What’s up with the Democrats?
Cartoon - Copyright 2008 Jean Burman
“To win by Default”
Pen & watercolour 12″ x 9″
It’s been another week (or so) of strange and perplexing world events.
But none more seriously concerning… than the damaging trend developing in the US Presidential race… where it would seem candidates on the same team remain “hell bent” on destroying one another… and handing an easy victory to their opponent.
I am not professing to know very much at all about US politics… but therein lies the scarey thing. If someone like me… observing casually from the far flung reaches of the other side of the planet can see there is a problem… believe me… there is a problem!
Consequently… there are more questions than answers here on the blog this week:
What on earth are Clinton and Obama thinking?
Do they not realise that (by their behaviour) they are burning off public opinion?
Do they not realise that they are seriously jeopardising the chances of a positive outcome for the Democrats?
Who are their strategists and advisors… and what is their true purpose? (one has got to wonder if they are not on the opposition payroll! ~grin~)
Moreover…how (and why)… in light of these damaging developments… do said strategists and advisors still have a job?
And finally…
Why (you might ask) should I care?
Well… I might live half a world away… but what happens in the US should matter to us all.
It’s been said that “when the US sneezes… the world gets a cold”.
Whilst I’m not entirely sure this will continue to be the case into the future as the balance of world power continues to shift… I still reckon that it does matter very much who wins power in the next US Presidential election for we are (all of us) inextricably linked to the other when it comes to positive global outcomes.
The debacle in Iraq. The ongoing crisis that is the Middle East. The US economy and it’s impact upon other economies. The environment and it’s multiple challenges. Terrorism. Religious extremism (not to mention Jihad… and what the heck we are all going to do about that one!) Surely… these are compelling issues?
In my view… it is the global outcomes that all candidates (and the media) should be focusing on (as well as the solving of some serious domestic issues on the homefront) and not the trivial “who said what…and who did not” that seems to be dominating the airwaves in the current debate.
Time I think for all concerned to finally see “the wood for the trees”. Soon though… before it’s too late and they are banished to that wilderness!
Hope you enjoy the cartoon… it came to me out of the blue around 3am a week ago. I promised myself I’d keep the editorial short this time… but you know me ~grin~
April 20th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Hi Jean..once again your cartoon delivers!!!
I too am “unaware” of the US politIcal system, but am aware of the domino theory that is projected through the outcome of anything that comes from that area of our world. It is a scarey and intricate web that is being woven. I dare not make too much comment here based on the fact that I do not really know what I am saying…other than it has got my attention and I shall be concerned with the end results.
April 21st, 2008 at 6:09 am
Excellent observations, Jean. I’m not sure whether it’s easier or more difficult to get a handle on the subject from close up. Indeed, the current obsession of pundits and journalists is to find a reductio that explains it all in simple soundbites, and that, I think, just can’t be done. It’s more like a wildfire that generates the heat that results in windstorms that fan the flames ad infinitum. The spark that started it all is long forgotten and largely irrelevant. Like the turf wars of organized crime, huge amounts of money are at stake depending on the final outcome, much more than the mafia ever dreamed about. We mere mortal civlians tend to think of it in terms of democratic ideals, but that’s naive, it’s about the spoils. And since money begets money, our political system is not about what our government can do for the people, but what it can wring out of the people. Sen. Obama had it right in his intentions when he made the comments in San Francisco that drew so much fire, but he alas bungled the language and the follow-up attempt to explain. What he was saying was clear to me, but not to the legions of journalists who seem to have such a stake in turning it all into a gladiator bloodfest. Obama was saying that the blue collar American is embittered by the war, fear, and the economic situation, but politicians have succeeded in distracting them by making guns, immigration, and religious values the issue.
Love the cartoon!
April 21st, 2008 at 6:58 am
Achoo! We don’t just have a cold but a raging fever! John’s “gladiator bloodfest” just about sums it up I think! I’m still holding out that Al Gore will slip in quietly in the last minute and sweep up the votes. Wouldn’t that be brilliant… Avoiding all the horrid, infantile banter that’s presently wreaking such havoc?! Ah…I can dream…Love the cartoon Jean…just wish it didn’t hurt so!
April 21st, 2008 at 9:40 am
Thanks Jools… ah yes… the domino effect. I tell my kids all the time… don’t think that if something happens to you it only happens to you. Don’t think for a moment that it won’t irrevocably change the lives of each and everyone around you. It would be good if politicians (and the media) understood this.
April 21st, 2008 at 10:00 am
Thanks John. Maybe the world at large does get a clearer picture of events by virtue of the fact that we are emotionally distanced from the outcome. Not sure. But like I mentioned in your blog comments this morning… I think it would be great if people were better able to glean the facts from the gobbledegook the politicians speak and the media latch onto and purposely misreport in order to sway public opinion.
The media sway couldn’t happen if people had their thinking caps on and made their own decisions based upon information gleaned from a number of different media sources in concert with their own gut instinct. To do so would require us to have an open mind… and an even more open heart.
Not sure the average electorate is up to that! I hope that doesn’t sound condescending… it’s not meant to. People are too busy with their day to day lives to be bothered with all the rubbish that goes on in politics and the media. Little wonder they are fatigued.
Oddly… I reckon the successful candidate might be the one who finds that “reductio” you spoke of. Clear and honest speech…. along with clear intentions and an absence of malice or oneupmanship might just win the day. Who would know. People make the darndest choices.
April 21st, 2008 at 10:10 am
Guns immigration and religious values? Gosh… these broad and wafty issues have been around since time immemorial. That’s not to say they are not important issues… but surely there are more pressing matters that need attention. Like Health. The war in Iraq. The economy… to name just three.
What is that old saying “look after the pennies and the pounds (dollars) will take care of themselves” There’s just gotta be a political equivalent! LOL
April 21st, 2008 at 10:18 am
I suspect, Jean, that when it comes to politics, and selecting effective leaders, the saying ought to go: “If you don’t pay attention to the pounds all you’re going to get is a pennyworth.”
April 21st, 2008 at 10:25 am
Oh Mary… didn’t mean for it to hurt! So sorry. It was just a bit of fun based on all the silliness in the press about Obama’s (apparent) gaffe and Hillary’s (apparent) response! They are all (apparents) from way over here… who would really knows where the truth lies. But John is right… any thinking person can figure from Obama’s words that he wasn’t intending to offend anyone. But therein lies his relative inexperience. And I guess that’s what the media and his opponent pounced on. What confounds me most is that these two are on the same side. So much damage is (again apparently) being done in what is being said along the campaign trail. These words may be very difficult to come back from… and could in all likelihood come back to bite them on the posterior portion sometime into the future. Again who knows.
Mary… don’t feel bad. People are the same wherever they are. What’s happening over there is exactly what happened here back in November. We were just lucky that it was short lived and our political electioneering process is only one month long. That was long enough. The media did a number on us all. Inexperience won out. Now we must endure the consequences!
Where is Al Gore when we need him… probably off atop an ice cap somewhere! Another good man down.
April 21st, 2008 at 6:51 pm
I JUST have to put my 2 bobs worth( twenty cents!) in!!! Al Gore will STILL help the world!!! He strikes me as the sort of man that is not interested in as much “glory” as the others. To me…he is a man who really wants to help the world (and make some “pocket money” on the side..but who doesn’t???) My belief is…he is not out of the picutre by any stretch of the imagination..he will influence others , just in a different way.
April 21st, 2008 at 11:46 pm
Jean, I was unclear…I wasn’t hurt by your cartoon or commentary. I was/am aggrieved by all the current childish campaigning. I totally agree with you! It hurts to see what I originally considered decent prospective candidates stoop to negative campaigning, (Hillary seems well versed in this). I abhor the media these days…they thrive on petty gaffes and force the candidates to defend their personal lives rather than focus on the serious issues at hand. Of course, I realize, this is only a reflection of who we are as a voting body. If the constituents were not interested in this Jerry Springer-type politics they wouldn’t be airing it. The media, unfortunately, knows its audience! Sigh.
Jools! You are right! Its not as though Al Gore is just sitting on his haunches sipping tea while the political world is on fire. He is a man of action and perhaps has come to the conclusion that politics, rather than empowering his mission, impedes it. He can play the political game as well as anyone. But why? What would be the point if so much more could be accomplished with his apparent “freedom” from the paparrazi?
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:27 am
Gosh… that was a poor choice of words on my part… (just me being dramatic… icecaps n’ all that LOL) No… Gore isn’t out of the picture but he is sadly out of the presidential race. There are few enough statesmen around these days as it is… fewer and fewer it would seem seeking political office. Can’t say I blame them though for all the reasons you mention Mary!
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:44 pm
The Presedential race..what IS that??? I say, bugger the politics. Al…just do it anyway!!
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:57 am
The sad reality is Jools… that without legislation from governments across the world… not much can be effected with regards the environment… or any other issue for that matter. Yes… we can each do our little bit… lobby governments to make change… but that’s slow change… and as Al Gore reminds us… time is at a premium.
All the getting rid of plastic bags… all the turning down of heating in our homes and shivering in our britches… all the light bulbs we change… all the hybrid cars we purchase… all the eco friendly… green… warm and fuzzy feel good choices we make at the grassroots level will mean diddlysquat… unless major polluting countries are brought into line. Controls need to be legislated and introduced by Governments. THAT (unfortunately) is where the politics comes in.
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:56 am
Hmmm…you are right Jean. I have always detested the fact that money and politics always overides common sense and effective management. I may have mentioned that my local council has been selling our water supply to the gold mines here (really makes my blood boil!!) which is why our water supply is so dangerously low and now, we as a community are paying the penalty with the heavy water restrictions. If the gold mines run out water…the gold mines cease production, which in turn means hundreds of people lose employment..which also damages our community - but…without the water there is no community!! The ludicrous thing is…there are several other water supplies in this district that could be utilised. These catchments are basically used for recreational activities (fishing, swimming, boating) and with our climate here…they are not used very often at all!!!
Still no rain in our skies here!