Yep. Right on, Mark! So true and so pathetic what the USA has turned into. What a bunch of idiots in the Media that keep these inane political games and ploys front and center and gives them legs. If the Media wisened up and refused to cover these political shenanigans, I bet the candidates would knock it off.

I'm pretty sure that these immature political tactics only happen here in the USA and not in other countries. The USA is just way too babyish in temperament. Look how the Media covers the primaries and then the pre-election day campaigning as a horse race or a sporting event! He's up! He's down. He lost ground in Indiana but made up for it in North Carolina. Etc. So ridiculous!

Why don't the reporters stick to asking them questions on substantive issues like how they will fix the economy in recession, er, excuse me, in a downturn? Yeah, a downturn into another Great Depression! How will they solve the energy crisis as cheap oil is becoming scarcer and scarcer? How will they solve the growing food prices that will soon turn into a full-blown, worldwide famine?

Instead, the questions they focus on are about flag lapel pins, low bowling scores, being elite and not a shot drinking beer chugging blue-collar regular Joe, bitterness at what a sucky life we have and clinging to God and guns, and of course fiery sermons -- which I say is absolutely right on!

The chickens ARE coming home to roost! The USA DID deserve being attacked at 9/11 for what it has been doing to people around the world -- acting as the new imperial 20th and 21st Century Rome! It's no wonder the oppressed got fed up and finally retaliated the best way they could against the big, bad bully that Uncle Sam has turned into.

We're heading for environmental disaster, economic meltdown, we've been in Iraq longer than we were in World War Two, and we're freaking out over what some guy's pastor says?

Man, do I ever miss John Edwards!

Jana C.H.
Seattle
Old Italian Political Saying: The conductor changes, the music remains the same.

Funny. True as well

As usual, you hit it pretty spot on. Now, if only all the neo-confederates, "blue collar elitists", and "alleged" religious values voters will acknowledge their own "guilt by association" we can get past all the "fear" having a legitimate black candidate for president seems to have created among the "non-college educated", blue collar voters that are backing the two "white" candidates for president. Or better yet, maybe they will wake up and realize that those two "white" candidates are connected to the "old guard", status quo politics not by association, but by their own actions and political careers. Perhaps then we can refocus on the real issues at hand and be able to understand how the "least experienced' candidate is perhaps the "most likely" to effect change among the "old guard" politicians.....

Great cartoon, Mark!

I disagree that religion is the indicator of moral compass, nor does it define a moral code, especially not Christianity. Some of the most deplorable events in history have be committed at the "behest" of a god. Children have been sacrificed to please the Old Testament God. So many people that attend church regularly have connived, cheated, stolen and killed to the amazement of their pastors. Some of the most pious acting members of the Catholic Church have abused children. But on the other hand, all of us likely know someone that would worship a spaghetti monster sooner than they would any religion's god and have spent much of their time and money helping others, have lived a decent life and have behaved morally every day of their life. I would prefer to be led by someone who does the right thing for itself than someone who is doing the right thing because they believe they will be rewarded with a heaven, be it one with 72 virgins or not. Remember, those people who crashed planes into those buildings did so because their faith required it.

And IQ is a key factor in a person's electabilty. It shouldn't be the only one, they do need to be able to inspire, to communicate and to make us believe in the better good. I don't want someone who can convice people to do something, but is too stupid to think through any ramifications. And they need to be able to take advice from others.

I think nearly every person in the world knows someone who is unbalanced, immoral, a racist, a hater or is just not a nice person. Heck, most of us have someone like that in our family, be it distant cousin or sibling or parent. So following the line of thinking of the people clinging to Rev. Wright as an issue, there's probably nobody clean enough who can become our leader.

It is a shame that because of who you know you're put beside those people and that makes you as bad or guilty as they are. Can we prove Obama gave secret hate filled speeches or wore a mask while giving them?
If we are going to elect people to any position, by the people they are associated with elections will become a thing of the past. Judging candidates by the people in their past or today cannot be allowed while intelligent people can seperate them, others, will question the character of that candidate.
When deciding who will earn your vote character should not be the major reason for your decision. The work they have done and the work ethic is part of the thought process. The type of schools and grades they attended and received, what extra curricular activities did they participate in, is also to be taken into consideration. Have they published anything, if they did, how was it received by their peers, it will give a general view of their inteligent quotient.
Religion should be as important as their favorite Baseball team but, today it has become a point of need to know. Where does he or she worshiep, how many times a week, should not be a need to know but, it is. The spouses have been put under more scrutiny then in the past, I supposed it is important to know if the spouse can run the every day routine of the White House and then plan for any function that would take place.
Candidates have to realize they will be living in a fish bowl, their every move and every sound will be looked at, anylized and explained ten ways from Sunday. As the saying goes, Nothing is out of bounds.

Sorry about deleting that "Casey" comment. I accidentally blew away a couple of other good comments that were related. D'oh!

And, yes, I'm guilty too, because I draw guilty people :-)

-MF

Your new cartoon makes me think of one of the protagonist's replies in the French film "Ridicule": after being ejected from the table during a fine diner, one of the guests told him something like, "Someone's character can be figured out by the types of connections he has!" The protagonist replied, "You are wrong. Judas had very good connections!"

Mark, you are guilty by association too, for you have drawn and animated the likenesses of the not so liked associates you mention. What relationship do you have with them? How do you know what they look like? What are you trying to hide? Yadda yadda yadda. Think about the children! Dibbity dibbity doo! Maybe I should get up and walk out of this Church; the Church of Mark Fiore's brilliant satirical work.

NEVER!!! :D Excellent job. This guilty by loose association thing has always been meaningless and you illustrated that quite well regarding recent events.

I just posted "Guilt-By-Association," the latest animation-- much of it created while watching last night's Hillary squeaker. Let me hear what you've got to say!

-Mark Fiore