ABOUT JOHN CHUCKMAN

John Chuckman is former chief economist for a large Canadian oil company. He has many interests and is a lifelong student of history. He writes with a passionate desire for honesty, the rule of reason, and concern for human decency. John regards it as a badge of honor to have left the United States as a poor young man from the South Side of Chicago when the country embarked on the pointless murder of something like 3 million Vietnamese in their own land because they embraced the wrong economic loyalties. He lives in Canada, which he is fond of calling “the peaceable kingdom.”

John’s writing appears regularly on many Internet sites. He has been translated into at least ten languages and has been regularly translated into Italian and Spanish. Several of his essays have been published in book collections, including two college texts. He has published a book, The Decline of the American Empire and the Rise of China as a Global Power, published by Constable and Robinson, London. John also writes book reviews.

Apart from his writing since retiring from the oil industry, John has taught university courses in economics, done a good deal of private tutoring, served as a professional newspaper restaurant reviewer (he likes cooking), followed his favorite hobby of photography, and created a popular family of image blogs on the Internet.

John may be reached directly at:  formersouthsideboy@gmail.com

SOME INTERNET SITES FROM JOHN CHUCKMAN:

CHUCKMAN'S PLACES ON WORDPRESS: FEATURING THE BELOVED URBAN VILLAGE OF SOUTH SHORE CHICAGO

https://chuckmanplaces.wordpress.com/

CHUCKMAN'S PHOTOS ON WORDPRESS: CHICAGO NOSTALGIA AND MEMORABILIA

https://chuckmanchicagonostalgia.wordpress.com/

CHUCKMAN'S PHOTOS ON WORDPRESS: TORONTO NOSTALGIA

https://chuckmantorontonostalgia.wordpress.com/

CHUCKMAN’S MONTREAL

https://chuckmanmontreal.wordpress.com/

CHUCKMAN'S PHOTOS ON WORD PRESS

https://chuckmanphotos.wordpress.com/

CHUCKMAN'S KODACHROMES ON WORDPRESS: JOHN AND BOBBY LONG AGO

https://chuckmankodachromejohnandbobby.wordpress.com/

CHUCKMAN'S PORT STANLEY

https://chuckmanportstanley.wordpress.com/

CHUCKMAN'S BAYFIELD

https://chuckmanbayfield.wordpress.com/

CHUCKMAN'S GODERICH

https://chuckmangoderich.wordpress.com/

CHUCKMAN'S ILES DE LA MADELEINE (MAGDALEN ISLANDS)

https://chuckmanmagdalenislands.wordpress.com/

CHUCKMAN'S ART

http://chuckmanart.blogspot.ca/

CHUCKMAN'S ROBOTS

http://chuckmanrobots.blogspot.ca/

CHUCKMAN'S GALLERY OF GROTESQUES

http://chuckmangrotesques.blogspot.ca/

CHUCKMAN'S CARTOON COMMENTS

http://chuckmancartoons.blogspot.ca/

CHUCKMAN'S PHOTOS ON WORDPRESS: 1920s ARCADE CARD BEAUTIES – THEIR CHARM AND GRACE AND WHIMSY

https://chuckman1920sarcadecardbeauties.wordpress.com

CHUCKMAN'S WORDS ON WORDPRESS: POLITICAL ESSAYS

https://chuckmanwords.wordpress.com/

CHUCKMAN'S WORDS ON WORDPRESS: COMMENTS FROM THE WORLD'S PRESS

https://chuckmanwordsincomments.wordpress.com/

CHUCKMAN'S MISCELLANEA OF WORDS

http://chuckmanmiscellanea.blogspot.ca/

CHUCKMAN'S NON-SPORTS TRADING CARDS OF THE 1950S VOLUME 01 (OF 4 VOLUMES)

http://chuckmannon-sporttradingcards1950s.blogspot.ca/

ME, ROUGHLY: THE DECLINE IS SO RAPID NOW

WHAT YOU WILL FIND ON JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GALLERY OF GROTESQUES: POLITICAL SATIRE AND HUMOR, THE DARK SIDE OF FAMOUS PEOPLE, PHOTOS THE MIGHTY MUST REGRET, POLITICAL COMMENTARY, LIES AND HYPOCRISY IN HIGH PLACES, SNAPSHOTS OF POWER'S MURKY SWAMP, AND JINGOISM UNDER SPOT LIGHTS - YOU MIGHT CALL IT THE VIRTUAL MADAME TUSSAUD'S CHAMBER OF POLITICAL HORRORS - IT IS UPDATED WHENEVER NEW VIABLE CANDIDATES ARE FOUND - THEY ARE IMAGES WHICH TELL A STORY WITHOUT ANY WORDS ALTHOUGH I HAVE CAPTIONED THEM

JOHN CHUCKMAN GROTESQUES: TRUMP – IF DONALD JR ISN’T HIGH ON COCAINE HERE, HE SURE IS DOING A DAMN GOOD IMITATION OF IT – IT SEEMS ANY REPROBATE OR CRIMINAL IS WELCOME TO STAND UP AND OFFER A HEARTFELT TESTIMONIAL ABOUT FINDING ”THE CHOSEN ONE” – OLD COLLEGE ASSOCIATES HAVE SAID DONALD JR WAS ALWAYS DRUNK IN SCHOOL AND HE WOULD PASS OUT IN SOMEONE’S ROOM, PEEING IN THEIR BED – HE ABSOLUTELY LOATHED HIS FATHER YET HERE HE IS PRAISING HIM TO THE SKIES – DID DEAR OLD DAD SECURE A LIFETIME STASH FOR HIM, MAYBE FROM CONNECTIONS IN AFGHANISTAN?

JOHN CHUCKMAN GROTESQUES: GUILFOYLE – KIMBERLY YELLS, “HEAR ME ROAR!” – YOU CAN ALMOST SEE THE FILLINGS IN HER BACK TEETH IN THIS IMAGE – SHE IS THE GIRLFRIEND OF DRUG ADDICT AND NON-ACHIEVER DONALD TRUMP JR – ROAR ABOUT WHAT? THE WORDS OF HER BOYFRIEND’S VICIOUS FATHER? – IN MANY WAYS THIS IMAGE SUMMARIZES THE PATHETIC STATE OF AMERICAN POLITICS – NOISE AND MELODRAMA WITH ABSOLUTELY NO CONTENT – IT REMINDS ME OF IMAGES OF ANOTHER RIGHT-WING SUPERSTAR KNOW-NOTHING, SARAH PALIN

JOHN CHUCKMAN GROTESQUES: BIDEN - JOE - MONTAGE OF SLEAZY BEHAVIOR AROUND LITTLE GIRLS - AND THEN THERE ARE THE FEMALE SECRET SERVICE AGENTS WHO DID NOT WANT TO BE ASSIGNED TO HIS PROTECTION BECAUSE HE SWAM IN THE NUDE IN FRONT OF THEM - AND WE HAVE A CREDIBLE ACCUSATION OF SEXUAL ASSAULT BUT HE REFUSES TO TAKE A POLYGRAPH THE WOMAN HERSELF SUGGESTED TO CLEAR IT UP - AH, DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: TRUMP – DONALD AND THE BIBLE – THIS CERTAINLY IS IN THE RUNNING FOR THE TITLE OF MOST GROTESQUE PHOTO EVER – FIRST, WE KNOW TRUMP IS COMPLETELY IRRELIGIOUS – SECOND, THIS CHEAP STUNT WAS STAGED IN THE MIDDLE OF A NATIONAL CRISIS – WELL, IF YOU ARE TRUMP, ANY CRISIS TAKES A BACK SEAT TO POLITICS: HE WANTED HIS EVANGELICAL MOB TO SEE THAT “THE CHOSEN ONE” AND GOD WERE IN CHARGE TOGETHER – THE SMALL PARK BETWEEN THE WHITE HOUSE AND THIS LOCATION FIRST WAS CLEARED BY PARK POLICE TEAR-GASSING SOME ENTIRELY PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATORS - TRUMP WAS THEN SURROUNDED BY HI-TECH MACHINE GUNS FOR HIS BRIEF BRAVE WALK TO THE CHURCH USED AS STAGE SET (WITHOUT PERMISSION) – I BELIEVE THIS MARKED THE HERO’S FIRST MOMENTS OUTSIDE THE UNDERGROUND WHITE HOUSE BUNKER IN TWO DAYS – THE IMAGE RESEMBLES A SCENE FROM “THE BLUES BROTHERS” ON THEIR “MISSION FOR GOD”

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES : TRUMP – DONALD’S TRULY UNBELIEVABLE PHOTO – YOU HAVE TO THINK HE BELIEVED THIS DISPLAYED HIS GRAVITAS - BUT IT DOES JUST THE OPPOSITE - HERE IN EXQUISITE DETAIL ARE SO MANY OF HIS EMBARRASSING CHARACTER TRAITS – POMPOSITY, EXHIBITIONISM, COMPLETE UNAWARENESS OF OTHERS - IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE ANYONE WOULD DELIBERATELY POSE THIS WAY – BUT THEN IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE A LOT OF THINGS LUNATICS DO

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: TRUMP - PERHAPS DONALD NEEDS A NEW NICKNAME? HOW ABOUT “PRESIDENT LYSOL” FOR HIS INSPIRED RECOMMENDATION ABOUT PEOPLE INJECTING POISONOUS HOUSEHOLD DISINFECTANTS TO FIGHT THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC? - HE’S PROVED A REMARKABLE LEADER IN A CRISIS – DENIAL, DELAY, DUMB IDEAS, AND BLAMING OTHERS – HE HAS CONTRADICTED AND DISMISSED EXPERTS WHILE RECOMMENDING UNPROVED MEDICATIONS HE KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT - ALL WHILE INSISTING ON HOLDING CENTER STAGE CONSTANTLY – I NEVER THOUGHT ANYONE COULD EXCEED GEORGE BUSH’S LEVEL OF INCOMPETENCE, BUT TRUMP HAS MANAGED IT – NOT JUST OUT OF STUPIDITY (ALTHOUGH THERE’S PLENTY OF THAT) BUT WITH THE CLEAREST SIGNS OF MENTAL ILLNESS

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: POMPEO - MIKE LIKES TO JOKE AROUND IN PUBLIC ABOUT LYING, CHEATING, AND STEALING IN HIS DAYS AT THE CIA BUT BEGS TO REMIND YOU HE’S A CHRISTIAN GENTLEMAN – AND HE ALWAYS HAS AN OPEN BIBLE ON HIS DESK - WHAT HE DIDN’T SAY IS THAT IT IS ALWAYS OPEN TO PASSAGES ABOUT STONING WOMEN AND SMITING PEOPLE HIP AND THIGH AND PLAGUES OF LOCUSTS – CERTAINLY HE HAS THE DISTINCTION OF BEING ONE OF THE MOST BELLIGERENT AND GRACELESS MEN EVER TO SERVE AS SECRETARY OF STATE – SOME CALL HIM “SECRETARY OF HATE” AND IT FITS LIKE A FINE CUSTOM-MADE GLOVE - BY THE WAY, DO YOU THINK HE HAS ENOUGH FLAGS TO ADVERTISE JUST WHO IT IS THAT IS COMING TO KICK YOUR TEETH IN?

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: TRUMP - DONALD AS AN ANGRY OVERWEIGHT EMPEROR PENGUIN WADDLING TO A STATE DINNER - HOW DOES ANYONE TAKE THIS DERANGED CLOWN SERIOUSLY? THERE APPEAR TO BE NO LIMITS ON HUMAN ABSURDITY - AND AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: TRUMP - DONALD AND SAUDI ARABIA'S BUTCHER CROWN PRINCE - THE PRINCE HAD A MAN DISMEMBERED WHILE HE WAS STILL ALIVE AND SLAUGHTERS WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN YEMEN AND HAS PAID MANY OF THE BILLS FOR SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND DEATHS IN SYRIA - YET HERE'S TRUMP POSING WITH HIM LIKE TWO LAUGHING KIDS? THIS IS BEYOND ALL OTHER GROTESQUE IMAGES - BEYOND ALL HUMANITY - TRUMP GIVES A THUMBS-UP AND SMILE FOR THE COMMANDANT OF A CONCENTRATION CAMP

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: TRUMP - DONALD HAS ACTUALLY HUNG THIS "PAINTING" IN THE WHITE HOUSE - A BLEND OF KITSCH CALENDAR ART AND 1950s TRADING CARD AND MONUMENT TO AN EGO - IT'S SOMETHING YOU MIGHT HAVE A LAUGH AT IN THE DOLLAR STORE BUT YOU WOULDN'T DREAM OF TAKING HOME - NOTE TOO HOW TRIM THE "ARTIST" HAS PAINTED TRUMP'S GUT - THE PICTURE TELLS US A GREAT DEAL ABOUT THE ODDEST MAN EVER TO HOLD THE HIGH OFFICE AND IT'S ALL STUFF WE REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO KNOW

JOHN CHUCKMAN GROTESQUES: WILLIAMS - SERENA - IN FULL FURY OF SCREAMING ACCUSATIONS AGAINST A POOR UMP JUST TRYING TO DO HIS JOB - STUFF ABOUT PREJUDICE AGAINST WOMEN - SHE IS TOO MINDLESSLY FURIOUS TO REMEMBER HER OPPONENT ALSO IS A WOMAN (AS WELL AS A MINORITY PERSON) - NONSENSE LIKE STUFF WE HEAR FROM THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT THESE DAYS - SHE HAS A HISTORY OF ABUSIVE WORDS - BOTTOM LINE: SHE HAS ONE UGLY TEMPER AND CAN'T STAND LOSING BUT SOMEHOW THAT GETS LOST IN PRESS NOISE ABOUT WHETHER SHE HAS A POINT OR NOT

JOHN CHUCKMAN GROTESQUES: TRUMP - DONALD AT THE QUEBEC G-7 MEETING - A VERY REVEALING PICTURE FROM HIS TIGHTLY-FOLDED ARMS TO HIS MEAN SQUINTY EXPRESSION - HE SITS WHILE EVERYONE ELSE STANDS - RESEMBLES AN ANGRY TWELVE-YEAR OLD WITH A NASTY TEMPERAMENT NOT GETTING HIS OWN WAY - BUT THAT IS PRETTY WELL EXACTLY WHAT HE IS - SOME LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: HASPEL - GINA CAUGHT ON CAMERA WIPING SOME BLOOD OR BIT OF FLESH OFF HER FINGERS - SHE HAS A DEVASTATINGLY CHARMING SMILE DON'T YOU THINK? - IT WAS THE LAST THING A NUMBER OF PRISONERS KIDNAPPED BY CIA SAW IN HER SECTION OF THE TORTURE GULAG - GINA IS SURE TO GET APPOINTED DIRECTOR - WOULD YOU BE CAUGHT VOTING AGAINST HER?

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: WILLIAM HARRY AND MEGHAN - POSED AS THOUGH FOR A SCENE IN AN EPISODE OF TWILIGHT ZONE - NO REAL SET OF HUMANS LOOKS DRESSES AND HOLDS PROGRAMS IN THAT FASHION - ALL COORDINATED PERFECTLY DOWN TO THE POPPIES - IT'S ACTUALLY RATHER CREEPY BUT THEN NOTHING COULD BE CREEPIER THAN THIS "ROYAL" MARRIAGE BETWEEN A MENTALLY-UNBALANCED PRINCE AND A B-ACTRESS PAST HOLLYWOOD'S AGE LIMIT FOR SEX OBJECTS AND DESPERATE TO BECOME A REAL PRINCESS EVEN IF THE PRICE IS MARRYING HARRY

JOHN CHUCKMAN GROTESQUES: TRUMP - DONALD PORTRAYED IN KITSCH PAINTING AS FLAG SAVIOR - IN THE OLD USSR IMAGES OF STALIN IN MOCK-HEROIC POSES WERE CHURNED OUT LIKE SAUSAGES - BUT THIS ISN'T EVEN AS CONVINCING AS THOSE - THIS RESEMBLES A PAINTED COOKIE JAR LID - IT IMPLICITLY SAYS THE PROTESTING PLAYERS ARE NOT PATRIOTIC TOO - AND OF COURSE TRUMP ACTUALLY HAS A LIFE-LONG RECORD AS A COWARD FROM VIETNAM TO COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF - AND HE IS A BULLY AND BULLIES ARE ALWAYS COWARDS

JOHN CHUCKMAN GROTESQUES: TRUMP - HERE IS DONALD WEARING A YARMULKE AND LOOKING SOLEMN AT THE WAILING WALL - THIS IS A WORLDLY MAN WITH ABSOLUTELY NO RELIGIOUS CONVICTIONS - THIS IS ALSO A MAN ALMOST DEVOID OF ANY KNOWLEDGE OF HISTORY - AND A FOUL-MOUTHED MAN TO BOOT - SOME TRIBUTE - SOME SOLEMNITY - YET HE IS COMPELLED TO PUT ON THIS DUMB-SHOW FOR THE WORLD - AMERICAN POLITICS HAVE BECOME AS ABSURD AS A MONTY PYTHON SKIT - MOCK SOLEMNITY BY UNBELIEVERS AT A MONUMENT TO THEFT

JOHN CHUCKMAN GROTESQUES: HALEY - NIKKI'S GLOOMY GROUP AT UN - NIKKI REACHED A NEW LOW BY WARNING COUNTRIES THAT SHE WOULD BE "TAKING NAMES OF THOSE WHO VOTED AGAINST US" IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY VOTE OVER TRUMP'S DISASTROUS EMBASSY MOVE - AND SHE ADVISED "THE PRESIDENT WAS TAKING A PERSONAL INTEREST" - HERE IS A CROSS BETWEEN THE THIRD-GRADE CLASSROOM SNITCH WHEN TEACHER IS OUT AND OUTRIGHT MAFIA-LIKE VOTER INTIMIDATION - SOME RESPECT FOR DEMOCRACY

JOHN CHUCKMAN GROTESQUES: HALEY - NIKKI IN HER BEST BOOTS WITH A RUSTED HULK SHE SAYS IS AN IRANIAN MISSILE - CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT IT COST TO SHIP THIS HULK FROM SAUDI ARABIA TO MOUNT ON DISPLAY? - BUT NIKKI NEVER STINTS IN THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM - WELL, TO MY MIND THAT'S PRETTY CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE - CLEARLY IRAN SHOULD BE BOMBED TOMORROW IF NOT SOONER

WORLD-RENOWNED AMERICAN MISSILE EXPERT, NIKKI HALEY,

POINTS OUT SOME THE CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF AN IRANIAN

MISSILE - JUST SO HER AUDIENCE DOESN'T CONFUSE THIS HULK 

WITH AN OLD NYC SEWER MAIN PIPE    

NIKKI USED THE OCCASION TO SHOW OFF A PAIR OF HER BEST 

NEW KNEE-HIGH SUEDE BOOTS

BEFORE SHE LEFT, SHE TOOK A QUICK STROLL DOWN THE CATWALK

SO THE BOOTS COULD BE SEEN BY ALL THE CAMERAS 

JOHN CHUCKMAN GROTESQUES: BUSH - GEORGE W AND GEORGE H W - H W LOOKS LIKE HE'S GOING OUT WITH HIS LAST BREATH PLEDGING ALLEGIANCE TO GOOD OLD AMERICA - W REMAINS THE SAME SMIRKING DRIP WHETHER HE IS PLEDGING OR PRAYING OR KILLING OR GETTING DRUNK - I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW YOU COULD POSE A MORE ABSURD FAMILY OR POLITICAL PHOTO - THE MORAL: A FAMILY THAT PLEDGES ALLEGIANCE TOGETHER STAYS TOGETHER - THEN AGAIN MAYBE IT WAS JUST A TRY-OUT FOR A SUPER-BOWL TUMS OR ROLAIDS COMMERCIAL?

JOHN CHUCKMAN GROTESQUES: TRUMP - MELANIA WITH DONALD - STAGE PLAY IN HOUSTON - THE ULTRA-CHIC LADY WEARS A PRE-DISTRESSED WORK SHIRT WITH FAKE DIRT AND SWEAT MARKS - HER HAT LOOKS LIKE IT JUST CAME FROM THE FACTORY - HER MAKE-UP IS PERFECTION - NOTE THE HAIR LOOPED THROUGH THE SIZE BAND AT THE BACK OF THE HAT A LA TRAILER PARK - THIS IS AN EMBARRASSING MASQUERADE - OR SHOULD BE - BUT THIS PRESIDENT HAS PROVED INCAPABLE OF EMBARRASSMENT

JOHN CHUCKMAN GROTESQUES: TRUMP - IVANKA IS A UNIQUELY AMERICAN GROTESQUE - HERE SHE IS PUSHED IN FRONT OF G-20 WORLD LEADERS WHILE DAD SMILES GOOFILY BEHIND - A KEWPIE DOLL AT A WORLD SUMMIT? A SOCIALITE KEWPIE DOLL NO LESS? WHAT ON EARTH IS SHE DOING THERE? - OTHER LEADERS HAVE KIDS TOO - MS. MERKEL TRIES TO LOOK CALM

JOHN CHUCKMAN GROTESQUES: MAY - BRITAIN'S PRIME MINISTER - THIS IMAGE OF THERESA CAPTURES QUALITIES NOT SEEN IN MOST PHOTOS WHERE SHE RESEMBLES A BARBARA PYM CHARACTER WITH A FRESH HAIR-DO - HERE IS SOMETHING DARK AND SNEAKY WITH DEMONIC TOUCHES - JUDGING BY HER PROMISES TO CONTROL THE INTERNET AND TEAR-UP HUMAN RIGHTS LEGISLATION AND LEGALIZE FOX-HUNTING AGAIN IF ELECTED WE ARE INDEED SEEING THE INNER THERESA HERE

JOHN CHUCKMAN GROTESQUES: HALEY - NIKKI IS THE MOST RECENT IN A LONG LINE OF AMERICAN BIGMOUTH KNOW-NOTHINGS APPOINTED AS UN AMBASSADOR - IT LIKELY REFLECTS AMERICA'S RESPECT FOR THE UN TO SEND SUCH FOLKS THERE - SHE'S A WORLD BEATER IN HER CLASS THOUGH - SHE NEVER STOPS POKING FINGERS AND PREACHING WHILE UTTERING A UNIQUE BLEND OF IGNORANT THREATS AND DOWNHOME BROMIDES - WHERE DOES AMERICA GET SUCH PEOPLE? - IS THE MELTING POT EXPERIMENT A PROVEN FAILURE?

NIKKI IN FULL PREACHER MODE
                   

NIKKI AT MACHINE-GUN SELF-IMPROVEMENT CLASS

NIKKI STUNNED BY BEING BOOED AT THE UN
WELL, THAT DOES HAPPEN WHEN YOU
SPEAK LIKE A FOOL TO A CROWD OF EDUCATED ADULTS

JOHN CHUCKMAN GROTESQUES: MCCAIN - IT REALLY IS HARD TO KNOW WHAT MAKES JOHN-BOY TICK - MAYBE THE TRUTH IS HE IS JUST BORDERLINE INSANE - AN ENTIRE CAREER OF FORGETTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS ACCOMPANIED BY LOUD NOISES AND UGLY BEHAVIOR - HERE JOHN SEEMS TO BE DOING HIS QUASIMODO IMPRESSION AT A COCKTAIL PARTY OR A SENATE HEARING

JOHN CHUCKMAN GROTESQUES: BIDEN - JOE GETS A MEDAL - LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING THE AMBASSADOR FROM LOWER RUTHENGIA WOULD WEAR TO DINNER - PERHAPS THE STAR OF COURAGE GIVEN THE COWARDLY LION IN THE WIZARD OF OZ? - WE DO KNOW JOE IS DEFINITELY A COWARD AS HE HAS PROVED MANY TIMES - I LOVE THE TEARS - IS HE REMEMBERING ALL THE FOLKS HE HELPED DISAPPEAR IN THE INDUSTRIAL-SCALE DRONE-KILLING SCHEME HE ADVOCATED FOR ?

JOHN CHUCKMAN GROTESQUES: OBAMA - BARACK IS GIVEN THE DISTINGUISHED PUBLIC SERVICE MEDAL AS COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF - THE AGGRESSIVELY ANTI-RUSSIAN ASH CARTER PINS IT ON HIM IN A CEREMONY RESEMBLING A SCENE FROM THE MOUSE THAT ROARED - WHAT DOES THIS AWARD REALLY TELL US ABOUT OBAMA? YOU WONDER ABOUT HIS EXTREME ANTI-RUSSIAN MEASURES? OR HIS PHONY ANTI-RUSSIAN DNC HACK CLAIMS? HE LEAVES OFFICE A GENUINELY PATHETIC FIGURE

JOHN CHUCKMAN GROTESQUES: NETANYAHU - THE REAL INNER BEN - A WEIRD HYBRID OF TENT PREACHER STREET THUG AND INSANELY ANGRY PERSON - A TRULY DANGEROUS MAN WITH UTTER CONTEMPT FOR ALL OF CIVILIZED SOCIETY'S NORMS - THE POSE APPEARS TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM AN OLD NEWSREEL OF THE FUHRER GIVING A SPEECH

JOHN CHUCKMAN GROTESQUES: OBAMA - THE BEST PHOTO OF BARACK'S SOMETIMES INSUFFERABLE ARROGANCE - FROM THE FINGER STUCK IN SOMEONE'S FACE TO THE BACK AND HEAD POSTURE WE SEE A PREACHER PRONOUNCING ON GOD'S TRUTH - A KNOW-IT-ALL ZEN MASTER ADDRESSING A NAIVE PUPIL - QUITE UNPLEASANT AND NOT OFTEN NOTICED

JOHN CHUCKMAN GROTESQUES: CLINTON - BILL AS YOU'VE NEVER SEEN HIM BEFORE - THE SECOND TRUMP-CLINTON DEBATE SEEMS TO HAVE LIBERATED HIS INNER UGLY BILL - SEEING SOME OF HIS PAST VICTIMS THE SMILING RUBBER-FACE HAS VANISHED

JOHN CHUCKMAN GROTESQUES: POWER - SAMANTHA - AMERICA'S BIZARRELY AGGRESSIVE AND OFTEN INSULTING UN AMBASSADOR - SHE SURE LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE IN TRANSITION BETWEEN SEXES - IS IT MAN TO WOMAN OR VICE VERSA?

JOHN CHUCKMAN GROTESQUES: BUSH - YES GEORGE IS A MORON BUT THAT FACT ALONE CANNOT EXPLAIN THIS - GEORGE IS BACK INTO THE SAUCE - IT COULD NOT BE CLEARER - IN THE VIDEO HE DOES A LITTLE DANCE TO THE MUSIC BEING PLAYED - ALL THIS AT THE MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR SLAIN DALLAS POLICE

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: CRUZ - TED'S FAMILY SAYING GRACE FOR THE CAMERA - A LAUGHABLY SHAMEFUL EXPLOITATION OF RELIGION FOR POLITICS - PATHETIC AND HYPOCRITICAL AT THE SAME TIME - IF THERE WERE A GOD ON THE RECEIVING END SURELY HE OR SHE WOULD WINCE AT SUCH EFFORTS - MAYBE EVEN PUKE WHICH WOULD RUIN THEIR COCO-PUFF BREAKFAST

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: OBAMA - MICHELLE AS THE ABSOLUTELY FURIOUS BLACK WOMAN - THOSE TWO INDEX FINGERS LOOK LIKE DEADLY WEAPONS - I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE DID BUT A REPEAT WOULD NOT BE ADVISED - NOTE THE BIG CROWD IN THIS SURREAL IMAGE - REALLY SCARY STUFF

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: FIORE - AMERICAN POLITICIAN MICHELE - YOU MIGHT THINK THIS IS FROM A SECOND CITY SATIRE SKIT - BUT NO THIS IS A SINCERE FAMILY CHRISTMAS GREETING FROM A LUNATIC ASYLUM SOMEWHERE IN NEVADA - DO THEY "CARRY" TO CHURCH ON SUNDAYS? TO THE MOVIES? CAMPAIGN RALLIES? IMAGINE WHAT FAMILY ARGUMENTS LOOK LIKE? A QUENTIN TARANTINO MOVIE

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: ERDOGAN - TURKEY'S RECEP IS A SCARY PIECE OF WORK - SEETHING WITH INTENSE HATREDS AND ABLE TO TURN ON A DIME - HE RECENTLY BUILT HIMSELF A ONE THOUSAND-ROOM PALACE OF BREATHTAKING UGLINESS - HE OFTEN MAKES CONTRADICTORY STATEMENTS WITHIN DAYS - HE PERSECUTES JOURNALISTS WHO REVEAL ANY UNACKNOWLEDGED TRUTH ABOUT HIS GOVERNMENT - HE IS A SERIOUSLY UNBALANCED MIND GOVERNING A MAJOR COUNTRY - YET HE CAN PLAY DANGEROUS GAMES AS PART OF NATO AND SOME PUSH FOR HIM TO JOIN THE EU

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: CARTER - ASH (AS HE'S KNOWN TO HIS FRIENDS BACK AT THE ASYLUM) SERVING AS AMERICA'S DIPLOMATIC POINTMAN WITH RUSSIA - JUST THE FACT THAT THIS FRUITCAKE WAS APPOINTED AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE TELLS US MORE THAN WE MIGHT CARE TO KNOW ABOUT THE STATE OF CONTEMPORARY AMERICA

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: CAMERON - DAVID - LOOKING AS SMUG AND SMARMY AS HE CAN MANAGE - AND HE CAN MANAGE QUITE A LOT - LOOKS AS THOUGH HE HAS JUST SETTLED HIS NETHER BITS INTO A PIG'S HEAD AS HE WAS KNOWN TO DO BACK IN UNIVERSITY DAYS

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: HOLLANDE - FRANCOIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE CONTEMPORARY POMPOUS ASSES - HERE HE STANDS RIGIDLY IN THE RAIN AS IF TO PROVE SOMETHING ABOUT HIS CHARACTER - AND JUST LOOK AT THAT JACKASS SIGNATURE - HE'S ALL EGO AND VERY LITTLE CONTENT FITTING HIS ROLE AS AMERICA'S FRENCH-SPEAKING HOUSEHOLD HELP - FRANCE HAS FINALLY HIT BOTTOM WITH THIS GUY IN ITS LONG PLUNGE FROM DE GAULLE'S GRANDEUR AND INTELLIGENT INDEPENDENCE

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: ROYAL FAMILY - 1933 PHOTO OF THEM BEING COACHED BY FATHER IN THE FINE POINTS OF NAZI SALUTE - ODD TO SAY THE LEAST - BUT IN THE 1930s THE TRUTH IS HITLER WAS WIDELY ADMIRED IN THE WEST AND WE LIKE TO FORGET THAT - ODD TOO THAT RUPERT MURDOCH'S OUTFIT WOULD RUN THIS - NOTHING BIG HAPPENS WITHOUT THAT DICTATOR'S APPROVAL - WHAT'S GOING ON THERE IS THE BIG UNANSWERED QUESTION

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: BUSH - JEB RESEMBLES A STARTLED DEER IN HEADLIGHTS - HE EXPLAINS HOW HE "MISSPOKE" WHEN HE SAID TOO MUCH MONEY WAS SPENT ON WOMEN'S HEALTH - WHAT IS MISSPEAKING ANYHOW? SAYING WHAT YOU REALLY THINK? HOW A MAN OF HIS AGE CAN POSSIBLY MAKE SUCH A POLITICALLY DUMB STATEMENT IS BEYOND ME - I USED TO THINK HE WAS THE SMART ONE COMPARED TO BROTHER GEORGE - BUT THERE APPEARS TO BE A DEEP VEIN OF STUPIDITY IN THAT FAMILY

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: HARPER - STEVE'S SUIT IS UGLY AS IS HIS ILL-FITTING SWEATER AND YOU CAN SEE HIS BELLY BUTTON - A SHIP-BOARD FASHION SHOW FOR SCHMOES? MAYBE HE'S TRYING OUT FOR A MICHELIN MAN COMMERCIAL? NO, I THINK HE'S JUST TRYING DESPERATELY TO SHOW HE ACTUALLY HAS A PERSONALITY - LOOKS LIKE WIFEY BACK ON THE RIGHT EITHER STUDIOUSLY IGNORING HIM THROWING UP WITH SEA SICKNESS

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: YATSENYUK - ARSENIY GIVES THE HIGH SIGN - YOU CAN TELL BY THE STRESS ON THE LIPS THAT EVEN DOING THAT IS A BIT OF A TASK - HE MUST FOCUS HARD TO KEEP HIS THUMB POINTING UP - AFTER ALL, HE IS PRIME MINISTER OF THE BASKET CASE CALLED UKRAINE A COUNTRY THAT CAN'T PAY ITS DEBTS, IS GOING TO RUN OUT OF FUEL, HAS BATTALIONS OF ARMED NAZI THUGS LOOSE ON THE STREETS, AND CAN'T EVEN SHOOT STRAIGHT - PROSPECTS DO NOT LOOK GOOD FOR A SECOND TERM

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: CLINTON - HILLARY IS THE POLITICAL GIFT THAT JUST KEEPS GIVING - HERE SHE FIRST BLOWS EVERY GASKET IN HER MOTOR AND THEN DOES AN AWKWARD VERSION OF HER MISS KITTY-FROM-GUNSMOKE COCKTAIL PARTY CHARADE - I DOUBT THERE HAS EVER BEFORE BEEN A PUBLIC FIGURE WITH SO MANY BIZARRE FACES - MAYBE SHE'S JUST BIZARRE? MAYBE SHE'S MAD? - AFTER ALL, SHE MARRIED BILL - COULD THESE PICTURES EXPLAIN WHY SHE USED HER PRIVATE SERVER AND CELL PHONE FOR OFFICIAL BUSINESS AS SECRETARY OF STATE?