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extremist

Friday November 1, 2024

November 1, 2024 by Graeme MacKay

Progressives must vote strategically for Kamala Harris in 2024 to prevent a Trump victory that would severely set back civil rights, democracy, and progressive goals.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday November 1, 2024

A Trump Victory Is Too High a Price for Progressive Protest

On the first anniversary of the war, Iran's continued backing of Hamas and Hezbollah underscores its role in prolonging the conflict and obstructing any path toward peace between Israel and Palestine.

Tuesday October 7, 2024

With just days left in one of the most consequential elections in U.S. history, progressives must confront a sobering reality: sitting this one out—or voting third party in protest of the Democratic Party’s shortcomings—risks delivering the White House back to Donald Trump. While Kamala Harris’s policies may not align with every progressive value, the consequences of voter fragmentation could be catastrophic. The time for ideological purity has passed; now is the time for pragmatism.

Harris has faced sharp criticism over her support for Israel amidst escalating violence in Gaza and Lebanon, causing alienation among Arab Americans and progressives concerned with U.S. foreign policy. This frustration is understandable, particularly given Harris’s alignment with figures like Liz Cheney and Richie Torres, signalling a more hawkish approach. But Nicholas Kristof’s perspective in the New York Times underscores the need to weigh these legitimate grievances against the devastating potential of a Trump presidency, which threatens democracy, civil rights, and the very progress so many have fought for.

Opinion: Don’t Let Liberal Purity Elect Trump

Donald Trump's embrace of conspiracy theories and inflammatory rhetoric reflects a desperate strategy by a floundering presidential candidate, yet he continues to convince millions, as evidenced by the close polling numbers.

September 17, 2024

Recent headlines make it clear that Trump’s campaign is doubling down on divisive, inflammatory rhetoric. At a recent Madison Square Garden rally, Trump and his allies targeted marginalized communities with attacks on Puerto Ricans, Palestinians, African Americans, and Jews. A return to Trump’s brand of governance promises more of the same: a blend of authoritarianism, bigotry, and disregard for the rights and lives of vulnerable communities. Kristof’s message is clear: however discontented progressives may feel with the Democrats, opting out or protest-voting won’t serve progressive values—it will simply help hand the presidency to Trump.

This lesson isn’t new. In 2016, some progressives turned to third-party candidates, disillusioned with Hillary Clinton’s alignment with corporate interests. The result was a Trump administration that undid environmental protections, aggressively pursued restrictive immigration policies, and appointed a Supreme Court that subsequently reversed Roe v. Wade. A similar protest vote today risks even graver consequences, with Trump’s re-election likely emboldening extremist policies and undermining the very democracy that allows progressives to advocate for change.

News: What Kamala Harris’ troubling embrace of war hawks means

As Donald Trump’s campaign falters under the weight of his stubborn and predictable insults, the Democrats, led by Kamala Harris, gain momentum by uniting around a vision of stability and progress.

August 17, 2024

Progressives should recognize that sitting out or casting a protest vote will not push the Democratic Party leftward, nor will it dismantle the status quo. As Kristof argues, withholding a vote in this election isn’t a neutral act; it actively contributes to a Trump victory. Democrats may have their faults, but they remain open to dialogue and progress on issues like climate change, healthcare, and civil rights. Under Trump, however, there will be no space for compromise or progress—only further regression.

Some progressives may argue that refusing to vote for Harris is a way of “sending a message.” But this election is not about sending messages; it’s about protecting rights and preventing irreversible harm. A Democratic administration—however imperfect—offers a platform for advocacy and change. Kristof poignantly reminds us that while “purity” may be admirable, the cost of inaction will be measured in setbacks on civil rights, climate action, healthcare, and the safety of vulnerable communities.

News: LA Times Owner’s Daughter Rebukes Kamala Harris Over Gaza: ‘Genocide’

In the words of Michelle Obama at a recent rally, “This election is about protecting the future of women, minorities, and vulnerable communities from becoming collateral damage under Trump’s agenda.” Every vote counts, and abstention from the progressive camp edges the country closer to another Trump term. For those who champion progressive values, this election is a choice, not a referendum on ideals. The stakes are simply too high for purity to sabotage progress. A vote for Harris may not be perfect, but it is necessary.


Today, my pen (or more accurately, my stylus) found itself hovering over the battleground of our neighbour’s political climate. I’m sure most editorial cartoonists are locked in on Trump’s latest bait—a gimmicky photo-op where he donned a garbage collector’s uniform in a stunt aimed at twisting President Biden’s words. The scene is rich material. Trump claims Biden called all Republicans “garbage,” when in reality, Biden was criticizing specific inflammatory rhetoric aimed at Puerto Rico from a comedian at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally. No surprises here, really—Trump is an old hand at distorting the narrative to generate buzz and deflect from more pressing issues.

What stands out in this election is Trump’s mastery of distraction. Instead of presenting coherent policies, we get “he said, she said” toddler talk, with the actual issues buried in noise. Meanwhile, substantive discussions—particularly on the Middle East—are overshadowed. Kamala Harris has taken a hit with progressives frustrated by the administration’s approach to the Israel-Gaza conflict, but we’re missing the broader question: what would a Trump win mean for these communities? What might Harris be pressured to achieve on this issue, versus the entirely different agenda a second Trump term would pursue?

Working on this cartoon, I felt the tension between the satirical “fun” of drawing Trump’s antics and the heavier weight of what’s at stake. Progressives may not agree with Harris on everything, particularly foreign policy, but the choices are stark. Voting pragmatically for Harris is a step toward progress—even if it’s slower than many want. Allowing Trump to re-enter the White House, given his clear disregard for marginalized communities, risks undoing decades of hard-won progress. This election is less about ideological purity and more about protecting any chance of change, and with Trump on the ballot, sitting it out isn’t just a protest—it’s a risk Americans can’t afford.

– Graeme MacKay

Read on Substack

Posted in: USA Tagged: 2024-19, Donald Trump, extremist, fringe, Kamala Harris, loon, moderate, never-trumper, polarization, USA

Friday October 14, 2022

October 14, 2022 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday October 14, 2022

The high cost of pandering to extremists

It didn’t take long for new Alberta Premier Danielle Smith to do a swan dive into the murky waters of delusion and political pandering.

May 20, 2022

Shortly after being sworn in Tuesday to replace Jason Kenney, Smith called those who refused vaccination against COVID-19 “the most discriminated against group that I’ve ever witnessed in my lifetime.”

That she could say so demonstrated to everyone who has faced true discrimination either a profound ignorance of both history and current realities or a bottomless capacity for pandering to the misplaced sense of victimhood in her right-wing base.

On Wednesday, Smith issued a statement saying she had wanted to highlight the “mistreatment” of those who chose not to get vaccinated and that she had not intended to “trivialize” the discrimination faced by minority communities.

Still, words have consequences. Words can console or wound, inspire or enrage. They can bring out what’s best in us, or what’s worst.

Hate-mongering and character assassination in Canada — however much we fancy our political discourse more civil than in the United States — has already seen in Ontario communities stones being flung at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh assaulted with hatred and racism.

Those with political pulpits and media soap boxes must remember that along with that power and influence they assume great responsibility.

September 13, 2022

Kenney acknowledged in his final words as premier that the conservative movement in Canada is giving succour to disturbing elements. He warned federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre about keeping company with extremists whose chief interest is in “tearing things down and blowing things up.

“I think a Conservative party that is focused on a campaign of recrimination over COVID, politicizing science, entertaining conspiracy theories and campaigning with QAnon is a party that can’t form a government and shouldn’t,” he told Global News’ “The West Block.”

Former prime minister Brian Mulroney agreed, telling CTV’s “Question Period” after a private dinner with Poilievre “that you can’t get elected with that kind of stuff.”

Among other things, it was recently found that YouTube videos produced for Poilievre contained a hidden tag appealing to an online anti-women movement — #mgtow, Men Going Their Own Way — that Canadian security agencies view as a danger.

Trudeau told Poilievre in the Commons that “in reaching out to extremist online groups and pulling in anti-women, misogynistic groups for his own political gain” is something for which he will have to answer to Canadian women.

But it should not be left just to women to object. All rational citizens should be on guard against the kind of rhetoric and messaging aimed at courting the tear-things-down and blow-things-up elements in Canada.

September 24, 2022

As has been seen around the world, there is political opportunity for leaders cynical and self-interested enough to tap into pools of rage. It is not as if Canadians, living where we do, lack for horrifying recent evidence of the damage recklessness leaders can incite. There is a direct line from “some very fine people on both sides” and “stand back and stand by” to the deadly attack on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

American scholar Larry Diamond wrote in his 2019 book “Ill Winds” that “a culture of democracy is also a culture of moderation.

“Democracy can’t function when politics is dominated by opposing camps of ‘true believers’ who view compromise as betrayal and dismiss discordant evidence as fake,” Diamond wrote.

Premier Smith seems not to have read his book.

What we need from our leaders is the serious work to understand the social fragmentation and political polarization that got us here and a resolve to mend these rifts, not to exploit them for political gain.

Complicity by political leaders with the extreme fringes will provide fuel for social conflict and chaos. But it is complacency on the part of a moderate majority that will provide the opportunity. (Hamilton Spectator Editorial) 

From sketch to finish, see the current way Graeme completes an editorial cartoon using an iPencil, the Procreate app, and a couple of cheats on an iPad Pro …

https://mackaycartoons.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-1014-NAT.mp4

 

Posted in: Canada Tagged: 2022-34, Alberta, antivaxxer, Canada, Conservative, Danielle Smith, Donald Trump, extremist, fire, gas, procreate, rage

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.

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