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J.J. McCullough is a cartoonist, writer, and political pundit living in Vancouver, British Columbia. Read his bio.
Filibuster Cartoons
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It may be surprising to hear me admit it, but I have quite enjoyed the coverage of Queen Elizabeth’s visit to the United States. The Queen has gotten an overwhelmingly warm reception form the American people and their political leaders, while media the coverage has been excited and respectful.
What I like about this visit is how genuine the support is. When the Queen visits Canada, or some other Commonwealth realm, the visit is always infused with so much political subtext. The republic vs. monarchy debate overshadows all the festivities and everyone is continuously asked for an opinion on the matter. When our politicians show support for Elizabeth they do so with phony, gritted smiles, knowing full well that they are making a controversial constitutional statement by doing so.
The United States has moved beyond all this, however. When the Queen comes to visit the US she does so as a symbol of America’s past, but also as a representative of America’s contemporary, mature relationship with the United Kingdom. There is no irate republican outrage or gushing apologism from monarchists. It is just a nice visit from a special lady.
J.J. McCullough is a cartoonist, writer, and political pundit living in Vancouver, British Columbia. Read his bio. 
April 15th, 2012 at 9:01 PM
A lot can change in two hundred thirty-six years. Elizabeth II is _still_your_queen!_
The Second Continental Congress declared its independance from the House of Hanover, and its profoundly inept Parliment in 1776, after several years where the breach could have been healed if not prevented, but was not due in no small part to Westminster intransigence. The United States in Congress Assembled signed the Peace of Paris in 1783 signifying that independance as de jure as well as de facto. The United States of America came into actual existance in 1788 with the radification vote of the state of New Hampshire. In the two hundred twenty-four years of the current government south of the 49th, relations have gradually changed from outright hostility to the warmest and most unique of friendships between two nations.
But Elizabeth II is _still_your_Queen!_ Since she is _still_ the Head of State of your nation, every word of every other elected public servant of your nation has "weight" that cannot be underestimated in the continuing search to find the answer to the question "Can hereditary rule continue, and if so, should it?"
June 13th, 2012 at 6:23 PM
I think the question of monarchy was answered quite early on a field in Lexington, Massachusetts. Besides, all ranks of nobility are officially banned in the Constitution.