Today’s Ted takes

Reagan, after the Marines were bombed for a third time in 1984 on why security hadn't improved since the 1983 bombing: "Anyone who's ever had their kitchen done over knows that it never gets done as soon as you wish it would."

Not kidding.

Of course, your inspiration for this cartoon (Atlantic) fails to mention that the democratic Speaker of the House, the great Tip O'Neill placed the deaths of these soldiers squarely on the Republican President Reagan or how Walter Mondale, the democratic nominee for president in 1984 used the deaths of these marines against the incumbent Republican president in his presidential campaign, or that there was a bipartisan congressional investigation. In fact Mondale said that Reagan didn't listen to his generals either, similar to Biden. Contrary to your cartoon, I don't believe that there are any Republicans or Democrats that are not grieving over the deaths of the marines, all of America is grieving, even the guy looking at his watch.

There is one more thing the two Presidents had in common. They were (Reagan) and are (Biden) cognitively impaired.

PeterSimon:

If you'd done your research, you'd realize that O'Neil and Mondale were both criticizing Reagan for his remarks comparing the death of 241 marine to "having your kitchen done":

Mondale: ''Being President and countering terrorists is a much more difficult task than fixing up the kitchen.''

"O,Neill: It was a ''blatantly stupid alibi for the destruction of our embassy in Beirut.''

If Biden had ever compared the death of 241 marines to "having your kitchen done", Republicans' heads would explode, and he'd be impeached on the spot.

As it is, they're STILL trying to impeach him.

Not incidentally, Reagan was far more responsible for those 241 deaths than Biden is for the 13 marines in Afghanistan.

He sent the marines there against the OPPOSITION of his own Joint Chiefs of Staff. They warned him. He did it anyway.

Yet Democrats didn't try to impeach him. Go figure.

Hey Ted...can you fast forward to the future where you do a political cartoon where you do your best to spin the $80 billion in left equipment by the current administration, which, will be eventually used either physically or as sellable assets by the Taliban or their cointerparts to commit Terorist attacks on our home soil? You are so witty that I'm sure you can figure out a way to make it ok. Or maybe you can just hold everyone equally accountable regardless of political affiliation. You are so enamored by anything the Democratic party does (right or wrong) you might as well be wearing Monica Lewinsky 's dress...stains and all.

My goodness. Get a life, you guys.

They're cartoons.

And please. Try to respond to facts with facts.

Not adolescent attempts at witticisms about Monica Lewinsky's dress.

What are you? 8?

Sorry Ted, but your cartoon says October 23, 1983. That attacked was on a US Military base. Shortly thereafter in September 20, 1984, the US Embassy was attacked. Reagan's quote was after the embassy was attacked, Reagan's statement was an answer to questions regarding why the US has not improved its security. So your response is very confusing since you attributed the Reagan quote and subsequent comments to that quote from O'Neill and Mondale from a different event that I had originally responded to. Also, how does a minority party try to impeach a president, didn't the Democrats try that recently when they were the minority party in the Senate. It didn't work out. I admit some politicians are not that smart, but this would be simple math.

Sorry, PeterSimon.

But you're the one who said Tip O'Neil put the blame for those marine deaths, as you expressed it, "squarely on the Republican president Reagan".

In fact, this is how O'Neil responded, on October 27, days after the bombing:

"In a rip-snorting speech to fellow Democrats at a closed caucus on the Lebanon question, House Speaker Thomas P. (Tip) O'Neill Jr. (D-Mass.) roared that his party should put "patriotism above partisanship" and back President Reagan, according to members who were present."

Sure doesn't sound like he's attacking Reagan for the marine deaths.

Later on, when the embassy was attacked (the third bombing, with more loss of lives), and Reagan talked about "doing the kitchen", O'Neil had had enough. That's when he criticized the president.

Wouldn't it be great if Kevin McCarthy would support Biden as O'Neil supported Reagan?

Yeah, right.

@ted

"What are you? 8?"

Says the guy who draws cartoons in an attempt to push a one sided political agenda or to protect or down play the failures of "your side".


I can't draw, so my literary "witticisms" are intended to create an image in people's minds of what you are and what you really are doing with your illustrated "witticisms"

Our leadership let us down, not the first time and not the last. Maybe you should've tried to illustrate that rather than reaching back into history to defend your guy.

I have never commented on your stuff, because frankly, I don't care about the opinions of those whom I would not seek advice. However, in this instance I'm a veteran U.S. Marine and am seriously offended with your pimping the deaths of my fallen brothers and sisters for your political gain.

Sorry again Ted, I believe your Tip O'Neill quote was to support Reagan in the invasion of Grenada. Not to provide cover for Reagan for the bombing of the marine base.

PeterSimon:

Sigh. Sorry, Peter. The O'Neil support for Reagan WAS on the Lebanon policy, just as I wrote earlier.

From the Washington Post (and it clearly refers to Reagan's "policy in Lebanon"):

"The liberal Democratic speaker of the House yesterday offered another fiery defense of the conservative Republican president's military policy in Lebanon, but other Democrats in Congress continued to search for a way to bring the U.S. Marines home from Beirut.

At the caucus, as Democrats related it afterward, Reps. Samuel S. Stratton (D-N.Y.) and Clarence D. Long (D-Md.) argued that the president has failed to set forth what the Marines are supposed to achieve in Lebanon, and that without a clear mission they can be nothing more than stationary targets for terrorists. Several junior Democrats chimed in, saying their party was obliged to stand up to the Republican president on the issue.

By tradition, the last speech is reserved for the speaker, and O'Neill took the occasion to shout his contempt for Democrats who "try to make this a partisan issue." He is in agreement with Reagan, O'Neill said, "because I am a PATRIOT!"

Let's get back to your statement that started all this--that O'Neil "placed the deaths of those soldiers squarely on the Republican President".

He did not. He was very vocal in his support after those marine deaths.

Later, after the third bombing in Lebanon, he criticized Reagan's "kitchen done" comment.

Please, let's get back to the thing that provoked all these exchanges.

I drew a cartoon in which Reagan said that Democrats didn't try to impeach him after the loss of 241 marines, while Republicans are trying to impeach Biden after the loss of 13. All true.

It was drawn as a reaction to the current political atmosphere--how polarized we have become. How things have become so ugly.

These exchanges, sadly, illustrate just that point.