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.
:: ::
The "Gentleman" from South Carolina
Joel Pett, Lexington Herald-Leader
Introduction
Bruce Plante, Tulsa World, see the large number of reader comments
:: ::
Stupidity, childishness, soft racism, and boorish behavior exhibited by our elected officials brings out the best in editorial cartoonists. I am sure that Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC) wasn't thinking of the type of reaction he'd get from cartoonists when he heckled President Barack Obama before a joint session of Congress. Many of the cartoonists, though, were certainly paying close attention to Wilson's antics this past week. They portrayed him as rude, petulant, and a closet member of the racially-insensitive group of white voters that made up much of Richard Nixon's so-called "silent majority" four decades ago. Once you become a laughing stock on the editorial pages of the nation's newspapers, is your political career over? It remains to be seen.
Obama's speech to school children -- in which he encouraged them to work hard, stay in school, and build a future for themselves and the country -- was characterized by most Republicans as "socialist indoctrination," conveniently forgetting that previous presidents had delivered similar speeches. For this display of hypocrisy, they were taken to task by a large number of cartoonists. All in all, two speeches by our president in a week during which the opposition party made a complete fool of itself. The cartoonists loved it.
An important fact somewhat forgotten in this entertaining sideshow was that Obama and the Democratic Party were able to regain the initiative and are poised to enact something close to universal healthcare, however unsatisfactory the final product might be to many in the Democratic base, i.e., most of us. Even so, the below cartoon by David Horsey reminds us that health insurance for all is a goal that has eluded all American presidents since former Republican President Teddy Roosevelt first proposed it in 1912 as the presidential nominee for the Bull Moose Party. His proposals were largely based on social welfare programs first introduced in Germany under Chancellor Otto von Bismarck in the late 19th century. Bismarck implemented these welfare programs as a means of co-opting his more liberal political opponents and staving off the threat of real Marxism.
David Horsey, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
:: ::
The 8th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks resulted in a number of poignant cartoons, some of them lamenting the lost "spirit of cooperation" that existed in this country, albeit briefly, for a few months after that tragic day. The increasingly-bloody conflict in Afghanistan continues to remain a major concern, given the growing U.S. commitment of forces and resources with no obvious exit strategy in sight. Finally, Beatlemania -- and nostalgia for baby boomers -- is making a comeback as The Beatles reissued their entire digitally remastered back catalogue of music albums.
Jim Morin, Miami Herald
:: ::
The week's winner -- at least in the eyes of most cartoonists -- was Joe Wilson whose behavior, as you can see in the below cartoon by Jeff Danziger, was a godsend to him and his colleagues. The Republican Party continues to excel at one thing: engaging in all sorts of bizarre behavior, intended or not, for us to to laugh at. At least they are consistently good at something.
Jeff Danziger, New York Times Syndicate
:: ::
1. CARTOONS OF THE WEEK
Scott Stantis, Chicago Tribune
:: ::
Is "Movement Conservatism" Dead?
If the Republican Party were to sign up under one collective account on Daily Kos and, after the requisite one-week waiting period, started posting diaries in which it peddles its nutty conspiracy theories about Barack Obama or the state of our politics, it would receive an unprecedented number of 'Hide Ratings' and also be permanently banned from this blog in record time by our 'Community Moderator,' Meteor Blades.
Why then do we as a country tolerate this group of individuals who foist these -- to put in blog terminology -- trollish ideas upon the rest of us and subject the entire country to displays of irrational behavior not seen in quite a long time? The answer lies perhaps in a new book by Sam Tanenhaus, The Death of Conservatism. Tanenhaus writes that today's Republicans -- even after two electoral losses of landslide proportions in the past couple of years -- are completely divorced from political reality
We hear exhortations from the Right to the Right: to uphold "basics" and "principles," to stand tall against liberals -- even if it means evading the most pressing issues of the moment. Today’s conservatives resemble the exhumed figures of Pompeii, trapped in postures of frozen flight, clenched in the rigor mortis of a defunct ideology.
You can read this article by Garry Wills in the New York Review of Books to gain a better understanding of what Tanenhous means by the "death" of a certain kind of conservatism. Or, listen to Wills on this podcast.
Tanenhaus also talked recently with National Public Radio's Tom Ashbrook in which he expounded upon several ideas he discusses in his wonderful book
Now, he looks around to find Rush Limbaugh, Bill Kristol, and Sarah Palin in charge of movement conservatism. Anger replacing loyal opposition. A destructive impulse killing true conservative principles.
Rush won’t like it, but Tanenhaus says honest, old-time conservatism is dead.
Health Care Reform Buffoonery
Mike Thompson, Detroit Free Press, see reader comments
:: ::
Thompson wonders as to why Joe Wilson felt compelled to lie during his outburst
By now everyone’s familiar with the "You lie!" shout that Rep. Joe Wilson (R - S.C.) let go during President Barack Obama’s health care speech Wednesday evening. Wilson was claiming that Obama was being less that candid about whether or not his health care plans included government-funded health care coverage for illegal immigrants.
The president has no such plans. As Michael Scherer wrote for Time.com, Wilson "... was claiming something — benefits for illegal immigrants — that is expressly prohibited in the major legislative efforts in both houses of Congress."
There are legitimate arguments to be made against President Barack Obama’s ideas for overhauling the nation’s health care system. So you have to wonder why Republicans aren’t forwarding such arguments instead of blathering about "death panels" and "Marxism."
A change of the magnitude that the president is proposing should not occur without a serious national discussion over how best to resolve the health care crisis. Can we have one, please?
Tim Goheen, McClatchy Tribune
Abell Smith, Eat the State!
Nick Anderson, Houston Chronicle, see reader comments
Steve Sack, Minnealpolis Star-Tribune
Paul Szep, szep.com
Lost... But Not Found as Yet
Clay Bennett, Chattanooga Times Free Press, see reader comments in the newspaper
Mike Keefe, Denver Post
:: ::
2. Wingnuts Behaving Badly: The Speech to Congress
R.J. Matson, St. Louis Post Dispatch
:: ::
Columnist Hendrik Hetrzberg of the New Yorker magazine analyzes Barack Obama's speech to Congress and has the following observations about the opposition party's paranoid behavior
This sort of lunatic paranoia -- touched with populism, nativism, racism, and anti-intellectualism -- has long been a feature of the fringe, especially during times of economic bewilderment. What is different now is the evolution of a new political organism, with paranoia as its animating principle...
Bipartisanship is a fine sentiment and an appealing tactic, but where health care is concerned it was never a great idea. The boorish South Carolina Republican who shouted "You lie!" at the President after he said, truthfully, that reform "would not apply to those who are here illegally" did the public weal a favor by underlining bipartisanship’s futility. A bill that reflects a necessary compromise among Democrats is bound to be stronger than one that reflects an unnecessary compromise between Democrats and Republicans. And that’s no lie.
:: ::
Clay Jones, Freelance-Star (Fredericksburg, VA)
Tom Toles, Washington Post
This Modern World, Tom Tomorrow, see Letters to the Editor in response to this cartoon in Salon magazine
John Deering, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Marshall Ramsey, Clarion Ledger (Jackson, MS)
Robert Ariail, robertariail.com
Jim Morin, Miami Herald
Jeff Stahler, Columbus Dispatch
Stuart Carlson, Universal Press Syndicate
Mark Streeter, Savannah Morning News
John Sherffius, Boulder Daily Camera
Rob Rogers, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Walt Handelsman, Newsday
Tony Auth, Philadelphia Inquirer
Signe Wilkinson, Philadelphia Daily News
Chan Lowe, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, see reader comments in the newspaper
:: ::
Lowe sees some momentum building in favor of the Democratic Party and predicts passage of a bill
As I've said before, once a program is in place, people start to think of it as their birthright. Even if all the Democrats pass is a skeleton, it'll be enough to start hanging the Christmas ornaments on down the line. As Americans begin to enjoy (maybe) health care that for many was previously beyond their reach, and discover in the process that we haven't all started speaking Russian, they'll start looking at the GOP as the party that wanted to deny them the goodies.
Look at Social Security -- which is certainly socialism -- or Medicare, which is just what Obama wants for everybody, except limited to old people. Nobody dares even question those programs now.
The train's pulling out the station, and the Republicans are in danger of being left on the platform, looking in the wrong direction.
Can you hear that lonesome whistle blowin'?
:: ::
3. Barack Obama's "Stay in School" Speech
Now, Children!
Ed Stein, edsteinink.com
:: ::
Stein points out the obvious absurdities in the arguments made by Republicans
So, this is what we’ve come to. A nation so divided that many of us refuse to let our children listen to the President of the United States. A majority of Americans, I believe, hoped that the election of Obama signaled an end to the hyperpartisan lunacy of the last few decades. So much for hope. The right wing may be a one-trick pony, but it’s a trick that keeps working to frighten, alienate and divide Americans, all in the narrow interest of future electoral victory. Their latest campaign is almost too bizarre to believe–persuading gullible parents that Obama’s address to the nation’s schoolchildren will indoctrinate impressionable kids into the President’s dastardly agenda, which seems to consist of wanting them to stay in school. How dare he!
:: ::
R.J. Matson, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Well we got no class
And we got no principles
And we got no innocence
We can't even think of a word that rhymes
Alice Cooper, School's Out
:: ::
Back to School Speech
Clay Bennett, Chattanooga Times Free Press, see reader comments in the newspaper
Monte Wolverton, Cagle Cartoons
David Fitzsimmons, Arizona Star
Chan Lowe, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, see Lowe's analysis as well as reader comments in the newspapers
Bruce Plante, Tulsa World
Rob Rogers, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
August J. Pollak, Some Guy With a Website
J.D. Crowe, Mobile Register, see Crowe's blog comment chiding conservatives for their scare tactics and stupidity
Jimmy Margulies, New Jersey Record
David Horsey, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, see the large number of reader comments in the newspaper
John Darkow, Columbia Daily Tribune
Stuart Carlson, Universal Press Syndicate
Mike Thompson, Detroit Free Press, see reader comments in the newspaper
:: ::
Thompson does not mince words when he expresses himself on this issue
There’s a difference between being strident in one’s beliefs and being downright looney. The extreme far right in this country has gone so far off the deep end in with their health care reform antics and their strident opposition to anything President Obama says that it’s become almost impossible to caricature the caricature that they’ve become. Almost.
Kevin Siers, Charlotte Observer
Rex Babin, Sacramento Bee
Bill Schorr, Cagle Cartoons
:: ::
4. Heathcare Reform: The Folly of Political Compromise
Matt Wuerker, Politico
:: ::
Former Democratic Senator and Presidential Nominee George McGovern had an interesting op-ed piece yesterday in the 'Outlook' section of the Washington Post. He articulated his solution to the healthcare crisis, 'It's Simple: Medicare for All,' in which he takes his former Senate colleagues to task for being captives of the insurance industry
Many people familiar with politics in America will tell you that this idea can't pass Congress, in part because the insurance lobby is too powerful for lawmakers to resist...
Consider the campaign funds given to the chairman and ranking minority member of the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over health-care legislation. Chairman Max Baucus of Montana, a Democrat, and his political action committee have received nearly $4 million from the health-care lobby since 2003. The ranking Republican, Charles Grassley of Iowa, has received more than $2 million. It's a mistake for one politician to judge the personal motives of another. But Sens. Baucus and Grassley are firm opponents of the single-payer system, as are other highly placed members of Congress who have been generously rewarded by the insurance lobby.
In the past, doctors and their national association opposed Medicare and efforts to extend such benefits. But in recent years, many doctors have changed their views.
:: ::
Paul Szep, szep.com
Ben Sargent, Universal Press Syndicate
:: ::
Earlier in the week, Columnist Eugene Robinson warned President Obama and Congressional Democrats about the perils of compromising too much with the Republican Party. Otherwise, they would risk alienating their own political base prior to the 2010 Elections
Democrats are right to believe that they have to pass some kind of health-care bill or be accused -- justly, I'd say -- of stunning incompetence. But what's the point of making concessions to Republicans who, in the end, aren't going to vote for the legislation anyway?
And as for the centrist Democrats who represent swing states and are trying to reduce the whole exercise to "reform lite," who do they think will be most vulnerable at the polls if the reform effort fails and voters decide to punish the party? Do they think they have a chance of beating their next Republican opponents if progressive activists aren't enthusiastic about writing checks, making phone calls and going door to door?
In the end, Democrats will probably reason that something is better than nothing and pass some kind of bill that can be labeled "reform." But if it's seen as watered-down, Obama may pay a price. Progressives have been willing to cut him slack on deepening U.S. involvement in Afghanistan, on the largess that's been showered upon Wall Street, on not fully investigating Bush-era abuses. Those, too, could be made into binary issues -- and the "center" could look even more like a tightrope.
Obama and the Kill Kare Klan
Stephane Peray, The Nation (Bangkok, Thailand)
Unhealthy Debate
John Cole, Scranton Times-Tribune
Riber Hansson, Svenska Dagbladet (Sweden)
Lee Judge, Kansas City Star
Matt Wuerker, Politico
Senator Bill Nelson
Paul Szep, szep.com
Bill Day, Memphis Commercial Appeal
Tony Auth, Philadelphia Inquirer
Mike Peters, Dayton Daily News
Pat Oliphant, Universal Press Syndicate
R.J. Matson, St. Louis Post Dispatch
John Cole, Scranton Times-Tribune
Ken Catalino, Creators.com
Bipartisanship
Clay Bennett, Chattanooga Times Free Press, cartoon submitted by Sandy on Signal, see reader comments in the newspaper
Ben Sargent, Universal Press Syndicate
:: ::
5. The Clownish Republican Party: The Democratic Party's Best Political Friend
Jimmy Margulies, New Jersey Record
Sandy Huffaker, Politicalcartoons.com
Bob Englehart, Hartford Courant
:: ::
From Wilson's ill-advised outburst, Englehart sees something positive for the Democrats
I suppose we should thank Rep. Joe Wilson from the great state of South Carolina, and I say that as a resident of another screwed-up state. I think Wilson single-handedly brought the Democrats together. I think the Dems were listening to President Obama drone on and on, not giving any specifics, same ol', same ol' and then, Bingo. "You lie!" Galvanized.
Robert Ariail, robertariail.com
Paul Szep, szep.com
Rex Babin, Sacramento Bee
:: ::
In the California State Assembly, after "family values conservative" Republican Michael Duvall resigned his seat a couple of days ago following embarrassing disclosures pertaining to sex with two lobbyists, the above cartoon appeared in the Sacramento Bee.
Clay Bennett, Chattanooga Times Free Press, see reader comments in the newspaper
:: ::
Congressman Zach Wamp says he would defend state rights if he is elected as Governor of Tennessee in 2010.
Bruce Beattie, Daytona News-Journal
Jim Morin, Miami Herald
Vic Harville, Stephens Media Group (Little Rock, AR)
David Cohen, main.nc.us/cartoons
Mike Scott, NewJerseyNewsroom.com
:: ::
End Of Life Care For The Republican Party
R.J. Matson, Roll Call
:: ::
6. Barack Obama: Time to Get Tougher
R.J. Matson, St. Louis Post Dispatch
Taylor Jones, El Nuevo Dia (Puerto Rico)
Jeff Stahler, Columbus Dispatch
Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com
Jack Ohman, Portland Oregonian
David Fitzsimmons, Arizona Star
Tom Toles, Washington Post
:: ::
7. Economic Forecast: The Recession May Be Ending But Unemployment is Still High
Tom Toles, Washington Post
Paresh Nath, Khaleej Times (UAE)
Patrick Chappatte, Le Temps (Switzerland)
Joe Heller, Green Bay Press-Gazette
Steve Breen, San Diego Union-Tribune
Pat Oliphant, Universal Press Syndicate
Tony Auth, Philadelphia Inquirer
Ed Stein, edsteinink.com
Dave Granlund, Politicalcartoons.com
Mike Keefe, Denver Post
:: ::
8. The Afghanistan War: How Deep is the Commitment?
Mike Luckovich, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Kevin Kallaugher (KAL), The Economist
Dave Granlund, Politicalcartoons.com
Dan Wasserman, Boston Globe
Stuart Carlson, Universal Press Syndicate
John Sherffius, Boulder Daily Camera
Ted Rall, Universal Press Syndicate
Chip Bok, Akron Beacon Journal
John Cole, Scranton Times-Tribune
Mike Keefe, Denver Post
Steve Benson, Arizona Republic
:: ::
Another War President
Monte Wolverton, Cagle Cartoons
:: ::
9. September 11th: Memories of a Terrible Day in Our History
Rob Rogers, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
:: ::
Rogers looks back at the 2001 terrorist attacks (see this 2007 Rogers cartoon too in which a calm, confident, and free Osama Bin Laden is seen taunting George W. Bush, "You're doing a heckuva job" as Bush speeds away in his limousine)
Speaking of a safer world, how's that whole "war on terror" thing going? It has been eight years since 9/11 and we still don't have Osama behind bars. Oh, that's right ... we were too busy saving the world from Saddam and his imaginary WMDs.
A couple of days after Rogers posted this cartoon, he wrote a clarification as some of his readers completely misinterpreted his intent
It makes me sick to my stomach when I hear the ugly, hateful lies that are being spread around about our current President. We should all be standing united behind the idea of universal health care. We should all be standing united against kids dropping out of school. But we are not. Instead, as we mark another anniversary of 9/11, the same people who were united against Osama and al-Qaida are now making Obama out to be some kind of evildoer.
My advice to those Obama supporters who didn't like my cartoon: direct your outrage toward the ones who are making Obama out to be evil. That's all I'm trying to do.
Joe Heller, Green Bay Press-Gazette
Walt Handelsman, Newsday
David Cohen, main.nc.us/cartoons/
Vic Harville, Stephens Media Group (Little Rock, AR)
Dave Granlund, Politicalcartoons.com
Steve Benson, Arizona Republic
Matt Davies, NY Journal News, see reader comments in the newspaper
:: ::
A reader responds to the above cartoon by Editorial Cartoonist Matt Davies
Vivian Anderson
Totally awesome cartoon.
..only thing that could unite the US in the past 20 years was fear – fear of facing themselves, the shadow rulers and the abuse of own military power. And above all – hatred towards countries that had nothing to do with 9/11 other than being oil rich and hosting the despots the US put in place many years ago.
Steve Breen, San Diego Union-Tribune
Marshall Ramsey, Clarion Ledger (Jackson MS)
John Deering, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Gary Varvel, Indianapolis Star
Joel Pett, Lexington Herald-Leader
Randy Bish, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
:: ::
10. The United States Supreme Court: Landmark Case re: Campaign Finance Reform
Tom Toles, Washington Post
:: ::
Reporter Jeffrey Toobin referred to Chief Justice John Roberts as the court's "stealth hard-liner" in a recent New Yorker article. Now, the Roberts Court has a very important case before it and one which hasn't received a great deal of publicity due to intense focus on Healthcare Reform these past few weeks
The Supreme Court [heard] arguments from campaign finance reform advocates and opponents in a case many insiders say will be the most significant decision in more than 35 years.
The case... Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, has the potential to overturn key elements of campaign finance law that prevent corporate spending on elections, a move that would open the door to millions of dollars that could not be spent previously...
The case started simply enough; late last term, the court heard arguments over whether Citizens United, the conservative nonprofit organization, could run a documentary attacking former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. The documentary was partially funded by corporate contributions, which the Federal Election Commission (FEC) said was a violation of campaign law.
Dwane Powell, News & Observer (Raleigh, NC)
John Sherffius, Boulder Daily Camera
Jeff Danziger, New York Times Syndicate
:: ::
11. Sports Talk: MJ in the N.B.A. Hall of Fame
To the surprise of no one, basketball great Michael Jordan was inducted in the National Basketball Association's Hall of Fame. Other inductees included two of Jordan's teammates on the USA's 1992 Olympic "Dream Team," consummate point guard John Stockton of the Utah Jazz and center David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs along with Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan and current Rutgers women's coach C. Vivian Stringer.
:: ::
Xavier Salvador, Air Jordan
"Air Obama" is headed towards some kinda political Hall of Fame though not for a few more years!
J.D. Crowe, Mobile Register
Joe Heller, Green Bay Press-Gazette
Drew Litton, drewlitton.com
Vic Harville, Stephens Media Group (Little Rock, AR)
Joe Heller, Green Bay Press-Gazette
:: ::
12. Remastering the Beatles: Beatlemania 2.0
Beatles Rock
Dave Granlund, Politicalcartoons.com
:: ::
The Beatles are back with a fabulous new video game, dvd's, and digitally remastered cd's (taking advantage of the latest in technology) of their entire musical work.
In 2004, I wrote this diary -- The Beatles, George W. Bush, and John Kerry -- about the legendary group from Liverpool, England. Here's an excerpt
The Beatles -- the 'Fab Four' group of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr -- hit the shores of the United States in 1964 like a sorely-needed breath of fresh air. Over the next few years, their innovative musical sound and brilliant lyrics not only transformed the world of Rock and Roll but gave us much more than just a few memorable tunes. No group before or since has perhaps done more to transform our culture as we know it today. No one reflected the political turbulence, turmoil, anxieties, ambiguities, ambivalence, conflicts, and uncertainties of their era better. Or contributed more to redefine it.
Gary Varvel, Indianapolis Star-News
Walt Handelsman, Newsday
Patrick Chappatte, International Herald Tribune
Jeff Darcy, Cleveland Plain Dealer
Dave Granlund, Politicalcartoons.com
Cam Cardow, Ottawa Citizen
David Fitzsimmons, Arizona Daily Star
Jeff Stahler, Columbus Dispatch
13. Final Thoughts
Finally, what did beer-brewing monks do for fun at the seminary during the Middle Ages? Did they ever have happy hours?
:: ::
This Bud's for You
Paul Szep, Huffington Post
:: ::
A Note About the Diary Poll
R.J. Matson, New York Observer
:: ::
In January 2010, Diane Sawyer will become the television anchor for ABC World News following the retirement of Charlie Gibson. It will be the first time in broadcast history that two of the three anchors for the major television networks will be female.
Of all of the great female reporters of the past few decades, very few have had the opportunity to move up in a profession dominated by male anchors. With Katie Couric at CBS Evening News, Sawyer will have to withstand constant comparisons between the two
It’s an odd bit of a role reversal: Ms. Couric is a morning-show natural who had to tone down her peppy cadence and casual style to suit the formality of evening news programs, while Ms. Sawyer, born to be an evening anchor, spent much of her career twisting her natural elegance into the shape of slap-happy morning television. And Mr. Williams, who ascended to the position of NBC anchor on the shoulders of an old boys’ club, now has to reposition himself as a member of a persecuted minority, the white male anchorman.
Why did it take such a long time for this moment to arrive? I think this process may have been accelerated by years had it not been for the untimely death in 1983 of someone who may have been the best of them all. Jessica Savitch was a terrific weekend television anchor for NBC Nightly News whose life was cut short in a tragic car accident. I remember watching her (as well as Linda Ellerbee) in the early 1980's and wondering if either of them would ever have the chance to replace one of the big boys. It wasn't meant to be.
Jessica Savitch from an NBC News Update in 1978
Of all of the prominent television anchors and reporters listed in the diary poll, who is your favorite? And why do you think it's taken so long to have female anchors become as trusted as, say, Walter Cronkite or David Brinkley?