The Right Kind Of Attention

As we've discussed the news of this past week - and truthfully much of this political season - with our staff, and others, the events of the day keep bringing up a certain childhood memory for one of our staff members.

As a child, this staffer would occasionally throw a doozy of a temper tantrum, a real get-on-the-ground-and-kick-your-heels affair. After our staffer's mother had yanked the child up, and disciplined our colorful colleague accordingly, "Staffer Mom" would sit our young hothead down and explain what the display of unfocused anger had accomplished.

"If you were attempting to get my attention, you got it," she'd say. "But it's the WRONG kind of attention."

In the same way, we've looked at many of our friends and professional contacts on the right over the last year or so, and often remarked, "I understand you like the Tea Partiers because they get you attention in the media - but it's the wrong kind of attention." That's not just our opinion. The most recent NBC/WSJ poll confirms that many in the Republican party feel the Tea Party has been good for getting them attention - even if they also think many on the far right are crazy.

We were also reminded yesterday of the power of positive attention. Even in the midst of the arrogant GOP blocking Federal funds for jobs, and the cowardly Democrats putting off the debate on tax cuts until after November's elections, positive attention still made a difference on Wednesday. The right kind of attention - cooperative, sensible, even-tempered, methodical attention - accomplished the difficult, yet worthwhile, bipartisan passage in the House of Representatives of the 9/11 Responders Health Care Bill. It's a simple bill, designed to cover the ongoing medical treatment of those who - when everyone else ran away from the World Trade Center on that September day - ran TOWARDS the burning and eventually, collapsing buildings.

Some Americans are also hoping for more of the right kind of attention this Saturday, in Washington, D.C., as the "One Nation Working Together" march meets on the Washington Mall.

Like the far-right tea party meeting hosted by Glenn Beck a few weeks ago, in the same location, the event this weekend is a combination of groups who are also angry with our government. Unlike the Tea Partiers, however, the many diverse groups hosting this Saturday's march aren't using fear, intimidation, and anger to get the attention of our leaders and media.

Instead, this group is planning on peacefully yet firmly demonstrating their commitment to continue trying to find common ground with other Americans, in order to solve the problems of our nation.

That's the correct kind of attention - something our country could use a whole lot more of.

Drawing Clarity From Confusion: Who Should We Cheer For?

It's exceedingly obvious to nearly anyone, anywhere - even outside the United States - that the American public is angry, frustrated, and worried about the future as the November election looms. However, if you're like us, and you pay attention to the details and statistics, you'll see that the American public IS angry - but they don't know WHO to be angry at and who to cheer for.

We pointed out yesterday in our "Notable News" links that, in the latest CNN/Opinion Research Poll, a majority of Americans believe that congressional Republicans are more responsible for America's economic problems than Democrats are. Yet, as Greg Sargent noted, voters say in that same poll that they currently believe Congressional Republicans are also more likely to improve economic conditions in America. This makes ZERO logical sense. Without context, informed & educated voters aren't likely to trust the same group of people they blame for the recession we're still struggling to get out of, to make that situation better. Voters operating from misplaced anger might act in this mystified way, however.

This isn't the only news topic where the normal expectations of Americans are being confused by reality.

Normally, Republican leaders can be counted on to be stalwart defenders of business interests and capital punishment. Yet Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger - one of the best known active Republican governors - recently granted a temporary stay of execution to a California Death Row inmate. More shockingly, in a speech he gave Tuesday, Schwarzenegger blasted Texas oil companies and the Koch brothers - two of the Republican Party's most wealthy billionaire backers - for spending millions of dollars to attempt to buy off California elections, specifically the attempt to repeal California's landmark climate and energy law.

Don't even get Americans started on religion; those who think they're the most devout actually seem to know the LEAST about religion, according to the latest Pew research survey.

Some Americans might think we know who to boo - like Sarah Palin when she appeared on "Dancing With The Stars" on Monday. Those Americans would be wrong. We may find her internet missives inane, or her politics offensive, but if we're going to be civil with each other, we shouldn't be booing a Mom - even Sarah Palin - who is just showing up to cheer on her daughter in a dance competition.

None of this seems to answer the question: for whom should we cheer?

We DO have a solution: In most situations, cheering should be reserved for one's favorite sports team, or favorite singer at a concert.

Responsible politics - and being a responsible citizen - is about caring enough for your country, your region, your state, and your city to research the facts and understand the details before heading to the voting booth. As the President and Vice President have echoed over the last few days, it's time for Americans of all kinds to stop their whining, and get back in the game.

Know the facts on the issues you'll be voting on in less than five weeks - and once you're educated on them, go vote.

At that point, it will become abundantly clear who to cheer for: The informed and intelligent American voter.

Hopefully, that's the only kind of voter who shows up.

Common Sense Still Isn't

As a Daily Felltoon reader, you most likely find yourself involved in political discussions on a regular basis. We frequently communicate and debate with each other on the tactics and wisdom (or lack thereof) of different political figures of nearly every type - and we know our research helps many of you as well.

When a person communicates on a regular basis with powerful bloggers, journalists, and business and political figures, it's easy to fall into a false sense of what is and is not important in such discussions, according to "common sense." We see it all the time in well-known blogs and newspapers, and we hear it on the air from both local and national sources. We also hear it in person, in far too many political discussions, the supposedly "common wisdom" that "everybody knows" some piece of information.

The truth is, common wisdom isn't exactly common.

For example, one of our staffers had a discussion with a political party official last weekend, where the official stated they had never been able to get an answer to the questions our staffer asked. Our staffer reminded the official that no one who wants to work in politics for either major party would ever give a serious answer to someone at that official's level of authority.

Another staffer recently heard from a political contact because of work on the Daily Felltoon. The political contact seemed surprised at the reach of our work. We're not surprised at all. Our staff knows a number of influential people through the country, and even overseas, who read our work, click our links, and enjoy Paul's cartoons - and we'll continue to keep that contact list private.

That we're regularly contacted by influential people like those on Capitol Hill simply proves the "common wisdom" by some of our readers that The Daily Felltoon is just another internet publication, might not be so wise after all.

Blogs and other electronic publications far more famous than ours continue to fight a similar "common wisdom." The media has changed a great deal in the last 20-30 years, and it's likely that it will continue to morph into new forms as we head into the future. Many of these forms will continue to employ more freelancers, and will continue to change the "common wisdom" of how people in positions of authority interact with members of the media.

The difference these days is that those involved in media as we are don't seem to be as heavily swayed by the "common sense" of the traditionally "Very Important People." Maybe it's because, as Paul Krugman mentioned in his own blog Monday, those like us remain professionals, while being a bit more detached.

More detached may also mean less biased, and more honest.
That's a bit of wisdom that's not so common at all.

Recommendations For A Winning Campaign

While we each have our own particular preferences in political races large and small this autumn, there are a few recommendations we'd like to give to legitimate candidates in each of the two major political parties to help them win in November. While we're certain some of what we say will fall on deaf ears, we hope that at least a few of our recommendations will make it through the media haze.

For Democrats: Fear Is NOT Your Friend. Be Proud Of What You've Accomplished.
As the fall campaigns inevitably rev up these last few weeks, the mud, bile, and accusations are as certain to rise as the sun. We think it would be wise if the Democrats kept that sort of vitriol to a minimum this year. Democratic and left-leaning voters need more than anything to be positively motivated this year - and hate won't do it. This year, no one is going to out-hate the Tea Party and the far right - so don't even try.

Democratic candidates should also be proud of the many, many accomplishments their party has begun during the last two years. That isn't to say everything is fixed - and no candidate should say anything like that. Far from it. Many topics important to Americans have moved significantly forward, however, from stopping the hemorrhaging of the economy, to getting out of Iraq, to paying down the debt, to reforming the health care insurance system. Democrats have led on all of these topics, while Republicans have fought them all the way. For Democratic candidates, it's time to be proud of what they've done - because like it or not, there's no time left to change their voting records now.

For Republicans: Be Specific. Accept Reality.
Whether or not you've read the GOP's "Pledge To America" - or any of their many other semi-official plans and pledges this year - the key thing that seems to be missing from most of them is specifics. We're well aware that the Tea Party has many moderate, sensible, thoughtful Republicans a bit scared this year, as Tea Party organizations have garnered a lot more of the media's attention so far.

Governing, however, isn't about just yelling at people, complaining about what's wrong, or making a media scene. Governing - the hardest parts of it - are often about getting the littlest details correct. Some Republicans do have some of those little details correct. They may not be flashy, or get the most media coverage - but if elected, they'll likely accomplish more than any tea party media sensation will.

Part of the way they'll do that is through the wise understanding that the soul of government is compromise. No matter how the elections turn out, it's highly likely the Democratic Party will still have a majority in the Senate - and President Obama is here to stay till January 2013, at least  (if not longer). This means that, in order to get anything done, Republicans will have to work with Democrats - like it or not.

Wise Republicans - those worth electing - know the reality that governing in America is never a strictly partisan affair.

Friday Funday: The Events Of Autumn

From the Republican "Leadership" and their new extremely vague "Contract" giving a whole new meaning to political dreck, to the Democratic "Leadership" continuing a long history of cowardice and "hippie punching" while ignoring their base - there is plenty to talk about today in the world of politics. Still, it's Friday, and for us that means attempting to pique your interest in something a bit less serious.

In case you missed it, the Autumnal Equinox was on Wednesday evening here in the U.S., marked by the the first "Super Harvest Moon" seen in the Northern Hemisphere in nearly twenty years. Awesome, if the cloud cover allowed you a peek.

For us, the season of Fall means many things, from the impending MLB playoffs, to the return of college and pro football, to a renewed focus on health & exercise - and for one of our staffers, this Fall includes early planning for an infant daughter's first December holiday season.

While many people view Autumn as a season of endings, we see it as a season of beginnings. For us, it's a time where we often travel to conferences, gather with friends we haven't seen for some time, meet with potential new clients, and begin to plan for the next year.

Several of those events will be coming together next week, near the center of the nation, in Omaha, Nebraska at the annual meeting of the North Central Chapter of the National Cartoonists Society. From Chris Browne of Hagar The Horrible fame, to Tom Richmond of Mad magazine, and nearly every type of creative cartoonist in between, the amount, type, and diversity of cartoons and creativity will be on display to the public in the River City. We're especially pleased to have the John Read collection of Sunday, April 11 comic strip originals, created by every syndicated cartoonist in America, coming to Omaha as part of the festivities. "One Fine Sunday In The Funny Pages" will be appearing at the Bemis gallery in Omaha for a limited engagement starting on October 1.

If you're near our Washington D.C. location, we highly recommend you set calendar for next Monday, where longtime friend and nationally syndicated cartoonist/columnist Ted Rall - recently returned from Afghanistan - will be giving a great presentation at renowned D.C. area restaurant and bookstore Busboys and Poets (The flagship 14th & V location).

Of course, if you're located closer to the "left coast", one of our favorite places to visit year-round is the Charles M. Schulz museum in Santa Rosa, California.

No matter where you are or what you're doing, we hope you'll pull back this weekend, and take stock in the good things that you have in your life. Listen to some music. Watch a good ball game.

There IS more to life than politics, after all.
Cartoons and those who create them, for example.

What Has The Current Congress Done For Voters? Starting Today, Health Care.

The single topic we've written the most about over the nearly two years we've been publishing has been the Health Care Insurance Reform (HCIR) bill that finally passed in March of this year.

As of today, September 23, 2010, the first wave of significant changes HCIR promised is the law throughout America - even in states that are attempting to fight it.

Throughout that discussion, we urged you to make sure you were acquainted with the real facts, not the talking points. As we learned during those debates, a majority of Americans agreed with nearly all of the individual provisions of the legislation, even if - illogically - they argued against the HCIR bill as a whole.

Since the reform bill passed, Americans have begun educating themselves on the coming changes. As they have, polls have shown a steady increase in positive opinion of the reform - as we and others (including the President) predicted they would.

With that in mind, here are the four major provisions going into effect today:

• All children must be allowed coverage, regardless of preexisting conditions.
• Individuals cannot be dropped if they become ill - meaning the practice of rescision has now been abolished. 
• Lifetime limits on benefits and coverage levels are also now abolished. 
• Children are able to stay on their parent's insurance until the age of 26.

As we also predicted, this HCIR legislation was not going to magically solve all of the nation's health insurance and medical issues. We said then it was a good start - but that further work would need to be done.  We also said then it would not surprise us one bit if the insurance companies & drug manufacturers would attempt to weasel out of their obligations to American citizens.

Right on cue, insurance companies like Aetna and Anthem Blue Cross announced this week that they'll simply stop selling new child-only insurance altogether, to avoid having to deal with the change in the law. It's interesting and appalling that these companies - some of the wealthiest businesses in America - would be willing to sacrifice sick and sometimes dying children for continued huge profits. They're not the only health-related businesses trying to skirt the new law, either.

If the health insurance companies and drug companies truly had the best interests of both their customers and their stockholders at heart, America would never have needed health care insurance reform in the first place.

We got SOME reform, thanks to this Congress. But we're a long way from being healed.

A Silent Senate is Good For No One

While we'd hoped that the U.S. Senate, one of the most famous deliberative government bodies on Earth, would have at least shown the courage on Tuesday to DEBATE the Defense Authorization Bill, we were sadly proven wrong.

By filibustering the Defense Appropriations Bill in the way that Republicans did on Tuesday, Republicans - and Congress as a whole -  showed the world that the mere idea of even DISCUSSING an idea is enough to scare them into temporarily freezing all financial moves for the world's greatest military.

To make it clear: On Tuesday, a MINORITY - less than half - of the members of one of the most famous deliberative government bodies on Earth were cowed into inaction by an idea. Our Senators were SO afraid of even DISCUSSING the idea that some gay Americans want to serve their country in the military, that they were willing to put off for months the fiscal security of the world's greatest military.

The amendment on Don't Ask Don't Tell (DADT) included in the appropriations bill would NOT have immediately struck down DADT. Rather, it would have allowed the military to repeal DADT, WITHOUT further authorization from Congress, should the study commissioned by the Secretary of Defense and due this December, recommend repeal.

DADT isn't the only amendment in the Defense Appropriations Bill that was also blocked from discussion in Congress on Tuesday. The DREAM Act - which, like DADT is also favored by a majority of Americans - was also denied the chance to be debated by a minority of Senators, mostly Republicans. This, in spite of the fact that the current DREAM Act specifically assists military recruitment AND helps solve immigration issues, two things that politicians of ALL kinds claim to be in favor of.

The largest current problem with Congress isn't that just one party or the other has more seats. The problem is that instead of working together on issues that both sides agree need to be fixed, like DADT, hyper-partisans continue to hold the Senate - and Americans - hostage, with their arrogance and intransigence. Ideas that are common sense, that most sane Americans agree with, regardless of political affiliation, are no longer being given a forum in the primary American government body responsible for discussion. That, in itself, is a shameful indictment.

We shouldn't have to repeat it, but we will: the soul of effective government is compromise. If you choose to vote for candidates this Fall who agree with the stonewalling techniques of past Democratic and current Republican congressional members, it's not just the Senate that will continue to fail.
So will you.

Foaming At The Mouth: Who Bit Whom?

We are aware that other stories may be making the headlines elsewhere today. For example, the Senate vote on DADT (which is really the Defense Appropriations Bill), or that the NBER declared that the Great Recession technically ended in June of 2009 (even though no one really believes that). Still we're tackling a story today that's been brewing for several months, now.

As a part of the media, we take a look from time to time at the conduct of our colleagues and attempt to evaluate what in the name of Heaven and Heck they think they're doing.

We're not taking about the freak show appearances in the media like the GOP candidate for Senate in Delaware, Christine O'Donnell. The Republicans really don't want to claim her - and frankly, we can't blame them. We all agree she's an outlier, not really what most sane Republicans are like. That doesn't excuse the media feeding frenzy around topics like her - or the incredible amount of poorly researched journalism promoted throughout the media in this day and age.

The coverage of Islam - and the Islamaphobics - has been especially sloppy these past few weeks. The facts that were muddled surrounding the Islamic community center in Manhattan were shameful. The mistakes and missed facts surrounding the anniversary of 9/11 were inexcuseable. The elevation of the "Pastor" of a tiny church in Florida for his threat to burn copies of the Koran to a position far beyond what his sad little display warranted was an example of the media inmates running the news cycle asylum.

We understand that many times in our modern media landscape news consumers have a skewed view of their relationship to media. From "reality tv" to "iReports" and "reader sourcing", the amateurs continue to get the impression that they're in control of the media - and that they should be. But just as you wouldn't take your car to be repaired by preschoolers, or you wouldn't want your heart surgery assigned to an English major, media consumers shouldn't expect to get reliable information from "Some Guy With An iPhone."

That doesn't excuse those within the professional media from missing or failing to distribute key facts, like the existence of a real mosque four blocks from Ground Zero long before 9-11, or the existence of two Islamic worship sites WITHIN the World Trade Center towers - both of which were common knowledge in New York. If anything, the amount of legitimate user-sourced facts available to those in the media should make us BETTER journalists, not worse.

The time for the media's dog-whistle coverage and foaming at the mouth excuses is over.

Time To Face Facts

In states from Washington to California, Nebraska to Michigan, and Virginia to Florida, state governments are beginning to ramp up their 2011 budget plans and projections.

It's a topic on which we've been ringing the warning bells for a very long time now.

The way that some lawmakers want to go after cutting budgets is nearly dhabihah: a traditional Muslim method of killing animals for consumption that's sometimes considered cruel by Western standards. We're fairly certain some of the same politicians pandering to the far right would have an apoplectic fit if they discovered the budget cutting method they're promoting also conforms with Sharia law.

Political fits and hyperbole aside, the facts are quite simple and remain as we've said they have been for some time. Even if we simply continued to fund every government project at the same percentages we are now, more actual dollars would be needed.

We're not going to say that no cuts in services should be made. Certain cuts are, in fact, called for - and should have been made some time ago. An example would be tax cuts in Nebraska that were created on the premise the state had extra money at one time to dole out. If the state ever had money like that, it's long gone - and the tax cuts that can no longer be afforded should go with them. We have no problem with tax cuts, just so long as such cuts generate jobs and revenue here at home. If the money is merely going to be squirreled away by those who already have more than enough, such tax reductions are as wasteful as burning dollar bills for heat.

The plain fact is that more revenue also needs to be generated by government agencies at most levels - and it needs to be generated from those who have money to spend.

During some of the most productive and economically stout periods of the last century - specifically, the post-World War II period from 1945 until the 1960's and 70's - the Federal marginal tax rate (the rate of taxes paid on amounts of incomes above a certain level) was nearly double what it is now. Many state and local tax rates were also significantly higher than they are now. Those tax rates weren't just a higher level of taxes paid by the wealthy; they represented a significant investment by the public in their own infrastructure - and the future we now occupy.

People will get the things they feel they need one way or another. Whether they take what they need by force through higher levels of crime and violence, or they receive what they need through opportunities created by combined public and private investment in America; that is up to the citizens of each state and local area. This is the same argument that our elders faced during the Great Depression - and they wisely chose to invest in America.

We apppeal to sane partisans on both sides of the political divide to take that same past wisdom into account when facing the budget decisions they're beginning to make now.

Friday Funday: Coming Together

As we've said before, we enjoy collaboration with different groups of individuals, and we think positive outcomes often result from those types of meetings.

It's obvious that was the case in Washington D.C. yesterday, as the Senate completed it's passage of the Small Business jobs bill, and the passage of the New START treaty with Russia. The New START treaty, in fact, has a great deal to do with the handling, reduction and disposal of nuclear weapons and materials. It's one of the primary reasons President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize.

Both bills are examples of what is possible when people put their differences aside, and focus on what we can do together.

We like the idea of getting together, and in fact, as our small but dedicated group doesn't all live in the same place, we don't get together nearly enough - with each other, or with others in our profession.

From time to time, though, when we get a chance to come together with some of our friends from the various professional and social organizations we each belong to, we take those opportunities.

This weekend is one of those times, for some of us.

In the small town of Marceline, Missouri, beginning today, will be the annual Disney Hometown Toonfest, a celebration of the life and works of Walt Disney in the town he grew up in, as a child.  It's mostly a festival for the town and the north central region of Missouri, although the Toonfest gets visitors from all over the world. The festival focuses a great deal on exposing kids to the depth and history of Walt Disney, beyond the hyper-commercialized image most of us are used to seeing. It's a wonderful event, filled with cartoon artwork and fun.

It's also a chance to get together and enjoy the company of those who work in parts of the media and cartooning business as we do. If you ever get the chance to go, we highly recommend it.

We hope that this weekend, whatever you're doing, you get an opportunity to come together with a few friends you can commiserate with and relate to about your lives.
If good food and fine beverages are a part of that? Even better.

Enjoy your weekend.

Stop Us If You've Heard This Before...

We often devote coverage to topics in our commentary repeatedly, because, unfortunately, American politics often circle around themselves repeatedly, like bad ideas orbiting the bottom of the intellectual toilet bowl. Part of the problem is a clearly understood, if not sad, fact. That fact is that modern Americans, with their nearly unlimited access to information, often choose to be incredibly ill-informed, and often act not very bright.

Political media consultants have preyed upon this weakness for some time, now. These consultants know what has been statistically proven many times, that people often don't retain information unless it's presented to them multiple times. Unfortunately, that means that those of us who continue to promote intelligent and well-informed discussion also have to repeat the truth over and over if our message is going to cancel out their misinformation.

What this adds up to, in America, is that it takes an ever-growing amount of time and money to get through to Americans.

We won't even discuss the fact that most Americans have no idea of the political shifts occurring in countries like Cuba, France, or China. We're well aware of the fact that the majority of Americans have problems looking beyond our own borders.

Still, you might think Americans would be familiar with the Tea Party, the group that's been roiling the American political atmosphere for quite a while, now. We've seen a year of rowdy demonstrations, verbal (and sometimes worse) attacks on generally anyone who might disagree with them, multiple major public events, and seemingly ceaseless media coverage of the Tea Party phenomenon. With that kind of attention, it would seem by now that the various and different sub-groups that make up the Tea Party should have caught the attention of the American public.

Yet, according to the most recent CBS/New York Times poll, nearly half of American voters have no real opinion of the Tea Party movement.

While close to half of self-idenitfied Republicans have a positive opinion of the Tea Party, among independent voters - currently the largest segment of the American electorate - the voters who will be deciding the outcomes of elections in the United States this fall, the opinion of the Tea Party is negative by nearly 2-to-1.

We won't say that the Tea Party is irrelevant, because we don't believe they are. It's obvious, however, by the lack of attention and thought the generic American electorate has given the Tea Party, that they don't agree with us.

If we were to give any advice to the Tea Partiers out there - not that we think they'd listen to any of us - we'd tell them that the key to winning independent voters is what we've mentioned this entire week. What the larger American electorate already knows, no matter who wins this fall, is that broad appeal - and the ability to find compromise - is the only thing that will move us all forward, no matter where we stand politically. As we said, we're hopeful that SOMEONE listens to our advice, but well... you know.

Now, The Real Race Begins

Whatever emotional (or financial) stake you had in the last major set of primary elections held across the U.S. on Tuesday, for better or worse, both major parties - and a few minor party candidates - are headed to the general election in less than two months.

The behavior of each major party, as well as the type of candidates running, continues to stun us, and many other political observers, as well.

There are some seriously odd political hopefuls heading for the finish line this year. The lineup runs the gamut from Alvin Green on the left to Sharron Angle, Rand Paul, Carl Palladino, Christine O'Donnell and a whole host of others on the right.

The overarching concern that we have with the election isn't over who will win what in the next seven weeks.

No matter who wins, the point we've made before - and the point that the partisans in Congress are clearly making for us right now on jobs - is that the American people expect results. So far, they haven't gotten nearly enough to satisfy them.

It's been obvious for some time that citizens are angry at their elected representatives. Not because Democrats have been too liberal (they haven't), or that Republicans have been too conservative (something almost impossible to be clearly defined these days). The problem has been that our legislators have been unable - or more often, unwilling - to find compromise on issues of major importance to the American people.

So it was good to see the small business jobs bill pass its last major hurdle in the Senate yesterday, with two seasoned Republican Senators siding with Democrats to get the bill moved to the next step. We were also cheered by the admission of many leading Republicans and Democrats that they're honestly looking at trying to find some kind of compromise on the issue of tax cuts.

Still, we remain concerned for the future after the November elections.

It wasn't just fanatical, far right candidates like Christine O'Donnell and Carl Palladino defeating centrist establishment candidates last night. Progressives like Ann McLane Kuster in New Hampshire, also defeated their more conservative fellow Democrats.

While the Democrats have a few chinks in their collective armor, for Democrats, they remain surprisingly united. The Republican Party's fractures, however, have become clearly apparent to everyone over the last year. That the Libertarians, Tea Partiers, Neo-Cons, "Religious" Right, and even moderate Republicans have areas of contention that they refuse to cede to each other, let alone anyone on the center or left, is the most troubling trend of all.

We've said it many times before: the soul of effective government is compromise.

As we all head towards the electoral finish line, we hope that every voter remembers:  the winners in November will have to work together if they wish to accomplish anything in the next Congress. If you, as a voter, choose someone unwilling to compromise, you're choosing failure and continued political gridlock.

You will have no one to blame for your poor choices, except yourself.

Can't Win For Losing

From the right to the left on our staff, we're shaking our heads today at the craziness being displayed across the professional political spectrum.

It would be easy to understand the mistakes being made if the people whose actions we're questioning were amateur political hacks, young 20-somethings who mumble uninformed rumors at political events - with their microphones still on.

The people who are making mistakes, though, are political veterans in both parties.

In Delaware and New Hampshire, a pair of traditionally Democratic leaning states, the GOP has two candidates making strong showings in each Senate race. The only problem? One of each of those on the ballot is a Tea Party backed candidate, who is likely to lose the general election, even if they win their primary races today. In both cases, the GOP establishment knew that far-right anti-establishment candidates had good chances this year - but like amateurs, they ignored the rise of those candidates and remained in denial. Now they're at war with themselves.

This insanity continues on the national level with loopy things happening on both ends of the political spectrum.

As we mentioned yesterday, Rep John Boehner agreed on Sunday's Face The Nation television broadcast that he might be willing to agree to the President and Democrats' idea to extend the tax cuts for the middle class, while letting the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy expire. This is a winning position for Republicans, and allows their candidates to say, going into the general election, "We did what we could on tax cuts, but those damn Democrats undermined us."

Instead, just like clockwork, the right-wing spin and hate machine attacked Rep. Boehner on Monday. The reason, of course, was for Mr. Boehner being willing to find ANY common ground with Democrats on ANY issue - especially tax cuts. It was fascinating how quickly he was yanked back into line.

Don't even get us started on the insane actions of current and former state governors with aspirations for national office, like Dave Heineman, Haley Barbour, Charlie Crist, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, Tim Pawlenty, or Sarah Palin. They all continue to amaze and appall.

Common wisdom might say many of these things are great developments for the Democrats.The CBO even announced yesterday that during President Obama's first complete fiscal year the Federal budget deficit DECREASED by as much as thirteen percent! Yet, Democrats are still looking at serious chances of losing their majority in the House of Representatives in November.

Have you ever imagined what it might look like if the Chicago Cubs were involved in politics, and played both sides of the plate?
You're looking at it this year, my friends.

Welcome to Autumn.

Football, The President, and the Political Right

While we've been accused of being polyanna-ish before, we'd like to think that some of the political actions happening in Washington D.C. over the last few days just might be positive signs.

Last Friday, in our News section, we pointed out retiring GOP Sen. Voinovich of Ohio admitting the hypocrisy of the Republican's past efforts to delay the President's and Democrats' small business jobs bill. Sen. Voinovich said late last Thursday that he would join with Democrats to pass that stalled jobs bill. Over the weekend,  Republican Minority Leader John Boehner finally admitted publicly that he is willing to agree to President Obama's firm position that the Bush tax cuts for the rich can expire, but that the middle class tax cuts should remain.

Both of these unexpected moves from the political right are heartening. Maybe the Republicans in Washington are finally more fearful of their hard-working but struggling constituents - small business people who need help to succeed, and industrious Americans who remain out of work - than they are of the loud and offensive teabaggers, who can somehow afford multiple trips to D.C. to shout about how poor they are.

Whatever the reasoning, we welcome the moves of both Republicans - although we're not entirely convinced of the veracity of either Sen. Voinovich's or Rep. Boehner's claims.
Maybe it's because we've read too many Charlie Brown and Lucy cartoons.

We're certain you've seen the iconic cartoons, where Charlie Brown is deceived time and time again by his "friend" Lucy, who always pulls the ball away at the last minute, and leaves Charlie Brown flat on his back.

The current Republican Party has become well-known for performing similar stunts with the Obama Administration over the last two years.  They would promise bipartisanship, and then when it came time to actually compromise on ideas, throw a fit, blame the President and his party, and refuse to compromise at all.

We're not debating that there may be fundamental differences between conservatives and progressives that have guided many of the attitudes and choices behind the actions of the current GOP leadership in Washington.

What we doubt is the sincerity with which Sen. Voinovich, Rep. Boehner and their party's leadership will be working in good faith to find compromise with Democrats before the elections this fall. Important issues like letting the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy lapse as planned, or passing the small business jobs bill that remains stalled in the Senate won't wait until next year to be completed.

Still, based on the comments of those Republicans, we hope that progress is made this week, and that the metaphorical football isn't yanked away by the GOP at the last minute.

As President Obama said on Friday, about another divisive issue, there isn't an us and a them, in America. "It's just us."

Friday Funday: The Moment of Getting It Right

On most Fridays we attempt to write something a bit more humorous, a bit more inspiring and positive - and today is no exception. First, though, we want to acknowledge a very important day.

For Jews, today is the celebration of Rosh Hashanah, colloquially known as the Jewish New Year. For Muslims, it's the end of the month of Ramadan, the holiday of Eid ul-Fitr, most commonly known as Eid. Both are celebrations that mark the end of an important period of time - and the beginning of a new period of time, one where we're supposed to forgive others their faults, and rejoice in our lives and the hope and positivity of new beginnings.

We had a moment like that this week, made even sweeter by the infuriating and frustrating miscommunication and actions of Mr. Terry Jones, and much of the media.

It was easy to see in the feeding frenzy of this past week's news coverage that way too much of the media today is too often looking for the ginned-up, overhyped controversy to boost their ratings, as we've pointed out many times before in our commentary.

As you know, our commentary is more than just the collective opinion of our staff. It's a thoroughly researched way to tie together many of the stories of the day, often to help add depth and understanding to a complex subject. We also hope you'll learn a few things and become a better media consumer and perhaps a better citizen. It's a media hybrid, what we do here... a bit of teaching, a bit of translating the universe, and a large helping of ethical journalism. It is communication at its core, with a goal of making you smile, and hopefully think.

When readers respond with thoughtful, reasoned debate, as we had happen this week, it lets us know we're doing our jobs properly, as members of the media and as your fellow citizens.

We don't expect responses from you, or even look for them, sometimes. We expect our work to stand on its own.

However, when our readers do respond from time to time, and then prove that - while they don't always agree with us - our work has helped move them from being common, unthinking, media consumers to wise citizens, engaged in critical thought, it makes much of what we do worthwhile (although, we're all partial to money as well).

Moments like that give us hope for the future.
What a way to celebrate holidays of renewal and new beginnings.

Shana Tova and Eid Mubarak.
Enjoy your weekend.

The Lessons of 9/11: What Have We Learned

With the short work week resulting from the Labor Day holiday, you may have yet to realize that this Saturday is the ninth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington D.C., and the plane crash in Pennsylvania.

As Friday is usually our day for something more humorous and less serious, we thought we'd take some time today to focus on what 9/11/2001 was like for the staff of the Daily Felltoon.

We were all in different locations that morning, working or with a day off, going about our normal routines. We were listening to the radio, or contacting clients, checking our e-mail or getting ready to pick up a friend from the airport.

Within minutes of the first plane hitting the first tower of the World Trade Center, every one of us had heard about it, and turned on a nearby TV. We picked up phones, hopped online, and tried to reach out to those we cared about. We had family and friends near the Pentagon, and friends in lower Manhattan too. Some of us are of Arabic decent - as are our families - and we knew there would likely be some not-so-thinly veiled animosity towards them.

For those of us working in the media that day, after checking on those we cared about, we continued working, even stepping up efforts to help inform or comfort our listeners and readers. Some of us spent the rest of the day gathering those we cared about, who were stranded in Washington D.C.

That day, we weren't conservatives or liberals, progressives or centrists. We - and those we worked with at that time - weren't christians, muslims, jews, athiests, or representatives of any other religion. We were then, as we are now, all Americans.

It's sad then, to see that in the nine years since 9/11 some Americans have learned nothing from the events of that day.

We're referring to the intolerant, ignorant, and offensive "preacher" and his misguided flock in Florida, and their announcement this week of their plans to burn copies of the Koran on the anniversary of 9/11. Even though news of their Koran-burning has already stirred up anger against American military troops overseas, they persist in their plans. Even though they've received rebukes for their actions from powerful politicians and religious leaders from across the political spectrum, they still plan to continue. In spite of the fact that Gen. David Petreaus has asked them NOT to hold this event, because it might endanger the lives of American servicemembers, this group and their leader persist with their plans for their misguided, stupid exercise in intolerance.

It's extremely unfortunate that such a small, fearful, out-of-touch group of people can cause this much trouble for so many around the world - nine years after another small misguided group of fanatics caused a much greater amount of trouble.

Two wrongs don't make a right. They didn't then. They don't now, nor will they ever.

Reminders...

By this point, we hope you've noticed the new look and feel of The Daily Felltoon newsletter, as well as the new look of PaulFellCartoons.com .

As promised, we've taken many of your suggestions into account, and we've retooled things here at our end.

However, while things may look done to you, just a reminder - they're not. We're still working on adding a few features behind the scenes, and we're aware of a few kinks in the new site, too. If you notice something out of place, a link that doesn't work, or a page that doesn't load, please let us know. You may also have to do a few things yourself to help with your reading experience - like clearing your web browser's cache, something we've reminded you of before on several occasions.

Generally, keeping your cool and seeing if you can solve the troublesome issues in front of you is considered a wise approach to problem solving.

Our website revamp is like a microcosm of world and political events these days.

Large numbers of people seem to only be concentrating on events that either worry or delight them - none of which are completely in final form.

Minority Leader Boehner is measuring the drapes in the Speaker's office daily, and sometimes hourly. Republicans are counting the seats they think they'll win, before the first vote has even been cast. Democrats are either oblivious or overly focused on the feeble attempts by the media to gin up a horse-race. Much of the media is still dying for the latest fake outrage to goose their ratings, since both houses of Congress and the Supreme Court are still on vacation. Meanwhile, the President seems to finally understand what the American people want - jobs - but Americans are so worried about not having jobs, they continue to show distain for him, even when he's doing what they want.

Every one of these subjects has been polled, to one degree or another - but we'd remind you of what Nate Silver tweeted yesterday: "I'd urge at least a wee bit of caution in panicking about polling results from mid-August thru Labor Day. Lots of people on vacation."

Or as we've reminded you before, things are far from finished, even if they appear otherwise.

We're Celebrating Labor Day - By NOT Laboring

For those of you who stuck at work today (or still chained to their desks, like our web guru) we're republishing a revised version of our commentary from last Thursday - with an all new Daily Felltoon cartoon.

We hope this Labor Day it truly is a day off from work for you - and not just another day without work.

Rest, relax, and enjoy.

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What Labor Day is for in America is to celebrate working class Americans, and those who stand with them.

There are those who deride the labor movement as ineffectual and nearly dead, or attempt to write it off as merely the mirror image monster twin of the evil corporate greed monster. Another common - and wrong - attitude often expressed is that those who support the labor movement lean exclusively to the political left.

If that's what you think, then you obviously need a refresher in the facts.

Two of the Republican Party's biggest heros, Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt, were both big supporters of labor. Roosevelt was also highly in favor of keeping corporate power limited, with his well-known record of trust-busting and effective regulation.

It was the labor movement that brought American workers the forty hour work week (with weekends), and the eight hour working day. It was also the labor movement that secured the minimum wage, and pushed to move children out of factory work and into schools - far more often than they should have, paying the price of progress with their own lives.

There are entire schools of thought, with large stacks of charts and numbers that prove - historically - when the working class is doing well, Americans as a whole fare better economically. The converse has, unfortunately, also been proven to be true. That is, when organizations that support working class people are weak, workers of all kinds - union and non-union alike - fare worse. Maybe this resonates with those of you out there who are currently being jerked around by your employers and treated like disposable parts - or those of you who've lost your job, while your former company took federal bailout dollars at the same time the executives at your former company received raises.

Like any holiday, the real meaning of the Labor Day holiday is what each of us make it.

We hope that today, you make it a celebration of those who've truly fought for all workers.