November 04, 2004

Looking Forward, Backward

Here's a quick look a what we have planned for the immediate future, along with a quick look back.

First of all, we've been posting a higher volume of cartoons than usual over the last month. With the election over, we will be returning to our normal pace of three or four new cartoons a week. We've picked up many new readers over the last couple of months, so we hope everyone will continue to visit.

The big project at the moment is our second book, Black & White World II, which we hope to release before Christmas. The planned book will feature a knock-out, full-color illustration of Uncle Sam by John. It will contain cartoons starting from September 2002 and going all the way through this week's presidential election. That means over 400 cartoons. Most have appeared on this site but a few have never been seen, including one or two that missed the mark. We will make an official announcement as soon as the book is available for ordering.

The book will, of course, contain our John Kerry cartoons, which gives us an excuse to look back at some of them.

CasualtiesofWar-X.gif

The above cartoon is from April 2003 [Year corrected.--Ed.] and was a reference to the fact that certain Democrats had assumed defeatist, anti-Iraq war positions before the quickly successful overthrow of Saddam's regime. It's the first appearance of John Kerry in our cartoons. Who knew that both Kerry and Senator Tom Daschle would suffer so badly? Judging by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's comments yesterday, it's safe to say that she still hasn't learned from the experience. I almost feel sorry for the donkey.

WarningWarning-X.gif

The above cartoon is from June 2003. It was long before we knew that Howard Dean would be a contender. Or that Dean would eventually not be a contender. Or that Ralph Nader would run and present problems for Kerry. The cartoon makes it appear that we're somewhat prescient. We're not. No, really.

LookingSouth-X.gif

The above cartoon is from January 2004. Kerry had stated at the time, "Everybody always makes the mistake of looking South. Al Gore proved he could have been president of the United States without winning one Southern state, including his own." At the time, Glenn Reynolds noted appropriately: "Um, no. Al Gore proved that he couldn't win the United States without carrying one Southern state, including his own." And Kerry has proven it again.

ExtremePrejudice-X.gif

The above cartoon is from February 2004. With Bush winning over 50% of the popular vote, it turns out that Kerry wasn't as mainstream as he thought.

That's it for the retrospective and preview of the next book. We'll resume posting new cartoons in the next day or so.

We're extremely happy that George W. Bush defeated Kerry, mainly because we take it as a mandate for America to pursue its war against Islamists. But we will continue to prod Bush to return to the Bush Doctrine, to quit his multilaterist tendencies, to keep church out of state, and to cut socialist spending instead of increasing it. In other words, we still have a lot of cartoons ahead of us.

Speaking of of the Bush Doctrine, TIA Daily brought to our attention this New York Post editorial by Ralph Peters: And Now, Fallujah.

TUESDAY'S decisive popular vote wasn't just for George W. Bush. It was for our troops, as well. The American people sent a message to the world: We know we're at war. And our men and women in uniform are going to win.

We, the people, voted to fight.

The first military mission facing the president is the destruction of the terrorist presence in Fallujah. That city-state of terror has become the unifying symbol for our enemies, more vital to the Middle East's fanatics than the fate of Osama bin Laden.

Last spring, the administration made a fateful mistake, stopping short when our Marines were on the brink of victory. This time, our president -- with a mandate from the American people -- isn't going to stop until the last assassin lies dead in the last cellar.

But he needs to get on with the job. We should move against Fallujah immediately -- with the support of Iraq's interim prime minister. We have an ideal window for action while our enemies, from al Qaeda and the French to al-Jazeera and the BBC, are bewildered by their failure to dictate our election's outcome. Their vicious attempts to change our government failed. Now they're wondering what on earth to do.

While they're scrambling, we should be shooting.

UPDATE -- November 5: Reader Michael Kreutz in Germany sent us this noteworthy NewsMax report: 'Millions' of Iranians Celebrate Bush Victory.

Posted by Forkum at November 4, 2004 05:51 PM
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Comments

Great site guys... and great job! I have a request for a cartoon. I would love to see a small president bush in the hands of Uncle Sam. With President bush pointing and looking in a direction with the president saying ("onwards"). Or something to that extent. Thanks again and nice to see the comments added.
my best
bc

Posted by: bc at November 4, 2004 06:04 PM

First....Thanks everyone. You've made the "silly season" very satisfying. And we're just getting warmed up!

Did you notice the strange evolution of Kerry's caricature? Over time, I realized a cutting exaggeration (beady sloping eyes set wide apart, the hooking nose over a tiny downturned mouth, and of course, THE CHIN) could be improved with closer observation, NOT LESS.
I imagine the caricature process can be described as learning to see in high detail and then taking a wrecking ball to the mundane,

Rest assured, as new faces pop up in the news, I'll keep swingin' for the fences.....

Posted by: john cox at November 4, 2004 06:17 PM

Great site, keep up the great work...i visit daily and always laugh

Posted by: Brandon at November 4, 2004 06:40 PM

This comment is for your Victory cartoon, no comment link there. Now that the election is over, the cartoon could give valuable advice to George the Younger on future dealing with the Dems. In the words of Rawhide, "Don't try to understand them, just rope and roll and brand them."

It's a great day in America.

Posted by: Steve C. at November 4, 2004 07:15 PM

I'm eagerly anticipating the new book. The work y'all do is the best out there.

Posted by: Corvvs at November 4, 2004 09:25 PM

Sharp, incisive, insightful... and these are your WEAK points! You guys are tops!

I've gottta get my scanner fixed and start posting caricatures and political-commentary cartoons! Until then, you're untouchable!

And THANKS for opening up comments!

Posted by: Carridine at November 4, 2004 09:44 PM

don't know if you guys read the comments or take suggestions on updating cartoons, but the first pic at the top deserves a little update, adding Dan Rather's head to the wall along with Edwards, Teresa, and maybe McAuliffe. If George Lucas can get away with changing entire scenes in his movies, I don't see a problem with re-using a fantastic idea and tweaking it a little :)

Joe

Posted by: AMJoe at November 4, 2004 09:58 PM

Wooohooo! Comments!

I just wanted to say Thanks guys.

I've printed out several of your cartoons and sent em to my hubs in Afghanistan. You keep both of us laughing.

Thanks Again.

Posted by: Tink at November 5, 2004 02:05 AM

Since you've opened comments for a bit, I'd just like to express my gratitude for all that you've done over the past few years. Excellent, brilliant work. I know it's been said many times before, but I find it disgusting that you're not in more papers. I mean, heck, Ben Sargent has nothing on you guys. I don't think you've had a strip yet that hasn't made me think and laugh at the same time. Unlike most political cartoonists these days, your work isn't driven by some juvenile spiteful hate, and as a consequence your work is far more trenchant than that of the editorial writers.

Good luck! We all love you. Even some liberals I know...

Posted by: Jeremiah at November 5, 2004 10:05 AM

Thanks, guys. I look forward to owning your new book-especially to that full-color Uncle Sam. I love your work.

Posted by: evariste at November 5, 2004 11:01 AM

keep up the good work. your artistic skill in political cartoons is second to nobody.

Posted by: Ross at November 5, 2004 02:23 PM

Great cartoons! "Every one a Gem!"
Arriba y Adelante! (upward and forward!)

Doug Huggins

Posted by: Doug Huggins at November 5, 2004 02:26 PM

I'll be sure to recommend your book to all the myoptic bigots and islamophobes I know.

And some wonder why no-one will carry your crude propaganda!

Posted by: uncle sam at November 5, 2004 03:13 PM

The real good one was the one depicting the hawk and dove sewn together it just cant fly and nether could kerry and edwards and the one with kerry infrom of the limo iwe at least dont have to pay fpr a bullet proof VW bus painted up with rainbows and flowers

Posted by: war bird at November 5, 2004 05:29 PM

Allen & John:

Great announcement! Black & White World II: January Book of the Month @ EGO blog! Your new book will be a perfect X-mas gift to rational individuals all around the world!

All the Best,

Martin Lindeskog - American in spirit.
Gothenburg, Sweden (a.k.a the socialist "paradise").

Posted by: Martin Lindeskog at November 6, 2004 12:41 PM