New at Reason: Friday Funnies
In the latest edition of Friday Funnies, Henry Payne looks at Barack Obama's shifting policy prescriptions.
Comments to "New at Reason: Friday Funnies":
PiledhighDeep | July 25, 2008, 7:02am | #
We get it, political cartoons aren't funny.von Laue | July 25, 2008, 7:03am | #
OH SNAPHermann Helmholtz | July 25, 2008, 7:19am | #
If you stare at it, it alternates between the N and the W being closer.Reinmoose | July 25, 2008, 7:51am | #
Oh manAt least this one is less un-funny than the others. But there's nothing clever to this. So what? He's a weathervane.
Guy Montag | July 25, 2008, 7:53am | #
That was one of the most inaccurate and insulting cartoons of Sen. Obama that I have ever seen.If the artist would have put botharms out pointing in different directions it would be perfect.
Nobody has been more steadfastly on both sides of so many issues than Sen. Obama.
Actually, it looks to me like the N/W and S/E are right together. There's no prospective on the letters at all to show the angles that they're (supposed to be) facing.
Untermensch | July 25, 2008, 8:01am | #
It would be funny if you couldn't put any politician's head on the weathervane and have it just as accurate. But politicians as weathervanes? Come on, that metaphor is pretty darn old…ktc2 | July 25, 2008, 8:01am | #
Friday Funnies just hasn't been funny for a very long time. :(Lamar | July 25, 2008, 8:18am | #
"Nobody has been more steadfastly on both sides of so many issues than Sen. Obama."Don't worry. Sen. McCain is a very competitive man, and he'll even score as soon as he can get some press coverage.
Guy Montag | July 25, 2008, 8:23am | #
Lamar,Very true, but he has a lot of ground to make up.
Now, let's just face the facts here. Sen. Obama is soon to be the President of all 57 States for the next 8 - 10 years. Better sign up for halo polishing duty quick before they run out of positions.
BTW, if you can't see the halo in the cartoon then you are not a true believer.
joe | July 25, 2008, 8:31am | #
"Nobody has been more steadfastly on both sides of so many issues than Sen. Obama."And in a bizarre coincidence, yesterday was the first day that a Republican 527 group called "Both Sides Barack" began airing an ad making exactly that same point.
Gotta love that "party of ideas." Gotta love people who dependably repeat the day's talking points on the threads.
Elemenope | July 25, 2008, 8:31am | #
I'm gonna go ahead and save joe the trouble of asking:What positions, exactly, has Obama changed?
It's getting to the point where you can just enter the comments from certain regulars into Google, and figure out which wingnut web site they're copying and pasting from.
Episiarch | July 25, 2008, 8:49am | #
You know, I pay money* for my print copy of reason. Can't you spend a little of that money getting a real cartoonist? I've said this before: just approach Berkley Breathed. Just try. It can't hurt.*(drink?)
Guy Montag | July 25, 2008, 8:55am | #
Epi,We can't drink until you threaten to cancel that paid subscription.
But please don't do it until after 1500 because I have to go to Bolling AFB for my customer's Org. Day picnic. Drinking during the drag races later at Budds Creek, MD is still acceptable, I think.
Elemenope | July 25, 2008, 9:05am | #
You know, I pay money* for my print copy of reason.Reality's rebuke to Libertarianism: You never get what you pay for.
Warren | July 25, 2008, 9:13am | #
Now, let's just face the facts here. Sen. Obama is soon to be the President of all 57 States for the next 8 - 10 years.57 States?
The lower 48 check
AL & HI check
uhh Puerto Rico?
uh uh Guam?
???
Warren | July 25, 2008, 9:14am | #
Can't you spend a little of that money getting a real cartoonist? I've said this before: just approach Berkley Breathed.Berkeley Breathed? So you want it to be unfunny and turgid?
John-David | July 25, 2008, 9:15am | #
Why is Gregory Hines on a weathervane funny?It would be funnier if he had an AK-47 in that outstretched hand and a turban on. And his wife was six feet behind and two feet to the left of him.
Episiarch | July 25, 2008, 9:38am | #
Berkeley Breathed? So you want it to be unfunny and turgid?How DARE you. Take that back.
Colin | July 25, 2008, 9:49am | #
"What positions, exactly, has Obama changed?"Okay, let's see:
Gun bans
Government spying
Firm, unequivocal commitment to withdraw from Iraq
There's surely a lot of more, but these three are pretty big. In fairness, McCain's changed quite a bit, too:
Oil drilling
Government bailouts
Firm, unequivocal commitment to remain in Iraq
joe | July 25, 2008, 9:50am | #
Warren,The statement he made was "We've been to 47 of the...uh...50 st...57 states." He screwed up trying to say "47 of the 50 states."
Colin | July 25, 2008, 9:57am | #
The "57 states" flub was obviously a slip of the tongue and nowhere near as bad as McCain repeating "Czechoslovakia" over and over and over again.Much more troubling was when Obama said he'd be in power ten years from now, and not nearly so easy to explain.
Legate Damar | July 25, 2008, 9:57am | #
Not funny, but I didn't lose intelligence from having read it, so it's in the upper decile.joe | July 25, 2008, 10:02am | #
I can't get worked up over "Czechoslovakia," either.It's like saying "Peking." No, it's not the right name, but c'mon!
But he didn't say he'd be in power in ten years. He said he'd be "doing foreign policy" in 8-10 years. George HW Bush is still involved in diplomatic efforts. So is Bill Clinton. So is Jimmy Carter.
Colin | July 25, 2008, 10:06am | #
Sorry, Joe, he said he'd be "dealing with them" for the next 8-10 years. If a Republican had said that, everyone would jumping over him. And rightfully so.For a group of people so upset with Bush's "imperial presidency" and his "unitary executive," the fact any candidate is talking about being in power for ten years should send tidal waves down your spines.
Colin | July 25, 2008, 10:10am | #
One thing the "wingnuts" have entirely correct is the messiah complex forming around Obama. No matter what He says or does, He's perfect and beyond rebuke; and anyone who dares challenge Him, is either a fool or a villain.Elemenope | July 25, 2008, 10:14am | #
One thing the "wingnuts" have entirely correct is the messiah complex forming around Obama. No matter what He says or does, He's perfect and beyond rebuke; and anyone who dares challenge Him, is either a fool or a villain.Even the liberal democrats (including my fiance) who support him are irritated by some of his positions. They certainly are not in the "can do no wrong" camp.
The breathless media coverage is another story entirely, but then again the press has, it seems, permanently morphed into fellating power, whatever ideological form it may take.
Pro Libertate | July 25, 2008, 10:22am | #
We've elected ourselves some piss-poor candidates, haven't we? I dread the next four years. If McCain were less willing to work with the Democrats, I'd consider voting for him for gridlock purposes. But we don't even appear to have that option. Maybe we should elect Obama and switch Congress back to the GOP.I'm voting Babar. That's with one B.
Colin | July 25, 2008, 10:23am | #
Oh, and calling it "Czechoslovakia" is not the same as calling Beijing "Peking." "Peking" was the anglicized form of "Beijing." The city itself still exists.Czechoslovakia does not exist whatsoever, and hasn't for more than 15 years. It would be like calling Russia "The Soviet Union" or calling the southern states "The Confederacy."
Why does he keep repeating this mistake? He said it again just a few days ago. Is there really no one in his entire campaign who knows simple political geography?
John McCain, Jedi Master | July 25, 2008, 10:25am | #
Colin,When 900 years old you reach, look as good you will not.
Lamar | July 25, 2008, 10:26am | #
"One thing the "wingnuts" have entirely correct is the messiah complex forming around Obama."No, I've seen Alternet write several negative articles about him. Just yesterday Reason posted a link to an article by Robert Sheer critical of Obama.
And seriously, WTF? Are they saying George W. Bush didn't have a halo in 2000 and 2004? Give me a BM. Geez.
Lost_In_Translation | July 25, 2008, 10:34am | #
57 states, yepLower 48 plus Northern Mexico
HI, AK
Puerto Rico
Guam
US VI
Cayman Islands (where all of the rich citizens money is)
Iraq
Afghanistan
There you go.
Obama Skywalker | July 25, 2008, 10:34am | #
Never. I'll never turn to the Dark Side. You have failed, your highness. I am a Democrat like my father before me.joe | July 25, 2008, 10:59am | #
Colin,Is Jimmy Carter dealing with foreign relations? He left office in 1980.
George HW Bush left office in 1993. Bill Clinton left office in 2001.
What are you sorry about?
joe | July 25, 2008, 11:01am | #
Oops, Carter left office in 1981.I just seemed like he left in 1980.
joe | July 25, 2008, 11:05am | #
It would be like calling Russia "The Soviet Union" or calling the southern states "The Confederacy."The name "Russia" is vastly different from "The Soviet Union." The name "The Confederacy" is vastly different from "Ths Southern States."
"Czech Republic" vs "Czecholsovakia," on the other hand, are similar enough for it to just be a slip of the tongue.
Oh, btw, now I've gone and defended John McCain against a stupid charge, just like I did the same regarding Obama. If pointing out that there's no there there in some stupid gaffe controversy involving Obama demonstrates a "Messiah Complex," then my doing the same thing regarding a stupid non-controversy involving McCain makes me, what, exactly?
P.S. - that's not what "messiah complex" means.
Good, joe! Your hate has made you powerful. Now, fulfill your destiny and take your father's place at my side!
Elemenope | July 25, 2008, 11:13am | #
Oh, btw, now I've gone and defended John McCain against a stupid charge, just like I did the same regarding Obama. If pointing out that there's no there there in some stupid gaffe controversy involving Obama demonstrates a "Messiah Complex," then my doing the same thing regarding a stupid non-controversy involving McCain makes me, what, exactly?Me, I'm just waiting for some asshole to make "Megalomaniac" by Incubus into McCain's song of choice for attack ads. Then I'll have to kill me some consultants.
GG | July 25, 2008, 11:24am | #
Now, let's just face the facts here. Sen. Obama is soon to be the President of all 57 States for the next 8 - 10 years.Senator Hopenchange is going to be president of the whole wide world!
No. 44 Has Spoken
Anyone who saw Barack Obama at Berlin's Siegessäule on Thursday could recognize that this man will become the 44th president of the United States. He is more than ambitious -- he wants to lay claim to become the president of the world.
Now, what did I do with those palm fronds...
joe | July 25, 2008, 11:32am | #
And tonight, we declare anew to our fellow citizens of the world: Freedom is not the sole prerogative of a chosen few; it is the universal right of all God's children.Ronald Reagan, from his Fifth State of the Union Address
Colin | July 25, 2008, 11:47am | #
Joe, you can't "deal" with someone unless you're in a position of power. A small child can tell you that. What Carter has been doing is not "dealing." He's made no deals whatsoever.And a slip of the tongue is when you do it once. McCain said "Czechoslovakia" back in 2000 (and was rebuked publicly for it by Bush) and has said multiple times this cycle. Hell, he's said multiple times this month. At what point does it cease to be a slip of the tongue?
"Iraq" and "Iran" sound similar, too. Is it okay to confuse these two as well?
Reinmoose | July 25, 2008, 11:50am | #
and was rebuked publicly for it by BushOUCH!
I have to admit that the Czechs and the Slovaks probably wouldn't appreciate having someone refer to them together anymore.
How are things in East Germany these days?
joe | July 25, 2008, 11:54am | #
Actually, the term he used was "deal with foriegn relations." But I'm happy to do this on your own turf.Jimmy Carter doesn't deal with people? What are you, nuts? You're actually going to hide behind a semantic difference between "deal with" and "conclude a deal?"
Whatever.
Jesse Jackson doesn't deal with people?
Indeed they do, usually at the behest of the U.S. government.
I'm sure a small child can tell you that. An adult would then correct him.
And a slip of the tongue is when you do it once. Nice Calvinball you got there. Can I play? OK, my new rule is, "You have to stand on one foot when you grab a doorknob." WTF, "a slip of the tongue is when you do it once?" No, a slip of the tongue is when your brain replaces one word with another, which means it's the sort of thing you're likely to do a few times.
"Iraq" and "Iran" sound similar, too. Is it okay to confuse these two as well?
I've done that. Lots of times. I've typed "Iran" into comment threads when I meant "Iraq," and vice-versa. I've done it out loud, too. You've never done that?
TallDave | July 25, 2008, 11:57am | #
Apropos, is this speech he gave the other day:Let me be crystal clear: if elected president, my first act will be to call for the immediate withdrawal of all American troops from Iraq. I have always been consistent and forthright in this position, and I want to reassure my supporters that my recent statement backtracking from it was just some bullshit my staff came up with to tack to the center for the general election. To win this election, it will be critical to appeal to the dwindling but stubborn group of idiots who cling to fantasies of American "victory" in this tragic disaster. It's an unfortunate part of the complicated game of presidential politics, but let's face it: I can't stop this war if I'm not in the White House. However, you should know by now that whatever I may say from now until November, once elected I will immediately pull the rug from these gullible pro-war rubes.
Or will I? As is obvious to all but the most deluded HuffPo retard, the surge in Iraq has produced dramatic improvements in security throughout Iraq, and the roots of a stable pro-American democracy. We have the terrorists on the run, and it would obviously be crazy for us to pull our troops from the region just as we are on the verge of victory. And it is equally obvious that everything I said in the previous paragraph was designed to placate the naive hipster moonbats I brilliantly exploited to destroy the Clintons. (You're welcome.) Now that the nomination is in the bag, I am finally free to stake out my genuine pro-victory Iraq position, and have a good laugh while the dKos morons screech like a bunch of apoplectic howler monkeys. Let's face it: at the rate I'm heading right on national security, I'll be raining nukes on Tehran by February.
See what I mean? That previous paragraph should be a signal to all of you in the progressive community just how committed I am to an immediate troop withdrawal. If that's the kind of shameless bellicose jingoism it takes to temporarily fool the neocons and extra-chromosome Jebus tards, I will do it. Just as I was willing to wear the stupid flag lapel pin to satisfy their lust for empty "patriotic" symbolism. But deep in your heart you know my real goal: to end this war, and atone to the world for the 28 nightmare years of Reagan-Bush-Clinton-Bush fascism. Imagine the looks on the multinational plutocrats' faces when I sign the bill that nationalizes their stupid oil industry!
http://iowahawk.typepad.com/
Elemenope | July 25, 2008, 12:01pm | #
I'm certainly confused, TallDave. Are you making fun of Obama, or yourself?Colin | July 25, 2008, 12:02pm | #
Wrong. He said he would be dealing this foreign leaders for the next 8-10 years. But please, continue equivocating all you'd like.Jackson indeed deals with people. Through his organization he has much power. Ask any corporation he's extorted money from.
Only blind fool like you would choose not to understand the obvious meaning of Obama's words.
joe | July 25, 2008, 12:08pm | #
"(T)he objective of this trip was to have substantive discussions with people like President Karzai or Prime Minister Maliki or President Sarkozy or others who I expect to be dealing with over the next eight to 10 years."I'm going to ask you again, Colin:
Does Jimmy Carter deal with foreign leaders?
Does George H.W. Bush?
Does Bill Clinton?
Oh, and btw, can we now say that you're statement "Obama said he'd be in power ten years from now" is complete bullshit?
Episiarch | July 25, 2008, 12:10pm | #
TallDave is turning into Guy Montag.When TallDave references welding and NASCAR, his transformation shall be complete.
joe | July 25, 2008, 12:13pm | #
e·quiv·o·cate Audio Help /ɪˈkwɪvəˌkeɪt/–verb (used without object), -cat·ed, -cat·ing. to use ambiguous or unclear expressions, usually to avoid commitment or in order to mislead; prevaricate or hedge
What exactly have I been unclear about? What exactly have I not committed to? What exactly have I hedged about?
Are we using special "Colin-only" definition of "equivocate," like we are for "deal?"
joe | July 25, 2008, 12:19pm | #
Colin,Jesse Jacksom has more power vis a vis foreign leaders than Bill Clinton?
Really?
Elemenope | July 25, 2008, 12:55pm | #
Only blind fool like you would choose not to understand the obvious meaning of Obama's words.Yah, Colin. If I were to engineer a coup d'etat in the United States, it would definitely be from the Left, because they have all the guns! Oh, wait...
Also, it's really fucking stupid to believe that if a person did want to do what you are ridiculously suggesting Obama would do, that he would announce it before he was elected.
joshua corning | July 25, 2008, 12:55pm | #
Gotta love that "party of ideas." Gotta love people who dependably repeat the day's talking points on the threads.Or some of us might remember his position on gun control.
Hmmm I wonder what a review of the comments on that thread on Hit and Run might reveal?
Elemenope | July 25, 2008, 12:56pm | #
When TallDave references welding and NASCAR, his transformation shall be complete.Guy: In your anger and rage, you accidentally killed Jennifer.
TallDave: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Colin | July 25, 2008, 1:04pm | #
Those ex-presidents who have "dealt" with foreign affairs have done so on the behalf of the government. They, in effect, had been granted temporary authority to act or negotiate. This authority was granted to them, not the other way around.I'm not sure what don't what you don't understand about "equivocate." You're certainly using the ambiguity of the word "deal" to create a false impression.
And your last statements about Jackson are utter non-sequitors. When did I make such claims?
Colin | July 25, 2008, 1:09pm | #
Elemenope, I never once said he was planning a coup d'etat, or anything to that effect. I simply repeated the ridiculous statement he himself made; and to my knowledge, has yet to retract.If G. W. Bush had said something like this in 2004, something tells me you wouldn't let it slip so easily.
LarryA | July 25, 2008, 1:35pm | #
Oops, Carter left office in 1981.Actually Jimmy Carter left office c. 1979. He just didn’t tell anyone.
emerson | July 25, 2008, 1:55pm | #
I get it. Obama's a cock.joe | July 25, 2008, 3:29pm | #
Colin | July 25, 2008, 1:04pm | #Those ex-presidents who have "dealt" with foreign affairs have done so on the behalf of the government.
And it's absurd for Barack Obama to expect that he would play the same role as other ex-presidents because...?
You're certainly using the ambiguity of the word "deal" to create a false impression. No, that would be you. Because "deal" can be used in different senses, you are pretending to believe Obama meant "finalize formal agreements on behalf of the United State of America, in the role of President" instead of the more obvious meanings, "be involved with," "work with," "engage with," or "negotiate with," for the purpose of creating the impression that Barack Obama stated he would still be president in 10 years.
And your last statements about Jackson are utter non-sequitors. When did I make such claims? You claimed that one could only "deal" if one had power, and then acknowledged that Jesse Jackson deals with foreign leaders.
Colin | July 25, 2008, 3:56pm | #
Yes, it would be absurd to assume that. Why would anyone beside an egotistical maniac think that? He said he'd be dealing with them, as if it we're a certainty. And if he meant what you say, why say "8-10 years" and not say, the rest of his working life?Now, did he say he'd be in power in ten years because of a coup? No. Did he say he'd be in power because he didn't know the maximum term of presidency? Maybe. Was it a slip? Perhaps. Was it stupid? Most definitely. Has he retracted it? Not that I know.
And how do you know about Obama meant? Do you have some special connection to his mind? Because you keeping making these idiotic statements that Obama means this or Obama means that when you have absolutely no clue. Nor do I.
And you were certainly equivocating. We can play semantic games all day, but as Jefferson said, "The truth is a very stubborn thing." The fact you were equivocating should come as no surprise as Obama does it all the time. But you'd probably argue that point, too.
You're still not making any sense in regards to Jackson.
Brandybuck | July 25, 2008, 6:11pm | #
I'm so glad there are people commenting on that cartoon. Otherwise I would have to decide for myself whether or not it was funny. Thanks to Hit & Run, I no longer have to think!Guy Montag | July 26, 2008, 1:01am | #
Senator Hopenchange is going to be president of the whole wide world!Wow, that is quite a few more than even 57 nation states. I wonder how the Sen. Obamahaulics will spin that one? It is in the same class as the McCain stuff that the same apologists for Sen. Obama have fits over.
Amazingly, this leaves Mrs. Clinton as the only viable candate from any party who does not say messed up crap every single day.
So, why did the Chicago activist make the Chicago girl "with the most votes" sit down and shut up for the rest of the cycle?
Guy Montag | July 26, 2008, 1:16am | #
As President of the World, the 10 year timespan works out great with the UN Secretary General office terms of five years each, renewable.But we still have more than 57 member states of that body. Perhaps there is some International Consolidation on the horizon? Some form of International sharing of resources?
I am just kidding, nobody has every seriously proposed this in the past, let alone tried to carry out out. Have they?
joe | July 27, 2008, 12:28pm | #
Yes, it would be absurd to assume that. Why would anyone beside an egotistical maniac think that?This is too precious: we know Obama meant he'd still be president because he's an egotistical maniac. And we know he's an egotistical maniac because he said he'd still be president.
Guy Montag | July 28, 2008, 12:55am | #
We really are a bad country who eat and drive too much. we need to be punished by the World with food and gas lines.Re-elect Mr. Obama, President of the World to leanse us of our sins.