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If I seem pre-occupied by cartoons of late (see this Cold War classic), you may be right. I’ve haven’t really thought about it, but do freely admit my affection for Peanuts and Charles Schulz’s Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Lucy and gang.

Cartoons, though, have been in the news recently and not always for the most noble reasons. First, the Charlie Brown Christmas special was preempted, somewhat controversially, athough ABC later rescheduled. Now we learn that CBS has corrupted the legendary Frosty The Snowman cartoon. It mashed up an online promo (a “mash” is one medium mixed into another) where it uses actual Frosty scenes to front foul-mouthed audio from two of its sitcoms (See FoxNews.com). The result is an indecent Frosty, zapping Christmas innocence out of any children who may happen upon it thinking it’s the real Frosty.

Ironic that this comes from CBS where, at one time, as I discussed earlier this week, it actually cared somewhat about Christmas. But it isn’t a network that has distinguished itself in recent years, what with Dan Rather and its news division’s pretense of objectivity (See Media Research Center). Cartoons, especially this time of year, especially the classic ones, represent the last remnant of Big Media’s family-oriented culture, of a different, slower paced time, when people and families could gather for a common nationwide experience. Especially during the Christmas season, when parents can pass along the times of their youth to their children. CBS’ move was a step to debase that.

Whether it’s news or entertainment, CBS and its fellow Mainstream Media cohorts fall exceedingly short. Although an obscene rendition of Frosty The Snowman isn’t necessarily shocking anymore (unfortunately), most critics do at least find it disturbing. Which still, rightfully, makes it a sad day for CBS, although less sad for any unsuspecting child (or family) who happens upon this trash.

It may be December, and it may be a one month campaign, but it’s already a hot one in the 37th Senate District special election (to be held January 12) to fill the seat of Attorney General-elect Ken Cuccinelli. It was guaranteed to be so from the beginning: The Dems think the seat belongs to them because of they way Fairfax County has trended recently.

As the number one targeted Republican in 2007, they thought they had Cuccinelli dead in their sights, but he escaped with a victory of less than 100 votes. (Now, he’s attorney general, surely to endless liberal heartburn, mental anguish, knashing of teeth and sleepless nights.) But a Democrat victory now would be a welcome buttress to its current one seat firewall against GOP policy initiatives.

However, the climate is much different now. The GOP did very well in Fairfax in November and has momentum and the weight of landslide victors Governor-elect Bob McDonnell and re-elected Lt. Governor Bill Bolling as well as Cuccinelli behind its nominee, Stephen Hunt. Hunt has been elected county wide before (to the Fairfax County School Board), while the best the Demscould come up with is Delegate Dave Marsden (D-41, Fairfax), who barely won re-election in November to his House seat, which partially overlaps the Senate district.

But it’s not only a matter of a changed political atmosphere, but also Marsden’s residency, at least for now. He doesn’t live in the district, but a couple of weeks ago took up in a room in a friend’s house that is in the district (see Washington Times).

But political climate and residency aren’t the only things that have changed. Now, Delegate Marsden claims to be a low-tax guy. Talk about reading political tea leaves, or at least election results. In a recent direct mail piece, Delegate Marsden stakes out the low-tax mantle, claiming he will  “Hold the line on taxes,” although he has consistently voted for numerous tax increases in the House of Delegates, including this $2 billion increase (click here) in 2008. It would have raised taxes on car and home purchases (just what we need in a recession) and encouraged a Northern Virginia sales tax increase.

When voters ask for change, residency and glossing over voting records isn’t what they have in mind. Virginia Democrats won several elections in Virginia prior to November by basically saying, “We’re not Republicans.” Now, facing a statewide catastrophe, they have to say who they are, for once. According to the mailer released by Delegate Marsden, they still aren’t.