Now he’s done it: Trump screws up a political cartoon

A man can only take so much and that might include me...

I might as well post this cartoon here because I’m not sure anyone else will ever see it.

Here’s why:

I draw cartoons and send them to my syndicate – King Features – which in turn sends them out to client newspapers. The syndicate doesn’t tell me what to draw, but they do get to choose what cartoons to send their clients.

Fair enough.

If I lose my mind (assuming that hasn’t already happened) and say something bizarre, the syndicate is under no obligation to send that bizarre statement out into the world with their name attached.

That’s how things work in general; now let’s talk specifics.

Over the weekend the New York Times put out a story that provided a timeline of what Donald Trump was told about the COVID-19 virus and when he was given the information. The story made it appear that Trump ignored the experts’ advice and downplayed the situation.

Dr. Anthony Fauci – who keeps getting into hot water for telling the truth – was asked if acting sooner would have saved lives and his answer was yes. (Dude has not learned to lie to cover the president’s ass and that’s why some people love him and others want him fired.)

So on Monday – not wanting to appear like someone who slept through Paul Revere’s ride – Trump decided to show he was in charge and taking action. He claimed he had total power to reopen the economy and the states couldn’t do anything without his approval.

That statement brought the above image to mind: Trump seeing himself as a king.

It was a bizarre claim because when it came to closing things down, he said it was up to each state to decide for themselves. Not the first time Donald Trump has flip-flopped.

But after Trump’s claim of total power, a number of governors and constitutional scholars came out and said – in words more elegant and less blunt – Trump was full of it.

After Trump’s Monday press conference, apparently somebody explained the 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution to him, because on Tuesday Trump tried to walk back his claim of total power. Hard to tell; as usual our president was fairly incoherent.

But bottom line: he screwed up the timing of my cartoon. By the time it got to the syndicate, Trump had already changed positions.

Just my opinion, but I believe Donald Trump’s position on who’s in charge of what is inconsistent and incoherent because he needs a scapegoat if things go wrong and wants credit if things go right.

Right now we need someone thoughtful, intelligent and consistent in charge and instead we have a president who’s behaving like an over-caffeinated rat in an unfamiliar maze.

Since Donald Trump screwed up my latest cartoon, I’ll leave you with one I drew a while ago, but is still current.

Stay safe, everybody.