THE WEEK IN EDITORIAL CARTOONS
This weekly diary takes a look at the past week's important news stories from the perspective of our leading editorial cartoonists (including a few foreign ones) with analysis and commentary added in by me.
When evaluating a cartoon, ask yourself these questions:
- Does a cartoon add to my existing knowledge base and help crystallize my thinking about the issue depicted?
- Does the cartoonist have any obvious biases that distort reality?
- Is the cartoonist reflecting prevailing public opinion or trying to shape it?
The answers will help determine the effectiveness of the cartoonist's message.
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The Teabaggers' Intellectual
Clay Bennett, Comics.com
Note: For the next couple of months I'll post this diary every 2-3 weeks or so until such time I can find the time required to resume doing so on a weekly basis. The next 'Week in Editorial Cartoons' will be published on Sunday, February7th.
Thanks for your continued support.
ps: the diary is fully posted now. A few cartoons I could not fit in the diary text and so I posted them in the comments section.
pps: PLEASE READ THIS If you have difficulty posting comments, see this suggestion by amk for obama
Looks like the video embed is preventing (2+ / 0-)
Recommended by: JekyllnHyde, JanF
the comments posting again.
Temporary fix - Right click "Post a comment" and click "Open in new window". Then post the comment in the new window.
Between birthers, deathers and mouth-breathers, the gop has got 'teh crazy' and 'teh stoopid' covered.
by amk for obama on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 06:44:10 AM EST
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MLK Birthday: A Special Message from Congressman John Lewis (D-GA)
As a young man and Chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), John Lewis was in the trenches with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. throughout the difficult years of the Civil Rights Movement. Beaten, humiliated, and imprisoned for his beliefs, Congressman John Lewis persisted, endured, and ultimately prevailed over his oppressors. As one of the truly inspirational leaders of the country, his is a story of the triumph of quiet courage and morality over institutional racism and injustice. His struggles and sacrifices have made this a better country.
Congressman Lewis recorded a special message as to what this historic day means to him. Please share this video with your family and friends.
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1. CARTOONS OF THE WEEK
R.J. Matson, St. Louis Post Dispatch, Buy this cartoon
Bill Day, Comics.com
RJ Matson, New York Observer, Buy this cartoon
Mike Peters, Dayton Daily News
RJ Matson, St. Louis Post Dispatch, Buy this cartoon
Bill Day, Comics.com
Patrick Corrigan, Toronto Star, Buy this cartoon
Robert Ariail, Comics.com
John Cole, Scranton Times-Tribune, Buy this cartoon
Tony Auth, Philadelphia Inquirer
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2. The Devastation in Haiti
Ed Stein, Comics.com
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Freelance Cartoonist Ed Stein hits the nail on the head when it comes to comparing our problems to the poor people of Haiti. Everything is relative. When someone tells you the next time that they have serious problems, you should ask them, "Compared to whom?" Even in the worst of domestic economic times, Americans are so much better off than most of the rest of the world. We should all consider ourselves lucky and count our many blessings
Nothing like a disaster on the scale of what happened in Haiti to wake us up to reality. For all the shouting, all the anger and political recriminations, for all the overheated tea party rhetoric and the leftist hand-wringing, this country still functions pretty well. Haiti, on the other hand, is such a dysfunctional state, it is always one event away from a human disaster. That event was the massive earthquake that has killed as many as 50,000 people, and left three million in imminent danger of starvation and disease. The survivors have no ready access to food or water, no way to deal with huge numbers of decaying bodies, no medical services, no functional government able to help its people. As bad as the quake was, far worse may be coming. As depressing as what we are enduring here may be, let us be thankful for what we have.
Peter Broelman, Freelance Cartoonist (Australia), Buy this cartoon
No Sensitivity by Cam Cardow, Ottawa Citizen, Buy this cartoon
Stephane Peray, The Nation (Bangkok, Thailand), Buy this cartoon
Jimmy Margulies, New Jersey Record, Buy this cartoon
Mike Keefe, Denver Post, Buy this cartoon
Dave Granlund, Politicalcartoons.com, Buy this cartoon
Cam Cardow, Ottawa Citizen, Buy this cartoon
Steve Greenberg, Freelance Cartoonist, Los Angeles, Buy this cartoon
Dave Granlund, Politicalcartoons.com, Buy this cartoon
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Note: you can see more cartoons about the earthquake in Haiti by clicking here.
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3. Pat Robertson and Rush Limbaugh: Resident Republican Racists (RRR)
J.D. Crowe, Mobile Register (Alabama), Buy this cartoon
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J.D. Crowe, the brilliant Editorial Cartoonist of the Mobile Register in deep-red Alabama, has this scathing criticism of two of the world-class bigots of our time on his paper's blog
The devastating earthquake in Haiti has united most of the world in charitable spirit. The United States, as always, leads the way in responding to the crisis. In this time of Haitian desperation, we are all Haitians. Except for a few bigoted idiots.
Pat Robertson being Pat Robertson, he can't help but allow that God is punishing the people of Haiti for making a "pact with the devil" a few hundred years ago. Perhaps God is punishing America for a similar pact by burdening us with Pat Robertson. For all the good he is doing for Christians, Robertson may as well be head of marketing for Atheism Inc.
And then there's the great philanthropist Rush Limbaugh. Even in times of crisis Rush spews nothing but political bile. His take on Haiti? The United States has been too quick to respond. He thinks President Obama is just using Haiti to make Bush look even worse for his slow response to Katrina victims.
Rush slobbers and pants as he delivers the message that Obama "couldn't wait" to send relief, as if he somehow conjured up the earthquake just so he could capitalize politically. Rush also points out that Obama is quick to send American aid to Haiti merely to burnish his credentials "in both the light-skinned AND dark-skinned black community."
If Limbaugh thinks we've been too quick to respond, how about this: Next time Rush gets a rumbling in his chest or the levee breaks in his diapers, let's wait 4 or 5 days before sending in Brownie to take a look at his situation.
Steve Benson, Comics.com
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune, Buy this cartoon
Mike Keefe, Denver Post, Buy this cartoon
Chan Lowe, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, see reader comments in the newspaper
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South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Editorial Cartoonist Chan Lowe severely criticizes Robertson for his lack of compassion and humanity
In case you didn't think the Haitians have suffered enough already, along comes God's self-appointed spokesman, Pat Robertson, to pile on to their miseries with some divine retribution.
This is not Robertson's first foray into rubbing it in, evangelical-style. Remember when he and Jerry Falwell -- working as a tag-team -- said New York City deserved 9/11 because of all the depravity committed within its borders?
It would be easy to dismiss this charlatan, except that many people look to him for guidance on what to think, a lot like the way people look to Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck for the same.
Maybe they're all the same people, so hopefully the harm Robertson does will be minimal.
Joe Heller, Green Bay Press-Gazette, Buy this cartoon
Paul Szep, Comics.com
John Cole, Scranton Times-Tribune, Buy this cartoon
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4. Sarah Palin: There She Is!
There she is, Miss FOXNews
There she is, your ideal
The dream of a million girls who are more than pretty can come true
in New York City
For she may turn out to be the Queen of femininity
There she is, Miss FOXNews
There she is, your ideal
With so many beauties she took the town by storm
With her all-American face and form
And there she is
Walking on air, she is
Fairest of the fair, she is
There she is - Miss FOXNews
There She Is (with apologies to Bert Parks)
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J.D. Crowe, Mobile Register, Buy this cartoon
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J.D. Crowe, the Mobile Register's Editorial Columnist speculates as to what Sarah Palin might do at FOX News
Sarah Palin is joining Fox News. One fake report says she's quitting her family to spend more time with her money. And she's gonna have a lot of quality dollars to hang with. What? $10 million or so. Cool. Sarah Palin is good for business.
Any news about Sarah Palin is good for business. News business, poltical business, cartoon business, comedy business, whatever. Palin is gold.
Wonder if Sarah's deal with Fox includes use of the company helicopter for shooting wolves? And while she's shooting wolves, not hard to imagine her taking shots at CNN's Wolf Blitzer, Right?
See? This stuff is too easy.
But did you hear the latest steroid scandal? Yep. Tina Fey now admits she was taking performance-enhancing dumb-down pills for her impersonations of Sarah Palin.
Steve Sack, Comics.com
Bruce Beattie, Comics.com
Sarah Palin Interview by Adam Zyglis, Buffalo News, Buy this cartoon
Jim Morin, Miami Herald
Tom Toles, Washington Post
Jeff Danziger, New York Times Syndicate
Jimmy Margulies, New Jersey Record, Buy this cartoon
Mike Keefe, Denver Post, Buy this cartoon
Jeff Danziger, New York Times Syndicate
Jeff Stahler, Comics.com
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Sarah Palin's Target Audience
Tim Eagan, Deep Cover, Buy this cartoon
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5. Barack Obama and the Democrats
Lloyd Dangle, Troubletown, Buy this cartoon
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According to The Hill newspaper, a feistier President Obama awaits the Republicans as the final battle for Healthcare Reform gets underway
President Barack Obama this month has shifted from the measured tones he used throughout 2009 to push his policies, reviving his fiery campaign rhetoric that helped him win the White House.
Obama's trip to Massachusetts on Sunday comes as he and his administration have adopted a more confrontational political tone.
"Let me tell you something, if Republicans want to campaign against something by standing up for the status quo and for insurance companies over families and businesses, that is a fight I want to have," Obama said Thursday.
Say it Ain't So, Rahm!!!
Matt Bors, Comics.com
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6. Healthcare Reform and the Environment: What's Next for the Two BIG Policy Issues?
Ed Stein, Comics.com
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Ed Stein points out what has been obvious to many for the last year: Republicans will go all-out to kill Healthcare Reform to benefit themselves politically, the country and its 40+ million uninsured people be damned
The Republicans are nothing if not united in their opposition to anything the Democrats try. In the case of health care reform, their stance from the beginning has been to kill it at all costs. It’s an outrage that it takes 60 votes in the Senate to accomplish anything when the minority party is unanimously hostile to the majority party. We can argue the merits of this particular health care bill forever, but that’s never really been the point of the opposition. If it were, the Republican party would have been trying to make the bill better rather than scuttle it. They argue that they’ve been shut out of the process, but that’s not even close to the truth. Little they’ve offered has been constructive, and nothing they’ve proposed even comes close to solving the problems our current non-system of health care presents to tens of millions of Americans. As the old saying goes, if you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem. Sadly, the GOP has indicated that it will fight granting more Americans access to affordable health care all the way.
RJ Matson, Roll Call, Buy this cartoon
Tom Toles, Washington Post
Rome is Burning Deniers by Chris Slane, Freelance Cartoonist (New Zealand), Buy this cartoon
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7. Economy: Wall Street Bonuses
David Fitzsimmons, Arizona Star, Buy this cartoon
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An article in the Christian Science Monitor urges President Obama to limit Wall Street bonuses as he does have leverage over many of the major banks
If he wanted to, President Obama could discourage excessive Wall Street bonuses today.
No need for congressional action or new federal rules. All he has to do is tell the nine major banks rescued with taxpayer money that they will lose their status as a "primary dealer" unless they cap compensation at $200,000 a year, suggests economist Peter Morici. Any compensation above the cap would be taxed at 50 percent, he adds.
That would threaten big banks. Primary dealers buy and sell federal securities, dealing directly with the Federal Reserve and the Treasury. It’s a huge, lucrative business.
The McGwire Defense by RJ Matson, Roll Call, Buy this cartoon
Jimmy Margulies, New Jersey Record, Buy this cartoon
RJ Matson, St. Louis Post Dispatch, Buy this cartoon
Jimmy Margulies, New Jersey Record, Buy this cartoon
Patrick Chappatte, International Herald Tribune, Buy this cartoon
Jeff Parker, Florida Today, Buy this cartoon
RJ Matson, Roll Call, Buy this cartoon
John Darkow, Columbia Daily Tribune, Buy this cartoon
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8. China and Google
Bruce Beattie, Comics.com
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Mega internet giant Google is beginning to fight the Chinese government and taking a hardline approach in its dealings
Google is playing hardball. After last week's ultimatum, the search giant appears to have left itself no way out: either China allows Google to operate uncensored or Google leaves China.
Paresh Nath, Khaleej Times, UAE, Buy this cartoon
Monte Wolverton, Cagle Cartoons, Buy this cartoon
John Sherffius, Comics.com
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9. Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien: Back to the Future
Joe Heller, Green Bay Press-Gazette, Buy this cartoon
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Tom Shales, the media critic of the Washington Post weighs in on the Jay Leno-Conan O'Brien public relations fiasco
Hosting "Tonight" is like being president in a way, in that you can't really go higher in that particular field of endeavor. Thus did Letterman put up an infernal agonized fuss when the prize was whisked away from him in the early '90s and thus O'Brien will find himself only partially placated by a big fat $30 million check in 2010. It would behoove him, and it would be like him, to share some of that settlement with staff members who loyally followed him to the West Coast.
Dave Granlund, Politicalcartoons.com, Buy this cartoon
Cam Cardow, Ottawa Citizen, Buy this cartoon
Adam Zyglis, Buffalo News, Buy this cartoon
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10. Steroids and Baseball: Who Are the Enablers?
Bob Englehart, Hartford Courant, Buy this cartoon
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After years of speculation -- and to no one's surprise -- former baseball slugger Mark McGwire admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs during his major league career. McGwire said that the steroids helped him recover from injury and made him feel better. Did they, in any way possible, help him in hitting those 500-feet+ home runs? Not at all, said McGwire. No one believed him.
When McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds, Jose Canseco, and other players were hitting those mammoth home runs and breaking all kinds of records, did Major League Baseball or the fans complain? Not at all. In some respects, we are all responsible for this steroids era.
Editorial Cartoonist Bob Englehart of the Hartford Courant came up with the perfect solution on how to deal with players who are eligible for Baseball's Hall of Fame now and in the future
I admit that I went through the entire baseball season last year without thinking or worrying about who's on steroids. Yeah, sure, we joked about it now and then at the beginning of the season, but as the games went on, the magic juice was the farthest thing from our minds. The competition was so exciting we forgot to care. Anyway, nobody looked particularly bulked up.
I don't know what the solution is for Major League Baseball's Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, a steroid wing? Asterisks on plaques? Maybe a gambling wing to accommodate Pete Rose? I don't know, but Roger Maris should be given back the title of home run king, or ...
Here's what we can do. Have the home run titles broken down by drug. The most home runs hit on steroids, Barry Bonds. The most home runs hit on nicotine, Roger Maris. The most home runs hit on alcohol, a tie between Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle. If we looked around a bit, we could probably find who hit the most home runs on pot and cocaine.
Joe Heller, Green Bay Press-Gazette, Buy this cartoon
John Darkow, Columbia Daily Tribune, Buy this cartoon
Randy Bish, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Buy this cartoon
John Darkow, Columbia Daily Tribune, Buy this cartoon
The Washington Redskins have hired a new coach, Mike Shanahan. Will they win the Super Bowl next year? Of course! :-)
Drew Litton, Comics.com
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11. Final Thoughts
Finally, in keeping with recent trends over the past decade, Altie Cartoonist Jen Sorensen has some ideas on how to live your life in the new decade
Jen Sorensen, Slowpoke, Buy this cartoon
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A somewhat philosophical Slowpoke to start off the new decade. We're all about slowing things down and savoring the finer things in life: a good beer, a homecooked dinner, and a hand-drawn cartoon.
As perusers of the SkyMall magazine may be aware, there is a ridiculous device called the QuickGym which supposedly gives you a complete workout in four minutes a day.
So my third panel is not that much of an exaggeration. I've been waiting to work the QuickGym into a cartoon for years now, to be honest.
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A Note About the Diary Poll: Goodbye to All That
Joe Heller, Green Bay Press-Gazette, Buy this cartoon
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The Washington Post's Joel Achenbach offers his thoughts on the decade we just went through. In most respects, people aren't too unhappy to get rid of it.
The decade we didn't see coming
The decade began so swimmingly. No Y2K bug, no terrorism, nothing but lots of fireworks as the planet turned and, time zone by time zone, all the zeroes replaced the nines.
America was at peace. Prosperity reigned. The popular president soon announced a budget surplus of $230 billion. The dilemma for Washington lawmakers was what to do with all the extra money.
People watched the values of their houses soar. The Dow had jumped 25 percent in just a year. Imagine how $1,000 might mushroom if invested in stocks for the next decade!
The future had arrived bearing nifty technological gifts. An entire music catalogue could fit in the palm of a hand. People nurtured their avatars in Internet role-playing games. Technology offered a virtual escape from the real world.
Except the real world wouldn't leave us alone.
Throughout the decade, the real world pursued, hectored, harassed. Ignorance was punished. Hubris found its comeuppance. The optimists were routed, the pessimists validated. The fabulous economy turned out to be something of a hoax. A war predicted to be a "cakewalk" turned into a dismal slog.
This was a decade when things you didn't know about could really hurt you.
Rob Rogers, Comics.com
John Darkow, Columbia Daily Tribune, Buy this cartoon
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Crossposted at Docudharma