Chan Lowe: The tsunami...what really happened
Admittedly, this cartoon is speculative, but it’s certainly as plausible as the brave Minutemen who fired the shot heard round the world at Concord and Lexington, New Hampshire (Even then, the Colonials knew it was going to be the first primary state, and accordingly relocated the border with Massachusetts until the skirmishes were over).
Or as credible as how someone’s passion for his country prompted him to commit adultery (“Oh, God…oh, God…oh GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!”).
One of the oddities about listening to the utterances of people like Michele Bachmann, Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich when they address friendly crowds is that they can say the most preposterous things, and no one among their nodding listeners ever steps up to correct them, or bursts out laughing at their inanity.
Either the crowds, too, are ignorant and selective in applying their moral standards (Imagine if Obama had tried the “passion for my country” line), or they’re just dittosheep who bleat to the tune of Rush Limbaugh and the other right-wing broadcast candy. Those who dare to speak the truth will be cast out.
This blind acceptance may get the more interesting candidates a long way in the primaries, but historical gaffes like the Founding Fathers managing to eliminate slavery long before the Civil War was fought won’t cut it with independents. They don’t respect the concept of ideological purity, which is why they call themselves independents, and are (we hope) more clear-eyed in their judging of competency than the orthodox faithful. However one feels about Barack Obama, one cannot accuse him of being ignorant or in possession of an incurious mind.
The old polling question, “Which candidate would you rather have a beer with,” should be accompanied by another: “Which candidate would you want representing your country at the next G8 summit of world leaders?”
CHAN LOWE has been the Sun Sentinel’s first and only editorial cartoonist for the past twenty-six years. Before that, he worked as cartoonist and writer for the Oklahoma City Times and the Shawnee (OK) News-Star.
Comments
The Minutemen were in Concord & Lexington MASSACHUSETTS...not New Hampshire or did you know that and were just being silly?
Posted by: Robin Michaels | March 17, 2011 8:19 AM
Robin, in case you don't pay attention to the news, Michele "Brains on Wheels" Bachmann addressed a crowd in New Hampshire commending them in their role in the American Revolutionary events at Lexington and Concord, not realizing that it was Concord, MASSACHUSETTS not Concord, NEW HAMPSHIRE. What a dim bulb, and yet people march in step with this abomination???
Posted by: Tiny Cadon | March 17, 2011 10:38 AM