Gonzales Caliente Tequila!
Crossposted from Town Called Dobson & My Left Wing
click to enlarge
It really did defy the laws of kinetics. Gymnasts wish they could be THIS flexible!
Right before we break for lunch in Alberto Gonzales' star turn before the Senate judiciary committee, he repeats, for about the fifth time, some crazy hokum about how anyone who criticizes the actions of the Justice Department folks involved in the recent unpleasantness is in fact "attacking the career professionals." At which point Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., about loses it. "That's like saying anyone who disagrees with the president's policy on the war is attacking the soldiers," he bellows. For Gonzales to even try to turn this hearing into a referendum on the career professionals at DoJ is preposterous. The issue here is what his craven, unhinged staff tried to do to the serious career professionals, and everyone here—except Gonzales—seems to recognize that.
Gonzales didn't seem to recollect anything - where he was, why attorneys were fired, he even faltered on the issue of "senior DOJ leadership." Does he even know where the DOJ is located? Has his mother put his house key on a cord around his neck?
God, I hope so.
Come on, now!
Alberto Gonzales is reprehensible enough of a human being as it is - there's just so much to dislike about the guy without having to resort to even the mildest form of racism.
If you gave that worm a voice, would it start saying "¡Ándale! ¡Ándale! ¡Arriba! ¡Arriba!"?
(for the record, "the worm" is usually found in mezcal, not tequila.)
So Imus...
is a racist dinosaur but you think making Alberto Gonzales (odious as he may be) a tequila worm is acceptable? And I thought Republicans were hypocritical! I've never found these cartoons very amusing, now I just think they're downright stupid.
Oh,
Never mind I just noticed the title.
Couldn't disagree more
The only reason Gonzo is in the AG's office in the first place is because of his ethnic heritage. Were he a white male, he'd be back in Texas handling DUI cases or chasing ambulances. I'm not saying he shouldn't have been given a break - I'm 100% in favor of affirmative action. But once that break is given, he has to perform.
I watched most him most of the day yesterday on CSPAN and the only thing wrong with this cartoon is that it doesn't begin to convey the utter incompetence and sleaze surrounding the man.
By the way, it never occurred to me that these cartoons were supposed to be amusing.
Really?
You do realize that there's a marked difference between saying I disapprove in his conduct as Attorney General and saying that while portraying him in a questionable way, don't you? It's wholly inappropriate.
BTW, he's not in the Attorney General's office because he's Hispanic, he's in office because he's loyal to the President.
NY Times Article: A
TeamCommunity Gains Strength From Its Weakened CoachWe disagree.
I understand your point of view and I disagree. Bush was totally trying to bolster his position among Hispanic voters by promoting this lackey. He may be loyal, but there a plenty of people who are smarter and equally loyal.
Political cartoons are supposed to push the limits. I often don't agree with Stormbear, but he always makes me think.
(The truth is, I'd rather have a cartoonist focused on North Carolina - but we haven't found anyone interested yet.)
Gonzales being hispanic was just a bonus
Don't get that confused with why he's where he is, Bush cares about making himself appear to not be racists, but nepotism will trump it every time.
As to your earlier comments that "you never thought this was supposed to be amusing" are you trying to tell me you thought this was insightful analysis or even commentary? That would be a higher level to me than "amusing" and as said before, it was never even that.
Like I said
we disagree.
That's okay, it happens.
Or maybe not.
I've learned over the years that when I am in a distinct minority, it's worth reconsidering my views. Several people have emailed me about this to say my insensitivity to the issue is unfortunate, at best.
(In other words, I grant that the cartoon needlessly evokes race. I still contend that Gonzo's original ticket to the Bush dance was 100% because he is Hispanic. Those are two different issues that have gotten conflated here.)
This isn't the first time Stormbear's cartoons have spawned this kind of debate. For me that raises a bigger question about the appropriate role of cartoons in general and these cartoons in particular. We should have a discussion of that issue.
A
PS I have a deep commitment to transparency whenever possible, and this topic seems worthy of an open community debate. I am the person who first invited Stormbear to post his strips here and I generally like what he does a lot. I wish his work was more about North Carolina - but that's not what he's up to.
I don't think there was conflation
of the two issues. In the comments I'm reading made by myself and others they are maintained as two separate trains of thought.
I certainly admire someone who takes risks and someone who takes the time for creative endevour and would hesitate to discourage that, however when such endevour as you say "needlessly evokes race" a line has been crossed that I would have thought would be particuarly offensive on what is supposed to be a progressive site.
As to the continuation of the comic, as I say I was never a fan so don't particuarly care. That said I realize how difficult it is to create or find creative content especially on a volunteer basis so understand the predicament however there are more important concerns in this instance.
I just wrapped a series on NC, specifically NC-05
The Spicy Fish Prophecy was about the continuous wave of Mexican and Central American immigration into Mt. Airy, Dobson and Elkin and the crazy racist response to it. Right after the election my wife and I was in Elkin at the Basin Creek Country Store and I overhead a local couple complaining about all the Hispanics in Surry County, "I hope the last American to leave Elkin will remember to bring the flag."
And what was I having? Some of Basin Creek's famous shrimp! OH LORDY, they are good. Hence the Spicy Fish Prophecy. Yes, there was a lot of national stuff in it, global warming, Hillary Clinton and a bit of Obama plus OPEC production, but it was a fifth district story.
OK, so maybe penguins really weren't fornicating in baptismal pool of the real Salem Baptist Church, but come on!
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Town Called Dobson - Daily Political Cartoon: Not all is red in rural America!
Also, I am working on a series titled Howl Qaeda...
I don't want to give away the plot or much of the details, but it does star your fav Senator, Liddy Dole!
Here is the panel template...
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Town Called Dobson - Daily Political Cartoon: Not all is red in rural America!
Sounds promising.
Will Liddy be invisible?
:)
no not at all
but since the strip will (presumably) be set in Dobson instead of DC you wont be able to see her.
Draft Brad Miller -- NC Sen ActBlue :::Liddy 44 Brad 33
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
THAT was funny!
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Town Called Dobson - Daily Political Cartoon: Not all is red in rural America!
Ehhhhhh....
He's in the AG office because he's a Bush crony, and he became a Bush crony because of his record as a partner w/Vinson and Elkins (mostly a corporate litigation practice; they usually shy away from ambulance chasing) as well as his fierce loyalty to the Republican Party and to Bush. He could have been purple with green polka dots, and he still would have risen through the ranks simply because of his willingness to do whatever Bush told him to do, no matter how unethical, immoral or illegal.
Re: your other point - I'm not sure. There's a fairly broad line between approaching current events with just enough humor to serve as a punctuation mark (Garry Trudeau, Tom Toles or Pat Oliphant, anyone?), and trying to be funny and failing miserably. In my eyes, apart from their ideological influences, there's really not much difference between A Town Called Dobson and, say, Mallard Fillmore, except that it's much easier for me to avoid Mallard Fillmore.
Ouch.
;-)
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Town Called Dobson - Daily Political Cartoon: Not all is red in rural America!
Would You Have Preferred
a tapeworm?
I use all kinds of Spanish words
like "taco, burrito, enchilada," when I want to pretend I know some Spanish. I really don't think I'm all that funny. And it doesn't really look all that impressive for a BlueNC headline either.
“All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players.” So enjoy the drama.
Okay..This one is funny....
Although I usually, either do not understand your sence of humor, or I am simply easily offended, so I often do not get it, but this time you done good.
I've disagreed with stormbear several times about other issues
and his cartoon portrayals/subject matter. I thought this one made a point. Why hot tequila rather than water...who knows? What if Alberto's name was Adalbert Gryzbowski and the caption was in Polish? Would someone be offended? Seems to me there's some distance between racial/ethnic slurs and a subtle highlighting of a characteristic that Bush has used to score EEO points on his record.
I don't think SB is in anyway a racist nor do I think anyone ought to be getting a serious wedgie about this.
Gonzales has shown himself to be either totally incompetent or a liar...or both. That's the issue.
SE NC Dems
Political correctiness...
just makes me gag these days. Words and sentiments can be hurtful but deeds are the real sticks and stones.
If we all really cared for one another, our differences in our cultures would be embraced for the uniquely American joys they should be.
We have been worn so thin skined by the Corpratocracy and the 24hr spin cycle as to bite at each other over nothings.
Why is it considered shameful to be
associated with tequila?
That's what you're making it out to be. The tequila - not the worm.
As a Polack, I've heard enough Polack jokes to last me for a lifetime.
They bothered me when I was 10; by the time I was 12, not so much; as an adult, not at all.
There are lots of things to get wound up about. Cartoons aren't one of them. But if you feel like having a hissy over it, have fun.
Damn.
I'll admit, I heap layers of meaning and symbolism into the strips, some only residents of the real Dobson would get.
But folks, you are off track here on the whole racist thing.
When I watched Gonzales during the hearing, he was squirming like a worm. So all last night I did research on which worm was scientifically the squirmiest. I never could find it (but did learn more than I needed about worms).
So were their any worms that exploded in daylight? You know, like a vampire at dawn? When the light of truth is upon them? Well, I found a good article on "mummy worms" that contained the following text, "Exploding Worms and the Consequences of Close Human-Parasite Evolution" but that turned out to be just a quirky professor.
Nada on the zombie worms that was relevant.
OK, so what kinda worms would George W. Bush like? He certainly backed his man up.
George must be absolutely drunk off his ass to believe that load of hors.....
YES! Tequila!
Bush consumes his staff to feed his thirst for power. And just like any alcoholic, he is out of his mind in denial
And yes, I know it is really mezcal, but the idea of a tequlia worm is one of HUGE urban legand. I also looked to see if there was any Sammy Hagar angle I could work into this, specifically for his songs Cabo Wabo or Mas Tequila. But alas, the lyrics of either song does not mention drunk Presidents or pretzels.
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Town Called Dobson - Daily Political Cartoon: Not all is red in rural America!
Squirming Like a Worm is Right!
I just finished watching some YouTube clips. He reminded me of what happens when you grab a pissed off snake.
Such lashing and thrashing and trying to get away ... that's exactly what his testimony looks like.
Here's one.
Here's another one.
Whichever side you are on
I'm glad to be at a site that has these conversations. But I'm tired of people complaining about political correctness. Maybe they didn't live in a time or place when Polish, Italian, Irish, black, female, Jewish, and Catholic jokes were considered perfectly normal.
I love that we now can speak up if we don't like something. And I love that the person who is being questioned doesn't feel the need to get all defensive, either.
“All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players.” So enjoy the drama.
Thanks...
My day job is in advertising. I have had a thick skin for decades!
:-)
Stormy
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Town Called Dobson - Daily Political Cartoon: Not all is red in rural America!
I love this place.
It's turned me into a serial flip-flopper.
All is well.
FLIP FLOPPER!
I am aghast!
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Town Called Dobson - Daily Political Cartoon: Not all is red in rural America!
I am Hispanic and I have taken no offence in this cartoon.....
Firstly..It is just a cartoon....
Secondly, I will tell you that, for the most part, I find most of this persons cartoons very offensive. This one was appropriate. The AG has not acted in the best interest of the American public. His honor, crdibility and since of Democracy are all in question.
He has approved of and defended torture, secret wiretapping of Americans, secret prisons, and who knows how much more which all serve to diminish us as a free people.
We are a free people. Neither I nor the AG has a right to NOT be offended.
This is not a kingdom. He has embarrassed us as Americans and as Americans of Mexican origin.
I hear you, Marshall
“All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players.” So enjoy the drama.
Stormbear,
I didn't expect to, but I love your strip. It has such an elegant simplicity that speaks volumes sometimes and adds a very dynamic element here at BlueNC.
If it opens a can of worms like this one did, so much the better if we can have a lively debate. Where else do you get an opportunity like that?
I've enjoyed almost all of the cartoons
Many of them make me think and the ones I don't agree with I shrug off. I don't agree with everything Payne, Siers and Marlette have drawn either.
I don't expect people to agree with every word I write, so why would I expect folks to agree or like everything Storm Bear draws? SB is a class act and the anger free responses to the push back he gets puts him high on my list of very cool people. :)
Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.
Wish I'd written that.
n/t
Can I kiss both of you anyway?
Thanks for the kind words. Y'all have a great weekend!
SB
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Town Called Dobson - Daily Political Cartoon: Not all is red in rural America!
MMMMWAH
Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.