28 VIII 2023: A caption for Trump

Everyone will have seen Donald Trump’s mug shot. I understand that he and his staff devoted some time to practicing what they thought would be an effective pose.

The New Yorker routinely has on its final page an uncaptioned cartoon. Readers are invited to submit a caption for the cartoon, and the best caption is announced in the following week. Trump’s mug shot set me to thinking what would be an appropriate caption for that photo. The first that came to mind was “Somebody used up all the toilet paper.” But this seems a bit déclassé, so I tried to think up something more high-toned, and what I came up with is a line from the film The Wizard of Oz

After Dorothy’s welcome by the delegates of the Lullaby League, three pugs dance and swagger up, trying to look as tough as they can, and introduce themselves: 

“We represent the Lollipop Guild, 

     the Lollipop Guild,

     the Lollipop Guild,

and in the name of the Lollipop Guild

we wish to welcome you to Munchkinland.”

I think Trump’s tough-guy photo might qualify him for the Lollipop Guild.