Jump to February 2012 archive page: 1 2

  • James Murdoch Can't Hack It

    James Murdoch, son of News Corporation media mogul and occasional pie target Rupert Murdoch, has decided to give up his role as the head of the British newspaper subsidiary News International in the wake of an enormous phone hacking scandal and illegal payments to the police.

    Here are five funny cartoons about phone hacking, News Corporation and the general silliness surrounding the Murdoch family. Our cartoonists draw, you decide...

    R.J. Matson / St. Louis Post-Dispatch (click to view more cartoons by Matson)

    David Fitzsimmons / Arizona Daily Star (click to view more cartoons by Fitzsimmons)

    Mike Keefe / PoliticalCartoons.com (click to view more cartoons by Keefe)

    Cam Cardow / Ottawa Citizen (click to view more cartoons by Cardow)

    David Fitzsimmons / Arizona Daily Star (click to view more cartoons by Fitzsimmons)


     

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  • Santorum feeds hungry Republicans

    Here's my newest cartoon about everyone's favorite birth control warrior, former Pennsylvania Senator and Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum (view more Rick Santorum cartoons here). For a man who not afraid to tell voters what's on his mind (no matter how looney), Santorum now regrets saying he wanted to "throw up" after watching John F. Kennedy's speech to Baptist ministers in Houston in 1960.

    Just for the record, here's what Kennedy said in his speech: 

    "I believe in an America that is officially neither Catholic, Protestant nor Jewish; where no public official either requests or accepts instructions on public policy from the Pope, the National Council of Churches or any other ecclesiastical source; where no religious body seeks to impose its will directly or indirectly upon the general populace or the public acts of its officials; and where religious liberty is so indivisible that an act against one church is treated as an act against all."

    Wow, Kennedy didn't want The Pope to control American politics. Harsh. 

    You see, Santorum wanted to hurl because despite what our Constitution says, he doesn't believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute. 

    "The idea that the church can have no influence or no involvement in the operation of the state is absolutely antithetical to the objectives and vision of our country,” Santorum said on Sunday.

     

     

  • Will Durst: The Ayatollah of Pennsylvania

    Nate Beeler / Washington Examiner

    Satirist Will Durst weighs in on Rick Santorum and his Sharia Law-like tendencies... 

    Once again, the wacky wheel of destiny takes a mighty spin and the big red pointer lands smack on the name of the next Great White Republican Hope -- Rick Santorum. The seventh or eighth candidate to vault into the lead of the GOP sweepstakes primarily because he is not Mitt Romney. 

    A similar phenomenon has lifted President Obama in the polls for cleverly positioning himself as not a Republican. Poor Mitt Romney, the more people see of him, the less they like him. His best chance to win this thing might be to slip into a coma for a couple months and emerge this August rested and refreshed.

    Santorum, however, is determined to make the road to Tampa a fight for the soul of America. Unlike some of his fallen compatriots, he doesn't claim God told him to run for president. Rather, God is running with him for President. And you should know that neither of them is happy. 

    David Fitzsimmons / Arizona Daily Star

    You could say Santorum is Old Fashioned. But it might be more precise to say he's Old Testament. Women don't have rights; they're baby tunnels for Christ. Birth control is immoral, prenatal testing is depraved and gay marriage is an abomination. And anybody who campaigns in a sweater vest obviously knows a thing or two about abominations. The Ayatollah of Pennsylvania is on a mission to drag this country kicking and screaming back into the '50s. The 1850s.

    Doesn't believe in global warming, evolution or even public education. Actually said out loud in front of people with microphones, "For the first 150 years, presidents home schooled their kids." Yeah? So what? For the first 150 years, indoor plumbing was science fiction. For the first 150 years, Presidents were operated on by barbers whose instrument bags consisted mostly of leeches. For the first 150 years, the sheep barn and the living room were the same place. What's your point? 

    Addressing contraception on CNN, Santorum's biggest backer, Foster Friess, said back in his day, girls used aspirin as birth control. Hunh? "Yeah, they stuck it between their knees and tried to keep it there." A bad '50s joke. And so is Rick Santorum. Mister Rogers with rabies.

    He's so conservative, his globe is flat. To him, erosion is a radical concept endorsed by extreme environmentalists whose phony theology is not based on the Bible. He's so old school, his idea of progress is smelting a lighter alloy for the buckle on his hat. Wants to return America to its traditional values of burning people as witches because their tomatoes grew too big.

    Bill Day / Cagle Cartoons

    Reciting verbatim from Chapter Four of the conservative playbook, Santorum castigated the press for picking on GOP candidates. What these guys fail to understand is that Democrats don't waste nearly as much political capital challenging science and logic. Don't get me wrong, Democrats still say plenty of ludiculous stuff. But not with such vehemence and regularity. Besides, they only got one Joe Biden, Republicans have at least nine.

    After the last Republican primary debate, more and more people are beginning to suspect the GOP isn't just scraping the bottom of the barrel, they're squeezing the goo from between the staves the leaked out of the bottom of the barrel. Yeah, right. The last debate. Promises. Promises.

    Will Durst is a political comedian and columnist for Cagle Cartoons Inc. Read more of Durst's columns here.  

  • Michigan Primary

    Chris Weyant/The Hill, Politicalcartoons.com (click to launch slideshow)

    The Republican presidential primary in Michigan on Tuesday has Romney and Santorum hoping for the win.  Will Romney's chances be hurt by his public remarks against Obama's auto bailout?  Will Santorum's extreme right-wing views hurt his chances?  I guess we will all find out on Tuesday!

    For now you can check out what our cartoonists think in this Michigan Primary slideshow.

  • Celebrity Obsessed Culture

    The Oscars may be over, but there is no stopping America's obsession with underweight celebrities squeezing into overpriced gowns to pat themselves on the back for a job well done. 

    One cartoonist who has been outspoken about our celebrity obsessed culture is our very own Brian Fairrington. Here are some of Brian’s harshest cartoons aimed at anyone who chooses US magazine over The New York Times.


     

  • Readers Respond To ‘War On Women’ Cartoon

    Adam Zyglis / Buffalo News

    For the past few weeks, the rhetoric on the campaign has shifted from the economy and job creation to birth control and women’s reproductive rights. Many cartoonists have weighed in on the topic (view our collection of women’s rights cartoons here), but this cartoon to the right by Adam Zyglis of the Buffalo News stood out.

    We’ve had a lot of readers react to the cartoon via our Facebook and Twitter pages. Here's just a sample of what they said about the cartoon: 

    Steve Berlin: “Totally unfair. Because the GOP would never put “Women” and “rights” in the same sentence.”

    Don Mitchell: “Why not? Sarah Palin can draw targets on a map and play the victim card.”

    Gerardo Enrique Garibay Camarena: “It’s Foul, and it amazes me how libs are incapable to understand that the symbol used in Palin’s map was NOT a target.”

    Theresa McGrath Moran: “Takes a woman to make a man…remember who’s body you came out of.”

    Dave Washburn: “Oh wait, I get it. If you’re against the government forcing religious institutions to violate their religious beliefs, you’re for shooting women. OK, now it makes sense.”

    Maite Brown: “Contraception is the target. Sadly….NOT fair.”

    Paul J Falkowski: “THIS IS Another expression of violence.”

    Barbara Elizabeth: “This time it is not being promoted as something that SHOULD be done to the other side, but instead as something that the other side is ALREADY doing. Big difference since the weirdos out there won’t see this as an instruction from the left, but instead as a critique of the right.”

    What do you think? Comment below and weigh in – fair or foul!

     

  • Academy Awards cartoons

    Chris Weyant / The Hill (click to start slideshow)

    It’s that time of year again, where we celebrate the movies and garnish actors and actresses with awards and accolades for keeping us entertained. Personally, I’m protesting the Oscars this year, not because I don’t enjoy movies or the spectacle of a big awards show. I just think the Presidential race has been much more entertaining.

    Don’t agree with me? Check out our Academy Awards cartoon slideshow, and tell me who’s a better actor – George Clooney or Mitt Romney.

     

  • Greece Bailout

    Dave Granlund/Politicalcartoons.com (click to launch slideshow)

    Greece gets a major bailout but expectations of a recovery are bleak.  Greece is now tied to the euro and will not face financial collapse.  However, some think that this will put Greece into further financial recession with their already dismal 20 percent unemployment.

    No matter what happens in Greece our cartoonists will continue to share their opinions.  Take a look at this new cartoon slideshow called, "Greece Bailout"

  • Five Frothy Rick Santorum Cartoons

    It’s make-or-break time for Rick Santorum (who still can’t escape the infamy of his last name on Google). The culture warrior has risen in popularity among the Republican base by throwing out red meat pertaining to religion, birth control and slamming the president’s value system as a “phony theology.”

    Can Santorum not only win the GOP nomination, but somehow unseat President Obama from office? Our cartoonists sure don’t think so. Here are five recent cartoons that sum up their thoughts…

    David Fitzsimmons / Arizona Daily Star (click to view more cartoons by Fitzsimmons)

    John Cole / Scranton Times-Tribune (click to view more cartoons by Cole)

    Jeff Parker / Florida Today (click to view more cartoons by Parker)

    Adam Zyglis / Buffalo News (click to view more cartoons by Zyglis)

    Jimmy Margulies / The Record (click to view more cartoons by Margulies)


     

  • Attack on Women's Health

    Rob Tornoe / PoliticalCartoons.com (click to start slideshow)

    Political campaign rhetoric took a swift turn right over the past week, shifting from a discussion about the economy and jobs to the topic of women's contraceptives. Rick Santorum has openly questioned whether birth control is a good thing, and Republicans in the House even held a hearing about reproductive rights featuring no female experts. 

    Is it an attack against religious freedom by an out of control government, or a discussion that belongs back in the 1950s? Check out our new Attack on Women's Health to see what our cartoonists think.  

     

  • My Rising Gas Price Cartoons

    With the cost of a gallon of gas inching closer and closer to $4, many economists worry that the pinch people are feeling at the pump will harm our current recovery.

    The rising cost of gas is something that happens every year, but it seems to be getting worse. Gas prices have never been higher this time of the year than they are now, and we can expect even sharper increases at the pump because gas typically rises in March and April.

    I’ve drawn lots of cartoons over the years about the rising cost of gas. Here are some of my favorites…


     

  • Occupy Oakland drawings

    My daughter, graphic journalist Susie Cagle, has posted a new series of drawings from Occupy Oakland, which she has been covering for various media outlets.

    "Occupy Oakland has captured the nation and even the world's attention at times," she writes on Truth-Out. "But those times have not been for Occupy Oakland's thoughtful direct actions or peaceful marches, but instead for the brutality of its suppression by police."

    Click here to view all of Susie's drawings

     

  • All about contraception

    I don't think I've ever heard the term "birth control" used more than it has in the past week. President Obama set off a firestorm by proposing a requirement that all companies, including some faith-based employers, pay for contraception health coverage for women. 

    Opponents, led by certain Roman Catholic groups, lamented this as a "war on religion," and forced Obama to propose a compromise that would shift the burden of providing free contraception coverage to insurers. Now religious groups are split, and Republicans have proposed an amendment that would allow any employer to choose which health benefits to provide based on their personal moral beliefs

    We have a diverse group of cartoonists, and here are their thoughts on this ongoing debate. What do you think? Comment below, or drop us a note on our Facebook page

    Rick McKee / Augusta Chronicle

    Rob Tornoe / Media Matters

    Eric Allie / PoliticalCartoons.com

    David Fitzsimmons / Arizona Daily Star

    Nate Beeler / Washington Examiner


  • Gas prices on the rise

    John Cole / Scranton Times-Tribune (click to start slideshow)

    Anyone who's filled their car up recently has felt the pinch of rising gas prices at the pump. The national average today rose to $3.50 a gallon, and Oil is once again trading above $100 a barrel.  

    Cartoonists can't help with the hit your taking in your wallet, but at least we can put a smile on your face. Check out our new Rising Gas Prices cartoon slideshow.  

     

  • Five cartoons about Obama's budget

    This week, President Obama released his $3.8 trillion budget, and to no one's surprise critics were quick to slam it as bloated and scandalous. 

    Obama proposes that millionaires pay a minimum tax rate of 30 percent, and cuts the deficit to only $901 billion, down from $1.33 trillion in 2012. Talk about penny pinching! (What you need to know about Obama's budget proposal)

    Here are five cool cartoons from some of the nation's top cartoonists. What do you think of Obama's budget? Comment below, or let us know on our Facebook page. 

    Eric Allie / PoliticalCartoons.com (click to view more cartoons by Allie)

    Nate Beeler / Washington Examiner (click to view more cartoons by Beeler)

    Rick McKee / Augusta Chronicle (click to view more cartoons by McKee)

    Pat Bagley / Salt Lake Tribune (click to view more cartoons by Bagley)

    David Fitzsimmons / Arizona Daily Star (click to view more cartoons by Fitzsimmons)


     

  • Valentine's Day Cartoons

    Rick McKee / Augusta Chronicle (click to start slideshow)

    Today is Valentine's Day, so if you're in a relationship (or desperately trying to start one) consider yourself a "job creator.". After all, you'll be pumping tons of money into the economy to purchase disposable trinkets that will probably be forgotten in a week. Or in Mitt Romney's case, never opened at all. 

    Click here to view our funny Valentine's Day cartoon slideshow! 

     

  • My Valentine’s Day Cartoons

    It’s Valentine’s Day, and while most guys are rushing around trying to get some flowers and chocolates impressive enough to satisfy their significant other, I’ve been selfishly co-opting the imagery of the holiday in a fleeting attempt to make readers happy.

    Here are my Valentine’s Day cartoons for 2012. Between Obama and Mitt, I’d say Cupid has his work cut out for him…


  • Cartoonist suspended for 'losers raise losers' comment

    Longtime Hartford Courant cartoonist Bob Englehart, whose cartoonist I syndicate through Cagle Cartoons, has been suspended for a week without pay over a cartoon and blog post he filed criticizing Connecticut’s plans for inner city schools.

    In a blog post accompanying the cartoon to the right, Englehart’s target was Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy’s school-reform drive, which he gave good marks overall, but questioned how much help any government can offer if parents aren’t doing a good job raising their kids.

    “Inner-city poor and minority-filled schools aren’t going to change until we can somehow change the pervasive core of the problem: dysfunctional inner-city poor minority families,” Englehart wrote in a blog post. “Sure, we hear of an occasional winner come out of the ghetto. Movie stars, athletes, business people, we know their stories, but they are the very rare exception. For the most part, losers raise losers. Somehow we’ve got to get to these families and teach them how to respect education. Till then, nothing will change.”

    It was the “losers raise losers” line that caught the eye of New Haven Mayor John DeStefano, who saw the blog post prior to it being removed by the Hartford Courant.

    “I don’t think it was inner city schools, I think it was particularly kids of color, quite honestly, that he was focusing on, you know, let’s be honest about it, that’s what he was doing and again, I say that only in the sense of it sounded like to me like a not particularly well thought out remark,” said DeStefano.

    Englehart issued an apology for the post. Many have come to his defense, including Courant columnist Colin McEnroe, who agrees with the sentiment of what Englehart wrote, just not his choice of words.

    Bob Englehart

    “Kids in Simsbury and Wilton are born on second base, and they spend their school years rounding third and barreling for home as their parents pace the sidelines with stopwatches,” McEnroe wrote. “So slapping on a bright coat of of the trendiest education reforms or pumping in a modest amount of extra money — while not terrible ideas — are not going to fix the problem. And suggesting, as Malloy seemed to do, that education could be considered separately from its context seems equally wrong. I mean there’s a reason why the 20 to 25 worst schools are all in cities.”

    McEnroe also criticized the Courant for pulling down Englehart’s cartoon and blog post.

    “Newspapers are all about the examined record. We scream loudly when somebody else tries to obliterate a record. We spend our careers chasing down stuff that somebody wanted to take back or wipe away.. Newspapers should never, never, never get into the business of squelching.”

    Here’s a news report from WTNH News 8 about the incident:

  • Different takes on death of Whitney Houston

    Last night, many people were shocked to discover that famed by troubled singer Whitney Houston was found dead in her Los Angeles hotel room yesterday afternoon. Some cartoonists have been quick to respond, and while the first wave of obituary cartoons about famous celebrities are usually very positive, today’s cartoons seem to have run the gamut of emotions about the talented singer who wrestled with drug addiction most of her career.

    It’s also interesting to note that all of the cartoons that have come in to Cagle.com so far have been from international cartoonists, which speaks to the degree of fame Houston achieved in her career.

    First, is the typical nice, uncontroversial remembrance cartoon that most readers seem to enjoy, drawn by Australian cartoonist Peter Broelman:

    Next is a cartoon that attempts to access both the good and bad of Houston’s troubled career, drawn by another Australian cartoonist, Peter Lewis:

    Last but not least, a cartoon by South African cartoonists Jeremy Nell that goes right for the jugular by tackling Houston’s drug addiciton head on:


     

  • Conservative Cartoonist On Komen And Planned Parenthood

    This week, after initially pulling out all funding of Planned Parenthood, Susan G. Komen for a Cure, an organization focused on breast cancer awareness and treatment, caved to public sentiment and returned funding to the nation’s leading sexual and reproductive health care provider (view all our cartoons about the decision here).

    One person taken a back by the ruling was our very own conservative cartoonist, Gary McCoy. Gary drew three very strong political cartoons this week about Komen returning to fund Planned Parenthood, an organization that Gary has drawn a good deal of cartoons about.

    I asked Gary for his thoughts, and here’s what he wrote me:

    “I did the Komen/Planned Parenthood cartoons because obviously, I feel very strongly about the issue of protecting the liberties of unborn babies, not to mention my donated funds, or taxpayer funds going to an organization whose main business is terminating over 300,000 unborn babies a year. I had a women email me saying how much she appreciated my “Aborted Babies Cemetery” cartoon, because she aborted her first child in 1978, and has so much regret over it.”

    Here are the cartoons. His first cartoon elicited a lot of response from our readers. What do you think? Let us know by commenting below, or by posting on our Facebook page.

     

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