It’s no secret that we here at Wizbang loathe Ted Rall. He’s a subliterate, untalented, unmitigated, blithering, raving, unfunny, vile, noxious, scrawler who manges to make up for his utter lack of redeeming qualities by his sheer venom and hatred, which finds a willing audience of deranged Bush-haters, rabid leftists, and other sociopaths. And those are his good points.
Kevin called him out over one particularly noxious “Rallism” (I can’t bring myself to call it a “cartoon,” as that would be an insult to cartoonists everywhere) a little over a year ago, and we’ve pretty much left him alone. With his patented defense mechanism of spewing as much foulness as possible, it’s tough to smack him around without getting yourself dirty as well.
But one of his latest cartoons just can’t be overlooked. No, not this one, where he manages to make Michael Moore look almost svelte, but another one.
Before I show it, put down any beverages, take an extra dose of high-blood pressure medication you might be on, and remove any easily-breakable objects (glasses, artwork, lights, small children, pets) from ready grasp.
Ready? Here it is.
If you’d like to tell Ted how much you admire his style, his wit, his insight, his remarkable gifts, feel free to e-mail him at chet@rall.com. That’s chet@rall.com, in case you missed it. Or you can just click here. He has some guidelines you might want to read first, to be sure you don’t get screened out before reaching him. You could also go to his blog, but for some reason he doesn’t accept comments.
One last time, folks: to show your appreciation and respect for Ted Rall, that’s chet@rall.com.
Wow, Nemo, your definition of sitting down and doing nothing must not be in the dictionary, or perhaps you are fantasizing and have no clue. Back to the sunken Nautilis for you!
JD: “Every once in a while the left lets their guard down all the way, and lets us know exactly what they think of our men and women in uniform, and this is a perfect example of that.”
What a load of horseshit. Some asshole draws a comic of poor taste, a couple of posters try some half-hearted defenses, and now this jackass indicts the entire left. Listen, jackass, I’ve been a lefty my entire life and I’ve known lots of lefties, but I’ve never known anyone who didn’t “support the troops.” What does “support the troops” mean. I think it goes deeper than what you say. I think it has to do with voting records. If a politician votes to cut veterans benefits, to cut VA Hospital funding, to cut educational funds for soldiers’ families, he’s not supporting the troops. If a politician doesn’t vote to provide troops with proper body armour, he’s not supporting the troops. Face it, righties, if you’re really interested in supporting the troops, you should fire just about every Republican in congress.
Calling people “poorly educated trailer trash” in the same post where you illustrate your poor grammar skills is, in this irony-junky’s opinion, AWESOME! Irony totally rules.
This cartoon is completely offensive to ALL the men and women who joined the armed forces. If you think otherwise, you need your meds checked.
Of course this cartoon’s offensive. It’s offensive to anyone, period. But to use it as a vehicle by which you condemn all liberals, as if all liberals would agree with it, is intellectually dishonest and not helpful.
Do I think all evangelicals are assholes just because Pat Robertson is an asshole? No.
Speaking of defending the indefensible…who’s the vice President of this country again?
ALL AMERICANS have sacraficed for this war. They sacraficed the moral high ground.
This cartonn is stupid. But the one on Pat Tillman was spot on.
He thought he was giving his life to protect this country. Sad, really.
Ted Rall is small in comparison to GWB when it comes to not supporting the troops.
I don’t remember Ted Rall saying “Bring it on” when told the insurgents wanted to kill our troops.
Oops, I mean it’s Michael Moore who undermines our troops. (Whatever).
So Omni, it sounds like you also realize the soldiers at abu Ghraib were just taking orders from our leaders.
Yeah, thats always seemed obvious to me to.
How to come around. Anyone else?
i can draw better cartoons wearing boxing gloves.
Anyone who thinks the cartoon is funny, just imagine it with a black man instead.
It’s not funny. It’s not satire. It’s not clever.
Several self-avowed lefties higher up in the comments section took the time to say that this cartoon is inexcusable and repulsive. I appreciate that and I think that it’s important to make note of that. Most people are decent people and can recognize blatant indecency.
And then Seamus showed up… and others… and the whole comment thread is now in the crapper. If people were not *before* saying that Ted Rall represents the general attitude of the left, now they are, since that voice has taken over.
I don’t think we should forget those first few commenters. They deserve far more respect than the last ones.
Yawn…maybe if neocon loonies didn’t bloviate about how everyone who had a different opinion about Iraq is a “traitor”, or imply our only concern is to give aid and comfort to terrorists, your assertions of Rall might be taken seriously. I agree Rall is way, way over the top, but he’s now in the same basket with John Murtha, Brent Scowcrowft, Colin Powell and otherwise respectable people. You only have Malkin, Coulter and the other wolf-cryers to thank for that.
Don’t forget this tasteless jewel.
This one made me crazy.
That cartoon is so poorly crafted and off-the-mark, that I, even as an Iraq combat vet, could not bring myself to be offended. Leaving aside Rall’s rather reprehensible worldview, he is just a poor artist. He’s not so hot of a writer either. I can’t stand “Boondocks” either, but at least the guy who does it can draw. I guess that’s too much to ask of Teddy.
Robert wrote:
“I don’t remember Ted Rall saying “Bring it on” when told the insurgents wanted to kill our troops.”
Correct. Ever talk to any real fighters? We like the “bring it on” remark and the philosophy behind it. Don’t believe me? Go read BlackFive or Mudville, or the thousands of other milblogs out there. You’ll find very little liking or respect for people like Rall and Moore.
Of course, we’re all brainwashed stormtroopers, so none of this comes as any great surprise, right? 😉
A 2 year old having an epileptic seizure can draw better than Ted Rall, and also more intelligently.
Does this guy actually get paid for this crap?
I am sure it will only be a matter of time until Seamus, Steve, mantis, insert other moonbat name here, comes out and defends Rall’s cartoon.
Hey, don’t drag me into this. I don’t get involved in pointless baiting web hissy fights about asshole cartoonists (or the assholes at DU). Oh, crap…I’m outta here.
I must admit that I don’t understand why everybody is so upset. So Ted Rall drew another one of his tasteless, talentless, hate-filled cartoons. Just like every other tasteless, talentless, hate-filled cartoon he’s ever drawn. And now the dozens of people across the country who pick up those free “alternative newspapers” for something other than the “Adult Personals” will have a new talking point.
So what?
Exactly the point fatman. Nowhere did I defend Ted Rall or the cartoon. What I find amusing is the shrill, whiny, overblown reaction to a cartoon. And for ho-reen the irony junkie (I’m guessing you’re only half right on that self assesment) how about the irony of allegedly freedom loving, right wing knuckleheads trying to get newpapers to stop publishing a cartoon which offers an opinion they disagree with? There are plenty of right wing writers that I find distasteful if not downright abhorrent, but I’ve never felt the need to try to get their columns yanked from a newspaper. Of course, your half baked, poorly thought out, barely coherent ideas are taking quite a drubbing right now, so maybe censorship is the best way for you to go right now!
AS for you ed, you yellow bellied piece of garbage, how exactly do you support the troops more? Do you have two yellow ribbon magnets slapped onto your SUV? Have you donated money so a soldier can listen to Rush between getting shot at and dodging pepsi can bombs? What exactly have you done to get these troops home safe? AS for your pathetic attempts to make me feel guilty about not making sacrifices, not going to work. I didn’t send them there, I didn’t for the jackass that did. I did what I could to stop this war before it started. (And yes, I knew when I was doing it that it was futile. But see Ed that’s what a man does. When he believes in something, he stands up for it, no matter how bad the odds are stacked against him. Too bad your pappy never taught you that lesson.)
seamus,
I can breathe and support the troops more than your sorry ass.
As for making you feel guilty, I don’t expect to. You would first have to have a conscience.
You’re obviously the kind of far left moron who would rather see Saddam put back in power than admit the war served a good cause. But at least you’re a man.
Since you’re such a man, and did all you could to stop this war, why didn’t you go fight for Iraq? If you truly believed the U.S. was wrong to go to war with Iraq, wouldn’t it make sense to help defend the poor helpless Iraqis? Maybe if more “real” men like you had gone over there, Saddam would still be in power today?
Or maybe you’re just a windbag with an overinflated opinion of yourself?
No matter how carefully one explains it, no matter the perspective offered, some just still can’t get it. To put it simply, there are moral limits to free speech.
On one side of the spectrum is broadcasting or publishing things that are simply not true. When spoken of one individual, I suppose a good lawyer can remedy that situation. When the victims are the men and women in uniform, the case is harder to make.
On the other end of the spectrum, is things that may have some truth to them, but are taboo, disrepectful, or otherwise misdirected. i.e. they have no positive value for society, and no one gains from it. Often times, they are put out there for sensationalism, to sell papers.
The military is one such subject that should be handled with care. Isolated instances of soldier misconduct aside, it is truly disrespectful, ungrateful, and reprehensible that some one take such a jab at the defenders of peace and freedom while deployed overseas.
I don’t expect any one who has not put on a uniform to “get it”. Quite frankly, as a former soldier who knows first hand how our troops conduct themselves, it pisses me off.
So when you talk of how to “support” the troops, this exactly what we mean. It means being RESPONSIBLE with your freedom of speech. Especially when the subject matter is those that secure it. You can say whatever you want, but free speech has consequences. My personal feeling is that Ted Rall deserves a sound ass-kicking.
The truth of the matter: he is a sensationalist. A no-talent, no ideas, jerk, who is clamoring for attention.
Hey, here’s another one for all you irony lovers! Check out the High-larious joke on Silver Bubble’s blog! I hope that asshole meets up with a Holocaust survivor or Mossad member who’s had a bad day. Anti-semitic bitches piss me off! Grrrrrrr!
Ed, are you one of those developmentally disabled adults Jason “works” with? Are you in fact his father? The depth and breadth of your simple midedness is staggering, so it’s hard to know where to start!
I can breathe and support the troops more than your sorry ass.
Uh-huh. So you can’t answer the question. That’s what I thought. Give me your address. I’ll send you another ribbbond for your car. You’ll be most patriotic little boy in the whole dang trailer park!
You would first have to have a conscience.
Right! Like the finely tuneed conscience that would allow you to vote for a man that would send 2,000 men and women to thier deaths, who knows how many wounded, and claim to support them by….well, you say you support them, so I guess that’s good enough. Hey I support them too! Fantastic!
You’re obviously the kind of far left moron who would rather see Saddam put back in power than admit the war served a good cause.
You’re obviously the kind of far white trailer trash who would rather rape little boys than admit the Idiot you voted for is wrong. Hey look at that! Making ridiculous, non-sensical accusations is easy! And fun! I certainly wouldn’t put him BACK in power. Are they better off without him? I guess. Innocent civilians killed by Saddams thugs? Bad. Innocent civilians blown up in car bombs by people angered by our presecnse? Better. Innocent people totured in Abu Gharib by The Republic Gaurd? Bad. Innocent people tortured in Abu Gharib by American soldiers? Better. Saddam using money to build elaborate palaces while his people starve? Bad. American soldiers moving into them after we invade? Better. There’s a good chance that ultimately, this whole fiasco may prove worth it. Of course, there’s also a really good chance that it’s going to get worse.
why didn’t you go fight for Iraq?
That’s so stupid, it’s not even worht a response. (Except for, you know the one I just gave.)
Or maybe you’re just a windbag with an overinflated opinion of yourself?
Well look at that! Apparently even you can be right now and again! Who knew?
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
This is from a fascinating little document called the Constitution. You folks may want to check it out sometime! Mayhaps you can point out the moral limits clause in there? Now don’t worry, I know your argument. There’s a difference between you asking the paper not to publish something, and the government ordering a paper not to publish something. I grant you that. But I find it endlessly amusing that you strict construcionalists are willing to dispell your beliefs as soon as it suits you. You can’t place moral limits on free speech, because who’s morals are going to decide which speech gets to be free and who’s doesn’t? You would clearly limit Ted Ralls right to question the military. Would you limit Ann Coulter’s right to suggest that we “invade Muslim countries, kill their leaders and force them to convert to Christianity”? HEr statemnet is as abhorrnet as that cartoon, but I would never dream of asking a paper to deny her the right to say it.
Seamus, you just proved my point, Instead of acknowledging my comments, which attempted to shine some light on the situation and why some people feel the way they do, you just keep on with the mudslinging.
Incidentally, the following comments do not really “support the troops”:
“Innocent civilians blown up in car bombs by people angered by our presecnse?”
So, it’s somehow OUR fault? We’re responsible because we wrongly attempted to free an oppressed people?
“Innocent people tortured in Abu Gharib by American soldiers?”
They were innocent? Of what? How do you know? Would they have deserved it if they were guilty?
“(of Saddam’s palaces)American soldiers moving into them after we invade?”
When we removed Saddam’s regime we were supposed to just “camp out” in the desert while attempting to secure the country? Our soldiers working long shifts in the hot sun deserved to be left out in the elements (what “support!)? So I guess now our soldiers are stealing from the Iraqi people?
No, seamus, your words clearly illustrate your support for the troops. Wanting them to abandon their mission is not “support”. You and those like you are so belligerent in your hatred for the President, you don’t even realize how you alienate other Americans and shit on our troops inthe name of “free speech”.
THAT was the original topic here. You see nothing wrong with portraying them as torturers, murderers, rapists, in the name of “free speech”.. Shame on YOU!
“There’s a difference between you asking the paper not to publish something, and the government ordering a paper not to publish something.”
Now you’re really chugging the kool-aid. No one said anything about governement intervention. What was suggested was giving Rall some “feedback”. Better yet, in a capitalistic society, refuse to buy anything associated with his crap. His work and the rags that publish it will go the way of the dodo.
My constitutional right to call his work crap and encourage others to give hiim the finger is probably more likely to be warmly received by a majority of Americans than your slandering of the troops. So good luck with that.
Am I, Seamus and “Anon” the only folks on this page who don’t have a stick up our a**? Relax. Ain’t it great to be in a country where “offensive” viewpoints can be published and supported/defiled as our freedom-loving souls desire?
Its called SATIRE.
Someone said there must be “moral limits on free speech” on this page. Get over yerself!
Ted Rall has every right to publish what he wants, you have every right to despise it, and I have every right to raise my eyebrow a bit, and smile about the message he’s trying to convey, without actually agreeing with it or thinking that he is a treasonous hater of vets and GIs and MUST DIE because of it. If you don’t like it DONT READ IT. But you did, I did because you did, and I am amused all the more for it.
Was that too complex a thought? Do you need things spelled out in black and white, or good and evil, like our president does? Okay here goes: LIGHTEN UP!
Ted’s just tryin to get yer goat. And it worked! Hyuk!
So, please clarify to your readers precisely what an “unmitigated scrwaler”. Subliterate indeed.
‘Am I, Seamus and “Anon” the only folks on this page who don’t have a stick up our a**?’
Well a stick wouldn’t fit because that’s where your head is. Satire of what? Explain what this is satire of? Iraqi war vets being sadistic perverts? Use your words, explain.
Just one point
‘Ted Rall has every right to publish what he wants’
He didn’t publish anything. His syndicate did.
Again, my comment about the “moral limit” to free speech was a reference to that which ought to be self-imposed out of respect for our troops, not one that is government enforced.
As for you “free speech at any cost” folks, remember I said that the right also carries a responsibility, or if you will, consequences. So when a you need a soldier, or police officer, or fireman, or lawyer, or whoever else you like to beat on, may they respond extra slowly to your “emergency”. Then you may have gained some appreciation.
Also again, Rall is a hack. He shoudln’t necessarily be killed, but a tarring and feathering would be justice.
LJD
I did acknowledgfe your comments. You’re just wrong and don’t want to hear it. Your suggestion that there is some sort of absolute moral limit on free speech is just wrong.
And how do you react to being Wrong? You lie! I never called American troops murderers or rapists. I did call some of them torturers, but only because of the simple fact that they were….ummmmm, torturers. And if you could see beyond your blind, mindless, dog like loyalty to the president and his asinine policies, you’d be able to admit it. Then Ted Ralls little comic would have no resonance whatsoever.
And if my words are so alienating to most Ameriucans, how come the majority now agree that this war was a mistake? Doesn’t sound very alienating to me!
And as far as your other post, read it. I said that you weren’t asking for govenrment intervention. And you’re right. you do have the right to flip off Ted Rall. But it only serves to show what a childish moron you are.
“Your suggestion that there is some sort of absolute moral limit on free speech is just wrong.”
Read: “…a reference to that which ought to be self-imposed out of respect for our troops”
“I never called American troops murderers or rapists. I did call some of them torturers, but only because of the simple fact that they were”
Rall did. So how does constantly repeating it, support the troops, exactly?
“…blind, mindless, dog like loyalty to the president and his asinine policies”
Where did I ever once mention the President or his policies? All I ever did was stand up for those securing your right to be a dick.
“…Ted Ralls little comic would have no resonance whatsoever.” It resonates beacuse I am a soldier. Too many in this country take for granted what we do, and just don’t get it. You’re a bunch of ungrateful babies, whining about the President and Republicans, when your elected representatives are every bit to blame. You clearly hate the policy, don;t ignore the facts, and don’t take it out on our troops.
“…it only serves to show what a childish moron you are.”
You are a fucking ungratefull asshole. I hope you never have to count on soldier to save your ass. You take our integrity so lightly, perhaps YOU have none.
You know what I loved about WWII vets? Unitl recently, you never once heard them complain. They never whined about how ungrateful everybody was, they never sniveled about how unappreciated they were. You may want to take a lesson from those MEN and learn how to be one yourself. You said that actions have consequences. YOU CHOSE to join the military. I didn’t ask you to, I didn’t suggest it to you, and I sure as hell didn’t force you to. Guess what? Not everyone supports the military. Some people don’t give a shit one way or the other. You made your choice. Now deal with it. The reason I take your integrity so lightly is beacuse you have none. But I’m sure you’ll probably be whining about how that’s Ted Rall’s fault, ot my fault, or some other liberal’s.
“Not everyone supports the military”
Finally, and admission. Don’t pretend to support the troops then. While your at it, pack your shit and get out of MY country.
P.S. Wearing a costume while working at the gay strip club doesn’t make you a fireman…
Another disappointing story and thread on Wizbang. The right wing bait and switch tactic.
It’s no secret that we here at Wizbang loathe Ted Rall.
Then why is this story being published?
You can find out in the next sentence.
He’s a subliterate, untalented, unmitigated, blithering, raving, unfunny, vile, noxious, scrawler who manges to make up for his utter lack of redeeming qualities by his sheer venom and hatred, which finds a willing audience of deranged Bush-haters, rabid leftists, and other sociopaths.
So the arthor can bad mouth anyone who is not a tried and true right wing Bush supporter (Bush-hater, leftists). Then when any of these so called sociopaths come along and post their Bush criticisms they can be pounced for “defending” this cartoonists (one I have never heard of till this “story”).
Good job Wizbang.
LJD
Wow! And you guys wonder where we get our stereotypes about undereducated, white trash conservatives.
Don’t pretend to support the troops then.
I said not everyone supports the troops. I didn’t say I didn’t. Not much on the reading comprehension, eh? You from the south, by any chance?
While your at it, pack your shit and get out of MY country.
Hee-Hee! That’s what really burns your ass, isn’t it, whiney? It’s not your country. And it never will be. It must be hard for you. 😉
And then, end all and be all, you finish with an accusation of homosexuality! BRILLIANT!!!! And you conservatives wonder why you’re a laughingstock! (Because you know, much like T4ed Rall represents the views of all Liberals, LDJ represents the views of all conservatives!)
Does that mean that your dressing up in your soldier boy uniform and buggering little boys doesn’t make you a soldier?
Rall is just your typical artist, telling truth to power.
You know how those on the right always ask what we libs would do now in Iraq. Not even the neocons could disagree with Powell’s “Pottery Barn” doctrine. Let’s follow it a little further.
Shrub and his friends broke Afghanistan. They spit on our friends and allies. Then they broke Iraq. Now, while we’re trying to put the pieces back together, he’s still swinging his shriveled little stick at Syria, Iran, and North Korea. They’ve charged our credit cards up to the max. Meanwhile, they’ve shredded the Constitution and the Geneva accords.
#1. Get the spoiled little brats out of the store.
#2. Give them all a good spanking.
#3. Send him and his juvie friends for a time-out. Hopefully at Gitmo.
#4. Even with the help of our friends and allies, it looks increasingly unlikely we will be able to put the pots back together. So,
#5. Apologize for our brat’s bad behavior.
#6. Try and bring in some expert pot-fixers.
Etc. Easy-peasy!!
Damn. I’m as liberal as it gets, but this guy is off his rocker. I actually went to the site because I thought this might be a phony. I have appreciated his stuff in the past, but, judging by the last 10 or so in his archive, he’s really lost it.
Shrub and his friends broke Afghanistan.
And it was doing so well under al Qaeda and the Taliban.
They spit on our friends and allies.
Yes, friends like French- German and Russian-run companies that were robbing the UN blind under the Oil-For-Food scandal while their governments protected and covered for their schemes by voting against the war. Spit we shall.
Then they broke Iraq.
See comment #1. Replace Taliban and al Qaeda with Saddam Hussein, Ansar al Islam and, yes, the “no formal collaboration” with AQ.
Now, while we’re trying to put the pieces back together, he’s still swinging his shriveled little stick at Syria, Iran, and North Korea.
Ah, I see. So by refusing to cave to international blackmail (North Korea and Iran), and close off the Hamas/Hezbollah terrorist tunnel to Iraq (aka: Syria), Bush is a bad because he’s not capitulating and kow-towing to communist thugs (see North Korea aid package that opened the door for Kim Jong to pursue his likely present nuclear arsenal) or murderous mullahs (like the EU is doing with Iran) like, say, Clinton might? Yeah, that makes sense. Let’s do what they want because, afterall, we’re the bad guys.
They’ve charged our credit cards up to the max.
And our “firends” and “allies”, who were so unwilling to help in the war, piss and moan when they don’t get contracts from us. Hmm, I wonder why.
Meanwhile, they’ve shredded the Constitution and the Geneva accords.
You can keep saying and thinking this but it doesn’t make it true and will only make you crazy. Oops, I guess it’s already working.
expert pot fixers
Like Kennedy? Dean? Reid? Durbin? Pelosi? Boxer? Ubama? I’ve heard a lot of complainin’ but I haven’t seen a lot fixin’. Lots of juevenile name calling, too, but not a lot of fixin’.
Troll.
Can you feel the love? People are ripping their hair out about this strip. I posted earlier that this strip is satirical and people should just lighten up.
Children, I sense quite the opposite happening here – among both defenders and objectors. While Aaron and “Anon” were much more succinct in what this strip is satirizing, I will be verbose and explain just HOW this strip is satirical. In doing so, I will have a shocking revelation for all of you.
Allow me to step in and explain, so please, sit down, sip some tea, relax, and listen:
1. What is satire? Feel free to consult your own dictionaires if you think I’m making this up, but heres a few definitions from on-line sources:
a) A work, as a novel or play, that exposes folly by the use of humor or irony
b) a term applied to any work of literature or art whose objective is ridicule. It is more easily recognized than defined.
c) a mocking attack on evil and stupidity
2. Now that we’ve got the definition of satire out of the way, just pretend, only for a minute, that you are an america-hating treasonous evil-luvin miscreant such as Ted Rall, Al Franken or Michael Moore (oops – I mean “he who shall not be named”). Being as such, you believe the war in Iraq is a folly, a grand misadventure, the wrong thing for the wrong reasons, a folly, stupid, evil, etc. THUS – the war becomes a prime target for satire.
3. Still with me? Sip some more tea cuz here is the shocking revelation. The strip is satirizing the war. NOT the troops! Let me rephrase – this strip is NOT targeting our brave soldiers sacrificing their lives so we may breathe free, etc etc. It is targeting the administration that started the war, and is simply using the concept of “sex life of iraq vets” to show, nay to satirize, what would happen if the toxic effect of our administrations efforts rubbed off on those that fought the war who came back home.
Conclusion: by using iraq vets as the “channel”, the strip satirizes our administrations wrong-headed misadventures (if you choose to believe that) in Iraq. The vets themselves are NOT the target. Got it?
Too complex for you? Still don’t believe me? Then grab that American Flag that so desperately needs protecting, wrap it around a gun that the 2nd amendment so strongly protects your right to have, grab your best iraqi vet friends, load up the car, find me and kill me.
Just kidding – actually, I’m satirizing some strongly held opinions on this site. Got it now?
By the way, kudos to wizbang for not only expressing strong opinions, but linking to the offending strip and providing the email site to provide feedback. Which is indeed part of the free flow of ideas that makes the American way. No satire intended.
Talk about caught in Viet Nam! Check out the (badly-drawn – well, it is Ted Rall after all) F-4.
MJ,
First, let me say that I appreciate you taking the time to write out a clearly well-reasoned post defending this strip. While I don’t agree with you, you at least took the time to make an intelligent post.
Second, I can see your point that some people might find that strip funny. Some people might also make jokes at a funeral, at the dead person’s expense. But it is generally considered tasteless to do so.
Regarding the vets not being the target, then why does Rall use them at all? Take that cartoon and replace the soldiers with Dick Cheney, or Bush, or Rumsfeld. If you want to attack the administration, then do it. This is a comic strip, not some great work of literature. If you are going to use symbolism, make it a little more obvious (like Garry Trudeau, for example).
Amidst all the hue and cry, Rall’s take on our actions (invasion, torture of various sorts contrary to our traditions, history and various conventions we’ve signed) is pretty on target. Gosh, don’t those offended agree with torture?
Satire of the political sort is supposed to get beneath the guards we set up and make us think or, if we’re not willing to think, offend us. The cartoon is a good example of effective political satire precisely because it’s had the effect it has had.
Hey, you made Doonesbury’s Mudroll!
Trudeu scrolls quotes below the daily comic. Part of your first paragraph is in it.