I often complain about false equivalence in political discussion, but not today. If we are right about the errors being committed by the current occupant of the White House and his Party (and we are) we have to convince the large portion of voters who don’t agree. Insulting them does not help. Too often it seems to be all about some kind of completion where we root on our team and winning this time is all that matters.
It’s remarkable how many people seem to live under the delusion that screaming, insulting, and personally attacking others is a sure way to get them to agree with you. If you point out that maybe people will just grow resentful of the verbal (and sometimes physical) assault, they will get ANGRY… I have a feeling it’s because of a news cycle that feeds on drama being the only source of information that they have.
Mr. Pastis, you are missing the strategy for the tactics. The point of all the yelling and insulting and prevaricating is to convince the bystanders. Republicans figured it out in the 90s. Centrists still haven’t. Democrats have, but are not organized enough or bloody minded enough to do anything yet. If you want the yelling to stop, call out what it is they are yelling about.
Good advice from Cartoon Boy today. Too bad the people at The View, MSNBC, CNN, and all the rest of the Democrat-controlled media won’t take that advice.
For those who think that our current President is the first immoral, crooked, cheating, lying scoundrel that has occupied the White House please look into our history books. He may be all of these things but he is not the first nor is he the leader in each of these categories. He certainly is the leader in the public being aware of his flaws due to today’s 24/7 news coverage and the availability of instant communications. So far he has not ordered the military to take direct action to ignore signed treaties and drive masses of people from their ancestral homes nor has he had an almost conveyor belt of women shipped to his bedroom in the White House. Whatever demeaning words you want to use to describe our present occupant of the White House can be applied to many previous occupants that many people hold in such high regard. I will add that in for this administration the most likely alternative would have been no better in the categories of immoral, crooked, cheating and lying.
Having had many discussions (insult-heavy arguments) with members of Trump’s base, I can assure you that Trump made one true assertion during his campaign. He said then that he could walk down a street and just shoot someone, and his base would still stay loyal. That is correct. Ignore them. The key is convincing the approximately 40% of the population to vote for someone else…but it must be the same someone. Up to the Dems to discover a strong unifying candidate. (I’m a life-long independent)
And that pretty much sums up politics for the last 50 years (or better). It’s all degraded into a dishonorable mud pit with 0 respect and integrity. And I don’t care which “side” you’re on. They’re all the same.
In our lounge at work, a TV monitor at one end plays CNN all day, and a monitor at the other end plays FOX News. If you stand right in the middle, you get lied to in stereo. . . Someday, we’ll all figure out who is dividing us and we’ll all go after THEM.
It’s not surprising that people from both sides of the political spectrum think that they are correct and morally pure and the other side is wrong and evil. Grow up! It is possible to disagree without being disagreeable.
All true. But you’re assuming people are still interested in merely persuading those with whom they disagree – I fear we’ve moved past that. For too many, the issues are almost beside the point now; their emotional investment in their stance – and their candidate – has grown is too great to allow them to even entertain new information that might undermine it.
Be assured, you are not alone… In Europe, we have plenty of “loud, small tangerine-ish tyrants” as someone brilliantly called a certain person… Italy, as the most recent example, but then, the Brexit fraction, AfD and PEGIDA in Germany, Viktor Orbán and his Idioteska in Hungary, the Polish Peasants – just to name a couple of them….
Here’s a part of a fine song created by Dylan in his youth. Even then, he could see the truth. But first, a line from Buffalo Springfield, “For What It’s Worth”’
There’s battle lines being drawn
Nobody’s right if everybody’s wrong
* * * * * * *
Through many a dark hour I been thinkin’ about this
I like Rat’s little moralizing tales, even if they are mostly dyspeptic and divisive. At least he takes a stand, aided and abetted by that sycophantic Pig….
BE THIS GUY about 6 years ago
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
Dirty Dragon about 6 years ago
“Both Sides! Both Sides!!”
Earthling Premium Member about 6 years ago
You’re an idiot! Why don’t you agree?
kaffekup about 6 years ago
“Now that I’ve given you all the facts I heard from a tv talk show host, you must agree with me!”
hariseldon59 about 6 years ago
For united we stand. Divided we fallAnd if our backs should ever be against the wallWe’ll be together, Together, you and I
gammaguy about 6 years ago
Unided? Divited?
Yontrop about 6 years ago
I often complain about false equivalence in political discussion, but not today. If we are right about the errors being committed by the current occupant of the White House and his Party (and we are) we have to convince the large portion of voters who don’t agree. Insulting them does not help. Too often it seems to be all about some kind of completion where we root on our team and winning this time is all that matters.
the lost wizard about 6 years ago
Let’s just all disagree to agree.
Adiraiju about 6 years ago
It’s remarkable how many people seem to live under the delusion that screaming, insulting, and personally attacking others is a sure way to get them to agree with you. If you point out that maybe people will just grow resentful of the verbal (and sometimes physical) assault, they will get ANGRY… I have a feeling it’s because of a news cycle that feeds on drama being the only source of information that they have.
Little Caesar about 6 years ago
“I’m right, because I said so.”
Say What Now‽ Premium Member about 6 years ago
When actual facts do not convince people, they are truly lost.
chris_weaver about 6 years ago
And when you email, post, or comment, nothing persuades like using ALL CAPS!
Breadboard about 6 years ago
May the power of the Croc be with you…………….
Ksandler4570 about 6 years ago
In other words, be a liberal and a democrat!
Ontman about 6 years ago
We have now lost one of the sane voices out there. RIP John McCain. Thank you sir.
NeedaChuckle Premium Member about 6 years ago
No way gonna change their minds, they vote for people who treat them like scum. It is just fun to argue and see them become great again, like Kansas.
43willys about 6 years ago
If you can’t bring yourself to criticize antifa & BLM then you’re pretty damned deplorable too.
getacomix about 6 years ago
Mr. Pastis, you are missing the strategy for the tactics. The point of all the yelling and insulting and prevaricating is to convince the bystanders. Republicans figured it out in the 90s. Centrists still haven’t. Democrats have, but are not organized enough or bloody minded enough to do anything yet. If you want the yelling to stop, call out what it is they are yelling about.
RyCar66 about 6 years ago
Funny how the yeller and insulter are wearing the red shirt.
Nyckname about 6 years ago
Quit letting Billy draw the Sunday strips.
mail2jbl about 6 years ago
Good advice from Cartoon Boy today. Too bad the people at The View, MSNBC, CNN, and all the rest of the Democrat-controlled media won’t take that advice.
tkcoker about 6 years ago
For those who think that our current President is the first immoral, crooked, cheating, lying scoundrel that has occupied the White House please look into our history books. He may be all of these things but he is not the first nor is he the leader in each of these categories. He certainly is the leader in the public being aware of his flaws due to today’s 24/7 news coverage and the availability of instant communications. So far he has not ordered the military to take direct action to ignore signed treaties and drive masses of people from their ancestral homes nor has he had an almost conveyor belt of women shipped to his bedroom in the White House. Whatever demeaning words you want to use to describe our present occupant of the White House can be applied to many previous occupants that many people hold in such high regard. I will add that in for this administration the most likely alternative would have been no better in the categories of immoral, crooked, cheating and lying.
OldIndy about 6 years ago
Having had many discussions (insult-heavy arguments) with members of Trump’s base, I can assure you that Trump made one true assertion during his campaign. He said then that he could walk down a street and just shoot someone, and his base would still stay loyal. That is correct. Ignore them. The key is convincing the approximately 40% of the population to vote for someone else…but it must be the same someone. Up to the Dems to discover a strong unifying candidate. (I’m a life-long independent)
jmwe29 about 6 years ago
And that pretty much sums up politics for the last 50 years (or better). It’s all degraded into a dishonorable mud pit with 0 respect and integrity. And I don’t care which “side” you’re on. They’re all the same.
KeithRoman about 6 years ago
In our lounge at work, a TV monitor at one end plays CNN all day, and a monitor at the other end plays FOX News. If you stand right in the middle, you get lied to in stereo. . . Someday, we’ll all figure out who is dividing us and we’ll all go after THEM.
WCraft Premium Member about 6 years ago
And, if you can’t think of an intelligent response, scream “Racist” very loud.
mattro65 about 6 years ago
It’s not surprising that people from both sides of the political spectrum think that they are correct and morally pure and the other side is wrong and evil. Grow up! It is possible to disagree without being disagreeable.
DarthRevan about 6 years ago
When someone tries to start a political debate with an insult, I tune them out.
jcole998 about 6 years ago
Very perceptive strip this day, Stephan Pastis. Hats off to you and I hope everyone will listen to your message.
kaffekup about 6 years ago
Well, there are so many virulent and clueless posts today, I can only assume that Vlad has opened a new troll farm.
дасвиданийа товарищ!
beady.el about 6 years ago
All true. But you’re assuming people are still interested in merely persuading those with whom they disagree – I fear we’ve moved past that. For too many, the issues are almost beside the point now; their emotional investment in their stance – and their candidate – has grown is too great to allow them to even entertain new information that might undermine it.
Masterskrain about 6 years ago
But there are “Good people” on both sides…according to the Orange Ape.
Squoop about 6 years ago
Why can’t we all just get a bong?
matjestaet about 6 years ago
Be assured, you are not alone… In Europe, we have plenty of “loud, small tangerine-ish tyrants” as someone brilliantly called a certain person… Italy, as the most recent example, but then, the Brexit fraction, AfD and PEGIDA in Germany, Viktor Orbán and his Idioteska in Hungary, the Polish Peasants – just to name a couple of them….
Kind&Kinder about 6 years ago
Here’s a part of a fine song created by Dylan in his youth. Even then, he could see the truth. But first, a line from Buffalo Springfield, “For What It’s Worth”’
There’s battle lines being drawn
Nobody’s right if everybody’s wrong
* * * * * * *Through many a dark hour I been thinkin’ about this
That Jesus Christ was betrayed by a kiss
But I can’t think for you, you’ll have to decide
Whether Judas Iscariot had God on his side
—Bob Dylan “With God On Our Side”
gopher gofer about 6 years ago
⇧ wmcraft
maybe you should stop hurting your head trying to think of responses…
Sisyphos about 6 years ago
I like Rat’s little moralizing tales, even if they are mostly dyspeptic and divisive. At least he takes a stand, aided and abetted by that sycophantic Pig….
Timothy Madigan Premium Member about 6 years ago
Rat’s just speaking the mantra of the far right and the ‘progressive’ left.
PBS1! over 4 years ago
Should have been Pig or Goat saying that so we know it’s satirical.
PBS1! over 4 years ago
Best satire yet
*real* Guard Duck about 3 years ago
@#$%!