Re: Editorial cartoon (April 2)

This political cartoon is, perhaps unintentionally, an appropriate tribute to the wisdom of the German people. Perhaps no others on the planet have acquired, through bitter experience, a better understanding of the evil of militarism. The fact that we are badgering them to forget the lessons of the past indicates just how low we have sunk.

For a brief time in our history, when we actually acted like a sovereign nation, we understood that it was important to keep peace, not make war. Unfortunately that era has passed.

As members of that club of Dr. Strangeloves that NATO has now become, we are doomed to be forever killing because after all, we know best.

— Bill Prestwich, Dundas

Hamilton's Mayor Fred Eisenberger and Canada's Liberal leader Stephane Dion seem to be leading rather parallel lives -- at least they have in my strange and warped mind. Both guys, in their mid fifties, defied the odds and were narrowly voted into their current positions of power at around the same time in the Fall of 2006. Everyone knows of Dion's penchant for all things environmental, but it was a leftie grassroot movement that boosted Eisenberger, the once Conservative candidate of elections past to embrace green things and defeat the pro-development incumbant Larry diIanni. Since assuming their roles of leadership both Eisenberger and Dion have had a great deal of difficulty projecting qualities that leaders need in order to lead. At this point, both seem to be out of their leagues, more suited for bureaucratic jobs as opposed to public positions. Both seem to have expiry dates that'll see them out of the scene after their respective upcoming election races.

So when Mayor Fred was unable to convince Hamilton's City Council to kill an ongoing lawsuit with the Federal govenrnment over a delay in construction of the Red Hill Valley Expressway, it was yet another example of his ineffectual leadership style. Herding cats is no easy feat, but it's a super human ability leaders need to prove that they're capable of doing. It's what voters expect of them.

So when Liberals in Quebec openly voiced their disapproval for Stephane Dion this past week I thought the Eisenberger visual showing him doing nothing as cats pranced around him was quite similar to what was happening to the Liberal leader. For syndication purposes this was more than ideal to take a local concept and turn it into a national one. -- Oh, and don't forget to vote for my cartoon.

SHAME, SHAME, SHAME, on you MacKay for your very obvious slander in the picture you present of single women of a certain age category. It may surprise you to learn that not every woman is hotly in pursuit of a man to fullfill their dreams. Your lack of understanding stands out in big red male testosterone freckles. It is surprising that your cartoon, so many times on the mark, is so obviously so far off track in this one. Be prepared for the howls of women who will protest.

Marilyn Nevills
Grimsby

It's been done millions of times before by cartoonists. I thought if I'm going to illustrate the old cliche I better do a good job. I hope people like it.

M.K. Wilson of Hamilton writes about this cartoon:

Even for a cartoon, Mackay is showing bias against women (?) since Clinton has a longer whip and her face is much more contorted than Obama's!

Well add me to a list of people who can't draw Hillary Clinton from this new site, badcartoonist.com, which is positively shaking up the editorial cartoon industry.