1725 Jack Elephant

I'm not certain why we adopted some of our national symbols. Like where did we get the idea for the animals that represent our political parties? The Donkey and the Elephant.
They must have started as putdowns. Disparaging characterizations thought up by some political cartoonist. And then, strangely, adopted by the parties themselves. Politics is nothing if not the ability to co-opt ideas and change them beyond all recognition.
So Democrats are donkeys. That's certainly nice and alliterative. Is it because they can be stubborn? Or is it because the donkey is tougher than the more noble looking horse. Stubborn yes, but that's just one side of the coin. Tenacious is the other, not to mention humble, hard working, and toiling industriously for others.
Then again a donkey is a jackass. Braying and obstinate, downright mulish. One might even say pigheaded. That about rounds out the farmyard.
I guess Democrats thought that all in all, being a donkey was okay. I'm not so sure. I don't see any sports teams with jackasses as mascots. I guess because calling your team the fighting asses is confusing.
And the brawling jackasses sounds too much like congress.
Then you got your elephant of the Republicans. Another stirring symbol. Umm...They never forget. They're big. And solid and dependable. Until you encounter a rogue elephant. Then watch out. You may get stampeded.
I wonder if the first satirical cartoonist thought elephants and fat cats were close enough symbolically so it would make drawing easier. They're both rotund and self-satisfied. Unfortunately, it's also very easy to picture a dumb-looking elephant---tired and doddering, consuming huge quantities, stripping a forest of fodder.
No to mention if you've ever been to a zoo and watched an elephant unload. Not exactly trickle down.
Then again, if I’m a Democrat, is that guilt by ass-ociation.
America ya gotta love it.