Michael Ramirez; From the Archives
From America's Premiere Editorial Cartoonist
Michael is taking a day off today, so I thought I’d share some of his powerful art as we approach the 20th anniversary of that terrible September day in 2001.
My friend John Hinderaker, founder of the fantastic Power Line Blog, notes how others see us in an essay yesterday:
The U.S. press is trying to pretend that everything is normal, Afghanistan is a blip on the screen, and Joe Biden has some idea what he is doing. The foreign press, and foreign commentators and politicians, have been much blunter in assessing recent events. Thus, the Telegraph reports: “Britain should ‘fill the void’ left by US as global leader after Afghanistan withdrawal.”
Boris Johnson has been told to order a “complete overhaul of Whitehall” so that Britain can fill the void of global leadership left by the US.
Tobias Ellwood, the chairman of the defence select committee, said the withdrawal from Afghanistan raised the prospect that terrorism would “once again be allowed to thrive and the limits of UK and western influence exposed”.
The Tory MP noted that with America’s new “isolationist policy,” it was “a dangerous geopolitical turning point”.
He added: “If Britain wants to fill that void – as we should do – it will require a complete overhaul of Whitehall, upgrade of our strategic thinking, our foreign policy output and our ability to lead.”
The geo-political fall-out of the last month dominated the Commons debate, with Andrew Mitchell, the former international development secretary, saying Britain was “now in a pivotal position”, because of our membership of the UN Security Council.
The Brits are correct that the Biden administration’s incompetence has created a power vacuum, but the idea that they will be the ones to fill it seems much too optimistic.
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In 2009, I retired as president of a regional youth symphony to pursue political activism in service to Constitutional freedom. In those days, we thought that our biggest challenge was to dial back Obamacare, control spending, and regain individual rights. Our efforts were not in vain, but today’s empowered “woke” environment is crushing free speech and civility, the only tools we have to discuss difficult topics.
Social media giants seek to control the conversation on Facebook and Twitter, but newsletters like this, as well as new social media outlets like MeWe and Parler, are pushing back. Michael and I cannot thank you enough for subscribing.
Here’s what we’ve been reading today:
Blinken: Not a hostage crisis — JIM GERAGHTY, NR
Gloomy U.S. Gives Biden Low Marks Across the Board —-Liz Peek, FOX News
Two questions about Afghan refugees — BYRON YORK, EXAMINER
You’re Lyin’ Eyes? —J. Peder Zane, Real ClearPolitics
Not all Identities Created Equal —Thomas G. West, Law and Liberty
Everything is Infrastructure Now —Eric Boehm, Reason
Teachers Unions: Too Lazy to Work, Too Callous to Care —Washington Examiner
Waking Up to Woke Education —Scott Yenor, Law & Liberty
Real Progress Is Not What Progressives Have in Mind —Cleta Mitchell, Am. Greatness
Can Newsom Fend Off California Voters' Fury at His Misrule? —New York Post
John Paulson's Faulty BTC Call Is Opportunity —Eric Wade, American Consequences
A tale of two Hunters — PHELIM MCALEER, NY POST
It seems I forgot to include Michael’s recent sketches; I hope you enjoy seeing these. As I’ve described before, Michael carries a pen and sketches ideas ALL the time, even on dinner napkins. You can always check out our main website for all of Michael’s cartoons (since 2015), but these sketches are exclusive to subscribers.
That’s all for today! We should return tomorrow morning with another new cartoon. As always, let me know how I’m doing with editing in the comments, or contact us directly at ramireztoons@gmail.com
Best,
Melissa