The Art Of Politics – Farewell To The 2021 Show.

Welcome, for the last time in 2021, to the Art of Politics, where we take a look at the news from the month through the lens of the worlds’ best political cartoonists…

Liar, Liar, Liar, Liar, Liar, Liar, Liar, LIAR… it’s you know who…

Well, in a month where Boris welcomed what’s being described as “at least his seventh” child, he’s also once more proved that he’s a deceitful, lying Tory whose actions and lack of anything even close to a moral compass has filtered down to the rest of the party.

Yes, it was party time for the Conservatives. Last Christmas, in the middle of the lockdown, when a nation buckled down and obeyed the rules, leaving families apart, old people not seeing their grandkids, even loved ones not able to go and say goodbye to those dying alone… the Conservatives had parties.

First they (and Boris) denied it, saying that there were no parties at Downing Street and even if there had been, they would have been in accordance with Covid rules. Obviously not just impossible but obviously lying as well.

No-one’s even sure how many parties there were, at No. 10 Downing Street and elsewhere in government, we just know that they happened, and Boris, although not directly there (although he did appear on video doing the quiz questions for one of them) was the leader pissing all over the country and the ordinary people’s sacrifices during Covid.

The hypocrisy and the general lack of care for the rest of the country is just breathtaking, although not really surprising.

All nicely summed up by Chris Riddell – from Five Years… A Sketchbook of Political Drawings – preorder from thecyclingfishbooks.bigcartel.com

Meanwhile, in other what the hell has he done wring now news… Boris’ flat refurbishment broke electoral laws and there was a damning report over the handling of Afghanistan, coupled with reports that Boris prioritised the evacuation of animals over the Afghani people… well, let’s just put it down as corrupt business as usual.

Sure, he did come under pressure and the Tory’s lost a bye-election seat in Parliament that was solid blue for many years… but the saddest thing is that no-one honestly believes that Boris and the senior Tory leadership are really that bothered.  Worse still, the opposition parties here in Britain seem to be content to sit back, making offended noises and doing nothing.

Ben Jennings – 

Banx –

Dave Brown – 

Martin Rowson – 

Seamus Jennings – 

Dave Brown –

 

Martin Rowson – 

Martin Rowson on Boris’ decline and fall…

Steve Bell on party time at No. 10 this Christmas –

Martin Rowson –

Ben Jennings on the chaotic handling of Afghanistan…

Chris Riddell –

Even David Squires, the Guardian’s excellent football cartoonist got in on putting the boot in to Boris in a typically spot-on strip on certain football clubs’ responses to the idea that an independant body oversee them…

Peter Brookes with the last two on the subject… first the complete lack of trust the British should have in Boris…

… and then the baby news – Peter Brookes again –

Lines in the toilets at Parliament? What’s that about one rule for us and another for them? 

Yep, there was a story early in December about drug use being rife across the House of Parliament. Meanwhile, Priti Patel announced a 10-year-plan to crack down on drugs…

Martin Rowson – 

Brian Adcock – 

Morten Morland –

Meanwhile, another variant, another reason for the anti-vaxxers to be morons this season…

Yes, it’s Omicron’s time to shine this winter-time… so the travel restrictions came back, despite everyone already knowing that just travel restrictions won’t help at all.

No, it’s vaccinations (AND boosters) and masks that help the most.

No, they’re not a restriction on your civil liberties, no, it’s not big brother, it’s just social responsibility. But that didn’t stop way too many idiots decrying any attempt to impose any form of mandate.

Over here, we had Boris deciding not to do anything – something he’s very good at – as Omicron spreads and hospitalisation goes up. Thankfully, it appears that Omicron, although more infectious, is less deadly and will cause fewer people to be seriously ill… as long as you’re vaccinated and masked, distancing, and generally being careful.

So, here’s Rebecca Hendin on Boris’ Xmas pressie to us all –

Ben Jennings on Boris and boosters –

Elsewhere, particularly in the USA, there was a growing movement of anti-vaxxers and deniers. Better described, as I’m sure most scientists, nurses, doctors, ambulance workers, and generally people with any sort of brain are concerned, as complete and utter morons who are either ignorant or worse still, completely dangerous – especially when it’s leaders and people in power.

So, a few comments on that from over the pond…

Kal –

Chris Britt –  

Mike Luckovich – 

Peter Schrank –

Brian Adcock –

Martin Rowson – 

Over in the USA, gun deaths keep happening and NOTHING is done…

Yes, that’s what it feels like. There’s seemingly no gun tragedy that can supplant moaning about gas prices, news of new vaccine mandates, gossip about Sarah Jessica Parker, and practically anything else. The media might do a little hand wringing over it, but that’s about all now. It’s something quite strange to imagine for anyone outside the USA, how they couldn’t see that the reason for so many gun deaths, so many people, men, women, children, killed by guns across the country, has something to do with the availability of guns.

But no. The desire to own guns, the twisting of the ideas of the Constitution, the power of the NRA, the sheer insanity seems to be overwhelming the argument. And so more die and there’s so little said about it.

Kal –

Mike Luckovich – 

And Chris Britt on similar –

Of course, it doesn’t help when the Right wing, pro-gun, pro-NRA members of the Senate and Congress start sending out cards celebrating guns in the aftermath of the Michigan school shooting – with both Rep. Thomas Massie  and Rep. Lauren Boebert posing with their family and their guns for their Christmas pictures.

Mike Peters – 

Ann Telnaes –

Protect them in the womb, ignore what happens later. Is that the message?

It’s an obvious juxtaposition to make, but the lack of care about gun control and the life of children coming from the political Right over in the USA is in stark contrast to the furore over abortion law and the sanctity of life before birth…

Kal –

Nick Anderson – 

After so many years, it really does seem as though there’s a concerted effort right now in overturning hard won victories for women and minorities as the Republican Party, complete with the right-leaning Supreme Court begin to think what many considered to be the unthinkable.

Mike Peters – 

Ever more polarised and radical politics…

So much nastiness going on with US politics in the last few years, but post-Trump it actually seems to have accelerated, with Republican Representatives and Senators throwing all manner of offense out seemingly without thought.

Take this one, where Republican Rep. Boebert (yes, her again) essentially accused Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of being a terrorist….

“So the other night on the House floor was not my first jihad squad moment,” Boebert told a crowd. “I was getting into an elevator with one of my staffers and he and I were leaving the Capitol, we’re going back to my office and we get in the elevator and I see a Capitol Police officer running hurriedly to the elevator. I see fret all over his face. And he’s reaching. The door is shutting. I can’t open it.”

“What’s happening? I look to my left and there she is, Ilhan Omar, and I said, ‘Well she doesn’t have a backpack, we should be fine,'” Boebert continued. “So we only had one floor to go and I say, do I say it or do I not? And I look over and I say, ‘Look, the jihad squad decided to show up for work today.’ Don’t worry, it’s just her staffers on Twitter that talk for her. She’s not tough in person.”

That’s the finest the nation has to represent them? God help us all.

Nick Anderson on that one…

Chinese Olympics. That’ll show ’em…

American responded to the various Chinese human rights violations ahead of the 2022 Winter Games by telling the world that some of its diplomats wouldn’t be going. Not the athletes – no, they can still go. Britain and various other countries followed suit.

China… well, Kal said it best…

Right then, that’s it for 2021. I’m sending this for posting a few days early as it’s coming up to the New Year and it’s time for a glass to be raised and a rest to be had.

So, if all the politicians could please refrain from royally screwing up anything in the last three days of the year, that would be appreciated. I know, it’s doubtful.

We’ll return next year for The Art of Politics 2022 – where the world will magically change into a place where all the politicians start listening to sense, following the science, empathising with normal folks, and come together to make the world a far better place. Yeah, right. It’s a nice dream though.