SlowpokeBlog

Well, I'm sure to receive some colorful e-mails over this one. This cartoon was partly inspired by a few missives from Bush supporters last week that suggested I wasn't "open-minded" enough.

I actually think the whole "who's more intolerant" debate is pretty silly, and a distraction from the Machiavellian machinations of Cheney & co., but alas, I will respond:

First, I'm a political cartoonist, which means it is my job to make fun of stuff. Secondly, and this is just a thought, but have you looked at your own party lately? You know, the one that's currently purging non-Bush loyalists from the CIA? The one that refuses to work with Democratic lobbyists in Congress? The one that is claiming a mandate based on 51% of the vote? The one that's excluding Democratic congresspeople from the legislative process? The one that demanded loyalty oaths at Bush rallies? The party of Ann Coulter? Of Bill "Shut up!" O'Reilly? Of Rush "feminazi" Limbaugh? Of Michael "die gay pig" Savage?

Anyone who does not renounce all of these things up front before criticizing the left for being "intolerant" is not to be taken seriously.

As I mentioned earlier, I think it was gross misinformation, not the fundamentalist vote, that carried the day. I do, however, find the unchecked power of extremist theocrats very chilling; witness this ever-so-tolerant op-ed piece by Frank Pastore in the Nov. 5 L.A. Times:

Christians, in politics as in evangelism, are not against people or the world. But we are against false ideas that hold good people captive... we must help those Democrats who truly want to be free to actually break free of this evil ideology.

In the weeks and months to come, we will hear the voices of well-meaning people beseeching the victor to compromise with the vanquished. This would be a mistake. Conservatives must not compromise with the left. Good people holding false ideas are won over only if we defeat what is false with the truth.

I don't believe Mr. Pastore is alone.

Punditspew, Part 2