Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis for November 03, 2015
Transcript:
"Rat imposes 'Smart Test' before voting." Rat: Pardon me, sir. But before voting, you need to answer a simple question about your government. Man: No problem. Rat: Name just one justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Man: Harry Connick Jr. Rat: That's 'American Idol'. Man: Is there a difference? Rat: Please, sir. Step away from the voting booth.
BE THIS GUY about 9 years ago
Does it help that Harry Connick Jr.’s father was a lawyer and district attorney?
Rob Rex about 9 years ago
I would’ve asked for the name of his current representative myself.
Sherlock Watson about 9 years ago
How about Judge Reinhold?
Bilan about 9 years ago
Is that where they have tryouts for Diana Ross’s backup singers?
Kind&Kinder about 9 years ago
It’s great to Rat on track while the rest of the country loses its collective mind over Trump and the Trumpettes, including Jeb!, who is going to fix it all. I’ll wager that at least half of all eligible voters can’t pass Rat’s test
blunebottle about 9 years ago
“Is there a difference?”Hey, Rat, he’s got the right idea- let him vote!
knight1192a about 9 years ago
“Name just one justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.”
I’d be asking past or present cause I’m more likely to remember some former justices. Present I’m more likely not to want to even think about them.
cdgar about 9 years ago
Requirements for being on the Supreme Court? None. They’ve made some pretty awful decisions lately.
woodworker318 about 9 years ago
The same way.
Brass Orchid Premium Member about 9 years ago
It only works that way if you are recommending a Supreme Court Justice and the Congress decides you don’t get to vote.It happened to Bush with Harriet Miers, actually.As a lawyer, and former White House Counsel, she was unable to read and understand the Constitution, though not as much as myself, for instance.Not even a lawyer, I am therefore unable to read and understand the Constitution and formulate an opinion that reflects the Founders’ intent and vision. The People are ignorant and must be controlled by the elite. That’s what they say it says, though I’m really not seeing it.
Brass Orchid Premium Member about 9 years ago
And thus the rise of Tương Ớt Sriracha (“Rooster Sauce”) by Huy Fong Foods.The world grinds on.
mammamoonbeam about 9 years ago
As my dear, departed husband used to say “Fat,dumb and happy.” Scary isn’t it?
Plumbob Wilson about 9 years ago
Choosing between the parties is like choosing between head lice and pubic lice. To carry the analogy a little further, the head lice say you should choose them because the pubic lice are parasites, and the crabs say the same about the head lice. They get all the voters convinced that their problems are a result of people who chose the louse that they didn’t vote for. Which is exactly what the lice want: people don’t realize that their problem is having lice in the first place.
juicebruce about 9 years ago
Question of the day: Will you and did you vote ?………..Myself, I will when the poles open !
StCleve72 about 9 years ago
Was Pastis inspired to do this arc while watching Bill Maher talk about how stupid Americans are or while watching “Jay Walking” on Leno? Probably the former since it’s current but remembering the latter as well.
whiteheron about 9 years ago
Remember when there was a civics class in schools?I guess we don’t need it now since we have the legislative branch doesn’t want to actually legislate but the executive and judicial branches do.And don’t pick sides, they both only care about their own pocket book. That’s why if they aren’t rich when they go in, they are when they finally go out.
Cameron1988 Premium Member about 9 years ago
now that’s the perfect job for Rat
starcandles Premium Member about 9 years ago
The one time I agree with rat. Saw one of those man on the street interviews, & 8 out 10 persons could not name the vice president.
Sisyphos about 9 years ago
Governmental cheap solution: cut through to the nitty-gritty. Outlaw stupidity. Spend the next generation and and the next generation’s total income trying to come up with a workable, non-offensive definition of stupidity.
Now, that’s stupidity. And the gummymint Self-Righteous wonder why nobody loves them except for those whose love they buy….
JudyAz about 9 years ago
It’s not Worcester sauce, it’s Worcestershire sauce. As in “whut’s dis here sawce?” (say it fast)
Concolor44 about 9 years ago
This may be the first time I’ve ever agreed with Rat on anything. But he’s pretty much got it nailed. Those who are too stupid to understand the issues, or too disconnected to care, should not vote. They only muddy the waters.
ThriceRocket239 about 9 years ago
I demand that we institute this for every election!
chris_o42 about 9 years ago
>tsk< Everyone knows the best answer to that is Judge Judy. Now I am heading out to vote, are you?
OGWhatahunk about 9 years ago
Alfred E. Newman for POTUS
steverinoCT about 9 years ago
Funny— I drove through there this weekend, and the GPS pronounced it properly.
steverinoCT about 9 years ago
I can name the Supreme Court justices. I can’t name anyone on American Idol (I think— I saw Howard Stern and Howie Mandel in YouTube clips— was that Idol?)
dutchs about 9 years ago
In “Invisible Man,” Ralph Ellison relates a tale of a black voter in the Jim Crow South whose literacy test was to recite the Constitution. Which he did, just to show them up. (He still wasn’t allowed to vote). Make it universal, and I could get behind that. Or a more manageable proposal I saw once was require people to recite the Bill of Rights verbatim. Elitist? Maybe. Sue me.
Eric S about 9 years ago
good thing that guy’s not black.
JudyAz about 9 years ago
Wow, new one on me! And from the makers of cat-soup, too!
3pibgorn9 about 9 years ago
Disqualification!
Marathon Zack about 9 years ago
Personally, I think having to know a Congressman or Representative from your district would be more important than knowing a judge, since judges aren’t voted on.
bmonk about 9 years ago
Hmmmm—Roberts, Ginsberg, Kennedy, Scalia, Thomas, Breyer, Sotomeyer (sp?)—is that enough? I’d add O’Connor, but I believe she retired.
abbybookcase about 9 years ago
anybody watch supergirl last night? according to the 1 character, ruth bader ginsberg can drink the rest of them under the table. you go girl!
billswingle about 9 years ago
Excellent strip today!
finnygirl Premium Member about 9 years ago
Though I was only familiar with the longer version, apparently both versions of the W. sauce are correct. Here is a short clip from Wikipedia….Worcestershire sauce, sometimes shortened to Worcester sauce, is a fermented liquid condiment of complex mixture, of British origin from Worcester and popularised by Lea & Perrins..
Number Three about 9 years ago
That’s one voter out.
xxx
Logical Duck about 9 years ago
This version of the Supreme Court seems the most appropriate for PBS.
jackpop about 9 years ago
Judge Judy?
milordrevan about 9 years ago
Honestly I care more about local and state politics than I do federal politics. I’m not too involved in politics at all, but I feel like my vote counts more at the state level than it does at the federal one. Plus it helps me not get offended by all the mudslinging on facebook, reddit, and other social media sites, because most of that stuff has to do with federal politics.
knight1192a about 9 years ago
Don’t ask just Mass, ask New England as a whole. Because in Mass alone there may be multiple pronunciations based on where you are in the state. Try both WUUSS-tər and WiSS-tə.
As for the Worcester comment, there’s a joke that as far as Boston is concerned there is nothing west of Worcester.