Tom Toles for January 27, 2020

The rest of us can’t see it because WE JUST WENT BLIND!!!

“If you see something, say something.” Is it OK if I just upchuck instead? Looks like that’s what the kid’s about to do…

THANK YOU Mr. Toles, for choosing an only moderately disgusting view. Also for removing quite a lot of the fat and wrinkles that (I suppose) he really has.

He’s probably already in therapy.

As regards the “worthy” and what they “see,” this reminds me of some comments from a master propagandist on… well, propaganda. He points out that the thinking people will never be convinced by propaganda, but that’s not needed to seize power. The number of unthinkers is much larger than the number of thinkers, so power can be gained by convincing them. And as we are only trying to convince the non-thinking, propaganda can be a blunt instrument, full of flattery, false promises, nonstop lies, incitement to hatred, cultivation of the worst and most brutish impulses of the target audience.

I shouldn’t mention the source for these insights. Because there’s a conditioned reflex against facing a particular set of facts about our present day propaganda mongers… that they replicate the tactics of another such group.

But the analysis above is mostly from ʲᵒˢᵉᶠ ᵍᵒᵉᵇᵇᵉˡˢ.

“The king is in his altogether….” In more ways than one!!

Nothing to see, here, folks. Move it along, nothing to see here.

After Trump’s expected acquittal, Republican senators (You read it here first!) plan to “streak” behind him down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House for a victory celebration. It just might coincide with the anniversary of the 1974 nationwide college streaking craze.

I feel sorry for cartoonists these days. It must be hard for them to come up with new ways to caricature this on going horror. Tom’s contribution today is nothing short of great. I hope the Pulitzer folks are paying attention.

Where’s the eye bleach…..yow!

The look on the kid’s face says it all. Well done Mr. Toles.

“HCA Can Show the Way”

Hans Christian Andersen might be gratified to see

How many of his fairy tales still relevant would be.

“The Emperor’s New Clothes” is of course much re-told

Because foolish pride and con men remain many-fold.

.

“The Goblin and the Huckster” is still valid as well:

Do noble thoughts — or “jam and butter” — more our lives propel?

Does “The Red Shoes” teach to beware what we desire?

Do the shoes we choose to dance for us lead to actions dire?

.

“The Little Mermaid” in original story form

Shows self-sacrifice and long soul-striving the norm.

“The Snow Queen,” with its evil goblin glass that shatters,

Fragments scattered, tells that ev’ry small evil matters.

.

A shame it is that these Tales, although they have existed

For many years, have not curtailed our faults that have persisted.

“That old stuff,” we grown-ups scoff, “is meant for bedtime telling.”

Not truly so. Taken in the proper mind, their value is compelling.

Oh that poor child. Years of psychotherapy ahead.

Jeeze, this bleeping image will be with me all day.

They Cover His [censored] – {2 beats/line, then 3}

Heaven forfend!!

They don’t recommend

that their king go without apparel,

him wearing not even a barrel. -

- So his supporters fully intend

to cover his ugly rear end.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

At least the coverup need only be a tiny one ….

“It would not be impossible to prove with sufficient repetition and a psychological understanding of the people concerned that a square is in fact a circle. They are mere words, and words can be molded until they clothe ideas and disguise.”

“Success is the important thing. Propaganda is not a matter for average minds, but rather a matter for practitioners. It is not supposed to be lovely or theoretically correct. I do not care if I give wonderful, aesthetically elegant speeches, or speak so that women cry. The point of a political speech is to persuade people of what we think right. That is a matter of practice, not of theory. We do not want to be a movement of a few straw brains, but rather a movement that can conquer the broad masses. Propaganda should be popular, not intellectually pleasing. It is not the task of propaganda to discover intellectual truths.” Joseph Goebbels.

The president of the Republicans has put up no defense, not a single witness has been called for his side because he is obviously guilty and everyone knows it.

Pucker up, buttercup!

And yet it’s his personality and demeanor that’s even more repugnant.

It is hard to defend the indefensible. So, instead I think the defense will try the Bidens instead.

It’s a story that everyone knows:

“The Emperor’s wearing no clothes”

Said the innocent child

Who was hit and reviled

Till he moved to avoid further blows.

{Off-topic:}

John Bolton and the Rs – {3 beats/line, then 4}

Will the Rs be heedin’ John Bolton? -

- and at long last begin some revoltin’

against this degenerate Trump,

and toss ‘im into a dump?

… OR:

Will Bolton too the Rs ignore?

{Would then we have Trump forevermore?}

. . . . . . . . . . .

Millions have gouged out their eyes, but the repellent memory lingers. Suicide help lines flooded as suicide helpers end their own lives.

Putin gets to have some nice big belly laughs (I would imagine that he sounds something like Santa Claus) while ALSO keeping his useful idiot and poodle puppet. I hope he writes the Senate Republicans a gracious thank-you note.

Hey, when did he go from King to Emperor!!

All the bleach in the world can clean out that image.

Good one, Tom ♥

Lincoln & Obama had their “Team of Rivals”.

The Emperor has his Team of Psychophants.

Gaaaa! Get me a melon baller, stat!