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Tuesday May 7, 2024

The trial of Donald J. Trump in Manhattan, marred by tawdry revelations and ratings-driven drama, underscores the erosion of decency in American politics while highlighting Trump's repeated flouting of the rule of law and disdain for accountability.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday May 7, 2024

A Tawdry Ratings Stunt or a Descent into Disgrace?

March 22, 2023

As the trial of Donald J. Trump unfolds in Manhattan, it becomes increasingly clear that what began as a legal proceeding has devolved into a tawdry spectacle of ratings-chasing and denial. Trump’s relentless pursuit of attention, coupled with his flagrant disregard for the rule of law, paints a damning picture of a presidency steeped in scandal and deceit.

From the outset, Trump’s trial has resembled nothing so much as a reality TV drama, with each twist and turn carefully choreographed for maximum impact. The involvement of Stormy Daniels, a porn star at the centre of allegations of hush money payments, adds a lurid dimension to an already sordid affair. Trump’s former fixer Michael D. Cohen’s testimony only serves to underscore the depth of deception that permeated the Trump administration.

News: Trump fined $1,000 for violating gag order again and threatened with jail time

Donald Trump's persistent lead in the polls and the reduction of the GOP field to a lone rival, Nikki Haley, underscores his unassailable influence, depicting a party transformed under his strongman-like sway.

January 25, 2024

But while Trump may see the trial as an opportunity to burnish his image or rally his base, the rest of us must not lose sight of the real issues at stake. The fines and threats of jail time that Trump faces for violating the gag order are not just the consequences of a legal technicality but a reflection of a broader pattern of behaviour that seeks to undermine the very institutions that uphold the rule of law.

Trump’s repeated violations of the gag order, resulting in fines and threats of jail time, seem almost calculated to keep the spotlight firmly fixed on him. With each admonishment from the judge, Trump’s narrative of victimhood and persecution grows stronger, appealing to those who see him as a crusader against a biased legal system. To them, the fines and threats of jail time only reinforce the idea that Trump is being unfairly targeted by his political enemies.

News: Trump quickly fundraises off judge’s contempt ruling in hush money case

The escalating coarseness in Donald Trump's rhetoric, characterized by insulting nicknames and baseless claims, raises concerns about declining civility among his supporters and the potential for authoritarianism, as prominent figures, including Liz Cheney and Joe Biden, warn of the dangers associated with Trump's behavior.

December 9, 2023

But to many others, Trump’s behaviour is nothing short of disgraceful. His flouting of court orders and attacks on witnesses and jurors undermine the integrity of the justice system and erode public trust in the rule of law. It’s a spectacle that not only tarnishes Trump’s own reputation but also reflects poorly on the state of civility and respect for institutions in modern society.

In the end, Trump’s trial may indeed be remembered as a ratings stunt, but it will also be remembered as a descent into disgrace for a president who placed his own interests above those of the country he swore to serve. As the trial continues to unfold, it’s essential to remember the real victims in this sordid saga: the American people, who deserve leaders who are accountable to the law and to the truth. No amount of ratings or attention-seeking can obscure the fact that Trump’s legacy will forever be tarnished by his actions, and the sooner we reckon with that reality, the better off Americans will be. (AI)

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. If you’re creative, give illustration a try:

 

Saturday April 4, 2015

Saturday April 4, 2015Editorial cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday April 4, 2015

City trashes Good Samaritan for downtown parking lot cleanup

Ted Pundey didn’t expect to be paid for his volunteer cleanup — but he certainly didn’t expect to be fined.

Tired of looking out his downtown condo window at a parking lot full of trash (one the city says has been identified as an illegal dumping “hot spot”), he decided on Tuesday to clean up the mess near King William and John streets himself.

But the intended good deed cost him $125 after he was slapped with a fine by bylaw officers who had witnessed the cleanup — one they alternatively call “illegal dumping.”

“They caught me cleaning,” Pudney — a CBC video editor in Toronto — said Wednesday. When three officers had showed up he was pleased, assuming they were there to help.

But when they handed him a ticket, he was baffled — for one, this wasn’t even his garbage. And he’d stacked the boxes just metres from where he’d collected the trash. In doing so, the city says, he crossed an invisible line in the lot, from private property to a public alleyway portion.

“We have no issues with anybody helping to clean up a property, but if someone is disposing what they’re cleaning up off that property onto city property … then the taxpayer ends up paying for that,” the city’s municipal law enforcement manager Kim Coombs says.

Pudney — who moved from Toronto three months ago — didn’t realize the distinction: “I was doing this strictly to be a good guy. I had no agenda, other than that the area needs some attention.”

He’d purposely stacked the boxes against a posted sign in the alley, advertising designated pick-up times between 10 a.m. and noon on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)