Toon and text by John Auchter
See? See?! This is exactly why I think it’s ridiculous to declare allegiance to any particular political party. Who they are and what they represent is a fluid thing — they change over time. Sometimes very, very quickly.
It was just eight years ago when automaker CEOs were also schlepping to Washington DC. Back then it really was to secure a future for the American manufacturing industry. They were harangued by all flavors of lawmakers. And rightfully so. The automakers had not created the crisis (a bursting housing bubble had done that), but they had left themselves highly vulnerable with years and years of bad decision-making.
But what was particularly hard to take were Republican senators like Jeff Sessions of Alabama riding around on their high horses extolling the purity and sanctity of unfettered capitalism. (Never mind that they basically bought their assembly plants with massive tax breaks.)
So what happened to the Republican party whose supposed rock-bed tenet is free and open markets? Because now it seems that same party is leading the way to closing markets, applying tariffs, inserting itself at every opportunity, and attempting to pick the winners and losers.
The answer is, the party evolves. And so the Republican party of eight years ago has the same name, but for all intents and purposes, it has become the Nationalist party. If it’s new rock-bed tenet is America first, all that free market capitalism (and everything else) by definition is going to have a lower priority.
Well, at least there are virtuous leaders within the federal government who will be there to ensure the auto industry and Michigan get a fair shake. Leaders like the new Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, who… Oh, never mind.
John Auchter draws cartoons. Lots and lots of them. You can find them at his incredibly popular website auchtoon.com. You can also find his stuff on Michigan Public Radio’s website under Opinion.
Sad but true, John.
Sounds like “a new world order. ” I thought this could never happen again?
Brilliant, John. Right on! Jeff Sessions sends out obscene selfies of his brain.
Specifically off-topic, but here is an anti-Trump thing, about refugees and immigrants:
You guys know about the famous poem engraved on the Statue of Liberty’s book, right? Trump is going to change it to this:
“Bring us your hot chicks, your billionaires,
Only your extremely well-vetted rich Christians,
Yearning to cash in.
The elite white folks
Off fancy cruise ships
From fancy places
In fancy countries.
Send us these arrogants,
As long as they already are rich and white!
I lift my golden lamp
Beside you your golden white bank accounts!
Very very true but sad. I worry.
So how has the stock market been performing since the Trump innaguration? I am sure it must be in the dumps by now.
Oh wait….
How was it performing before he was elected?
Oh wait…..
It was not performing as well as after Trump became president. Let’s see how things look one year from now.
How will liberals spin economic success as “failure”? What fake news will liberals publish to justify their lies?
Bull shit. The market was at five thousand when Obama was elected. 19 plus just before the election. Oh that’s right you guys believe in alternative facts!!! Republicans need to get their heads out of you know where. Your going to pay for a useless wall that won’t contain a squirrel and wait for his wonderful tax plan that you’re going to pay big time.
Complete BS. The stock market was 5000 when Obame took over19 thousand plus when the Trump was sworn in. Oh ya you guys believe in those alternative facts. How you can like a little man that molests women makes fun of disabled people and lies through his teeth is beyond comprehension.
Don’t care about the stock market when fellow human beings are being targeted & marginalized. Much more concerned that an unstable, unwell, unqualified, etc. person is putting the integrity and safety of our country at risk.