So, so many good things to view in this one cartoon. I appreciate, as much as any non-participant, the level of effort to draw for five hours. Great characterization! Excellent easter eggs.
Does Donald J. Trump have a conscience? Does he really consider how history will judge him? Does he think he'll get into heaven?
I think he overcompensates by adding his name to any building that he can gain temporary control.
Your cartoons are getting better and better. You said it took you 5 hours to draw this one and you were exhausted after. BS (before stroke) how long would it have taken you to draw a cartoon of similar complexity??
Clay — this cartoon truly shows you’re on the way back. Great caricatures … and foreboding of what’s to come. If you think Iraq was a quagmire Venezuela will be a worse shitshow. Powell was right then — and would say it again now.
The part of the blog where you list the most likely negatives of this continuing fiasco that the cheering crowd isn't thinking about. I wish the people of Venezuela the best of luck at this decisive moment for them.
The characterizations are spot-on. Thank you for spending the time. The entire ‘toon is perfect.
Every time you have the Washington Monument in a ‘toon I see the KKK and do a double-take. Your intentions work.
Best: your social night with friends. I’m guessing the restaurant choice was intentional - you could choose what to eat. And game-playing. Yay to friends & you for going.
It was a disgusting thought, I admit. It’s that he doesn’t want to leave. I’m sure Ivan’s doesn’t want him near her. Is there a Trump family plot in NY?
Great idea but what about the people who unfortunately bought apartments there? He has plans to build a mausoleum at the bedminster course. All his cult could worship there
That totally depends on the Democrats - and if they have enough spine to tell the R's "No, we are not preserving this shameful facade".
Somehow, they believe seven years of submission under Obama and then four more under Biden gives them some form of righteous authority.
There are times when you have to act and let the R's weep and wail. Sometimes you have to make the billionaires unhappy. Or you can let everything go to hell, and then say "we didn't do it".
Our system, which polisci folks call "first past the post, winner takes all" can't have more than two parties save for very short times, usually single elections. They've run computer simulations a million times and they always go to two parties.
Modifying the system, say by going to representation in the House proportional to the vote in a given state WOULD allow for multiple successful parties - but then you're not "winner takes all" any more.
And it doesn't really matter. Yes, we have to choose what we can tolerate more often than not, but the same applies to multi party systems, because they have to make deals to reach a majority by combining parties. Guess what, those parties have differing goals and they have to hold their noses to get past that point of enough seats to seize the gavel and run things. So it all amounts to the same thing in the end, just pushing the "hold your nose" moment up to the party leader level instead of the voting booth level.
Should I write a substack article on just why it doesn't matter?
No regime change in Venezuela. Maduro's VP will take over it seems.
Ironically, Venezuela's 1961 constitution was based on the US tripartite constitution but in 1999 when Chavez came into power it was rewritten and the national assembly was expanded effectively giving Chavez complete control.
Constitutionally, Venezuela has a presidential system with executive (President), legislative (National Assembly), and judicial (Supreme Tribunal of Justice) branches, as outlined in its federal republic status but effectively it is a dictatorship.
Brilliant toon and blog. You would never know you had a stroke from this toon. I am so impressed and kind of in awe. As to the Fascist Trump Regime they are leading us into WW3. I wonder how the Magats are going to feel when their kids are fed into the meat grinder of war?
Love this toon and blog...GroundHog day and the perfect ghosts of Christmas Past...great job on the characters. Happy you had some fun, and my guess is you slayed trivial pursuit.
I liked the cartoon. The commentary - not so much. I think this time I am angrier than you are Clay. Venezuelans did NOT depose Maduro. A foreign government (the US) did - and without justification. None. Nada. Bupkiss. He was not deposed for humanitarian reasons. He was deposed purely for self-aggrandizement and greed. I count three Venezuelans as personal friends. One was a TA when I was a student and she and her daughter both live in the US. The other two live in Spain (where I live.) One of them may actually approve of this golpe de estado (coup d'état), but I doubt very much that she will continue to see it as a rescue of her country.
I think every officer who ordered crews into combat for this should be court-martialed. Every cabinet rank person in government who enabled this should be impeached, convicted and imprisoned. Every toady who does anything to give a veneer of justification. No pardons. And the same goes for the Tangerine Tyrant. He should be treated the way the Italians treated Mussolini. He won't be, but he should be. He is an embarrassment not just to the US, but to the world. The US is an embarrassment. Their leader, since he believes so strongly in capital punishment should be subjected to it. I recently met a woman and reflexively lied about my nationality. It's come to that. I later confessed and she was amused, but I have never felt so alienated from the States as I do now. Not during Vietnam, where people were sympathetic to my plight as a resister. Not during Cambodia when Nixon and Kissinger conspired to depose Sihanouk's government and secretly bombed a sympathetic neutral country (although that comes close.) Not when I lived and worked in Nicaragua and the Brits fought the Argentines and Reagan chose to support Thatcher over Galtieri's government - talk about a plague on both their houses! Not when the US went to war on Iraq for the flimsiest and falsest of reasons. This takes the prize for being stupid, vile and unnecessary. Why are the American people not out in the streets decrying the piracy and deploring the violence of their own government. Asking for myself. I may have no more American friends.
So, so many good things to view in this one cartoon. I appreciate, as much as any non-participant, the level of effort to draw for five hours. Great characterization! Excellent easter eggs.
Does Donald J. Trump have a conscience? Does he really consider how history will judge him? Does he think he'll get into heaven?
I think he overcompensates by adding his name to any building that he can gain temporary control.
Trumpistan?
Trump-Ven-Zuela?
The 51st or 52nd or 53rd State of Trumpiness?
No empathy, ethics, conscience.
Country name: JUST what I wondered. Thanks.
I'd expect either Trumptopia or TrumpHaven.
In gold letters on all maps & globes?
Pretty much.
Five hours or not, it's obvious positive progress. I was going to mention that very thing even before getting to the end of the commentary.
Great toon, as usual.
Your cartoons are getting better and better. You said it took you 5 hours to draw this one and you were exhausted after. BS (before stroke) how long would it have taken you to draw a cartoon of similar complexity??
I spent the same amount of time, but they had more procrastination, and I was never exhausted. I procrastinate less now while drawing.
Thanks Clay.
I love procrastination, I'll tell you about it tomorrow 🤪
Clay — this cartoon truly shows you’re on the way back. Great caricatures … and foreboding of what’s to come. If you think Iraq was a quagmire Venezuela will be a worse shitshow. Powell was right then — and would say it again now.
The part of the blog where you list the most likely negatives of this continuing fiasco that the cheering crowd isn't thinking about. I wish the people of Venezuela the best of luck at this decisive moment for them.
The characterizations are spot-on. Thank you for spending the time. The entire ‘toon is perfect.
Every time you have the Washington Monument in a ‘toon I see the KKK and do a double-take. Your intentions work.
Best: your social night with friends. I’m guessing the restaurant choice was intentional - you could choose what to eat. And game-playing. Yay to friends & you for going.
Do you think he realizes everything he is defacing now will be restored once he’s gone? No legacy.
Oh a legacy of such destruction there will be. And realize? He intends to stay. If not a ballroom bunker basement, a crypt for his body!
What a disgusting thought, crypt under the ballroom attached to the White House. He belongs next to his first wife.
It was a disgusting thought, I admit. It’s that he doesn’t want to leave. I’m sure Ivan’s doesn’t want him near her. Is there a Trump family plot in NY?
Turn Trump Tower into a cemetery for him and his ilk.
Great idea but what about the people who unfortunately bought apartments there? He has plans to build a mausoleum at the bedminster course. All his cult could worship there
He'll probably have himself stuffed and gilded, and glued to Lincoln's lap at the Lincoln Memorial, with a halo.
That totally depends on the Democrats - and if they have enough spine to tell the R's "No, we are not preserving this shameful facade".
Somehow, they believe seven years of submission under Obama and then four more under Biden gives them some form of righteous authority.
There are times when you have to act and let the R's weep and wail. Sometimes you have to make the billionaires unhappy. Or you can let everything go to hell, and then say "we didn't do it".
They will lose a lot of support if they don’t stand up after complaining about the spineless republicans. Maybe more parties will develop finally?
Our system, which polisci folks call "first past the post, winner takes all" can't have more than two parties save for very short times, usually single elections. They've run computer simulations a million times and they always go to two parties.
Modifying the system, say by going to representation in the House proportional to the vote in a given state WOULD allow for multiple successful parties - but then you're not "winner takes all" any more.
And it doesn't really matter. Yes, we have to choose what we can tolerate more often than not, but the same applies to multi party systems, because they have to make deals to reach a majority by combining parties. Guess what, those parties have differing goals and they have to hold their noses to get past that point of enough seats to seize the gavel and run things. So it all amounts to the same thing in the end, just pushing the "hold your nose" moment up to the party leader level instead of the voting booth level.
Should I write a substack article on just why it doesn't matter?
Bad graffiti is always replaced! Usually painted over and forgotten.
Very good, and thanks for extending the Christmas theme. You are getting there with the recovery. Good luck!
No regime change in Venezuela. Maduro's VP will take over it seems.
Ironically, Venezuela's 1961 constitution was based on the US tripartite constitution but in 1999 when Chavez came into power it was rewritten and the national assembly was expanded effectively giving Chavez complete control.
Constitutionally, Venezuela has a presidential system with executive (President), legislative (National Assembly), and judicial (Supreme Tribunal of Justice) branches, as outlined in its federal republic status but effectively it is a dictatorship.
Apparently ours may soon become one too!!
Depends on how scared the guy is.
Great toon!!! Five hours?! Bless your heart, but you produced a gem. So glad you are keeping on❤️
Brilliant toon and blog. You would never know you had a stroke from this toon. I am so impressed and kind of in awe. As to the Fascist Trump Regime they are leading us into WW3. I wonder how the Magats are going to feel when their kids are fed into the meat grinder of war?
Not my kid. I'd send him anywhere else rather than let this insaniac have him for cannon fodder.
Love this toon and blog...GroundHog day and the perfect ghosts of Christmas Past...great job on the characters. Happy you had some fun, and my guess is you slayed trivial pursuit.
Aww, the little teddy bear has its own little red tie!! How cute.
Terrific 'toon. I wish he really had ghosts harassing him!
I'm sure he does. He just doesn't have enough spirituality to notice them.
Glad it's getting a little better, day by day. The edgy insight is there and the speed will come!
And that Trivial Pursuit answer was "Moops," not "Moors."
Yep!
I liked the cartoon. The commentary - not so much. I think this time I am angrier than you are Clay. Venezuelans did NOT depose Maduro. A foreign government (the US) did - and without justification. None. Nada. Bupkiss. He was not deposed for humanitarian reasons. He was deposed purely for self-aggrandizement and greed. I count three Venezuelans as personal friends. One was a TA when I was a student and she and her daughter both live in the US. The other two live in Spain (where I live.) One of them may actually approve of this golpe de estado (coup d'état), but I doubt very much that she will continue to see it as a rescue of her country.
I think every officer who ordered crews into combat for this should be court-martialed. Every cabinet rank person in government who enabled this should be impeached, convicted and imprisoned. Every toady who does anything to give a veneer of justification. No pardons. And the same goes for the Tangerine Tyrant. He should be treated the way the Italians treated Mussolini. He won't be, but he should be. He is an embarrassment not just to the US, but to the world. The US is an embarrassment. Their leader, since he believes so strongly in capital punishment should be subjected to it. I recently met a woman and reflexively lied about my nationality. It's come to that. I later confessed and she was amused, but I have never felt so alienated from the States as I do now. Not during Vietnam, where people were sympathetic to my plight as a resister. Not during Cambodia when Nixon and Kissinger conspired to depose Sihanouk's government and secretly bombed a sympathetic neutral country (although that comes close.) Not when I lived and worked in Nicaragua and the Brits fought the Argentines and Reagan chose to support Thatcher over Galtieri's government - talk about a plague on both their houses! Not when the US went to war on Iraq for the flimsiest and falsest of reasons. This takes the prize for being stupid, vile and unnecessary. Why are the American people not out in the streets decrying the piracy and deploring the violence of their own government. Asking for myself. I may have no more American friends.
People are and have been in the streets. It's just not convenient for the media to report it... unless there is violence.