Smashed With a Hammer

For John, BLUF:  The refinement at The New York Times has all drained away.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

Puzzlingly violent illustration on NYT op-ed criticizing Trump's judicial nominees.

What is this supposed to mean?

Asks Law Professor Ann Althouse, at her blog, on 27 December 2017.

Here is the closing paragraph:

So the illustration means that the Senate holds the gavel and it "must" smash Thomas Alvin Farr in the face with it.  I understand it now.  It's very crude, violent, and ugly.  And somebody at the NYT decided it belonged on that column.

Remember The Old Gray Lady of old, the one with refinement such as to make it our "Newspaper of Record"?  That was a long time ago.

Hat tip to Ann Althouse.

Regards  —  Cliff