Outbound

[LoneWolf23k]

Note that the professor characterizes the war in Iraq as "bloody" (dude, there have been fewer lives lost in this war than just about any previous one),

You think that's bad? Here in Canada, there are people crying out that us taking over occupation-duties in Afghanistan has cost us too many lives already..

...11 soldiers have died so far.. that's all.

The anti-war folks will jump on any number as "too much"...

[T.s.a.o]

you should've seen the protest in 'Frisco!....I didn't, it was already 3:00, though there still were posters all over city square.

[Hallan]

Well, y'know, I USED to like Rain Simpson's "Ozy and Millie". But Mr. Simpson is prone to inject his personal view of politics into his strip, and he's very much of the anti-Republican, anti-Bush, "unsupported allegations are funny" crowd. I miss reading about Ozy and Millie being kids, because they were great at that, but several dozen variations on "Bush is a doody head" got old.

Agreed. Ozy and Millie was the second comic I ever started reading, but I no longer bother because of the open, unabashed bias and repeated opposition-bashing. It's just not worth the annoyance.

Hallan

[Jachra]

Open, unabashed bias does get annoying. Even if I agree with it, I don't really enjoy seeing a comic strip used as a soapbox, religious or political (or both, in some cases.)

In this particular case, the bias is remarkably weak. After all, this is the way these soldiers fight, their mode of operation, the only way they can fight, disgusting and unjustifiable though it is. Nor is he insisting they're 'jealous' of us or some such rubbish.

I largely ignore such. It's not like you're going to argue with the author over what appears in a strip...wellll, you might, but you won't get very far.

Which is, of course, part of the problem...Any biased argument appearing in a comic strip or similar medium will, inevitably, go unchallenged.
That, or they will be challenged by Gil or the near equivalent. You might as well consider the argument unchallenged in that situation.
(Those just above this would be my primary difficulty with using a comic strip in this capacity.)

Now...
Since when do you have to make up radical conservatives or Christian extremists? ;D (Note of course that the earlier part of my post indicates that I am well aware of Islamic extremists.)

If he was insisting that all muslims are extremists, then I'd be really annoyed. I've seen some of that idiocy around where I live.

The anti-war folks will jump on any number as "too much"...

Primarily because some people really do believe any number is too much. Personally, I think they're doing an excellent job of thrashing around in the middle east so as to attract terrorists...the more go and battle them there, the less of them are available for plots against civilians elsewhere. Their purpose is to protect the civilians, after all.

[Squeaky Bunny]

Well, y'know, I USED to like Rain Simpson's "Ozy and Millie". But Mr. Simpson is prone to inject his personal view of politics into his strip, and he's very much of the anti-Republican, anti-Bush, "unsupported allegations are funny" crowd. I miss reading about Ozy and Millie being kids, because they were great at that, but several dozen variations on "Bush is a doody head" got old.

I still read Ozy and Millie. When D.C. makes his weak attempts at political humor, I just shake my head sadly. It's like seeing a friend who is ill and will never be well again.

I would suggest avoiding his "I Drew This" comic. Its claim to be unabashed liberal humor leads me to believe that 'liberal' humor is comprised of nothing more than childish insults and inane ridicule.

I've noticed that, when it comes to political statements in comics, conservatives have a much harder time being funny --- mainly, because they actually EXPLAIN their position. They make it abundantly clear that the issue in question is, to them, no laughing matter. They want folks to understand where they're coming from.

And that, of course, is not really funny. It's not MEANT to be. It's using the medium of comics to make a point, something that Garry Trudeau has won Pulitzer prizes for doing. And RH, for all his conviction on various issues, has nothing on the kind of slant daily purveyed by "Doonesbury".

So, I'm gonna keep reading. Not just because I largely agree with RH's view, but because unlike so many liberal cartoonists, he explains himself and gives you the opportunity to debate his position. Trudeau doesn't even have a comment board.

[T.s.a.o]

I just started Ozzy and Millie, so I guess that's why it doesen't sound so bade to me. I mean, that comic is MUCH milder than like Opus, Non Squitor, Doonesbury (although that is milder than the other two also), and The Boondocks. I really hate the boondocks now because it sold out to 'the Japanese style is the greatest thing in the world' mentality. A few of the old 'Bloom COunty' strips were funny, when it wasn't mainly political and I like some of the non squitor 'short stories' I guess. But overall Ozzy and Millie is a more peferrable liberal media for me.

[Tbolt]

I must admit that Ozy & Millie's occasional forays into the lives of non-atheletically gifted children in the public school forum are what keep me going back. I don't like most of his political humor, but our politics disagree, big whoop.

The only strip that I really can't stand to read is Doonsbury. Every time I think I'll give it another go the author confirms why I don't want to go back. The strip belongs on the editorial page, not in the comic section.

Mallard Fillmore I almost always find quite entertaining, but that strip generally agrees with my politics, so I guess that's not saying much.

[Jachra]

Agreed on Doonesbury belonging in the Editorial as opposed to Comics.

As a kid, I could never understand it even remotely (although that may have been because I shunned television.)

[Squeaky Bunny]

I could understand putting Doonesbury in the editorial page IF it had any politically relevant content. Unfortunately it seldom does. The comics page is for humor or drama, but Doonesbury fails at that too.

[Sharuuk]

To be sure we have a fair and balanced view here, let's have a show of hands for those who will continue to keep reading the comic and enjoy it.

*raises hand* That's one.

*joins SW....with both hands high overhead*

S'aaruuk

[Sharuuk]

Congratulations RH! You now have seminar posters to you forum. You know the "I used to like your comic but……"

Kind da sounds like the talk radio seminar callers who always start out with "I used to be republican but….." or "I voted for Bush but….."

Looks like you are making the big time now RH!

Absolutely......Rush would be proud!

S'aaruuk

[TGIF]

I'd like to see more strips similar to those of the first 2 years.

I too enjoyed the humor and romance of the earlier strips more than the current run, but since I expect my enjoyment of a strip to vary from arc to arc, I don't cut and run when things aren't five stars out of five.

And as much as it pains some people, the political points that Ralph makes need to be heard. Regardless of how people may feel about Bush, we are fighting an enemy so different from us that most of us can't even begin to understand how they think.

The latest example is the case in Afghanistan, where a man is on trial for his life for converting to Christianity. Even so-called moderate imams who opposed the Taliban and who were considered friendly to the US are calling for this man's death - warning that if he isn't killed by the court that he should be killed by street violence. (See watered down CNN article here).

So while the movie viewing portion of the latest arc isn't as entertaining or enjoyable as when Tuck and Thelma's relationship first blossomed, or as hilarious as when Nip got his revenge at stunt school, Ralph is advancing the story while expressing his views on a very important topic.

TGIF

[Sharuuk]

Well said TGIF....very well said....my sentiments exactly. And you are absolutely correct in your assurtion that the enemy we are now facing is so unlike any we've ever faced before that most people can't comprehend their mindset and the fact that they hate us simply because we exist.

Also, the situation of the man sentenced to death for converting to Christianity should be absolute proof of what the radical Islamists are all about......convert to Islam or we will kill you.

Thanks for stating it so clearly.

S'aaruuk

[EdBecerra]

Also, the situation of the man sentenced to death for converting to Christianity should be absolute proof of what the radical Islamists are all about......convert to Islam or we will kill you.

Thanks for stating it so clearly.

S'aaruuk

And of course, these radicals insist that they are the only ones allowed to define what the rules of Islam are.

And if you dare to complain, you get a statement of how Allah TOLD them - in person! - that they are his earthly enforcers, and only they are allowed to claim that, by virtue of how fanatic they are.

Feh.

[Alaskawolf]

I'd like to see more strips similar to those of the first 2 years.

i enjoyed those too.

[T.s.a.o]

I think this is a rare and honerable moment....
This Sunday's Boondocks was Hilaruous! He finally had nothing to say!!!!
OK sorry about that to anyone raising thier link guns....anyway, does anyone else want to shout to Steven Pastis to go back to being a lawyer? What's wrong with comics being around that are centuries old?

[Calbeck]

I would suggest avoiding his "I Drew This" comic. Its claim to be unabashed liberal humor leads me to believe that 'liberal' humor is comprised of nothing more than childish insults and inane ridicule.

I did in fact check it out for several weeks, and instantly became very active in the forums. Alas, most of the ensuing "debate" amounted to "you're a conservative, so [insert prejudicial statement here], and that means I can dismiss anything you say out of hand without having to actually address it". It just wasn't worth the time invested.

[RHJunior]

The Vision of the Anointed, by Thomas Sowell.

[Tbolt]

Got that book, definitely not light reading, you should have a collegiate level vocabulary to tackle it, but he puts out a lot of terrific information and has the references to back it up!

[Squeaky Bunny]

I would suggest avoiding his "I Drew This" comic. Its claim to be unabashed liberal humor leads me to believe that 'liberal' humor is comprised of nothing more than childish insults and inane ridicule.

I did in fact check it out for several weeks, and instantly became very active in the forums. Alas, most of the ensuing "debate" amounted to "you're a conservative, so [insert prejudicial statement here], and that means I can dismiss anything you say out of hand without having to actually address it". It just wasn't worth the time invested.

I saw that pretty much from the outset. Even the title of the strip sounds like a small child boasting about their accomplishment.