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September 11, 2007
Who Do You Trust?
The sad thing is Mindcrime was written twenty years ago, but it's even more relevant today. Just like "John Carpenter's They Live."
Hey, you know when today's strip might have been relevant? Maybe back in December 2005, when the story about Bush illegally spying on us first broke. Which, as some of you may recall, was well over a year AFTER the New York Times reporters discovered what was happening, but the paper's editors chose not to run the story in late 2004 for fear of "influencing" the election. Yeah, last thing this country needed in October 2004 was to find out the truth about Bush's spying on us without warrants. That surely wasn't important.
Even though I don't think he realizes it, Stantis does a great job today of pointing out how - pardon my french - but how f*cking stupid conservatives are that follow Bush and the Republicans. The key is that second panel, where Carmen says, "Why shouldn't I believe whoever's in charge has my best interests in mind?"
Of course Winston follows that up by scaring Carmen into believing that maybe Hillary will someday have those powers, so she must be stopped. So does this mean that Carmen DOES trust Bush to do the right thing? Does Carmen, and therefore Stantis, truly, honestly believe that Bush gives a damn what she thinks or wants?
This isn't just about illegal spying. It should encompass everything Bush has said or done during his entire reign as imperial president. Do Republicans honestly believe that Bush invaded Iraq and continues to stay there because he thinks it's best for the average American? Cutting taxes for the rich while they rise for the middle class? Blowing off Katrina? Ignoring warnings that Osama is determined to strike in the U.S.?
Of course they do. Republicans HAVE to believe that everything their leaders do is in their best interest, because they're the daddy party and they know what's right and they'll protect us and beat up the bad terrorists and blah blah blah. Suuuuure, Bush is spying on us, but he can be TRUSTED. But Hillary? That bitch would use it for evil. She'd probably illegally spy on her political opponents and use that information to rig elections. She'd wiretap normal Americans and then use things she found out completely unrelated to terrorism in order to put people in jail that she doesn't like. Then she'd probably let them sit and rot in G'itmo for years and years, like the evil witch she is.
I'm sorry, maybe I'm just really grumpy this morning. But it's just amazing to me that a grown man like Stantis - sure he's a college drop out, but he did finish high school (I think) - can sit there and tell us that we should trust Bush to spy on us, but if a Democrat gets in there, they'll take advantage of us. That's so completely nonsensical - ESPECIALLY based on everything we know about Bush and his cronies - that it's hard for me to fathom that these people are still willing to bow down and kiss Bush's ring.
Then again, 40% of Americans STILL think Saddam had something to do with 9/11. Maybe it's not so surprising that Republicans have given up on thinking for themselves and instead want George W. Bush to do all of their thinking for them. That sure does explain why our country, and the world, is so f'd up.
Comments
This may be a firefox vs. explorer problem, but whenever I try to read a story on Slate (I use firefox), it get a banner ad for Prickly City stuck in the middle of the page. See: http://www.slate.com/id/2173689/, where it's hiding a piece criticizing the Department of Homeland Security for its lack of strategic thinking.
It's like a black fly in your Chardonnay, or something like that.
Posted by: Annie at September 11, 2007 11:13 AM
I thought Stantis was actually making fun of people who have a double standard about the illegal spying program. Another rare occasion where Carmen was the butt of the joke.
Maybe I am giving him to much credit if it was unintentional, but that is how I read this one.
Posted by: John at September 11, 2007 04:35 PM
Prickly City News Flash!
Creator Scott Stantis's speech on First Amendment rights is now available online on GoComics.com. Apparently, they are trying to hide their embarassment at not having a podcast posted in so long by posting this instead. Anyway, I'm sure you guys are going to want to criticize it in tomorrow's post, so be sure to tune in to it tonight!
http://www.gocomics.com/pricklycity/prc_podcast_landing.phtml
On a side note, Charles Brubaker has a blog and on it he mentions that Stantis -- yes, Scott Stantis -- is one of his biggest influences. I realize that he was always more on the pro-Prickly City side on this blog, but one of his biggest influences? And here we thought he left because of the masturbation jokes.
Anyone who can name a single other cartoonist who cites Stantis as a big influence gets bonus points. Greg Cravens (who was his assistant and then replacement on "The Buckets") does NOT count.
Posted by: Prickly City News Flash! at September 11, 2007 05:28 PM
Well Sacki's on Wednesdays now, and he stopped caring about Prickly City about a year ago.
Posted by: The Furnace at September 11, 2007 05:33 PM
