January 30, 2009


Categories: All entries
John de Rosier

98 Responses

  1. malclave says:

    More proof that liberals just don’t get it.

    Here’s hoping you lose your job due to the meia’s inability to report facts!

  2. Phil says:

    Congratulations, your reputation as a jerk is now nationwide!

    Cartoonist Equates Democrats to Marines in Iwo Jima
    Photo of Rusty Weiss.
    By Rusty Weiss (Bio | Archive)
    January 30, 2009 – 13:41 ET

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    In one of the more insulting comparisons seen in recent memory, Albany Times Union editorial cartoonist John de Rosier does a major disservice to the honorable men who served during the Battle of Iwo Jima, by depicting recent efforts of Democrats to pass a non-stimulating ‘economic stimulus plan’ as equally heroic.

    The cartoon shows Democrats in the role of the Marines featured in the Iwo Jima Memorial, a sculpture based on the famous photo by Joe Rosenthal entitled Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima. The exception to this replication lies in the flag being raised – the Dem’s are trying to hoist a ‘bailout flag’ as opposed to a flag of the United States.

    If that weren’t insulting enough, the cartoon also shows the Republican Party mascot, the elephant, trying desperately to pull the flag down.

    In short, the Democrats are trying to save our nation by heroically raising up the Obama bailout flag, while the villainous Republicans are trying to destroy our nation by stopping their efforts.

    More below the fold…
    Story Continues Below Ad ?

    De Rosier’s clear endorsement of the Obama bailout plan as a nation-saving measure, would seem to indicate that he also likely endorsed a similarly free-market abandoning effort passed by Bush late last year.

    Yet, de Rosier’s archives are wrought with sarcasm and skepticism of the Bush bailout plan. On September 24th, Bush is depicted as a car salesman trying to smooth talk his customer into buying into the Bush/Paulson bailout plan, only for the customer to suddenly realize that he was the one who once sold him an ‘Iraqi lemon back in ’03.’

    On September 23rd, he illustrated the average taxpayer as getting soaked and sunk by the bailout plan.

    And of course, de Rosier opted to go with the bailout plan as a ‘pig in lipstick’ card on October 3rd.

    In four short months, the Times Union cartoonist has gone from labeling a $700 billion bailout plan as a pig in lipstick, a sinking boat, and a defective car, to labeling a far more reckless $819 billion bailout plan as a heroic effort to save our nation.

    Cartoon Credit: John de Rosier/Times Union

  3. USN (Retired) says:

    “…I hope one day that you will need the help of a solider and when you do I hope they spit it your face…” (Comment by Bill C)

    The fact is: the brave men and women in uniform who defend Mr de Rosier’s right to use images of their courageous actions for political cheap shots will continue to fight and die for his right to do so.

    The question is: Mr de Rosier, will you acknowledge that the importance of their past, present, and future sacrifices far outwieghs the political nonsense that our so-called leaders conduct on a daily basis within the hallowed halls of Congress and APOLOGIZE for this slap in the face you have dealt them?

  4. Aryl W says:

    Not sure if Rusty is going to get the results he wants with his post. At least he gave John the cartoon credit…

  5. kent says:

    This is despicable. I would caution you to stay far away from any United States Marines installation for a few decades. Going near one just might be hazardous to your health.

  6. Aaron Burr says:

    The pigs here are you insane Far Right American Taliban types who have zero respect for freedom of expression and freedom of the press. It’s a freaking analogy! It is not meant to be taken literally, you dingbats! I have many veterans in my family who risked their lives and were captured multiple times behind enemy lines. They would be outraged at the suppression of journalistic freedom by you apes and knuckledraggers. Lighten the ____ up, fools!

  7. Molly says:

    You are right, Aaron. It’s not even a cartoon of Mohammed. Freedom of speech, people!

  8. USN (Retired) says:

    “…apes and knuckledraggers…” – Aaron Burr

    Typical liberal thinking: if someone disagrees with you, they must be stupid; it couldn’t possibly be that they might have a valid point, and you should consider whether your own position is flawed.

  9. Fred says:

    As I’ve said before, no one can truly determine the actual meaning of the cartoon intended by the artist or the meaning of lyrics by the song writer. The only important thing is what you believe it to be. Do you truly believe he intended to insult the marines? I bet if the marine was pulling back on the rope opinions would turn 180 degrees. Let me expose one little thing. He has succeeded. If you get offended, you return to the blog. If all you do is agree, you have a boring audience. So you are the very core of his success.

  10. Brad Taisey says:

    22 1/2 years as a Marine/Navy Officer qualifies me to tell you that your comparison of the cowardly behavior of the Democrats with the pork bill and our brave Marines is despicable, and as was noted above, NewsBusters has this on their website so the whole country knows what a PUNK you are de Rosier!!

  11. MoonSword says:

    Mr. DeRosier,

    Conservatives calling out liberalism/stupidism/evilism is certainly predictable. But maybe you did cross a line, this time. Normally, I do like your work, but when I first saw this my thoughts were, “Is he deliberately trying to rouse his critics on purpose?” Because this cartoon’s analogy also strikes me as skewed.

    But no insults or anger or resentment from me. I have far more important things in life to fuss over than a cartoon and/or cartoonist I disagree with.

  12. B Keyser says:

    Mr. DeRosier,

    As a former Marine I find your cartoon tasteless, arrogant, and lacking in anything resembling humor. You are a discredit to your profession and to your country. You are of course free to create this garbage, thanks in large part to the very men you mock. Congratulations, you’ve achieved the rank of scumbag.

  13. iknowtruthismine says:

    Fake outrage by right-wing dogma wonks, so what’s new?

  14. I can't believe it says:

    There are certain things sacred in our country besides freedom of press and speech. One of those sacred things is the courage and bravery of the fighting men and women who keep our nation safe so that freedom of the press and speech goes on.

    Twisting the image of the epitome of what it means to be a patrtiotic member of our armed forces, particularly the US Marines at the flag raising at Iwo Jima is a stab in the back, a cowardly act of trying to promote oneself, one’s career and one’s ideology at the expense of true American heroes.

    I am outraged and disgusted.

    Proud American and Proud to have served in the US Marine Corps. Semper Fi my fellow Marines. Cancel my subscription to the TU.

    Once a Marine, Always a Marine.

  15. Sean says:

    I can tell you from here in Kabul, The Demnuts have nothing in common with us.

  16. The Wizard says:

    Well John, judging by the comments above you really outdid yourself this time. This is not your first mean spirited, disrespectful and/or liberally bias cartoon, and I’m sure it’s not your last.
    But as a former Vietnam vetean who served in the US Navy Seabees alongside the Third Marine Division, I can assure you that you have insulted these brave and proud men. I can guaranty you would be in for a royal a__ kicking if you ran into any of them! :)

  17. Ken says:

    Since, the financial mess was made by the democrats with Carter’s Community Reinvestment Act and Clinton’s expansion of the program. Then Chris Dodd and Barney Frank’s blocking of oversight of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.
    Then we have the wizards of smart from the Harvard- Yale axis of stupidity trying to tell us what is best for the rest of us, so they can create a socialist country and hold onto power.

  18. silverbrunogate2008 says:

    JDR must be thrilled beyond belief with the attention. Shockingly, he has yet to respond. As it is an opinion piece, there is no need for even righteous indignation… as opinions are like, well you know… but JDR, typically, you do respond/discuss pertinent points, for example… as one has already pointed out… the apparent extreme level of hypocracy of calling the previous bailout a pig in lipstick and equating this one with a heroic effort.. why the silence? PS… I bet this one is already in your personnel file at the office with a big A+ from King Rex. Big week for the TU, piss on the Boy Scouts and upset the Marines and Vets. A TU Daily Double. Wow. Obama will surely notice the good work soon enough.

  19. Yeah, Sure says:

    Well John, on to parents day at school with your children, “This is what my Daddy does”, to your family, I am a sucksess Mom & Dad. You and I both know better John.
    You do have freedom because those brave service men and women died to insure that. Not only do you owe an apologly to the men and women in uniform, but you owe one to your family as well as the nation that you live in. This is not success John, this is ticking of the nation.

  20. mel says:

    well said, #49, well said.

  21. gunga dan says:

    This is especially egregious, given this news:



    Millions for condoms, but not one cent for defense.

  22. john says:

    As I read the vitrol in most of the comments I cannot help but think of Heidegger, who once wrote: “The most thought provoking thing in these thought provoking times is that we are still not thinking.” The majority of the above comments capture this sentiment fully. What you have above are comments from a group of people who have nothing better to do than look for reasons to be offended and perpetuate their anger. Here are some points to consider:

    (1) With regards to the charges of hypocrisy. It is simply not the case that someone is a hypocrite because they oppose one stimulus bill and yet favor another. There are lots of difference between the first one and the second in terms of what areas should be targeted, how well thought out it was, and what kind of oversite should be required. The first bill was thrown together, the target was toxic assets, and the secretary of the fed had complete disceretion as to how those funds would be dispersed. The seocnd bill tagerts infra-strucutre and tax cuts. The development of the second was not thrown together willy nilly but has been worked on since at least the election. Finally, Obama was always clear about what he thought was needed to jump start the economy, and he won the election in no small part because he was percieved to have the better solution. It is absolutely fair and critical to scrutinize the second stimulus package, but endorsing it, while rejecting the first is in no way hypocritical. It simply is not.

    It is almost univerally agreed upon by economists from across the spectrum that the country is in a precarious economic situation not seen since the great depression. We are in uncharted waters, to use a hackneyed expression. It is almost universally agreed upon that we need to have action almost immediately to keep the situation from getting worse. It is widely accepted among economists of all stripes that during a recession deficit spending is acceptable and needed. The goal should be to strike a balance between passing a bill as quickly as possible and also targeting the areas that would most likely do the greates good for the economy. Withholding your support because it does not include enough tax cuts, a proven inadequate measure is just an impediment to saving the economy.

    What has all of this to do with the cartoon? Well. . .

    If you truly believe that we are on the brink of an unprecedented economic collapse
    You truly believe that a stimulus bill needs to be passed to stimulate the economy (and notice it is a separate issue of whether or not this bill will achieve that)
    It is the case that Republicans are not supporting it because it does not have enough of the tax cuts that have proven ineffective in the past,
    It is the case that the republicans are impeding the efforts to jump bail out the economy.
    And since American capitalism lies at the ehart of American success as an ecomomic powerhouse the analogy is not an unreasonable depiction of the dire sitaution we face as a country.

    The fact is there is nothing inherently unpatriotic or un-American in this cartoon. People who are offended by it are so only becuase they believe deomcratic policies as a whole to be un-American. These people are the people who made up the fringe group of the republican party and then stepped into fill the void after the moderates bailed on the party during the last election and in the process making Rush the de facto face of the party. These are the very people who were repudiated in the last election and these are the people Sen. Mitch Mconnel had in mind when, last week, he warned of the very real danger that the Republican party could become marginalized to a regional party.

    It is absolutely amazing to me that so many people still do not get it. How can it be that so many of you just don’t get it?

  23. mel says:

    #53 – “As I read the vitrol in most comments…” just a typo….

    I was comment #1. Any “vitriol” in that one? I see lots of vitriol in your comment.

    I, and just maybe some others, see the vitriol of the drawer displayed in the cartoons. How can you just not get it? How can it be that YOU just don’t get it?


  24. ReepDaggle says:

    john (js) #53, excellent post. And a great explanation of when hypocrisy is NOT hypocrisy. “It is simply not the case that someone is a hypocrite because they oppose one stimulus bill and yet favor another.”

    Those comments come from the same mindset that latched onto Kerry’s “I voted for the bill before I voted against it”, and completely dismissed the huge differences between the two bills. Those same people consistently and conveniently failed to mention that Bush threatened to veto the first, then signed the second.

  25. john says:

    Reep, thanks for your comment.

    Mel, thanks for correcting my typo, I appreciate that you have my back. ALso I assuming your knowledge of the word stops with its spelling because if you think my comment displays vitrIol you clearly do not know its meaning or its roots in the old chemical name for sulfuric acid. But, don’t despair, mel, dictionary.com or some like source can help you. In any case why don’t you look it up and then give me one example of what you perceive to be vitriol in my comment. Also, since I said that the vitiriol was present in MOST of the comments I find it hard to understand why you took that to include yours (you can include your rationale in your response). Afterall, mel, if you know what the word means, and assume that I know what it means (despite the typo), then it would be reasonable to assume that I did not intend to include your comments as an example of vitriol, especially when there are plenty of others that exemplify the word. Finally, when your done with all that, mel, your next assignement will be to actually present a counter-argument to what I have said or would you rather look for more typos, because Mel, you know there are others in my post. I look forward to something constructive from you Mel. Thanks for your time.

  26. flack attack says:

    The most telling aspect of this entire cartoon and thread is the cowardice shown by John who all too often likes to make a snarky comment on the reaction his cartoons draw.

    Well John, common. Why are you hiding?

  27. jakester says:

    The odd thing that these two bill have in common, is that the Democrats had control over BOTH stimulus bills. They attached everything under the sun they wanted (pork), EXCEPT what is needed, REGULATION !

  28. Aaron Burr says:

    Hey flack attack, check out comment #53.

    Frankly, most of the comments are hysterical and hyperventilating. A precious few have any semblance of rationality.

    Oh, and I apologize if my reference to “apes and knuckledraggers” offended anyone.

  29. flack attack says:

    I stand corrected though it’s hard as a student of history and politics not to point out that Democrats have, for the most part, been anti-military for the past 40 years. And thus, despite whatever claims are made to the contrary by John, this cartoon is an afront to those who support or are a part of he military.
    And no, John, I am not a fringe Republican. I am not even Republican. I vote on both sides of the aisle and vote based on my views of the politican and their stance.

    That is far different from the fringe of the Republican party and far different, I am sure, from the vast majority of the editors of this paper who couldn’t bring themselves to ever push the lever for someone with an R after their name.