Auld Lang Syne Funnies

I'd rather put this year in my rearview mirror as quickly as possible, but that doesn't mean I'm looking forward to 2024.

Ted Rall, this blogger's favorite toonist, is rounded up for the year by WhoWhatWhy.  Here's my favorite from among those.

There's a great deal of interpretive dance both implied and inferred in that one.

The end of the year brings collations of all types, and the best of 2023's political art from across the nation and around the world are helpfully gathered by The Daily Cartoonist.  Peruse and enjoy (to the extent possible).

Holly Jolly Funnies

Could be jollier.

Following the doctrine that it is easier to beg forgiveness than to obtain permission, Israel is engaged in the ethnic cleansing of the Gaza Strip with a view toward annexing it. It’s not hard to imagine that sooner rather than later beach resorts will replace the 2.3 million Palestinians who have been killed or driven out of their homeland.

The Hell Out of Texas Funnies

What a Drag It Is Getting Old Funnies

If I want to watch reruns I'll tune to MeTV.

Srsly tho. I remember when the Democrats were opposed to war.

Mike Peterson, Daily Cartoonist:

The Israeli government has declined to renew the visa of the top United Nations humanitarian aide for Palestine, saying that the UN, which has accepted Palestinian estimates that 40% of the roughly 15,000 civilian dead in Gaza were children, is biased against Israel.

American officials, including VP Harris, have begun speaking out publicly to urge an end to the attacks on civilians, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warns that “In this kind of a fight, the center of gravity is the civilian population. And if you drive them into the arms of the enemy, you replace a tactical victory with a strategic defeat.”

His point is a universal truth of asymmetric warfare. The support of Gazans for Hamas may not be overwhelming, just as the support of Iraqis for their guerrilla forces, the support of Afghans for the Taliban or the support of Irish Catholics for the IRA have all been dubious.

But their support for “our boys” is steadfast, and, in this case, seeing entire families killed is not going to make it easy, or perhaps even possible, to make peace in the region.

Ever.

"Life's just much too hard today," I hear every mother say
The pursuit of happiness just seems a bore
And if you take more of those, you will get an overdose

Today’s @PhillyInquirer: AARP is — appropriately enough — sponsoring the upcoming Rolling Stones tour. Its website crashed this week when a throng of boomer fans tried to score tour tickets. #stonestour pic.twitter.com/EQ1n3MFICS

— John Cole (@ColeToon) December 3, 2023

OTOH, considering the alternative...

Democracy Flailing Funnies

The Biden campaign had what they thought would be a clever solution to their fear that the president would lose the New Hampshire primary. So they had the DNC decertify New Hampshire and made South Carolina first. Then Dean Phillips challenged Biden in NH. Faced with the prospect that Biden would lose the first primary (even if it’s unofficial), Biden has launched a write-in campaign for the race from which he asked to be removed from the ballot.

And if you think that's rich, guess what Florida Democrats just did?

The Florida Democratic Party -- likely full of people who will say with a straight face that democracy is at stake in 2024 -- decided that Joe Biden would be the only Democrat on their presidential primary ballot, excluding Marianne Williamson, Dean Phillips, Cenk Uygur, etc. And because state law there says that no primary vote is conducted with only one candidate, the move effectively awarded all 250 delegates to their party's national convention to Biden.

Why are Democrats having so much difficulty with actual democracy? Because if/when he loses to Trump, they can blame anybody and everybody but themselves.

Please don't misunderstand: I have great concerns about the rising fascism in this nation and around the world; it's just that Joe Biden -- contrary to the coordinated message Democrats are broadcasting -- does not represent 'democracy'. And vote-shaming is a poor way to do voter outreach.

#HenryKissinger pic.twitter.com/BWQjgnuOJl

— bkeithb 🇵🇸 (@bkeithb) December 1, 2023

Baker Institute's "Previewing the 2024 Presidential Election" Friday, Dec. 1

The 2024 presidential election promises to deliver unexpected twists and turns. At this year’s annual conference from Rice University's Baker Institute Presidential Elections Program on Friday, December 1, the institute will host political experts from around the country to explore the state of the 2024 presidential campaign season and the challenges that lie ahead for candidates.

This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. In-person attendance is full, but you can still sign up for the waitlist or for an email reminder with the link to the livestream. Follow @BakerInstitute on X (formerly known as Twitter), and join the conversation with #BakerLive.

9:00 am	Panel I — A Presidential Election With Legal Issues Like No Other Moderated by: Mark K. Updegrove, Presidential Historian,  ABC News; President and CEO, LBJ Foundation Richard L. Hasen Professor of Law and Political Science, University of California, Los Angeles; Director, Safeguarding Democracy Project Joshua Sellers Professor of Law, The University of Texas at Austin
10:15 am	Break
10:30 am	Panel II — Dissatisfaction With the Two-Party System Moderated by: Lisa Falkenberg, Houston Chronicle Vice President and Editor of Opinion Mark P. Jones Fellow in Political Science, Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies The Honorable Pat McCrory Former Governor of North Carolina; National Co-Chair, No Labels The Honorable Jay Nixon Former Governor of Missouri; Ballot Integrity Project Director, No Labels
11:45 am	Lunch
12:15 pm	Lunch Conversation Moderated by: Major Garrett, CBS News’ chief Washington correspondent Mark McKinnon Political advisor Jennifer Palmieri Political and communications strategist
1:15 pm	Break
1:30 pm	Panel III — A View From the Campaign Bus Moderated by: Julie Mason, host of daily political talk show “Julie Mason Mornings” on SiriusXM Galen Bacharier Politics Reporter, Des Moines Register Dave Carney CEO, Norway Hill Associates, Inc. Marianne LeVine National Political Reporter, The Washington Post Alex Thompson National Political Correspondent, Axios
2:45 pm	Break
3:00 pm	Panel IV — Looking Forward to the 2024 Election Moderated by: Lisa Lerer, National Political Correspondent, The New York Times Nathan L. Gonzales Editor & Publisher, Inside Elections Rebecca Pearcey Partner, Political Communications, Bryson Gillette Alex Thompson National Political Correspondent, Axios Amy Walter Publisher & Editor-in-Chief, Cook Political Report

For a more detailed description of the panel discussions or additional information about the event, click here.