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Questions

1. What ongoing news story are the cartoonists illustrating?

2. Define Herculean effort.

3. What do you think is the cartoonists’ intended meaning?

4. No other modern president has taken it upon himself to campaign so intensively and so directly for so many down-ballot candidates at once.
a) What is your view on the cartoonists’ depiction of President Trump’s campaign rally efforts? (greatly exaggerated, extraordinary act of commitment, strength and endurance…) Explain your answer.
b) What is your view of how the media has covered President Trump’s unprecedented rally schedule — has it been largely ignored, downplayed, or portrayed negatively/positively? Do you think that coverage is fair? Explain your answers.
Opinion questions. Answers vary.


Scroll down to the bottom of the page for the answers.

Cartoon by Margolis & Cox

Answers

1. What ongoing news story are the cartoonists illustrating?
The cartoonists are illustrating the massive number of campaign rallies President Trump is holding to support Republican candidates across the country – approximately 30 rallies around the country in the 30 days leading up to the Nov. 3 midterm elections. His aim is to help Republican candidates in close races win – and therefore retain the Republican majority in the House and Senate. (Historically, a president’s party — both Democratic and Republican — usually lose seats in Congress during the midterms and typically lose their House majorities.).

2. Define Herculean effort.

  • A Herculean effort is something that can only be done by using great strength and determination. (Cambridge Dictionary)
  • A Herculean task is a job, project, or effort that is extremely difficult and requires a massive amount of strength, endurance, or determination to complete. (Google AI Overview, Cambridge Dictionary)
  • Today, people use the term to describe any real-world challenge…that demands heroic levels of endurance. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
  • The phrase comes from Hercules, the famous Greek mythological hero known for his godlike strength.

3. What do you think is the cartoonists’ intended meaning?

  • The cartoon depicts Trump as a symbol of great resilience and strength like Hercules – who has taken it upon himself to single-handedly carry the weight of the party to victory and retain the majority in both houses of Congress.
  • The cartoonists are highlighting that it takes extraordinary stamina and endurance to crisscross the country for almost 30 rallies in about 30 days — flying long distances, speaking for hours at a stretch, and maintaining a near-daily pace right up to Election Day.

4. No other modern president has taken it upon himself to campaign so intensively and so directly for so many down-ballot candidates at once.
a) What is your view on the cartoonists’ depiction of President Trump’s campaign rally efforts? (greatly exaggerated, extraordinary act of commitment, strength and endurance…) Explain your answer.
b) What is your view of how the media has covered President Trump’s unprecedented rally schedule — has it been largely ignored, downplayed, or portrayed negatively/positively? Do you think that coverage is fair? Explain your answers.
Opinion questions.  Answers vary.

See Right Side Broadcasting Network’s YouTube page to watch any of President Trump’s current or past rallies.