I had a hard time with today’s editorial cartoon. I knew in my head what I wanted it to say and went through many different iterations using cartoon characters and not. You’ll have the be the judge whether my sentiment came through and let me know whether or not you agree. Love to hear all sides on this as always.
So it seems our friends in San Francisco think there needs to be a ballot issue on the November election on whether or not to ban circumcisions, even for religious purposes (see here).
I am all for parents deciding whether or not to circumcise their child. However, I completely disagree with this ballot initiative and find some of the tactics by the proponents a bit out of bounds. For one they liken it to female genital mutilation that goes on in some parts of the world. All medical experts I found said it is in no way true.
Then they began releasing a series of comic books called Foreskin Man that highlight in one issue a doctor and another a mohel (Rabbi who performs the circumcision for Jewish boys) who are evil beings that will do anything to circumcise a boy even against his parent’s wishes. Brian Hagen of Pen Grenades believes it has crossed the line into an anti-semitic rant (Go read his review).
Whether it has or not, all the proponents of the legislature have done is remove all meaningful dialogue from the discussion.
Up until this past weekend, some conservatives have been upset that the United States hasn’t been more proactive militarily with the issues in Libya. While I abhor the things Ghadafi is doing to his people, why does the responsibility to be the world police always rest on the United States.
Whenever there is military action needed around the world, the United States is always seen as the big bad aggressor in foreign affairs while the UN tends to get bound in ineffective resolutions. The US is blamed for interfering in affairs of other countries and blamed if they don’t . As my dad used to say “You are damned if you do and damned if you don’t”.
So for once, the U.S. has decided to take a back seat to the United Nations, fully supporting the efforts but not taking the lead. I, for one, support that tact. They have commited fully to the military operation of a no fly zone while allowing Britain and France to take the lead on the resolution.
Now I am sure I will get an earful from my Australian friends but let’s contrast this with the Australian foreign minister, Kevin Rudd. Like some American Conservatives, Rudd was blaming the G8 nations for inaction yet after the UN Resolution said that there would be no Australian military assistance (though he did pledge humanitarian aid).
The world doesn’t need any more armchair quarterbacks. (Ok except for me)
Gaddafi claims he will go out a martyr. Too bad he has put the people of Libya in the way of someone fulfilling his “destiny”.
Undercover Boss is a series in the U.S. that showcases company executives disguising themselves as out of work average joes working different entry level jobs in their own company. It was originally a British series and now has expanded to Australia (source). It is not only a ratings success but also a PR success for any company lucky enough to be featured on it.
Well it seems that Cincinnati’s own Mayor Mark Mallory was asked to participate as the first mayor in the country featured on the show. Cincinnati needs some good PR so I think it was a great idea. Well it seems some city council members do not. Leslie Ghiz complained “…he’s not the boss..The manager’s the boss. He’s nobody’s boss.” (source). While it it true that our city is run by a city manager, the mayor is still seen as playing a prominent role in how people view the city and therefore it is not inappropriate for him to take on this task.
And Chris Bortz said “he might put forth a motion to sue the production company to make sure the show doesn’t air, saying Mallory was simply “advancing a personal agenda.” Seems they only wanted him involved more in the budget process so they have one more person to point the finger when things go wrong.
Oh and Mayor Mallory is fairly recognized in the city (see bio) so rumors were that they gave him different facial hair and dreadlocks, thus the picture.
Anyone watch UB? Do you think it would be good or bad for your city if your mayor appeared on the show?
I know I don’t post editorial cartoons typically on Friday but this was so timely (thanks Mike) that I couldn’t pass it up before it became old news or someone else shamelessly stole my idea.
So it seem President Obama has been getting some slack for passing off his press briefings to the Clintons. Last week it was Bill when discussing the reasons he negotiated the tax cut deal with the Republicans. And this week he passed off questions on Afghanistan to Hillary.
I’m all for delegation but he seems to be running out of Clinton options.
I have noticed over the last week a sudden uptick in visitors looking at my previous Body Scanner cartoon. So I thought I would delight them with what turned out to be one of my own personal favorites.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the creepy old guy depicted, he is Herbert, the creepy old guy from the Family Guy cartoon. I was going to have him say something about excusing his shaky hand but thought this was better.
And of course, I had to jump on the bandwagon with my own “Don’t Touch My Junk” shirt.
Plus right now is a good time to buy this as you save $10 on orders of $50+ in my shop during the CafePress Friends & Family Sale November 20-23. So shop our store, wacksack.com and use code: Friend10.
CONTEST:
Now since our friend Brit is out there with a contest trying to get followers by offering cookies, I thought I would try my own. The first person to buy the “Don’t Touch My Junk” t-shirt and gets video of themselves going through airport security wearing it will win a $50 Cafepress Gift Certificate that you can use on my store or any other Cafepress store. (Update: So the wife had a point that it might be against airport regulations to take pictures at security so as not to get anyone in trouble I’m switching things up. If I get at least 5 people to buy the shirt and send me a picture of them wearing it in a funny situation, I’ll have my readers pick their favorite and that person will win a $50 Cafepress Gift Certificate.)
So Prop 19 in California FAILED at the ballot. This was the ballot initiative that would have legalized and regulated marijuana in the state. The idea being that decriminalizing it would bring in much needed tax revenue and decrease the prison burden.
Young voters in California appeared to overwhelmingly support the measure, however, they must have been too high to actually go and vote on the issue.
So right here in Southern Ohio, there is a former contestant on the Apprentice and former Brand Manager of Procter and Gamble, Surya Yalamanchili running for Congress against the incumbent Jean Schmidt. Now I don’t have anything really against Schmidt but in her time in office, I can’t think of one thing she has done except lecture six year olds on abortion.
Yalamanchili knows people might have trouble pronouncing his name so instead he goes by “Chili” and his website is VoteChili.com. Now of course, I don’t agree with every stance on the issues Surya makes but here is one thing that impresses me. He has refused to accept any money from corporations or PACs (political action committees) in his bid for Congress. So many politicians talk about “corruption” caused by corporate donations yet not one does anything about it…until now.
I also like the fact that just because he is a Democrat, he doesn’t seem to be the type to toe the party line. In fact, in his debate with Schmidt he said “I’m on the side of the voters of the 2nd District…Both parties have failed America…It’s a system that’s corrupt.”
Too much of the impasse in Washington is due to line drawing. Wish you luck Chili (you’ll need it facing an opponent with 5x as much money and who is the incumbent)
Obviously it is newsworthy if I post on a Friday instead of my regular Sunday and Wednesday (did any of you realize I had a schedule?)
It seems Juan Williams of National Public Radio fame had spent too much time over at Fox News commenting on the news of the day and has now lost his contract with NPR. For those readers outside the country, NPR is funded in part by the government and some will say it is the only way liberal radio can survive. Of course Fox News is deemed a branch of the right wing conservative movement so you can see the rub.
It is interesting that NPR would use the excuse that their reporters and analysts are not supposed to provide personal opinion but rather merely ask questions. You can make your opinion known simply by editorial decisions on editing, who to interview and how you ask questions.
In the end, Juan ends up with a $2 million contract from Fox News so we won’t be seeing him on the unemployment line.