What are you voting for?

For those of you who are still undecided about the presidential election and like your words with pictures (and who doesnt?), check out my friend Larry Fessenden's excellent comic What Are You Voting For? There is a printed comic, but the web-based version is quiet cool. The graphics are wonderful and Larry wrote the text -- and did a great job packing everything in clearly and cogently.... and if you have been paying attention you know there is an overwhelming amount to pack in there. If you haven't been paying attention, this thing is a must read.

Normally a filmmaker, Larry likes to spread his subversion in all media.

My footnote: I had the pleasure of reading this in proof form and caught something that I didnt think withstood scrutiny. Check out this delicious treat for Bush haters entitled "Bush's erratic behavior worries White House aides." I, too, relished this:

President George W. Bush’s increasingly erratic behavior and wide mood swings has the halls of the West Wing buzzing lately as aides privately express growing concern over their leader’s state of mind.

In meetings with top aides and administration officials, the President goes from quoting the Bible in one breath to obscene tantrums against the media, Democrats and others that he classifies as “enemies of the state.”

[snip]

But the President who says he rules at the behest of God can also tongue-lash those he perceives as disloyal, calling them “fucking assholes” in front of other staff, berating one cabinet official in front of others and labeling anyone who disagrees with him “unpatriotic” or “anti-American.”

Alas, history students, what is wrong with this article? Can you spot the problem with evidence? There is not one quote actually attributed to a real live human being. Ah well, no matter how believable it may be, without the evidence it is no more than fantasy (and if you want fantasy, check out Rush and O'Reilly -- they who are unbound by rules of evidence or anything else).

But then again, check out today's White House Briefing from the Washington Post. Dan Froomkin summarizes a slew of pre-convention profiles of Bush:

In describing his character, profilers consistently see Bush as a risk-taker who acts decisively and never looks back. Supporters see this as strength, critics see this as foolishness.

Looking at his leadership style, reporters conclude that while Bush is indeed assertive, he also often lacks curiosity and patience and has little interest in details.

Several also report that he has a private, darker side, describing him as prickly and cranky, particularly at the end of the day.

The upshot? Maybe you were on to something, Larry, after all...

But if you want some real insight into Bush, read this whole thing about the great conservative thinker Kevin Phillips.