mackaycartoons

Graeme MacKay's Editorial Cartoon Archive

  • Archives
  • DOWNLOADS
  • Kings & Queens
  • MacKaycartoons Inc.
  • Prime Ministers
  • Special Features
  • The Boutique
  • Who?
  • Young Doug Ford
  • Presidents

CNN

Wednesday February 19, 2025

February 19, 2025 by Graeme MacKay

The increasing control over political candidates' public engagements in Ontario raises concerns about transparency and democracy, reflecting a shift towards meticulous message management at the cost of open debate.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday February 19, 2025

The Training of the Seals

Doug Ford, "Captain Canada," charms Ontario voters despite pressing provincial issues, leading to strong poll numbers ahead of the election.

February 14, 2025

In our democracy, debates and open conversations are vital. They help ensure that politicians are accountable and transparent. However, in Ontario, there’s a worrying trend: Progressive Conservative (PC) candidates, including their leader Doug Ford, are avoiding public debates and media interactions. This behaviour raises concerns about the health of our democratic process.

Recently, it’s been noted that PC candidates in areas like London are skipping public forums, choosing instead to campaign door-to-door. This strategy denies voters the chance to hear from those who aim to represent them, effectively stifling the democratic process that thrives on public exchange and scrutiny.

Even Doug Ford himself has been absent from media engagements after debates, despite participating in media sessions during a trip to Washington, D.C. This absence is particularly troubling in an election where crucial issues like healthcare and climate policy are at the forefront.

News: Ontario election: PC Party candidates face heat for skipping London debates

November 9, 2021

The party’s decision to limit exposure and tightly control messaging may be an attempt to avoid missteps. However, it also suggests a lack of confidence in their candidates’ ability to speak freely and defend their positions. This control creates the impression that candidates are more like puppets, directed by unseen handlers rather than their own beliefs.

This approach is unfair to voters, who deserve representatives willing to engage openly and honestly. It undermines the core of democracy, which relies on diverse viewpoints and rigorous debate for informed decision-making.

News: Niagara Conservative Candidates on Mute

Without open engagement, voters are left with a watered-down version of political discourse, lacking the depth needed to address complex issues. This not only limits voters’ ability to make informed choices but also erodes trust in the political system.

As voters, we need to demand more from those who wish to lead. Politicians who avoid scrutiny and debate should face consequences at the polls. Our democratic process isn’t served by candidates who operate behind the scenes, guided by hidden forces.

It’s time for a change. We must insist on transparency, engagement, and accountability from our political leaders. Only then can democracy thrive, providing the insight and debate we need to tackle today’s challenges. As the election approaches, let’s remember the power of our voices and the importance of demanding a political arena where free thought and genuine engagement are the norm.


Will your vote go to the local candidate who doesn’t show up for anything?

It’s pretty disheartening to see so many local candidates skipping out on the all-candidates debates; it’s a clear indicator that the standards in our democratic process are slipping. What’s even more frustrating is that most of these candidates are from the ruling Progressive Conservative party. Ask yourselves: Do you really want someone who’s just toeing the party line representing your interests? It seems like candidates don’t even get the opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities to the local voters anymore. Add to that the lack of political flyers, no door-knocking from candidates or even volunteers, hidden election signs, and minimal media engagement, and it feels like we’re witnessing one of the most invisible election campaigns in Ontario’s history. Maybe this is part of Premier Doug Ford’s plan for the PCs, but it still doesn’t explain why the other parties are so quiet in the 2025 election. Honestly, from where I’m drawing, I haven’t seen much of anything.

Anyway, enjoy my making-of video for February 19, 2025. The Ontario election is just 9 days away…

– The Graeme Gallery

Read on Substack

Posted in: Ontario Tagged: 2025-04, accountability, candidates, CNBC, CNN, control, debate, Democracy, Donald Trump, Doug Ford, engagement, fox, local, messaging, Ontario, OntElection2025, PC Party, scrutiny, Substack, trained seals, transparency, voters

Thursday June 27, 2024

June 27, 2024 by Graeme MacKay

The upcoming Biden vs. Trump debate is expected to be more of an entertaining spectacle than a serious political discussion, with low expectations for both candidates and a circus-like atmosphere.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday June 27, 2024

*Find the animated version of this cartoon here!

Biden vs. Trump: The Debate From Hell – A Spectacle of Epic Proportions

September 29, 2020

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, gather ’round for what promises to be the most entertaining show of the decade! Forget your popcorn—this is kettle corn territory, folks. In one corner, we have the reigning champ of gaffes and whispers, President Joe Biden. In the other, the master of mayhem, the Sultan of Shenanigans, former President Donald Trump. Welcome to the 2024 Presidential Debate: The Circus Edition!

According to Edith Olmsted of The New Republic, Trump’s approach to debate prep involves more casual chats with his fans than rigorous policy discussions. Picture him lounging in a gilded room, tossing out one-liners to Chris Stigall like a stand-up comedian at an open mic night. Meanwhile, Biden is reportedly holed up at Camp David, cramming for the debate like it’s a college final he forgot about until the night before.

Opinion: Donald Trump has adopted a wild approach to preparing for his debate against Joe Biden

October 31, 2020

CNN’s Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, whom Trump has preemptively accused of bias, will moderate this spectacle. Think of them less as referees and more as lion tamers trying to keep our two aging beasts from mauling each other—or themselves. Tapper and Bash, both seasoned veterans, are well-prepared for this, having described the 2020 debate as a “hot mess” and a “s—show.”

News: Thursday’s presidential debate moderators called Trump-Biden 2020 clash a ‘hot mess,’ worse

Expectations are lower than a limbo stick at a geriatric disco. James Hibberd from The Hollywood Reporter sets the stage perfectly, comparing the debate to a Renaissance fair run by an 86-year-old king who refuses to retire. Our candidates are like two King Georges clinging to power, except they’re not battling over turkey legs—they’re vying for control of the free world.

Opinion: Biden vs. Trump Rematch: Are You Ready for the Debate From Hell?

November 6, 2012

Biden’s goal? To appear coherent for 90 minutes. Trump’s? To not seem utterly unhinged. It’s like watching a high-wire act without a safety net, and we’re all holding our breath, waiting for someone to fall.

One welcome change: the introduction of mutable microphones. This isn’t just a nod to basic decorum; it’s a necessity. Picture Trump’s mic going silent mid-rant, his face turning beet red as he gestures wildly to an audience that isn’t there. Meanwhile, Biden’s team has nixed the live audience, which Hibberd argues makes him look a bit cowardly. After all, shouldn’t a president be able to handle a few boos if he’s going to handle global crises?

October 3, 2012

Speculation is rife that Trump might pull another no-show, a stunt he’s performed in the past. If he does show up, expect a barrage of accusations about Biden’s supposed performance-enhancing drugs, a projection straight out of Trump’s playbook. On the other side, Biden’s likely to have a few choice words ready, aiming to keep his cool under the expected barrage of Trumpian interruptions.  

So, sit back, relax, and prepare to watch through your fingers. This debate promises to be less about policies and more about who can out-entertain the other. It’s less a political event and more a reality TV showdown. In the words of Hibberd, get the kettle corn ready. This is going to be one hell of a show.

Whether it ends in chaos, comedy, or catastrophe, one thing’s for sure: we won’t be forgetting this debate anytime soon. So tune in, America! Your democracy might be at stake, but at least you’ll be entertained. (AI)

Posted in: USA Tagged: 2024-12, animation, CNN, Dana Bash, debate, Donald Trump, election, game show, Jake Tapper, Joe Biden, password, USA

Wednesday October 31, 2018

November 7, 2018 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday October 31, 2018

What this year’s topical Halloween costumes tell us about the darkest fears of modern life

In 2018, traditional Halloween costumes simply don’t cut it. Vampires and witches are so uninspired, so overdone. You want real horror? Try looking outside.

October 27, 2005

Perhaps this explains why Halloween costumes are taking a turn for the topical, and why the New Yorker’s Emily Nussbaum attended a party this weekend dressed in the scariest costume she could think of: the New York Times’ midterm election poll. Other sightings include the usual array of Donald Trumps, multiple Ruth Bader Ginsbergs and the literal death of democracy.

This is nothing particularly new. A New York Times article from 1998 lists faddish Halloween costumes like Monica Lewinsky, Woody Allen, and Lorena Bobbitt, while Lewes in Sussex has long been famous for burning effigies of characters, from the pope in 2005 to Angela Merkel in 2012. But in recent years this seems to have crossed over into the mainstream. Last year, at the height of #MeToo, there seemed to be a clutch of ever-present Halloween “handmaids” wherever you went. While this is the third consecutive year that “Brexit” has been a viable (and common) outfit choice of outfit.

What does this tell us about our fears? The bad news is that our fears are so front and centre that you can dress as Trump, or a nation’s voting intentions, or the concept of institutionalised sexism, and people will understand. This ubiquity only really happens in times of genuine crisis. The good news is that these costumes are an act of rebellion. By dressing as “our fears”, we are mocking them. And by mocking them, we are diminishing them. As Stephen Colbert says, you can’t laugh and be afraid at the same time.

October 31, 2008

But few things are as dull as a Halloween party full of ultra-partisan topical costumes. Within seconds of entering, you know exactly how all the conversations will go. You will spend your evening having your ear bent off about some half-remembered statistic from the news, while wishing you could slink off and get drunk with the attendee dressed as Sexy Super Mario. It is good to wear your stripes on your sleeve and all, but Halloween should be stupid. Let’s keep it that way. (Source: Guardian) 

 

Posted in: Entertainment, USA Tagged: CNN, Donald Trump, fear, fox, fright, Halloween, horror, midterms, news, USA

Please note…

This website contains satirical commentaries of current events going back several decades. Some readers may not share this sense of humour nor the opinions expressed by the artist. To understand editorial cartoons it is important to understand their effectiveness as a counterweight to power. It is presumed readers approach satire with a broad minded foundation and healthy knowledge of objective facts of the subjects depicted.

  • The Hamilton Spectator
  • The Toronto Star
  • The Globe & Mail
  • The National Post
  • Graeme on T̶w̶i̶t̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶(̶X̶)̶
  • Graeme on F̶a̶c̶e̶b̶o̶o̶k̶
  • Graeme on T̶h̶r̶e̶a̶d̶s̶
  • Graeme on Instagram
  • Graeme on Substack
  • Graeme on Bluesky
  • Graeme on Pinterest
  • Graeme on YouTube
New and updated for 2025
  • HOME
  • MacKaycartoons Inc.
  • The Boutique
  • The Hamilton Spectator
  • The Association of Canadian Cartoonists
  • The Association of American Editorial Cartoonists
  • You Might be From Hamilton if…
  • Young Doug Ford
  • MacKay’s Most Viral Cartoon
  • Intellectual Property Thief Donkeys
  • Wes Tyrell
  • Martin Rowson
  • Guy Bado’s Blog
  • National Newswatch
...Check it out and please subscribe!

Your one-stop-MacKay-shop…

T-shirts, hoodies, clocks, duvet covers, mugs, stickers, notebooks, smart phone cases and scarfs

2023 Coronation Design

Brand New Designs!

Follow Graeme's board My Own Cartoon Favourites on Pinterest.

MacKay’s Virtual Gallery

Archives

Copyright © 2016 mackaycartoons.net

Powered by Wordpess and Alpha.

Social media & sharing icons powered by UltimatelySocial
 

Loading Comments...