Rick McKee / Augusta Chronicle (click to start slideshow)
It's Florida Primary day! Florida is the largest and most diverse state to cast their vote so far in the GOP Primary, with 50 delegates up for grabs in today's winner-take-all contest, double the amount awarded in any other state so far.
With Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich bare-knuckle brawling to the bitter end, check out what our cartoonists think with our new Florida Primary cartoon slideshow.
Today the White House criticized comments by Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus comparing President Obama to the captain of the Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia, who allegedly abandoned his sinking ship.
Priebus said Sunday on CBS's "Face the Nation" that Obama was "our own little Captain Schettino," and accused the President of abandoning ship and spending more time on his re-election campaign.
Preibus wasn't the only person to make this analogy. Some of the nation's top political cartoonists drew cartoons to the same effect. So is it a fair analogy to make, or was Priebus (and our cartoonists) wrong to make the comparison?
Rick McKee / Augusta Chronicle
Cam Cardow / Ottawa Citizen
Gary McCoy / PoliticalCartoons.com
It looks like the GOP Primary has come down to an epic battle between front-runner Mitt Romney and Washington insider outsider Newt Gingrich. Here are my most recent cartoons about these two fun-to-draw candidates:
Daryl Cagle / msnbc.com (click to start slideshow)
Every Friday, we collect the best political cartoons of the week and stuff them into one big, glorious slideshow.
So just relax and catch up on a week's worth of news with our Best Cartoons of the Week slideshow.
Rob Tornoe / Philadelphia Inquirer (click to start slideshow)
There are many mixed feelings in Happy Valley, Pennsylvania about the death of legendary Penn State football coach Joe Paterno. Recent events have tarnished his important legacy, not only at Penn state, but to college football in general. But Paterno remains a larger-than-life presence at a school he helped build, and will go down in history as one of college football's greatest figures.
The thoughts of our cartoonists run the gamut of emotion and blame. Check out what they think in our new Joe Paterno cartoon slideshow.
With the GOP Primary heating up in Florida, it's Newt versus Mitt in a bare-knuckle fist fight over the direction of the Republican Party.
Vulture capitalist versus Freddie Mac lobbyist? Out-of-touch rich guy versus family values hypocrite? It's almost like President Obama is writing these attack lines!
Chris Weyant / The Hill, PoliticalCartoons.com
Jimmy Margulies / The Record, PoliticalCartoons.com
Tim Eagan / PoliticalCartoons.com
Brian Fairrington / PoliticalCartoons.com
John Darkow / Columbia Daily Tribune, PoliticalCartoons.com
David Fitzsimmons / Arizona Daily Star (click to start slideshow)
In an emotional session on the House floor this morning, Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords offered her resignation a little more than a year after being shot in the head.
Prior to her resignation, Giffords voted in favor of her anti-smuggling bill, which she introduced shortly before being shot last year. It passed unanimously, 408-0, with 26 members missing the vote.
To view our slideshow of Gabrielle Giffords cartoons, click here.
Chris Weyant / The Hill (click to start slideshow)
Tonight, President Obama will deliver his State of the Union speech as GOP candidates bludgeon themselves over vulture capitalism and influence peddling. Are Republicans making it easy for a President facing high unemployment and record levels of debt?
We'll leave the history of tonight to Newt Gingrich. For now, check out our new State of the Union cartoon slideshow.
Jeff Parker / Florida Today, PoliticalCartoons.com
Satirist Will Durst makes President Obama's State of the Union address watchable. Just add alcohol.
What you need to play:
Four taxpayers: One white, Wall Street type in full suit and yellow power tie (MBA Guy); two ordinary folks sporting jeans, one in blue work shirt, other in white shirt (the Jeans); and one person wearing clothes that look like they were used for floor covering at a tire-changing shop for a minimum of three months, with belt, shoelaces, socks and underwear confiscated (Rags). Except for MBA Guy, game is non-gender or race specific.
One large screen HDTV tuned to speech. 42-inch or larger. Game played behind coffee table three feet away.
One regulation shot glass per person. Everybody brings own, placing it on coffee table. MBA Guy gets first choice among assembled. White shirt picks next, then blue shirt. MBA Guy takes last shot glass as well, and Rags either rents it from him, finds a replacement or drinks out of own cupped hands.
Everybody antes up 20 bucks. Cash. Except MBA Guy, who tosses in hand-made voucher. Preferably crayon.
Two packages Lit’l Smokies in bowl with favorite BBQ sauce.
One package round toothpicks.
One bottle small-batch Kentucky bourbon.
Nate Beeler / Washington Examiner, PoliticalCartoons.com
Two six-packs beer apiece. Rags gets whatever is on sale, i.e. Heileman’s Old Style Ice Dry Light. MBA Guy gets choice of import. The Jeans get domestic, and must go to store to purchase and carry provisions.
Rules of the game:
1. As soon as president says “State of the Union is good, but could be better,” last person to eat three Lit’l Smokies on toothpicks has to drink three shots of beer.
2. Every time Barack H. Obama says “compromise,” first person to stop laughing is exempt from drinking two shot glasses of beer.
3. If either Vice President Biden or House Speaker Boehner gets caught napping on camera, last person to sing “Wake Up, Little Susie” drinks four shots of beer.
4. Whenever Mr. Obama says word “jobs,” everybody drinks shot of beer. If he hits 10, throw used toothpicks at TV and first to stick one within outline of his face doesn’t have to drink two shots of bourbon.
5. If Chief Executive winks and/or points at Michelle, all four players blow kisses. Drink shot of beer for every general’s star sitting within two seats of First Lady.
6. When Obama speaks about sacrifices made by our brave troops, last one to leap to attention and salute must drink shots of beer for entire duration of standing ovation.
7. Every time Barack uses phrase “offshore banking accounts,” clasp a Lit’l Smokie between the teeth and swordfight others. Losers drink 3 shots of beer and eat sausages. Winner can spit his out.
8. Whenever Obama makes reference to faith getting him through tough times, last person to fall to knees and shout “Hallelujah!” drinks shot of bourbon.
9. If president relates touching heartfelt story of somebody denied health care, Rags gets to kick everybody else once. Twice, if subject of anecdote is in audience. Three times, if he/she is sitting next to astronaut.
10. When Barack H. Obama mentions bipartisanship, last person to pretend to faint drinks three shots of beer.
Extras:
Before speech, everyone writes down who they think is giving Republican response. Anybody who correctly identifies person doesn’t have to watch.
MBA Guy takes home all the money and the Jeans pay off voucher.
Leftover bourbon, beer and Lit’l Smokies go home with Rags after he/she washes dishes in front of TV.
Will Durst is a political comedian and columnist for Cagle Cartoons Inc. Read more of Durst's columns here.
Chris Weyant / The Hill (click to start slideshow)
Despite winning the South Carolina Primary, Newt Gingrich is still carrying a lot of baggage forward. The notion that the family values candidate is having to fight off attacks from his second wife over claims he wanted an “open marriage” could hamper the comeback of the former speaker.
Check out what cartoonists think with our new Gingrich and his Women cartoon slideshow.
So far, this GOP Primary has been terrific for guys like me. All the Republican candidates are fun to draw, and at this point the only thing I'm concerned about is having enough pencils to keep up.
Mitt Romney has suddenly become the right's whipping boy over "vulture capitalism" and his hesitancy to release his tax returns. Romney claims that Gingrich and others are attacking free enterprise, and Mitt's proud of what he's earned despite how much you may envy him. So if he's so proud, why's he afraid to let us know all about it?
Meanwhile, Newt Gingrich bashes the media and pretends to be the "family values" candidate despite his marital record and stories about hospital bed divorces...
Remember after Iowa and New Hampshire, when we all though Mitt would walk away with this primary easily? Yeah, not so much...
I guess New Hampshire wasn't the cruel, bossy dominatrix we all thought she was...
Don't forget to "Like" our cartoons on Facebook
It looks like the internet blackout of big sites like Wikipedia, Reddit and others had the effect they were after, as lawmakers have postponed the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), the anti-piracy legislation that was intended to cut off access to overseas Websites transferring pirated and counterfeit products.
Here's my cartoon about SOPA and Protect IP Act (PIPA). I don't know if many people who have railed against SOPA and PIPA understand that not every creator is a rich musician whose house has been featured on MTV Cribs.
So far, comments about my cartoon have run the gamut on Facebook, Twitter and elsewhere. Here's a sampling:
Adam Badtothe Bohn: "Yep, it's not like there are existing copyright laws..."
Greg Kanyicska: "All ideas must be monetized because an income stream is the only way a creative product can be truly valued. The free spread of ideas is patently worthless."
Francesca Annis: "The cartoon demonstrates something many of us do. Find information in its various forms and share it with others at no charge."
Edward Virtually: "You're an idiot. Welcome to blocking. This isn't a joking matter. SOPA = internet death. Get educated. or shut up."
Here are some additional cartoons about SOPA and PIPA from a couple of our cartoonists. What do you think?
Rob Tornoe / Media Matters, PoliticalCartoons.com
Manny Francisco / PoliticalCartoons.com
Rick McKee / Augusta Chronicle (click to start slideshow)
Every Friday, we collect the best political cartoons of the week and stuff them into one big, glorious slideshow.
So just relax and catch up on a week's worth of news with our Best Cartoons of the Week slideshow.
Man, this GOP Primary is suddenly moving very fast! News outlets are reporting that Rick Perry will announce today that he's ending his campaign for the Republican nomination, denying us the opportunity to see him in one last debate tonight.
Like most of the GOP candidates, Rick Perry has been a terrific target for cartoonists, who have sharpened their pencils and produced some terrific cartoons. Here are a handful of funny ones:
J.D. Crowe / Mobile Press-Register, PoliticalCartoons.com
Nate Beeler / Washington Examiner, PoliticalCartoons.com
Pat Bagley / Salt Lake Tribune, PoliticalCartoons.com
Mike Keefe / PoliticalCartoons.com
Taylor Jones / PoliticalCartoons.com
John Darkow / Columbia Daily Tribune, PoliticalCartoons.com
The Obama administration has decided to deny the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline proposal, stating the environmental studies they were requested to make couldn't be finished in the 60-day deadline imposed by Republicans as part of the payroll tax deal.
Some of our cartoonists have already weighed in on the controversial oil pipeline. Here are five good ones, and after today's announcement, I'm sure there are many more to come from our cartoonists:
Nate Beeler / Washington Examiner, PoliticalCartoons.com
Chris Weyant / The Hill, PoliticalCartoons.com
Aislin / Montreal Gazette
Graeme MacKay / Hamilton Spectator (Canada)
Nate Beeler / Washington Examiner, PoliticalCartoons.com
The use of a sinking ship as cartooning imagery has been one of the staples of modern political cartooning for years. Nearly every cartoonist has drawn a ship going down as a metaphor, for business, economics or even politics.
When five or more cartoonists draw the game gag, we refer to it as a ‘Cartoon Yahtzee.‘ There is a basic rule of thumb to go by, “if one other guy drew it, he’s a plagiarist; if five other guys drew it, they’re hacks; if a dozen other guys drew it, they are honoring a tradition”.
With the sinking of the Costa Concordia, several cartoonists thought the incident reminded them of the current situation with the Euro, and went to their drawing boards unaware some of their cartooning colleagues had the same thought.
Paresh Nath / National Herald (India), PoliticalCartoons.com
Jeremy Nell / The New Age (South Africa, PoliticalCartoons.com)
Alan Moir / The Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)
Taylor Jones / PoliticalCartoons.com
Jeff Koterba / Omaha World Herald
MORE YAHTZEES: Leslie Nielsen RIP cartoons
R.J. Matson / St. Louis Post-Dispatch (click to start slideshow)
Following last night’s debate, GOP Presidential hopefuls have hit the trail in hopes of securing a win in the South Carolina primary. In reality, the real race is between Romney's Super PAC and Newt's Super PAC.
For Romney, a win would all but secure his nomination, while Gingrich hopes to pull off an upset with the backing of the state’s strong conservative voters.
Luckily, our cartoonists are on the case. Check out or new Romney vs. Gingrich cartoon slideshow.
For all those debate-deprived readers out there, fear not - the five remaining GOP candidates are back on stage in South Carolina tonight starting at 9 p.m. on Fox News.
There are a lot of story-lines floating around - will Gingrich's attacks on Romney and Bain Capital stick? Can Ron Paul eek out another upset? Will Rick Perry show up?
Here a five funny political cartoons that should prime you for tonight's debate.
Rick McKee / Augusta Chronicle, PoliticalCartoons.com
Jimmy Margulies / The Record, PoliticalCartoons.com
Adam Zyglis / Buffalo News, PoliticalCartoons.com
Tim Eagan / PoliticalCartoons.com
R.J. Matson / St. Louis Post-Dispatch, PoliticalCartoons.com
"Like" our cartoons on Facebook
Dave Granlund / PoliticalCartoons.com (click to start slideshow)
Today we celebrate the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. whose non-violent civil rights movement altered the lives of millions of African-Americans in the south.
Cartoonists can usually find something to criticize in anyone, but Martin Luther King, Jr. has earned their unadulterated praise. Celebrate MLK Day by checking out our terrific Martin Luther King, Jr. cartoon slideshow.
Daryl Cagle / msnbc.com (click to start slideshow)
Every Friday, we collect the best political cartoons of the week and stuff them into one big, glorious slideshow.
So just relax and catch up on a week's worth of news with our Best Cartoons of the Week slideshow.
Nearly two years ago, a devastating earthquake struck Haiti and ravaged the poverty-stricken country and its crumbling infrastructure. The earthquake killed roughly 300,000 people and left more than 1.5 million homeless.
I thought it might be appropriate to look back at some of the best cartoons drawn about the crisis, but unfortunately looking back leads to the solemn realization that not much has changed for the Haitian people.
Daryl Cagle / msnbc.com, PoliticalCartoons.com
Cam Cardow / Ottawa Citizen, PoliticalCartoons.com
Frederick Deligne / Nice-Matin (France), PoliticalCartoons.com
Bob Englehart / Hartford Courant, PoliticalCartoons.com
Patrick Corrigan / The Toronto Star, PoliticalCartoons.com
Nate Beeler / Washington Examiner, PoliticalCartoons.com
Last night might have been the most boring primary in the history of New Hampshire. Before the results were even announced, most people knew that front-runner Mitt Romney would handily win, putting him one step closer to his almost-inevitable perch as the GOP's Presidential nominee.
I thought I'd share five funny cartoons about Mitt Romney from our stable of terrific cartoonists. They're certainly more entertaining than last night's primary:
Rick McKee / Augusta Chronicle
Jimmy Margulies / The Record
Christopher Weyant / The Hill
Nate Beeler / Washington Examiner
Adam Zyglis / Buffalo News
RELATED: New Hampshire Primary cartoon slideshow
I received an email over the weekend from Michael Dooley, an instructor at The Art Center College of Design, UCLA Extension, and Loyola Marymount University. Dooley wrote a column about Thomas Nast, the father of modern political cartoons, that I thought I would share with all the cartooning fans here on Cagle.com:
———————-
Thomas Nast: Anti-Irish, Anti-Catholic Bigot?
Biased. Disrespectful. Offensive. All sterling job qualifications for any good editorial cartoonist. But “racist”? Woah!
Thomas Nast was the granddaddy of the American political cartoon. And having lived in New Jersey, he’s been nominated for induction into the state’s 2012 Hall of Fame. But last month, legislators of both political parties fought to take his name off the ballot.
Caricature is oversimplification, a type of dehumanization for speedy communication. It’s also a tool of Nast’s trade which he vigorously practiced during the 1800s, most notably for Harper’s Weekly. For him, party Democrats were stubborn jackasses and murderous tigers. William “Boss” Tweed was a bloated bag of ill-gotten gains and his Tammany Hall cronies were predatory vultures. But some of Nast’s lesser known works have been singled out as evidence that he was anti-Catholic and anti-Irish.
And while some of those images have been disseminated in the press, hardly any of Nast’s opponents have meaningfully dealt with their content in context.
Let’s look at one of the supposedly anti-Catholic Nast cartoons. “The American River Ganges” (above) depicts an army of bishops crawling onto our shores. Their miters have transformed into crocodile mouths, as they prepare to devour young children.
As a Catholic… okay, ex-Catholic, I don’t see any problem here. “Ganges” isn’t anti-Catholic, it’s anti-Roman Catholic Church. Briefly stated, Nast was opposing state aid for parochial schools, and calling for church-state separation. And I consider his attack as justified as, for instance, contemporary editorial cartoons that condemn the Church’s countless pedophile priest cover-ups.
The other cartoons in question – and there are several – portray the Irish as a bunch of drunken, violent apes. As an Irishman, if I saw such stereotypes today, isolated from any explanatory indicators, I’d be highly insulted. But typically, Nast was criticizing specific groups of Irishmen, and for a variety of specific reasons. For one thing, he felt that their majority support of Tweed’s corrupt political machine in New York was foolish at best and downright stupid at worst.
As another example, in “The Chinese Question” (above) he’s drawn a noose and a burning building behind an ugly Irishman leading a gang of ruffians. This was to reference the riots in which predominantly Irish American mobs protested President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation by lynching blacks and setting fire to a Colored Orphan Asylum. That’s not racism on Nast’s part, that’s rage.
I’ve expressed my admiration for Nast in the past. And I really don’t know the depth of his alleged anti-Irish prejudice. His flattering depiction of an Irishman at his “come one come all, free and equal” table (below) is certainly cause for reflection. But I do know about his admiring and highly compelling portrayals of Chinese immigrants and other minorities. And his depictions of blacks, whether courageous Buffalo Soldiers or emancipated slaves, rank among the most exemplary graphic representations of a woefully underacknowledged part of our country’s history.
Note the Irish couple at the right end of the table. (click to enlarge)
I also know that when many Southern blacks voted for corrupt administrations during post-Civil War Reconstruction, the same way the Irish had been voting for Tammany gangsters, Nast didn’t hesitate to savagely ridicule both those groups (below). Totally unacceptable by today’s standards, most certainly, but typical of the visual parlance one and a half centuries ago.
And speaking of voting, let’s return to New Jersey. When the Hall of Fame winners are announced this month, I seriously doubt Nast will be mentioned, much less inducted. And it’s not just that his chances were undermined by negative publicity. It’s also that he was competing with names like Alexander Calder, Alfred Stieglitz, Dorothy Parker, Joyce Carol Oates, and even another cartoonist, Charles Addams. Woah!
Nevertheless, as a fellow former resident of New Jersey and a believer in counterbalancing what I feel was unfair treatment, I decided to cast my vote this year for the disrespectful and distinguished Mr. Nast.
Michael Dooley is the creative director of Michael Dooley Design and teaches Design History at Art Center College of Design, UCLA Extension, and Loyola Marymount University. He is also a Print contributing editor and writes on art and design for a variety of publications.
Daryl Cagle / msnbc.com (click to start slideshow)
Voters in New Hampshire will soon go to the polls to decide the winner (and almost as important, the runner-up) of their GOP Primary. Most polls point to front-runner Mitt Romney, who barely squeaked our a victory in Iowa, easily winning New Hampshire.
Between Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum, cartoonists have been keeping their hands full covering this primary. Check out what they think in our New Hampshire Primary cartoon slideshow.
Nate Beeler / Washington Examiner (click to start slideshow)
Every Friday, we collect the best political cartoons of the week and stuff them into one big, glorious slideshow.
So just relax and catch up on a week's worth of news with our Best Cartoons of the Week slideshow.
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