The Nast-Cartoon Administration

This [election year, 2006] will be known as the year macho politics failed — mainly because it was macho politics by marshmallow men.
[…]
Republicans were oddly oblivious to the fact that they had turned into a Thomas Nast cartoon: an unappetizing tableau of bloated, corrupt, dissembling, feckless white hacks who were leaving kids unprotected. Tom DeLay and Bob Ney sneaking out of Congress with dollar bills flying out of their pockets. Denny Hastert playing Cardinal Bernard Law, shielding Mark Foley. Rummy, cocky and obtuse as he presided over an imploding Iraq, while failing to give young men and women in the military the armor, support and strategy they needed to come home safely. Dick Cheney, vowing bullheadedly to move “full speed ahead” on Iraq no matter what the voters decided. W. frantically yelling about how Democrats would let the terrorists win, when his lame-brained policies had spawned more terrorists.

[excerpt from Maureen Dowd, "Drapes of Wrath", New York Times, 11 November 2006; via Tennessee Guerilla Women.]

Posted on November 16, 2006 at 23.32 by jns · Permalink
In: All, Common-Place Book, Current Events

2 Responses

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  1. Written by S.W. Anderson
    on Friday, 17 November 2006 at 15.59
    Permalink

    Ah yes, the headline on that column alone is more than worth the price of admission.

    Keep in mind, these neocons and Bush loyalists are contemptuous of government, of most people (corporate interests excepted) who rely on government for important things, and of people who can make government do worthwhile and important things. That mindset is reflected in what Bush and his cronies have done and not done, and in how those things have turned out.

  2. Written by rightsaidfred
    on Saturday, 18 November 2006 at 02.05
    Permalink

    The barf-o-rama begins when Dowd uncorks this line, "feckless white hacks who were leaving kids unprotected." Whiteness as a character trait, and Bush as a slayer of children, all in one line. Priceless.

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