United States – Page 9 – mackaycartoons

Wednesday January 20, 2016

January 19, 2016 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday January 20, 2016

Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton remain overwhelming front-runners in races for 2016 nomination

Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton remain the overwhelming national front-runners to win the 2016 nominations for each of their parties, a new poll released Tuesday showed.

According to the latest NBC News / Survey Monkey survey, Trump got the support of 38% of Republican and Republican-leaning voters nationally.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz was his next closest competitor, with 21%, while Florida Sen. Marco Rubio came in third with 11% support.

No other candidate got more than 8%.

On the Democratic side, Clinton remained the leader, with 52% support nationally among Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters, compared with 36% for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley got 1% support.

The results for both parties are unchanged from the poll NBC News and Survey Monkey released last week. (Source: NY Daily News)

Thursday October 10, 2015

September 30, 2015 by Graeme MacKay

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday October 10, 2015

Dairy farmers protest upcoming trade deal

Dairy farmers parked tractors at the foot of Parliament Hill, walked cows through downtown Ottawa and dumped milk on the pavement Tuesday to protest what they say is a looming trade deal that threatens their way of life.

Farmers in Ontario and Quebec fear that the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a massive 12-country trade deal that’s said to be near an agreement in principle, could spell the end of the supply management system that keeps their operations profitable.

Dozens of tractors clogged Wellington Street in front of the Parliament Buildings, snarling traffic, while some farmers led cows down the street and others splashed milk on the pavement.

Negotiations are currently underway on the ambitious trade deal involving Canada and 11 other countries. Sources say an agreement in principle could be announced as early as Friday.

Farmers fear the federal government will make concessions on supply management, a system of production limits and import tariffs that shields the dairy market from competition at the hands of foreign producers.

The U.S. has been pushing for Canada to loosen its system, but the federal government says the government will protect Canadian interests at the negotiating table.

“This government remains absolutely committed to making sure we preserve our system of supply management through trade negotiations,” Conservative Leader Stephen Harper said Tuesday.

Opposition parties remain concerned about how the system could be affected in TPP talks.

The NDP’s Mathieu Ravignat, who is running for re-election in the Quebec riding of Pontiac, said supply management allows for many small farms to exist in Quebec and across Canada. (Source: National Post)

Tuesday August 19, 2014

August 18, 2014 by Graeme MacKay

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday August 19, 2014

Obama urges protesters, police to remain peaceful

U.S. President Barack Obama said Monday the Ferguson, Missouri community was “rightly hurting” but urged protesters to remain peaceful in the wake of Michael Brown’s shooting.

At a live news conference at the White House, Obama also announced Attorney General Eric Holder is set to travel to Ferguson on Tuesday to meet with Department of Justice and FBI investigators on the ground.

In the meantime, Obama said both protesters and police should “seek to heal, rather than wound each other.”

Obama also added “there’s no excuse for excessive force by police,” amid the crisis.

Meanwhile, Missouri’s governor ordered the National Guard to a St. Louis suburb convulsed by protests over Brown’s shooting after a night in which police used tear gas to clear protesters off the streets of Ferguson.

There will, however, be no curfew in place on Monday night, Gov. Jay Nixon said on his government’s website. Nixon declared a midnight curfew for Saturday and Sunday nights.

Nixon said the National Guard would help “in restoring peace and order” to Ferguson, where protests over the killing of 18-year-old Michael Brown by a white police officer entered their second week. Police said they acted in response to gunfire, looting, vandalism and protesters who hurled Molotov cocktails.

“These violent acts are a disservice to the family of Michael Brown and his memory and to the people of this community who yearn for justice to be served and to feel safe in their own homes,” Nixon said in a statement. (Source: CBC News)

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

December 19, 2013 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday, December 18, 2013

U.S. delegation to Russian Olympics includes gay athletes

The United States’ delegation to the upcoming Winter Olympics in Russia won’t include a member of President Barack Obama’s family or an active Cabinet secretary, but it will include openly gay athletes – a clear jab at Russia’s recent anti-gay laws.

Billie Jean King, the tennis legend, will join figure skater Brian Boitano at the games’ opening ceremonies on February 7, the White House said Tuesday.

Former Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, White House aide Rob Nabors and the U.S. ambassador to Russia will round out the delegation to the Sochi games.

King was one of the first professional athletes to come out as gay in the 1980s.

Two weeks later, a group led by Deputy Secretary of State William Burns will attend the closing ceremony. Speed skaters Bonnie Blair and Eric Heiden, as well as openly gay hockey player Caitlin Cahow, will also attend.

“In the selection of this delegation, we are sending the message that the United States is a diverse place,” White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said Wednesday, pointing to Napolitano, a former Cabinet secretary, as evidence of the delegation’s distinction.

It’s the first time in more than a decade the President, vice president, first lady or former president hasn’t attended an Olympic opening or closing ceremony. First lady Michelle Obama led the delegation to 2012’s Summer Olympics in London, and President George W. Bush made the trek to China for Beijing’s games in 2008. (Source: CNN)

Friday, October 18, 2013

October 18, 2013 by Graeme MacKay

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday, October 18, 2013

World heaves sigh of relief as US barely averts debt default

Political leaders, investors and ordinary people Thursday welcomed the end of a U.S. government shutdown but already were looking ahead to the next round of a budget battle that brought the world’s biggest economy close to default and threatens Washington’s international standing.

The deal approved late Wednesday by Congress, with hours to go before the government reached its $16.7 trillion debt limit, only permits the Treasury to borrow through Feb. 7 and fund government through Jan. 15. The International Monetary Fund appealed to Washington for more stable long-term management of the nation’s finances.
The standoff rattled global markets and threatened the image of U.S. Treasury debt as a risk-free place for governments and investors to store trillions of dollars in reserve.

Few expected a default but some investors sold Treasurys over concern about possible payment delays and put off buying stocks that might be exposed to an American economic downturn.

IMF managing director Christine Lagarde welcomed the deal but said the shaky American economy needs more stable long-term finances.

“It will be essential to reduce uncertainty surrounding the conduct of fiscal policy by raising the debt limit in a more durable manner,” Lagarde said in a statement.
The Tokyo stock market, Asia’s heavyweight, gained 0.8 percent Thursday. Markets in South Korea, Australia and Southeast Asia also rose.
Such relief might be only temporary without a long-term settlement, said Standard Chartered economist Samiran Chakraborty in Mumbai. (Source: Associated Press)