immunity – mackaycartoons

Thursday August 29, 2024

August 29, 2024 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, published in The Hamilton Spectator and The Toronto Star, Thursday August 29, 2024

An animated version of this editorial cartoon is posted to Pinterest.

Trump’s Quibbles Mask the Real Threat to His Presidential Ambitions—The Rule of Law

February 6, 2024

As the 2024 Presidential race intensifies, Donald Trump finds himself entangled not just in a fierce electoral battle but also in a labyrinth of legal challenges that could prove far more consequential than the media spats and debate dramas he often inflames. While Trump’s complaints about the upcoming ABC debate rules and his jabs at Kamala Harris for not engaging in interviews might capture headlines, these are mere distractions compared to the looming threat posed by Special Counsel Jack Smith’s diligent legal pursuit.

New York Times: Special Counsel Revises Trump Election Indictment to Address Immunity Ruling

May 7, 2024

Trump’s grievances about the September 10 ABC debate rules are emblematic of his strategy to dominate media narratives by any means necessary. His reluctance to participate unless the rules are to his liking jeopardizes the debate itself, which might deprive the public of a crucial opportunity to hear from the candidates directly. Moreover, Trump’s criticisms of Kamala Harris’ limited media presence—though a potential talking point—have yet to gain traction. Without substantial policy critiques, Trump has struggled to move beyond his typical insults and name-calling when it comes to Harris, making it difficult for him to effectively challenge her on her record.

These quibbles, however, pale in comparison to the gravity of his legal troubles. While Trump might wish to paint himself as a victim of a “deep state” conspiracy, the reality is that the Department of Justice’s actions under Jack Smith represent a measured and necessary step in ensuring that the rule of law applies equally to all, including former presidents.

July 23, 2024

Jack Smith’s recent revisions to the indictment against Trump are a strategic maneuver aimed at aligning with the Supreme Court’s ruling on presidential immunity, while still holding Trump accountable for actions that fall outside the scope of his official duties. This move underscores the seriousness of the legal challenges Trump faces—challenges that go beyond the realm of political theatre and into the very foundations of American democracy.

The importance of Smith’s pursuit cannot be overstated. By narrowing the charges to focus on Trump’s actions as a candidate rather than as a sitting president, Smith is aiming to prevent Trump from evading accountability by hiding behind the broad protections of presidential immunity. This is not a witch hunt, as Trump and his supporters claim, but rather a crucial effort to clarify the boundaries of executive power and to ensure that no one, not even a former president, is above the law.

Analysis: Legal scholars warn SCOTUS could “manipulate” immunity definition to torpedo new Trump indictment

February 10, 2024

Trump’s narrative of victimization might resonate with his core supporters, who are quick to embrace conspiracy theories about the “deep state” and “fake media.” However, the persistence of the legal pursuit by Jack Smith offers a counterbalance—a reminder that the wheels of justice, though slow, continue to turn. This pursuit is essential not just for holding Trump accountable, but for restoring faith in the integrity of the American legal system.

As the election draws closer, the public must remain vigilant. Trump’s media maneuvers and debate complaints are designed to distract from the real issues at hand. Yet, the legal challenges he faces will likely persist, shaping the final stages of this election. In the end, it is not the noise of Trump’s complaints but the steady pursuit of justice that will have the most profound impact on the future of American democracy.

News: Robert F Kennedy Jr’s brother ‘heartbroken’ over Trump endorsement

For those who believe in the rule of law and the principles of democratic governance, Jack Smith’s efforts are a source of hope. They demonstrate that, despite the noise and distractions, the pursuit of justice remains steadfast. As the legal process unfolds, it is crucial that the American people continue to support these efforts, ensuring that the values of democracy prevail over the forces of division and deceit. (AI)

Wednesday February 6, 2024

February 7, 2024 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday February 6, 2024

Trump’s Assault on Democracy: A Dangerous Path Forward

January 27, 2024

Recent developments, as reported by both The Washington Post and The New York Times, shed light on the concerning trajectory of former President Donald Trump’s ambitions for unchecked power. The federal appeals panel’s ruling that Trump can face trial on charges related to his alleged plot to overturn the 2020 election results is a significant blow to his claims of immunity from prosecution. This decision, along with the broader plan outlined in The New York Times article to concentrate more power in the presidency, raises alarming concerns about the health of our democracy.

The court’s rejection of Trump’s immunity arguments for actions taken in the White House underscores the principle that no one, not even a former president, should be above the law. The legal battle ahead may reach the Supreme Court, setting the stage for a critical examination of whether former presidents can be prosecuted for actions related to their official duties. The argument that these actions were within the “outer perimeters” of a president’s official acts, as put forth by Trump’s legal team, is a dangerous justification that could erode the foundations of accountability.

Wapo Analysis: 4 takeaways from Trump’s loss in his immunity case

November 6, 2020

The prospect of Trump facing trial adds a layer of complexity to the political landscape, particularly with the trial date carrying significant political implications. As the Republican primary front-runner, Trump may seek to delay the trial until after the November election. If successful, he could exploit his position as the head of the executive branch to influence the legal proceedings, potentially ordering a new attorney general or seeking a self-pardon if elected.

The assault on democratic norms is not confined to legal battles alone. The reported plans to centralize power in the presidency, bringing independent agencies under direct control and impounding funds at the president’s discretion, raise red flags about the erosion of checks and balances. The proposed transformation of the civil service, removing employment protections from career officials, adds to the concern that Trump’s vision for a second term involves consolidating power and purging dissent.

NYT Analysis: Trump and Allies Forge Plans to Increase Presidential Power in 2025

January 20, 2021

Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold’s dismissal of Trump’s supposed “get out of jail free card” is a stark reminder that preserving the rule of law is paramount. The notion that the presidency grants a lifelong immunity from legal consequences goes against the principles of accountability and the checks and balances embedded in our democratic system.

As we navigate these challenges, it is crucial for the American people to remain vigilant and vocal in defence of democratic values. The resilience of our democracy depends on upholding the rule of law, ensuring accountability, and rejecting any attempts to undermine the very foundations that have sustained our nation. The road ahead is uncertain, but our commitment to a robust and accountable democracy must remain unwavering. (AI)

Saturday October 17, 2021

October 16, 2021 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday October 17, 2021

Ontarians can begin downloading QR code COVID-19 vaccine certificates

Ontario is making enhanced COVID-19 vaccine certificates with QR codes available for download beginning over the next three days, starting Friday morning with those born between January and April before expanding to more residents.

August 31, 2021

An update added to the Ontario Health site last night says that the initial, phased three-day rollout is intended to ensure a “smooth user experience” for those who want to download their enhanced certificate as soon as possible.

Enhanced certificates are not mandatory and Ontarians can continue using their current vaccine receipt if they wish.

At a briefing for media Friday, officials said the purpose of the QR code system is to make vaccination status screening more efficient for businesses and more secure for the public. Roughly 83 per cent of those eligible in the province have now had two doses of vaccine.

The QR codes “mean we can allow businesses the comfort to keep operating safely,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford said at a news conference after the briefing.

“They mean we can continue to get back to doing things we want without losing the gains we’ve made,” he said, noting they will help prevent any further shutdowns in the province.

Officials said the QR codes will reveal less personal information than the current vaccine receipts do. The codes include a person’s name, date of birth and whether they have received two doses of vaccine, with their last shot at least 14 days prior.

It does not contain which brand or brands of vaccine a person received, or the specific dates of their shots. That information is included on the broader enhanced certificate itself, but is not transmitted through the QR codes, officials said. (CBC)

Wednesday July 21, 2021

July 28, 2021 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday July 21, 2021

Ford outright rejects vaccine passports on eve of Step 3 of COVID-19 reopening

Ontario Premier Doug Ford firmly rejected the possibility of implementing vaccine passports on Thursday.

June 4, 2021

Ford spoke at a news conference announcing a new long-term care home in Toronto, the Runnymede Long-Term Care Home, expected to open in the summer of 2023. The centre is expected to provide 200 new long-term care spaces.

“No, we aren’t doing it,” he said. “We’re not going to have a split society.”

As for whether it will be mandatory for health-care workers to get a vaccine, Ford said while they’re encouraged to do so, no one should be forced to be immunized.

“I’m not in favour of a mandatory certification and neither, by the way, is the chief medical officer,” said Ford. “Folks, just please go get vaccinated.”

Fords comments follow similar ones by Solicitor General Sylvia Jones a day before, who shut down the possibility of any sort of proof-of-vaccination system being introduced in the province.

April 8, 2021

If needed, Jones said, Ontarians who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can rely on the receipt printed or emailed to them after their second shot.

Some businesses in the province have said that when Ontario enters Step 3 of its reopening plan, patrons will need to show proof of vaccination upon arrival.

Toronto Mayor John Tory has called on the provincial government to create a voluntary system that would help individual businesses or organizations determine the vaccination status of patrons, employees and members. The Toronto Region Board of Trade has also endorsed such an initiative.

Ford said Thursday he will be addressing the question of a federal vaccination card with the prime minister later in the day.

Ontario reported 143 new cases of COVID-19 and 10 more deaths linked to the illness on Thursday, while total vaccinations fell by more than 100,000 from the same day last week.

Public health units collectively administered another 166,201 doses of COVID-19 vaccines yesterday, of which roughly 88 per cent were second shots. Last Wednesday saw more than 268,000 shots given out provincewide.

More than 57 per cent of Ontarians aged 12 and older have now had two doses of vaccines. (CBC)

Wednesday June 23, 2021

June 30, 2021 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday June 23, 2021

The retreat of North Americanism: Canadians and Americans keep moving further apart

Back in the day, when Canada signed the landmark free trade agreement with the United States, there was a good deal of fear and loathing.

February 6, 2001

The Progressive Conservatives led the way on reciprocity and the Jean Chrétien Liberals, as former foreign affairs minister Lloyd Axworthy recalled in a phone call this week, reluctantly climbed aboard. Like many, he worried the border would weaken, that continentalism had won out.

Then, deus ex machina, beginning with 9/11, expectations were overturned. The response to the terrorist horror – with many Americans believing the hijackers had come through Canada – was to fortify the world’s longest undefended border. Passports became necessary.

A bitter split with the George W. Bush administration ensued over Canada’s refusal to take part in the invasion of Iraq. Later, under the Republicans, came the populist explosion on the right. Donald Trump treated Canada more like an adversary than an ally. His medieval empire, his attack on truth, democracy and decency, soured the opinion of Canadians on America like never before.

April 30, 2021

Maybe the bigger the border, Canadians reasoned, the better.

Then, taking the boundary divide to the max, came the shock of the coronavirus pandemic, which had the effect of cocooning Canada, shutting down the border to all but essential traffic. The closure has endured more than a year and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is in no hurry to end it. He’s been hearing from his public: Keep the Americans out.

It doesn’t make sense, Maryscott Greenwood, the North Carolinian who is head of the Canadian American Business Council, said in an interview. “You’re saying vaccines don’t matter.” Canadians shouldn’t underestimate the opposition and frustration this has provoked in Washington. She’s hearing from top officials, she said, that the U.S. is considering opening its side of the border fully on June 21. If Mr. Trudeau and company don’t respond in kind, so be it. To heck with them.

October 10, 2020

All said, there’s been quite a turn since the heady days of free trade. Instead of continental cohesion, much division. Instead of a border thinner than ever, one thicker than ever. Instead of a new North Americanism, a retreat to a more fragmented mindset.

“The heyday of the Canada-U.S. relationship has come and gone,” said Christopher Kirkey, director of the Center for the Study of Canada at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh. “The trend is toward more divergence than convergence.”

In addition to the advent of Mr. Trump, the calamities of 9/11 and the coronavirus, there were other factors. Free trade, as Mr. Kirkey observed, coincided with the end of the Cold War. That termination meant Canada needed the U.S. less and the U.S. needed Canada less. The special relationship between the two countries that was built in the period 1945 to 1990 became too difficult to sustain and it isn’t, in his view, about to be restored by Joe Biden’s protectionist Democrats. “I can tell you Canada is hardly on the radar screen in Washington. Let’s be blunt about that.”

July 14, 2020

Michael Adams, the head of the Environics Institute who has been surveying Canadian attitudes toward Americans for decades, concurs that the North Americanism envisaged with free trade is pretty much kaput. In the post-Second World War years, Canadians used to look up to the U.S. in so many ways, he said. “It used to be like the utopia.” Now, given the hold Mr. Trump’s populist authoritarianism has on such a large swath of the population, “it’s more like the dystopia.”

Of course, as was rightly noted by Goldy Hyder, chief executive officer of the Business Council of Canada, economic dependence on the American market is here to stay, despite any other decoupling tendencies. The Trudeau government better be careful, he warned. With companies reviewing their supply chains in the wake of the pandemic, more investments will remain in the U.S. if the Canadian border poses too much of a barrier.

March 13, 2021

If the Liberals were following the science, they’d quickly open the border, he added, but instead they’ve been following the politics (their polling). He said Mr. Biden told Mr. Trudeau in Europe that he promised freedom for Americans by July 4 and that opening the Canadian border is part of the deal.

The Prime Minister will take his sweet time in reciprocating. Continental consolidation isn’t as big a priority as it was before the century turned. Since that time, it’s become increasingly clear how different Canadians are. Rather than welded to an American block, they much prefer their own. (Globe & Mail)