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Saturday July 20, 2024

July 20, 2024 by Graeme MacKay

As the 2024 election nears, high-profile Democrats, led by Nancy Pelosi, are urging President Biden to step aside in favour of a younger candidate to better counter Donald Trump’s populist campaign and secure a victory.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday July 20, 2024

Animated making-of version here!

For the Good of the Party, Biden Should Step Aside

The 2024 presidential debate has triggered a critical reassessment of Joe Biden's candidacy, stemming from concerns over his perceived weakness and inability to counter Donald Trump's falsehoods and controversial positions.

June 29, 2024

As the 2024 election approaches, President Joe Biden’s faltering debate performance and mounting concerns about his cognitive health have ignited a critical debate within the Democratic Party. High-profile Democrats, spearheaded by Nancy Pelosi, are increasingly advocating for Biden to step aside to prevent a potential disaster in the November elections. This call for a new, younger, and more dynamic candidate reflects a deep-seated anxiety that Biden, despite his honorable service and significant policy achievements, might not be the best standard-bearer against Donald Trump’s resurgent campaign.

Pelosi’s behind-the-scenes maneuvering, as reported by the Washington Post, highlights the urgency of this situation. She has been actively engaging with influential figures such as former President Barack Obama and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, stressing the critical need for a fresh approach. Following Biden’s underwhelming debate performance, which exacerbated concerns about his cognitive decline, Pelosi and other prominent Democrats are pushing for a transition that would inject new energy into the party’s campaign.

News: Pelosi has told House Democrats that Biden may soon be persuaded to exit race

November 17, 2022

Donald Trump’s upward trajectory, fuelled by his populist rhetoric and a fortress mentality, poses a formidable threat to the Democrats. His campaign strategy capitalizes on a vision of American greatness and resilience, often cloaked in divisive and inflammatory language. To effectively counter this, Democrats must offer a compelling vision of their own—one that embraces American dynamism and optimism. David Brooks of The New York Times underscores this necessity, arguing that the Democratic response must include a bold agenda that taps into America’s pioneering spirit.

Democrats need to address several key issues that have alienated voters during Biden’s presidency. This includes ensuring international stability, securing the border, and strengthening social safety nets. Additionally, the party should champion policies that promote innovation and economic growth. Investing in infrastructure, education, and reducing regulatory burdens are essential steps. Moving away from reactionary policies such as rent control, Democrats should instead focus on an “abundance agenda” that emphasizes building new homes, advancing technology, and fostering a mobile, aspirational society.

Opinion: What Democrats Need to Do Now 

April 26, 2023

Biden has undeniably served with honour and achieved notable victories, but stepping aside now would be a profound act of patriotism. It would demonstrate a commitment to the country’s future over personal ambition, allowing for a new leader to build upon his legacy while effectively addressing Trump’s challenges. This decision could enable the Democrats to present a refreshed and vigorous campaign capable of securing a decisive victory in November.

Time is of the essence. The Democratic Party must act swiftly and decisively to ensure a strong, united front. By stepping down, Biden can facilitate a smooth transition to a new leader who embodies the energy and vision needed to confront Trump’s campaign and secure the party’s future. (AI)

This editorial cartoon was reprinted in the July 21, 2024 edition of the Toronto Sunday Star.

Posted in: USA Tagged: 2024-13, animated, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, cow, Donald Trump, George W. Bush, Jimmy Carter, Joe Biden, Oval Office, pasture, retirement, USA, White House

Thursday January 21, 2021

January 28, 2021 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday January 21, 2021

Ford appeals to U.S. president-elect Biden for help securing more COVID-19 vaccines

Ontario’s premier appealed directly to U.S. president-elect Joe Biden on Tuesday for help securing more COVID-19 vaccines, a request that came as the province learned it would receive none of the doses expected next week.

April 28, 2020

Premier Doug Ford expressed frustration about a delivery slowdown of the Pfizer-BioNTech shot that means Ontario will receive thousands fewer doses over the next month. 

The province said that could mean its goal of immunizing all long-term care residents in the province by Feb. 15 won’t be achieved.

“My American friends … you have a new president, no more excuses, we need your support” Ford said. “That’s a direct message to President Biden. Help out your neighbour. You want us all to get along, hunky-dory, kumbaya – help us.”

Canada’s doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine are coming from a factory in Belgium that is being upgraded to ramp up production in the coming months.

Pfizer, however, also makes the COVID-19 vaccine at a facility in Michigan.

Ford appealed to Biden, who will be sworn in as president Wednesday, to share a million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech shot from that plant.

June 15, 2018

“We’re the third largest trading partner (to the United States),” he said. “The least you could do in Kalamazoo where the Pfizer plant is, great relationship-building, give us a million vaccines.”

Ford also expressed frustration with Pfizer executives about the vaccine delays and urged Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to ramp up pressure on the company to deliver more of the shots to Canada.

“If I was in (Trudeau’s) shoes … I’d be on that phone call every single day. I’d be up that guy’s yin-yang so far with a firecracker he wouldn’t know what hit him,” he said of Pfizer’s executives. “I would not stop until we get these vaccines.”

January 20, 2017

The federal government said shipments of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine are expected to get back to normal levels in late February and early March. 

Canada was to get more than 417,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine this week and next, but will now get just 171,093 doses this week and nothing the next week.

Trudeau said earlier Tuesday that his procurement minister, Anita Anand, has been on the phone with the company every day, a fact she confirmed in a briefing later. (Toronto Star) 

 

Posted in: Ontario, USA Tagged: 2021-03, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Capitol, Doug Ford, George W. Bush, inauguration, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Ontario, USA, Vaccine

Wednesday May 2, 2012

May 2, 2012 by Graeme MacKay

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Wednesday May 2, 2012

‘Even Jimmy Carter would have killed Osama bin Laden’, says Mitt Romney

With the Americans remembering the anniversary of the Obama-authorised US military raid in Pakistan that ended with bin Laden’s death, campaign adviser Robert Gibbs said on Sunday that it was unclear whether Mr Romney would have made the same decision as Obama.

“Look, just a few years ago, President Obama – then a candidate – said in a speech that if we had actionable intelligence of a high-value target in Pakistan, we’d go in and get that high value target,” Mr Gibbs said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “Mitt Romney said that was foolish. He wouldn’t do such a thing. That he wouldn’t move heaven and earth to get Osama bin Laden.”

Speaking in New Hampshire on Monday, Mr Romney said he would have made the same decision.

“Of course. Even Jimmy Carter would have given that order,” Romney said.

Many Americans remember Mr Carter’s foreign policy record as weak, primarily because of his inability to win the release of the Americans who were taken hostage in Iran and held for 444 days during his 1977-81 presidency.

Mr Romney has scheduled an appearance Tuesday in New York City with firefighters and former Mayor Rudy Giuliani to mark the anniversary of the killing of bin Laden, who was responsible for the 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

Last week, Mr Obama’s campaign released a video featuring former President Bill Clinton that sought to reinforce Mr Gibbs’ doubts about Romney. “Which path would Mitt Romney have taken?” the video asks. (Source: The Telegraph) 

 

Posted in: USA Tagged: Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, campaign, election, George W. Bush, Jimmy Carter, Mitt Romney, Osama Bin Laden, President, Saddam Hussein, Teddy Roosevelt, USA

Wednesday February 15, 2012

February 15, 2012 by Graeme MacKay

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Wednesday February 15, 2012

Toews accuses critics of siding with child pornographers

The government says anyone who opposes federal plans to make electronic surveillance easier for police and spies is siding with child pornographers.

It’s the first salvo in a battle that will resume Tuesday when the government reintroduces legislation that would expand online monitoring powers.

The issue pits the desire of intelligence and law-enforcement officials to have easier access to information about Internet users against the individual’s right to privacy.

Asked Monday in the House of Commons about the coming bill, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews told a Liberal MP he could either stand with the government or “with the child pornographers” prowling online.

Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart has warned against simply resurrecting a trio of previous federal bills to expand surveillance powers, citing several shortcomings.

Of particular concern to the privacy commissioner are provisions that would allow authorities access to Internet subscriber information without first getting a court’s go-ahead.

Toews office has said the government will strike an appropriate balance between necessary investigative powers and the protection of privacy.

Still, opposition MPs were alarmed by his comments Monday.

“Apparently if you care about civil liberties in this country you obviously side with child pornographers, murderers,” said Green Party Leader Elizabeth May. (Source: CTV News) 

 

Posted in: Canada Tagged: Canada, child, Commissioner, George W. Bush, internet, legislation, Pornography, Privacy, surveillance, Vic Toews

January 19, 2009

January 19, 2009 by Graeme MacKay

We’re on the cusp of witnessing history in the United States. A brief moment in time when the stars have aligned symbolizing unity and hope. Across the world, across party lines, across the races, masses of humanity will celebrate the inauguration of Barack Obama. Then, the hard work will begin, hopes will be crushed, and the magic of Obama will begin its inevitable downward slide.

There is no denying how significant this particular transfer of power will go down in history. One can’t discount the twist of fate that finds the U.S. holiday marking the birthdate of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. preceding this historic inauguration by one day. It’s hard not to find some parallels to the ascendency of two sons of Illinois, Abraham Lincoln, and Obama, both lawyers and state legislators, both advocates of human rights, and both successors of a top job left in a mess by its predecessor.

George Bush leaves office perceived as a bad President as much as Barack Obama has already been bestowed the honour by many as America’s greatest President, even though he hasn’t yet been sworn in. Along with that there’s been plenty of negative reaction in the media to a press conference George Bush gave last week, headlined all over the place as “Regret’s, I’ve had a few” summary of his Presidency. This of course has been followed with opinion pieces which have positioned the Bush Presidency at the top of the worst in history list — here, here, here, and here.

People should be careful about making bold declarations that the most recent President is history’s worst. Yes, the economy’s in the tank, America’s reputation abroad is a disgrace, the environment has been ignored, civil liberties are under enormous threat, and two unending big wars are a psychological drain. These calamities, all of the making under the Bush era, will most certainly stain his record, as much as the awkward position he was put in from an enormous event that was not of his making, the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

So what will come from the successful outcomes of the Bush White House? The fact that he kept the U.S. free of terrorist acts after 9/11? Might the Bush legacy benefit if a terrorist act happens on American soil under Obama’s watch? What about the muted acclaim Bush has received for quietly doing better than any previous President in terms of sending aid to Africa to combat AIDS? What about the other merits to the Bush Presidency that have been drowned out with all the negative, including improved test scores for American students, better race relations, reforms to Medicare, and the removal of Saddam Hussein, the overthrowing of the Taliban, and restraint shown towards an aggressive North Korea, and Iran?

I’ve observed enough Presidencies in my 40 year life to recall the popular sentiment that the outgoing guy is the worst President in history is said of every outgoing President and it’s likely to be pronounced by some when Mr. Obama is finished his term of office. Think back to the past two double term Presidents, Clinton and Reagan, both reviled at the end but quietly rehabilitated with the passage of time and some scholarly reflection on their legacies. History will be the ultimate judge.

The magic of every Presidential honeymoon starts to be chipped away as soon as the oath of office is administered and the new guy starts to make decisions which inevitably divide the public into more distinctive groups, those who support the President and those who don’t. Much is expected of Obama and his failure to live up to expectations may very well herald the beginning of his demise in the days and weeks to come.

As much as I’m uncomfortable with the predictable rantings against Bush from the left as he leaves office, I’m also uneasy about the doubts from the right about Obama living up to expectations as he assumes the Presidency. That will inevitably come later but for the time being we should revell in the history we’re about to witness, all the trappings of ceremony and tradition, a smooth transfer of power, and the passing of a difficult eight years to a new era of hope and reinvigoration.

Posted in: USA Tagged: America, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Presidency, President, USA
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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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