikely to cause a change in it, but a call from conservative cartoonists for Romney to stand behind his previously-stated principles might at least get a response, if not an actual reversal of the reversal.
Yet that group of cartoonists who stand out as consistently conservative all seem to be obeying Reagan's 11th Commandment, "Thou shalt not speak speak ill of any fellow Republican."
Including a fellow Republican who won the party's nomination on one platform and is now toeing a line that aligns his policies — at least on foreign policy and abortion if not taxes — with those of the president.
The current crop of cartoons from consistently conservative artists are nearly all focused on repeating party-line talking point attacks on the president that are divorced from any real analysis of current events.
I even saw a Teleprompter joke. I mean, come on, man. Lame as the meme is to begin with, don't you realize you can't use a Teleprompter at a debate?
Maybe this is why Republicans have enjoyed such success in recent elections: They have a level of lockstep party-line loyalty that you would expect in a parliamentary government where people can get expelled from the party for bucking the leader's instructions on legislation.
The never-to-again-be-mentioned example of what happens these days when you buck party loyalty is/was three-time Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH), who had also served multiple terms in the House and had been governor of New Hampshire.
A fiscal conservative respected on both sides of the aisle, he was offered the post of Secretary of Commerce in the Obama administration, and Democratic Governor John Lynch indicated he would appoint a Republican replacement in order to maintain the Senate's existing party balance.
Gregg appeared to accept but then suddenly declined the Cabinet post like a shame-faced kid coming back from the woodshed rubbing his butt and telling his buddies he couldn't go after all.
Two years later, he declined to defend his all-but-unassailable Senate seat.
And now another independent-minded, undefeatable Republican Senator, Olympia Snowe from the neighboring state of Maine, has decided to retire at the end of her term.
Meanwhile, the GOP policy of constant filibuster has stalled much of the president's legislation for the past four years (not two), and Mitt Romney is running on a promise to be bipartisan, unlike Obama, an example of counter-factual gall so breathtaking that the Red Queen wouldn't be able to believe it even after a good breakfast.
Nor is it enough that the party exercises control on how its members vote in Congress. The Brain Police extend their reach to the media, though they don't seem clear on whether to be in charge or in thrall.
I mean, if you want to talk about "apology tours," think back to the times the GOP has crawled back to Rush Limbaugh hat in hand, both at the beginning of the Obama administration and in the more recent dust-up over health insurance and contraception.
Now, we don't need any more delusional, paranoid conspiracy theories than are already out there, and I no more believe that the GOP is actively telling conservative cartoonists what to draw than I believe that antiwar protesters in the '60s were being directed by the Soviets.
But I do believe that the world is a more dangerous place when the Judd Greggs and Olympia Snowes have walked out of the halls of Congress, and when a conservative cartoonist stands out simply for putting conservative principles above lockstep party loyalty.
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