April 18, 2010: Sunday Showdown!

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Clockwise from the bottom left:

• The most interesting thing about this panel is the reaction of Loretta's friend, she seems to be quite noticeably offended by either the ridiculously doctored picture or Loretta's photoshopping admission (or perhaps a combination of both). The usual reaction by an acquaintance to any terrible pun or action by the Lockhorns' is one of weary, vacant, glazed-over indifference. Perhaps after decades upon decades of bearing passive witness to the horrors of the Lockhorns' endless domestic conflict all their friends and neighbors have begun to reach a tipping point. With no Leroy present though, it's a push.
• Loretta's zinger actually pulls off a double shot, nailing Leroy's latest bimbo as a baby with Leroy getting the indirect insult of being a cradle robber. It's a quality rank out and all but I also feel for the bimbo that unfortunately got caught in the middle. The poor Amazon was minding her own business, sipping cocktails, enjoying the party, struggling to keep her freakishly disproportionate frame from toppling over, when she unwittingly becomes collateral damage to Loretta's attack on Leroy. When it comes to the Lockhorns, innocent causalities are inevitable. Loretta gets the first point.
• Sing it proud sister! Loretta strikes a blow for 60's women's rights by rebelling against the traditional domestic chore of a wife picking up after her husband. She makes it bluntly clear to Leroy that if he is going to treat her like a domestic servant, she intends to be paid a fee. Considering how between the shopping, bad driving, and shrew nagging Loretta bears enough negative female stereotypes to personally set back the women's lib movement a century, I'm pretty sure there's no actual feminist motivation behind Loretta's ultimatum. She is obviously just trying to be a jerk to Leroy; and it works, Loretta goes up 2-0.
• Actually, Leroy's statement is fairly accurate. Some drivers attempt to draft and get better gas mileage on the road by intentionally tailgating behind other vehicles. Given Leroy's well known financial struggles he is always looking for ways to lighten the burden on his paycheck, including at the pump. In addition to annoying Loretta, the inherent danger of getting into a fiery car wreck that would result in his or her death adds further incentive to keep tailgating. Also, is Loretta in any position to criticize anyone about dangerous driving? Leroy makes it 2-1.
• Leroy has apparently stumbled upon the fact that Loretta suffers from a rare neurological dysfunction where conversations about sports render her unconscious. This would explain why Loretta is always so quick to prevent Leroy from watching any sports programming at home (aside from that fact that it is something that gives Leroy joy). He would be well served to always have a portable radio on hand tuned to the FAN whenever he needs a break from her nagging. It's quite a discovery. Leroy ties it up 2-2, which means the Sunday ends as a push.

Official Count:

Leroy - 32
Loretta - 41
Push - 34