Cartoon Saturday

Welcome to Cartoon Saturday or, as some would call it, "wire-tapping."

Mr Trump accused the Obama administration of wiretapping Trump Tower during the presidential campaign, and has tried to walk back the accusation in view of the total lack of evidence*; the Trump administration has issued its proposed budget, which guts virtually every part of government except defense, homeland security, and veterans' affairs; Secretary of State* Rex Tillerson, on a trip to Asia, says that US "strategic patience" with North Korea has been exhausted, and military options are on the table; Israel has attacked targets inside Syria, and the Syrians claim to have shot down an Israeli aircraft - an allegation Israel denies; German Chancellor Angela Merkel has visited Washington, after Mr Trump used her and her policies as a punching bag during the presidential campaign; and a New York City emergency medical technician was killed Thursday when a man stole the ambulance she was driving, then ran her over.

As the Trump administration continues with its policy of outright lies, exaggerations, denial of facts, and general craziness, I thought a collection of obliquely topical cartoons might be appropriate ...

What's left of the State Department approves this message ...

Okay, this one's not political. But it's cute ...

Talent contests in the Trump era ...

This cartoon has been in my collection for decades and it never seems to go out of style, particularly in the era of #resist ...

The rest of the world used to look up to us. Now, not so much ...

Okay, here's another non-political one. I surely do wish I'd had this app over the years ...

As far as the GOP is concerned, guns need to be allowed everywhere. Except, of course, in the halls of Congress, at the Republican national convention, and in similar venues. Imagine that ...

Perhaps Mr Trump would be happier here. I know I'd be happier if he were there ...

There's a reason why a lot of people still support Mr Trump ...

Conan and Mr Trump use the same approach to the media ...

And that's it for this week's Cartoon Saturday. I hope you enjoyed it.

Here in NoVa, the past week's snowstorm is gradually melting away, and is being replaced with rain and slowly rising temperatures. I'd like to be able to work in the yard, but I think it'll be a week or two before I can start facing up to that challenge. In the meantime, I'll just concentrate on other important things like housecleaning and minor repairs. Ugh.

Have a good day, and come back tomorrow for Musical Sunday. More thoughts then.

Bilbo

* Of course, that means nothing to those who worship the quicksand he walks on.

**  The State Department ... you know, the one responsible for managing our relations with the rest of the world ... the one that the Administration wants to slash by nearly a third? Yes, that one.