Bearman Cartoons � Terrorism

Coffee, Tea or Depends

Bearman — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:14:51 +0000

I worked on this editorial cartoon before I read that they are pulling back on the regulations but it still is a harsh reminder of how the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) can have a knee jerk reaction.

After the failed terror attempt on a Northwest Flight last week the following regulations went into effect for international flights:

Limiting international passengers to a single carry-on bag

Second-round security checks, including manual pat downs and body searches

On certain flights, disabling the map showing the plane’s progress and location

Prohibiting passengers from having blankets or pillows in their laps for the last hour of the flight

Requiring passengers to remain seated for the last hour of the flight

Now I have no problem with any of those things to promote security EXCEPT for the last one. It is at the point in the flight that they say I can’t get up for the bathroom, that I tend to always have to go. There were domestic flights that I took after 9/11 that they told us we would not be able to get up during the flight (less than 2 hours) so we had better go to the bathroom before boarding. Of course that was after I chugged a bottle of water.

When those of us with weak bladders and spastic colons are hindered in our ability to go when needed, then and only then have the terrorists really won.

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Bearman Cartoon: Presidential Scare Tactics

Bearman — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 22:21:55 +0000

This editorial cartoon came to me as I was listening to President Barack Obama’s speech in Elkhart, Indiana this past week.

“If we don’t act immediately, our nation will sink into a crisis that, at some point, we may be unable to reverse.”

That scare tactic, reminded me of the things then President George Bush said after September 11, in order to pass a strong Terror Bill.

I like the fact that he takes his message to the people and disagree with Robert Schlesinger that he can go to the well once too often and overuse this tactic. But I am uncomfortable with words that intend to scare people into doing thing they wouldn’t otherwise. On the other hand I think it is disingenuous for House/Senate Republican to call him out for fear mongering when Bush did it himself. I, on the other hand, have all the rights to call anyone on this.

I am not sold on many of the elements of the stimulus package. I think much of the turmoil in the markets has been due to Wall Street and Businesses waiting to see if the government would pull the trigger to help save them rather than working on a plan to save themselves. Personally I agree with an article I read in the Economist, that concluded that no matter if the stimulus package works or not, eventually the economy will turn around and Obama will get the credit.

BTW…for the two people who keep track…what do you think of my new Obama?