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- G e n d e r G a p p e r s T M
PATRIOT ACT ACTING UP
 Political
cartoons have been around for a very long time. They portray
a political situation or opinion very succinctly. They are generally frank,
right on point and often downright nasty. They are a part of what we think
of as FREEDOM OF THE PRESS.
Some are so effective that they swing elections. Nothing is sacred for the cartoonist. They pick on national shrines, religions, and famous people with impunity. Well, they used to until Ashcroft's D.O.J-ackboots whipped up the Patriots Act and Constitutional rights went into the toilet. Are some cartoons offensive? Absolutely! But what is more offensive and downright frightening is that a cartoon is scratched because the Cheney/Bushies don't like it. They forced The Concord Monitor of New Hampshire to suppress a cartoon it printed to prevent it from being seen all over the world on the internet. The reason? They feared the adverse reaction it would create for the Bushie budget. The cartoon in question hit the Bushie-budget right in the cojones, so they accused the cartoonist, Mike Marland, and the editor, Mike Pride, of being insensitive to the families of the attack on the trade towers. There they go again. They always relate anything to terrorism that might be a threat to them. The cartoon was simple. It showed two tall buildings labeled "Social" and "Security" and an airplane piloted by Bush coming toward them labeled "Bush budget." Anyone with a grain of sense knows that the tragedy of 9/11 was not all to do with the destruction of buildings and airplanes. Buildings and planes can be rebuilt. What really was important in relation to that specific event were the people who died, the people who tried to rescue them, the survivors, friends and families. What really was important in relation to that specific event was the gross failure of the Bushies and the FBI to prevent the catastrophe. What really was important in relation to that specific event was the failure of the Cheney/ Bush Administration to get fighter planes in the air to investigate the course deviation directly after the first hijacked plane went off-course -- a routine procedure before 9/11. What really was important in relation to that specific event was the failure of the Cheney/Bush Administration to detain and question a great many bin Laden relatives and other Saudis instead of quickly getting them tickets home. Oil buddies were protected. What really IS important right now in relation to that specific event is how this administration is using this act of terrorism to force the passage of its ruthless agenda by terrifying and threatening people. What really IS important right now is an open and complete investigation of the 9/11 events. You may think this cartoon might remind you of the horror of 9/11. However, it certainly would bring to mind the horror of a Bush Budget slamming into and destroying Social Security -- the only thing most elderly and/or disabled people have between them and starvation. THAT IS WHY CHENEY/BUSH CENSORED THIS CARTOON. THAT IS WHAT THEY DIDN'T WANT PEOPLE TO SEE AND UNDERSTAND. Think about it. The Bushies never complained one whit when the NY Daily News ran a cartoon likening Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle to Osama bin Laden. Obviously their sensibilities are raised only when something shows the truth about them and their assault on America. Teddy Roosevelt had it right when he said: "TO ANNOUNCE THAT THERE MUST BE NO CRITICISM OF THE PRESIDENT OR THAT WE ARE TO STAND BY THE PRESIDENT RIGHT OR WRONG IS NOT ONLY UNPATRIOTIC AND SERVILE, BUT IS MORALLY TREASONABLE TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC." Imagine the power exerted by Department of Justice's Ashcroft that can instantly eliminate free speech and quell any opposition to the Cheney/Bush administration that may arise. It must have been formidable to terrorize NH Concord Monitor, Mike Pride into suppressing a cartoon, and get editor, Tim McCarthy of the Littleton, NH Courier fired for writing anti-Bush editorials and supporting cartoonist, Mike Marland. http://www.caledonianrecord.com/pages/local_news/story/faebd52bf 2002-007
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