I just saw this cartoon and it pissed me off.
Why, indeed? Why is Arnold Schwarzenegger, entertainer, a governor? Why was Ronald Reagan, entertainer, a president? Why did little Glenn Beck the entertainer have his own political rally show? Why are the foxy Jon Stewart and the okay-looking-not-foxy Stephen Colbert, who started out as comedic performers and writers, "getting into" the political arena?
Is this so strange? Noooooo. Our current president is essentially an entertainer. An inspiring performer and writer. That is something I think our whole country would agree upon regardless of your votes and party and current opinion of his presidency.
Colbert and Stewart are not just "getting into the arena." They have set up a new one, kind of like a sideshow arena that picks at freaks and flaws, and of course it's on a cable comedy network. Why is that so weird? After all, the "Cable News Network" runs a (horrible) Showbiz Tonight show (that to me is weird and unnecessary and I've only watched it late at night when the only other alternative was an hour of Quacker Factory on QVC.)
But Stewart and Colbert and their satire are oh, so necessary.
Wait a freakin minute. Is this cartoon saying just that? Mocking those who criticize the fact that people who got their start as comedians/actors are important to the political world now so in essence it's agreeing with me or I am agreeing with it?
I don't know, that's why I dislike political cartoons.
And is there a little guy in the corner saying "If the clown shoe fits..." so who's the clown in this scenario? Am I the clown? I'm the clown in this scenario, aren't I. A dancing clown.
Anyway, are you going to the Rally to Restore Sanity? I considered going, but of course, I have to study.
I think the point of this is that politics is a such a freaking circus that it borders on being "for entertainment only" and that the politicians griping about Stewart and Colbert are hypocrites.
Posted by: Peeved Michelle | 29 October 2010 at 01:34 AM
I actually STUDIED political cartoons as part of my M.A. program and . . . um . . . I never really got them either. They are usually either too wonky/ insider or so joke-within-a-joke-you-are-the-joke or downright offensive.
I like this post, BTW...
Posted by: lg | 29 October 2010 at 03:30 PM
Can't wait for Nov 2 to be over to stop the pre-recorded political, phone messages - annoying!!!
Posted by: Kristin | 01 November 2010 at 11:49 AM