Jeff Danziger scores simply for making me laff.
You could put more into this: He and I are of an age to remember when the Cambodian incursion made Americans fear that China would become actively involved in the war. Now I'm seeing presumably younger people brush off Trump's insult as if China were of no greater consequence than Monaco.
But "What the hell is going on?" is a good way to sum up how sane people of all nationalities must surely be viewing our Fearless Leader.
And, BTW, I hadn't watched SNL in many years until the Donald began tweeting about it. I'm still not a fan, but I'm sure seeing a lot that I used to skip over, thanks to Trumperdink.
Make of that what you will, but it leads nicely into our ...
Juxtaposition of the Day
The idea that the President of the United States should not be held accountable for the things that he says is beyond parody.
This "Pay No Attention To The Man In Front Of The Curtain" nonsense is coming from the same camp that has used out-of-context videos and outright fakes to end careers and topple useful community agencies as well as to perpetuate intentional lies.
And the rightwingers certainly have a track record of exploiting verbal gaffes and legalistic hair-splitting statements to further their own political agenda, while denying their own missteps.
So now we mustn't hold little Donnie responsible for what tumbles out of his mouth.
Some knucklehead the other day wrote that Mike Pence will be the most powerful VP ever, the secret brain behind the amiable goofball on the throne, from which ridiculous statement I can only conclude that the guy must be about 12 years old, because he doesn't remember the not-so-secret brain behind the amiable goofball on the throne who lied us into the worst blunder in American history.
Adam Felber came up with that cartoon/meme back then, which not only reminds us of life under the Cheney Administration, but is a cautionary note about the theory that having a Good Person in the cabinet will offset the influence of Bad People.
Not saying Pence couldn't make a run for the title, but it's a tough mark to aim for.
In other news
Judging from the celebrations, Steve Sack and I must be the only people who have heard that there will be a new president sworn in next month, and know that he has the power to countermand his predecessor's executive orders.
Such that this treaty is good for as long as the waters may flow, the grass may grow or someone who likes the pipeline becomes president.
Rosina Ali lays things out in a New Yorker article, including this critical passage:
“Federal agencies and indigenous peoples think of consultation very differently,” James Grijalva, a professor at the University of North Dakota who specializes in American Indian law, told me. “The Corps thinks an e-mail asking for comment is consultation; Indians expect representatives with authority to make decisions to come to their home, sit down over food, talk family and history, and then have an honest conversation about issues central and peripheral to the proposal.” But, ultimately, only one party determines what level of discussion is satisfactory. “Consultation effectively means what the government wants it to mean,” Grijalva said.
The good news is that the Corps is a massive oil tanker when it comes to changing direction, and even Trump, reportedly no supporter of tribal sovereignty, won't be able to turn this new study around on a dime, which provides the tribe with some time to plan their next move.
The other good news is that the Lakota are not easily fooled these days.
The Standing Rock Tribal Council has been fighting this particular battle for two years and the larger battle for two hundred.
If you want to help, here's the contribution link. (Disclosure: Yes, I have.)
And Stuart Carlson offers this view of the Republicans' joyful plan to eliminate healthcare for several million people. They promise we won't be left without coverage, but when they start talking about "health care savings plans" you know they haven't got the slightest damn idea how working people live in this country.
Yes, we'll all just put money aside in our health care savings plans. That could take a little budgeting: We might have to make the chauffeur go to part-time and switch from beluga to sevruga caviar, but don't worry about us, boss.
We'll get along just fine. Except for the occasional unnecessary death.
Merry Christmas to Biblical Illiterates Everywhere!
La Cucaracha has just started a story arc with Refujesus, and it's a good strike at the heartless hypocrisy of rightwingers who claim to be Christian.
Dunno where Alcaraz is taking this, but let's not forget that, shortly after the Nativity, according to Matthew, Joseph was warned that Herod was going to kill all male children under a certain age and so fled with his wife and child into Egypt until it was safe and he could return home.
Either you think the Bible is the Inerrant Word of God or you think it's a collection of folk tales.
But you can't choose that first one and then pretend God doesn't smile upon refugees.
(And I double-dare you to stand before the Throne of Judgment you claim exists, and offer some well-reasoned, whited-sepulchre explanation.)
A Death in the Family
Sympathy to Brian Anderson, whose family has lost Sophie, the namesake and inspiration for the four-legged half of the delightful Dog Eat Doug twosome. His site has more photos of the pair and more animals who look as though they bolster my theory that each dog teaches you to be that much better a guide and friend to the next.
And so today's strip brings a sigh as well as a smile.
Don't worry, Sophie: He'll still do it for someone.
You taught him well.
As far as understanding the Taiwan call it is the first volley of a skillful negotiator. USA interest in China is mostly trade and the it's with us. I suggest you read Scott Adams blog. He predicted Trump's win a year ago and has been much more useful to me understanding political events of the last year than the news which has been astonished more than analytical.
See the link below for his take on Taiwan.
Http://blog.dilbert.com/post/153990140846/trump-and-the-taiwan-call
Posted by: Ddragovich | 12/07/2016 at 01:45 PM