Editorial Cartoons 2 Jan 2010

From Denny: Here's a sampling of editorial cartoonists' opinions, love 'em or hate 'em, as to the news and the year and decade that was and what the New Year might bring us:

See Cartoons by Cartoon by R.J. Matson - Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com - Email this Cartoon

A short video of a few of the New Years fireworks worldwide:

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See Cartoons by Cartoon by Mike Keefe - Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com - Email this Cartoon

It's the big ugly fact that if government does not spend the economy will crash down upon our ears. As it is, the banks are still not lending much for car loans and demanding 20% down for houses, creating a shaky economy:

See Cartoons by Cartoon by Larry Wright - Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com - Email this Cartoon

See Cartoons by Cartoon by Gary McCoy - Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com - Email this Cartoon

See Cartoons by Cartoon by Milt Priggee - Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com - Email this Cartoon

See Cartoons by Cartoon by David Fitzsimmons - Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com - Email this Cartoon

See Cartoons by Cartoon by Jeff Parker - Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com - Email this Cartoon

*** For the full post, full of more grinners, over at The Social Poets, go here.

*** THANKS for visiting and have a great weekend!

Video: American Soldier a Global Humanitarian Even in Death Thru Global Water Projects

From Denny: This American soldier, Army Captain Ben Sklaver, had been stationed in Uganda during their civil war. He decided to help the refugees and revive the local culture and economy by helping create fresh water projects. This success spilled over into creating more fresh water projects globally, even after his untimely death in this war. This is a truly heart-warming story!

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His parents discuss in detail what drove their son to become a humanitarian:

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More specifics about how he created his new dot org organization:

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Video: Irans Controversial New Cabinet in Place

From Denny: Well, it looks like Iran is doing the usual "put the crooks in charge" dance. And I thought the Bush administration was bad. At least (at the time) none of them were on wanted posters from various crime stopper organizations like Interpol. Iran has chosen quite the corrupt criminal assortment and have raised them to the level of leaders in this oppressed country. But then, did we really expect anything less from this crazed government?

Oh, and let's not overlook the pandering to the female population by placing a female puppet in the post of health minister. Trust me; making her the first woman ever elevated in government since the 1979 Islamic Revolution isn't enough to assuage the anger throughout the country. We all know she will not be allowed to speak her mind or institute her own policies. So, it's just for show.

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Video: Britain's 9/11 Adverted, Islamic Terrorists Found Guilty

From Denny: Today Islamic extremists were found guilty of plotting their own version of a 9/11 plot against the British. Will the insanity ever stop?

It does give pause to make a person wonder if a very small gene pool is the reason for this insanity... In Iraq in particular they have been marrying their first cousins and sisters for generations. It's a common practice throughout the Islamic cultures all over the world.

While it may make economic sense to know that the money stays with the relatives, it's bad news on the science level denying a larger and healthier gene pool for offspring. Inadvertantly, they may have been breeding this violence into their cultures. It is sad to see so many lives wasted when they could be doing something positive to build up their cultures.

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Video: Honoring Eunice Kennedy Shriver Who Honored Special Needs Kids

From Denny: Saying goodbye to Eunice Kennedy Shriver who brought the vulnerable in our society out into the open and gave them long awaited respect and care. Since I have a mentally challenged sister-in-law who became so because of a woefully mishandled hospital birth this lady meant the world to my husband's parents. They were thrilled with the Kennedys and Shrivers when they championed this cause.

Since my sister-in-law's speech center was injured at birth it can take her as long as two weeks to get out a sentence regarding her wishes. Usually, I just take the shortcut and read her on the spiritual level to divine her intent, ask a few short questions to narrow down her intent and then she sighs with relief and nods her head. Virginia is a lot like having a happy 5 year old around with OCD Monk behaviors along with autism. She's great fun, though her facial expressions rarely show it. We get her to laugh often.

I could go on and on about Virginia as I enjoy her immensely as many people do who have "special kids" in their families. The medical challenges can be daunting as it has for Virginia who suffers from severe epilepsy. She's required outrageously expensive medication since she was two years old, the doctors fearing as she's grown older that the next epileptic seizure will kill her.

Well, we just can't live in fear. She's lived longer than the doctors told the parents when she was born. They advised they lock her away in an asylum and forget about her. The parents were horrified and refused. That was too callous an attitude for my very cool mother-in-law, Bonnie, whose Irish was up and marched forward to do something about it. Can I tell you that my mother-in-law was the first special education teacher in Louisiana and helped organize education in the state for others like her daughter?

The terms like retarded, mentally disabled, mentally challenged, special and special needs have evolved over the decades yet Virginia remains forever the same. When she was younger she had a baseball arm like a cannon. The family and Virginia loved the Special Olympics that Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded. Virginia always won first place in any throwing competition. The woman was fierce! :)

A lot of families across America and the world over have gratitude towards Ms. Eunice for bringing so much understanding into the community and relief to families who no longer had to hide their special family members in shame. Take a look at her remarkable life.

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Biography, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, mentally challenged, NBC, remembrance, society and culture, kids and teens, special needs, Special Olympics

Video: Palin Ordered Her Own Health Care Death Panels on the Alaskan Elderly

From Denny: Palin and the caustic Wingnut Party have so incensed reasonable and compassionate people like anchorman Keith Olbermann they have done some Palin research into how she ran Alaska's government health care and it isn't pretty.

Palin was looking for ways to keep the elderly out of state run or partly financed nursing homes and so many were reassessed and kicked out or just plain died while undergoing assessment. Palin is responsible for killing off someone else's Grandmas with her own version of the Alaskan Death Panel as she made these decisions. From the Anchorage Daily News: "In one 2 1/2 year stretch, 227 elderly adults already getting services died while waiting for a nurse to reassess their needs."

Palin strikes me as an alcoholic because of her classic "blaming behavior" and never takes any responsibility for her own decisions. It does make a person wonder about how many in the Republican Party are hard core alcoholics... It's always someone else to blame for this or that. C'mon, at some point the buck stops at her desk. Two words: grow up. And while you're at it: quit drinking, sober up and live smarter.

If this woman is what the Republicans are hanging their hopes on for Presidential material, well, good luck - because they are going to need it. No one with an ounce of logic, compassionate and care for others, anyone who wants affordable health care and a decent job that pays their bills will vote for that level of greed and insanity.

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Sarah Palin, Death Panel, Democrats, health care, society and culture, politics, Republicans, Olbermann

Video: Hillary Clinton's Cutting Edge Digital Diplomacy

From Denny: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton goes high tech for the stodgey State Department! She's bringing government out of the Stone Age with cutting edge technology and connecting up with every day citizens here in America and around the world. When she travels to other countries the new techonolgy makes it possible for folks online to ask her questions directly as if they are there in her global town hall. Check out what she's up to from this video. "Two" words: AWE SOME! :)

Trial Charges Against Iranian Moderates Are Flimsy

Image by BL1961 via Flickr

From Denny: These are the petty charges against the Iranian moderates who are members of the opposition party. Looks like the government wants to make sure even a small charge can stick just in case public opinion runs against them. They want to be able to declare victory on the most ambiguous of charges.

Here's the rundown of Regime Paranoia Points:

* acting against national security

* attempting to weaken the Islamic system

* having links with American, British and Israeli agents

* having links with MKO terrorist group

* sending pictures for foreign media outlets to instigate plots

* disturbing public order through rioting

* vandalizing public property

* setting up and attending illegal rallies

and the best for last:

* clashing with security forces - how dare you protect yourself when beaten over the head with night sticks and rifle butts when you are unarmed and in a peaceful demonstration.


Looks like Iran's regime is determined to hold onto power. These charges satisfy the harshest elements in their society. Putting these people away in prison on such flimsy - even childish - charges will not stop the movement but only give it martyrs to fuel the movement.

The opposition has started a fire the government cannot put out. When a person's spirit is on fire for change there is no stopping it. You can sideline people for a while but the inevitable will happen and that government will be dismissed by voters or toppled by a coup.


Iran, United States, Iran moderates, protestors trials, Middle East, National security, British Empire, Islam, Society and Culture, People's Mujahedin of Iran

Video: Beer with the President in the Rose Garden

From Denny: The long awaited "Beer Summit" went well by all accounts. VP Joe Biden also attended.

CNN's Candy Crowley reports on the White House meeting between the Harvard professor and the Cambridge cop.

Video: 3 American Hiking Tourists Detained in Iran

From Denny: Three Americans were hiking in Turkey and crossed over the Iranian border inadvertantly. A fourth member of the party was too sick to hike and remained behind and so did not end up arrested in Iran.

This comes at a delicate time. The opposition party protestors are on trial in Iran. Holding these Americans can be a bargaining chip with the West, a real victory lap for the harsh regime and a way to shut up America about how the trial turns out. It will be interesting to see how this new subplot to the ongoing drama plays out.

Three Americans have been arrested after they strayed over the Iraqi border into Iran. CNN's Arwa Damon reports

Video: Colin Powell Says GOP Afraid of Crossing Limbaugh

From Denny: Colin Powell has always been a class act. Why he is a Republican though is beyond me. All they have ever done is trash an honorable man who has done a lot of good work in the community for children.

Video: Transforming Inner City Blight

From Denny: I really like these kind of stories where people go into inner cities and turn city blight back into thriving communities by building new AND affordable homes. Listen to their story of those who did well for themselves and then came back to give back to the community! From NBC News' Making a Difference segment.

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Breaking News, community, housing, Msnbc.com, NBC News, poverty, Programs, Society and Culture, Television, Urban, World News