Comic Riffs: The Political Cartoon


Posted at 11:40 AM ET, 03/02/2011

TOM TOLES: The Post cartoonist wins the 2011 Herblock Prize [UPDATED]
By Michael Cavna
The Herblock Prize is staying in town. A year after Politico's Matt Wuerker won the Herb Block Foundation's editorial-cartooning honor, The Washington Post's Tom Toles [right] has been picked for the prize, the foundation has announced.. Toles is the...

By Michael Cavna  |  11:40 AM ET, 03/02/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon | Tags:  Ann Telnaes, Harry Katz, Herb Block Foundation, Herblock Prize, Matt Wuerker, Signe Wilkinson, The Washington Post, Tom Toles

Posted at 02:15 PM ET, 01/18/2011

BORDER LINES: Why a third Pulitzer might be in Steve Breen's future
By Michael Cavna
(click here for larger and interactive version of the cartoon) (Image: Steve Breen / San Diego Union-Tribune) As awards season ramps up and the Feb.1 Pulitzer deadline nears, Steve Breen would seem to have a fair shot at being...

By Michael Cavna  |  02:15 PM ET, 01/18/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon, The Political Cartoon | Tags:  San Diego Union-Tribune, Steve Breen, immigration

Posted at 02:30 PM ET, 01/15/2011

TUCSON TRAGEDY: O'Reilly asks: Is Nate Beeler a pinhead or a patriot?
By Michael Cavna
Since last weekend's tragic shooting in Tucson, two polarizing cartoons have particularly stirred debate: One by NYT-syndicated Jeff Danziger, another by the Washington Examiner's Nate Beeler. On Tuesday, Comic Riffs interviewed both cartoonists about their work in response to...

By Michael Cavna  |  02:30 PM ET, 01/15/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon | Tags:  Bill O'Reilly, Jeff Danziger, Nate Beeler

Posted at 06:30 PM ET, 01/11/2011

TUCSON TRAGEDY: Cartoonists diverge on whether to go partisan
By Michael Cavna
(Image: courtesy of Nate Beeler) Washington Examiner editorial cartoonist NATE BEELER can abide his colleagues using the Tucson shooting to make a political point. What repulses him, however, is what he views as willfully misconstruing the facts to turn...

By Michael Cavna  |  06:30 PM ET, 01/11/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon | Tags:  Ed Stein, Jeff Danziger, Nate Beeler, Tucson tragedy

Posted at 05:30 PM ET, 01/10/2011

TUCSON TRAGEDY: Nation's cartoonists respond to the shooting [UPDATED]
By Michael Cavna
(Note: This collection was originally published Monday at 10:50 a.m. ET) Arizona Daily Star's cartoonist/columnist David Fitzsimmons drew from life quite personally in response to Saturday's shooting tragedy in Tucson. Fitzsimmons, who was at the scene shortly after the...

By Michael Cavna  |  05:30 PM ET, 01/10/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon | Tags:  Daryl Cagle, David Fitzsimmons, Ed Stein, Jeff Koterba, Jen Sorensen, Lalo Alcaraz, Matt Wuerker, Signe Wilkinson, Steve Benson

Posted at 09:30 AM ET, 01/03/2011

'Riffs in Review: Top OBAMA cartoons from 2010

By Michael Cavna
Be they liberal or conservative or perched somewhere moderately between, political cartoonists of all stripes naturally keep 1600 Penn at the forefront of their mental address book: From any direction, the White House remains a requisite true-North for occupational...

By Michael Cavna  |  09:30 AM ET, 01/03/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon | Tags:  Darrin Bell, Garry Trudeau, Jack Ohman, Jeff Stahler, Lisa Benson, Matt Wuerker, Michael Ramirez, Next Media Animation, Obama cartoons, Steve Kelley, Tom Toles

Posted at 02:00 PM ET, 11/22/2010

Politico cartoonist MATT WUERKER 'thrilled' to get Berryman Award
By Michael Cavna
A cartoon from the winning portfolio. (courtesy of Matt Wuerker) The National Press Foundation has just announced that Politico cartoonist Matt Wuerker has won the prestigious Clifford K. and James T. Berryman Award for editorial cartooning. "I'm thrilled to...

By Michael Cavna  |  02:00 PM ET, 11/22/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon | Tags:  Daryl Cagle, Jimmy Margulies, Matt Wuerker, Steve Breen, Tom Toles

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 11/11/2010

Pink-slipping the Pulitzer: Editorial cartoonists are cut in Election Day's wake
By Michael Cavna
(cartoon courtesy of Matt Davies) So much of the spectacle of elections involves watching political parties gain and lose seats, yet within hours of every Election Day, there is one seat that's grievously lost for good: the one in...

By Michael Cavna  |  07:00 AM ET, 11/11/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon | Tags:  Marshall Ramsey, Matt Davies, Steve Greenberg

Posted at 10:00 AM ET, 11/03/2010

ELECTION HANGOVER: The Seven Best Midterm Cartoons
By Michael Cavna
For political cartoonists, Election Day offers an embarrassment of quick riches. As the results roll in, these fast-sketch satirists become like Templeton in "Charlotte's Web," feasting till dawn on a nocturnal bacchanal of crestfallen candidacies and self-satisfied rhetoric. And...

By Michael Cavna  |  10:00 AM ET, 11/03/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon | Tags:  David Horsey, Michael Ramirez, Mike Luckovich, Mike Peters, Steve Breen, Tom Toles

Posted at 10:45 AM ET, 10/08/2010

Political cartoonist MATT DAVIES named in candidate's multimillion-dollar lawsuit
By Michael Cavna
Republican congressional candidate Jim Russell is suing nine people for defamation, including Pulitzer-winning political cartoonist Matt Davies of the Journal News (Westchester County). The New York politician is reportedly seeking $1-million in damages from each of the nine people...

By Michael Cavna  |  10:45 AM ET, 10/08/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon | Tags:  Matt Davies, The Journal News

Posted at 05:15 PM ET, 09/24/2010

MOLLY NORRIS UPDATE: U.S. Muslim leader defends rights of both 'Draw Muhammad' cartoonist, targeted cleric al-Aulaqi
By Michael Cavna
This week, The American Muslim published a petition to support such cartoonists as "Everybody Draw Muhammad Day" illustrator Molly Norris and "South Park" creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. The petition, titled "A Defense of Free Speech by American...

By Michael Cavna  |  05:15 PM ET, 09/24/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon | Tags:  Arsalan Bukhari, Everybody Draw Muhammad Day, Molly Norris, South Park

Posted at 07:10 PM ET, 09/22/2010

NEWSPAPER CUTS: Florida editorial cartoonist ED GAMBLE is laid off
By Michael Cavna
(courtesy Florida Times-Union) Veteran political cartoonist Ed Gamble has lost his job at the Florida Times-Union, the newspaper reported Wednesday. Gamble's part-time position was eliminated as the Times-Union laid off 26 employees, or roughly 6 percent of its workforce,...

By Michael Cavna  |  07:10 PM ET, 09/22/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon | Tags:  Ed Gamble, Florida Times-Union, King Features

Posted at 02:15 PM ET, 09/22/2010

'GOOD GRIEF, HARRY REID': GQ satirists spoof midterm elections through the power of comic panels
By Michael Cavna
Political pop quiz: What nationally known colorful character with Midwestern roots gives off a tint even more orange than ultra-tanned Ohio Republican John Boehner? If you said Garfield the cat, congratulations: Your thinking is right in line -- creatively...

By Michael Cavna  |  02:15 PM ET, 09/22/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon, The Political Cartoon | Tags:  Anthony King, GQ Magazine, R. Sikoryak, Scott Brown

Posted at 11:15 AM ET, 09/09/2010

In word & picture, a colleague pays tribute to PAUL CONRAD
By Michael Cavna
(courtesy of Steve Greenberg) Over the weekend, Comic Riffs memorialized towering political cartoonist Paul Conrad, who died Saturday at age 86. Conrad, the three-time Pulitzer winner who proudly was included on President Nixon's "enemies list," was a master at...

By Michael Cavna  |  11:15 AM ET, 09/09/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon | Tags:  Paul Conrad, Steve Greenberg

Posted at 11:15 AM ET, 09/05/2010

UPDATE: Cartoonists finish journalistic journey in Afghanistan
By Michael Cavna
After a month of traveling unembedded in Afghanistan, Matt Bors tells Comic Riffs that he and fellow cartoonists Ted Rall and Steven Cloud are now out of the wartorn nation. "I'm safely out of Afghanistan and en route to...

By Michael Cavna  |  11:15 AM ET, 09/05/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon, The Political Cartoon | Tags:  Matt Bors, Steven Cloud, Ted Rall

Posted at 11:01 AM ET, 08/25/2010

VIDEO OF THE DAY: Pulitzer winner collects BP oil for his political cartoons
By Michael Cavna
Steve Breen shared with Comic Riffs last month his tale of Operation Tarball, when he traveled to the Gulf to collect BP oil to use in his cartoons. The San Diego Union-Tribune's Pulitzer-winning political cartoonist recounted how his anger...

By Michael Cavna  |  11:01 AM ET, 08/25/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon, The Political Cartoon | Tags:  BP spill, Steve Breen

Posted at 09:30 AM ET, 08/25/2010

Rankled cartoonist says National Intelligence chief used altered image without OK
By Michael Cavna
(Image reprinted courtesy of Daryl Cagle) It was intended as a "feel-good" news story, light-hearted -- what many ink-stained newsfolk, in trade parlance, call a "bright." Except political cartoonist Daryl Cagle didn't feel too good or brightly upbeat about...

By Michael Cavna  |  09:30 AM ET, 08/25/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon | Tags:  Daryl Cagle, Lt. Gen. James Clapper

Posted at 03:00 PM ET, 08/20/2010

'MOSQUE NEAR GROUND ZERO': The Eight Most Eye-Catching Cartoons this week... [UPDATED]
By Michael Cavna
In recent pages of The Post, everyone from Charles Krauthammer to Gene Robinson to Michael Gerson to Kathleen Parker has naturally had a say on the Islamic-Community-Center-near-Ground-Zero controversy. Meantime, Comic Riffs has waited for the nation's political cartoonists to...

By Michael Cavna  |  03:00 PM ET, 08/20/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon | Tags:  Ed Stein, Jimmy Margulies, Mark Fiore, Michael Ramirez, Mike Luckovich, R.J. Matson, Rob Rogers, Steve Breen

Posted at 04:30 PM ET, 06/07/2010

Danish 'Muhammad' cartoonist Westergaard to retire
By Michael Cavna
The man who drew what many Muslims called the most offensive of the 2005 Danish depictions of Muhammad has decided to retire. Cartoonist Kurt Westergaard said he's calling it quits because he is getting old, according to the Associated...

By Michael Cavna  |  04:30 PM ET, 06/07/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon | Tags:  Kurt Westergaard, Muhammad cartoons

Posted at 09:30 AM ET, 05/24/2010

TOM TOMORROW receives Pearl Jam gold record -- 'how cool is that?'
By Michael Cavna
Tom Tomorrow with Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder. (Beverly Gage) Some cartoonists dream of Pulitzers or Reubens. But how many bag a gold record? (Anyone? Anyone? ) Word comes this morning that TOM TOMORROW -- the ever-talented "This Modern...

By Michael Cavna  |  09:30 AM ET, 05/24/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon, The Political Cartoon | Tags:  Eddie Vedder, Pearl Jam, This Modern World, Tom Tomorrow

Posted at 11:15 AM ET, 05/20/2010

THEIR TURN: 12 top cartoonists offer their take on 'Draw Muhammad Day'
By Michael Cavna
"Shock for shock's sake." "Choreographed punditry." And "wrong, childish and needlessly provocative." That's what some critics think of today's Facebook-ignited campaign titled "Everybody Draw Muhammad Day." But those aren't Islamic extremists speaking. Those are the words of pro-free-speech political...

By Michael Cavna  |  11:15 AM ET, 05/20/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon, The Political Cartoon, The Political Cartoon | Tags:  Ann Telnaes, Clay Bennett, David Horsey, Mark Fiore, Matt Davies, Mike Luckovich, Mike Peters, Molly Norris, Nikahang Kowsar, Rex Babin, Scott Stantis, Steve Breen, Ted Rall

Posted at 06:01 PM ET, 03/11/2010

Coming soon: Senator AL FRANKEN, comic book 'hero'

By Michael Cavna
For its line of political comic books, Bluewater Productions has featured such figures as Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin. In May, the publisher will have an entirely new subject. Why? Because -- as the old "Saturday Night...

By Michael Cavna  |  06:01 PM ET, 03/11/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon, The Political Cartoon | Tags:  Bluewater Productions, Darren G. Davis, Sen. Al Franken

Posted at 02:30 PM ET, 03/04/2010

Cartoon of the Day: 'How do you solve a problem like Marion?'
By Michael Cavna
Accuse us of being Washington-centric today, but really: Isn't Marion Barry of national interest -- if not national amusement for some, alas -- at this point? And so it is, with the D.C. Council's censuring of HIzzoner in recent...

By Michael Cavna  |  02:30 PM ET, 03/04/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon | Tags:  City Paper, ComicsDC, Mike Rhode, Nate Beeler, Washington Examiner

Posted at 10:45 AM ET, 02/21/2010

OLYMPICS GALLERY: Cartoons from the 2010 Games [UPDATED]
By Michael Cavna
With the images of ginormous dancing bears, towering trees and k.d. lang still dancing in our heads from the Opening Ceremonies, Comic Riffs is beginning to gather cartoons about the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver. Too little snow. Too...

By Michael Cavna  |  10:45 AM ET, 02/21/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon | Tags:  Drew Litton, Martin Sutovek, Mike Luckovich

Posted at 10:00 PM ET, 02/20/2010

TIGER TOONS: Cartoonists pull an irony out of their bag [UPDATED]
By Michael Cavna
[Note: This Friday post was updated Saturday at 1:50 and 10 p.m.] And now, a new wave of Tiger toons rolls in. On-air commentators immediately began having their say after Tiger Woods's 14-minute video apology and statement this morning, in...

By Michael Cavna  |  10:00 PM ET, 02/20/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon | Tags:  Bob Englehardt, Bruce Beattie, Mike Luckovich, Randy Bish, Tiger Woods

Posted at 11:10 AM ET, 01/31/2010

READER PUZZLE: Why is a nude Obama ogling an iPad?
By Michael Cavna
Perhaps it's because I don't speak Romanian. Or Aramaic. Or Sssnake. Whatever the reason, I confess: I absolutely do not get this cartoon by Romanian cartoonist Pavel Constantin. And I make a professional living out of "getting" cartoons --...

By Michael Cavna  |  11:10 AM ET, 01/31/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon | Tags:  Apple iPad, Barack Obama, Pavel Constantin

Posted at 09:05 AM ET, 01/18/2010

MLK DAY: Art to remember the Rev. King by...
By Michael Cavna
At Comic Riffs, I have a small, humble dream: Namely, that every newspaper cartoonist pay tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. today. We're nowhere near that yet, but today, we post some art to honor King's memory --...

By Michael Cavna  |  09:05 AM ET, 01/18/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon | Tags:  The Rev. Martin Luther King

Posted at 08:30 AM ET, 01/16/2010

CONAN vs. LENO: The Fave-Five Cartoons that catch our eye this minute...
By Michael Cavna
As Conan O'Brien reportedly nears a multimillion-dollar NBC payoff to vacate his "Tonight Show" set and hit the bricks, the broadcast brouhaha -- by next week -- might finally begin to die down. Until then, the acid tongues are...

By Michael Cavna  |  08:30 AM ET, 01/16/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon | Tags:  Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno

Posted at 08:00 AM ET, 01/14/2010

The Eight HAITI Cartoons you should see...
By Michael Cavna
John Sherffius / The Boulder Camera / cagle.com Patrick Corrigan / The Toronto Star / cagle.com...

By Michael Cavna  |  08:00 AM ET, 01/14/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon | Tags:  Haiti earthquake cartoons

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 01/11/2010

Reader Poll: Is this 'Tea Bag' Party cartoon offensive? (Bill O'Reilly thought so.)
By Michael Cavna
Every time I think political cartoons might be losing even a little of their power to offend mightily -- as long as they don't malign a prophet, a pope, a president or a Palin -- along comes a new...

By Michael Cavna  |  07:00 AM ET, 01/11/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon, The Political Cartoon | Tags:  Mark Fiore, National Public Radio, Political Cartooning

Posted at 01:15 PM ET, 12/21/2009

Obama's Nobel Act: When cartoonists declare war

By Michael Cavna
With President Obama having returned from Europe in recent days, Comic Riffs digs out from the towering snowbanks of other stories -- from health-care reform to planet-care "reform" to Tiger Woods sports-idol reform -- to spotlight the Nobel Peace...

By Michael Cavna  |  01:15 PM ET, 12/21/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon | Tags:  Ed Stein, Jim Day, Nate Beeler, Nobel Peace Prize, President Barack Obama

Posted at 12:20 PM ET, 11/27/2009

Black Friday: Cartoons we just can't discount
By Michael Cavna
Having slept off the tryptophan, the turducken and the television marathons, today we are enduring Black Friday -- America's second biggest unofficial holiday behind the Super Bowl. The chief difference between the two biggest "non-Hallmark" holidays being: On Super...

By Michael Cavna  |  12:20 PM ET, 11/27/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon

Posted at 03:00 PM ET, 11/26/2009

Holiday helpings: Turkey Day cartoons we can be thankful for
By Michael Cavna
Today, we will pass on mixing ACORN jokes with our chestnuts and stuffing. We will not stoop to gags about doomed turkeys wanting better "health care." And it won't be a day to trot out cheap one-liners about whether...

By Michael Cavna  |  03:00 PM ET, 11/26/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon | Tags:  Mike Luckovich; Gary Varvel; Jeff Parker; Nate Beeler

Posted at 06:25 PM ET, 11/20/2009

Mike Keefe, Matt Wuerker & Ann Telnaes are honored
By Michael Cavna
UPDATE: Mike Keefe responds Friday to winning the award. Over at The Daily Cartoonist, Alan Gardner reports that Denver Post political cartoonist MIKE KEEFE has just won the Berryman Award. So first let us say: Huzzahs, because Comic Riffs...

By Michael Cavna  |  06:25 PM ET, 11/20/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon | Tags:  Mike Keefe; Ann Telnaes; Matt Wuerker; Bill Day; Berryman Award; Michael Cavna

Posted at 11:15 AM ET, 11/15/2009

UPDATE: A new Congressional app for your iPhone? Artist says Apple finally bites

By The Reliable Source
Kerry, McCain & Pelosi (among others), as you may never see them -- thanks to Apple. (Courtesy of Tom Richmond ) UPDATE: MAD artist Tom Richmond tells Comic Riffs this weekend that Apple has just notified him that --...

By The Reliable Source  |  11:15 AM ET, 11/15/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon, The Political Cartoon, The Political Cartoon, The Political Cartoon | Tags:  om Richmond; Ray Griggs; MAD magazine; Congress; iPhone; Apple; Bobble Rep

Posted at 05:55 PM ET, 09/30/2009

'Family Guy' Satirizes Post Political Cartooning -- But Toles Truly Makes Us Laff
By Michael Cavna
Because we here at Comic Riffs are absolute Pavlovian suckers for anything in pop culture that combines the words "Washington Post" and "cartoon," we laughed at this "Family Guy" aside over the weekend -- even if it bears no...

By Michael Cavna  |  05:55 PM ET, 09/30/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon, The Political Cartoon, The Political Cartoon, The Political Cartoon

Posted at 12:10 PM ET, 09/14/2009

From Serena to Ringo: When Pop Culture Cracks the Political Arena
By Michael Cavna
DAVID FITZSIMMONS, Arizona Daily Star: See Cartoons by Cartoon by David Fitzsimmons - Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com - Email this Cartoon Some days, even political cartoonists decide to ditch politics. There are times when the pop culture landscape is so...

By Michael Cavna  |  12:10 PM ET, 09/14/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon

Posted at 05:40 PM ET, 09/11/2009

9/11 Gallery: More Top Cartoonists Pay Their Respects
By Michael Cavna
(NOTE: This gallery was updated with additional cartoons Friday afternoon.) In the days after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, cartoonists turned to many of the same iconic images: a mournful Statue of Liberty. A single-teardropped American eagle. And then...

By Michael Cavna  |  05:40 PM ET, 09/11/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon

Posted at 11:05 AM ET, 09/10/2009

You Need a Good Obama Cartoon? You Lie!
By Michael Cavna
THE MORNING LINE: FIVE THINGS 'RIFFS MOST CARES ABOUT THIS MINUTE... See Cartoons by Cartoon by Nate Beeler - Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com - Email this Cartoon 1. "YOU LIE" -- WE FORAGE: The School Speech to the Health-Care Speech, Obama's...

By Michael Cavna  |  11:05 AM ET, 09/10/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon, The Political Cartoon

Posted at 01:50 PM ET, 08/28/2009

Ted Kennedy: A Life Remembered Through Political Cartoons
By Michael Cavna
Over decades in Congress, Ted Kennedy was a friend to the afflicted, the downtrodden, the huddled masses yearning for a good idea. In other words, in this case: America's political cartoonists. From triumphs to tragedies, Kennedy -- who cartoonists...

By Michael Cavna  |  01:50 PM ET, 08/28/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon

Posted at 04:45 PM ET, 08/04/2009

President Obama: Happy Birther to You!
By Michael Cavna
What's that? You just realized today is President Obama's birthday and you forgot to pick up that just-right card (or that just-left card, depending on your political persuasion)? Well fortunately, your friendly political cartoonists have been on the case...

By Michael Cavna  |  04:45 PM ET, 08/04/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon

Posted at 02:05 PM ET, 07/31/2009

Last Call: When Obama/Gates Cartoons Are All the Same Draft
By Michael Cavna
Perhaps more than anything, the purest aspect of political cartooning is the ability to distill. To distill an idea, to concentrate a truth. So when you've suddenly got a "beer summit" falling into your creative lap, you root around...

By Michael Cavna  |  02:05 PM ET, 07/31/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon

Posted at 10:05 AM ET, 07/31/2009

Best of the 'Gates'-Gate Political Cartoons: Pick Your Fave
By The Reliable Source
You've got race. You've got politics. You've got police. And now, you've even got Bud Light. For editorial cartoonists, it's a welcome perfect storm that requires more than deft punch lines. To comment properly, the story demands the cartoonist...

By The Reliable Source  |  10:05 AM ET, 07/31/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon

Posted at 09:45 AM ET, 07/15/2009

Political Cartoon Gallery: From Sotomayor to Cyber-Kim
By Michael Cavna
North Korean cyber warfare, Jong-Il 2.0 style. General Motors's financial "return." And entire days of Sonia Sotomayor hearings, from soup to nunchuks. Each can spark its own form of trepidation. And, fortunately, its own fertile humor. Here are five...

By Michael Cavna  |  09:45 AM ET, 07/15/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon

Posted at 09:45 AM ET, 07/09/2009

Best Political Cartoons This Minute: We Pick 'Em
By Michael Cavna
This Riffster's favorite political cartoons this minute... 'DAVID FITZSIMMONS' (courtesy of cagle.com) 1. DEATH KINDLY STOPS FOR THEE: When memorializing Robert McNamara, many a cartoonist was quick to invoke the Grim Reaper. In its effective understatment, Fitzsimmon's was arguably...

By Michael Cavna  |  09:45 AM ET, 07/09/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon

Posted at 12:05 PM ET, 07/06/2009

Today's Political Cartoon Gallery: Mark Sanford's Alpha E-Mail
By Michael Cavna
Mark Sanford and Michael Jackson! The Hiker and the Moonwalker! One wept for Bubbles, the other cried for Argentina. (Or, more precisely, Maria.) Whether the art is leaning GOP or singing "PYT," here's a batch of this Riffster's favorite...

By Michael Cavna  |  12:05 PM ET, 07/06/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon

Posted at 09:05 AM ET, 07/04/2009

Best Fourth of July Cartoons: Let's Salute the Stars
By Michael Cavna
As with any proper holiday, we seem to have a theme. Yes, my fellow patriots, if the holiday be Independence Day, the satirical angle of choice this year is: What civil liberties don't we have? Here are four political...

By Michael Cavna  |  09:05 AM ET, 07/04/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon

Posted at 09:30 AM ET, 06/27/2009

Michael Jackson Goes Where Angels Fear to Tread
By The Reliable Source
Sizing up the spate of Michael Jackson cartoons... 'JOHN DARKOW' (cagle.com) 'PATRICK CHAPPATTE' (cagle.com) 'PERAY' (cagle.com) 'PETER BROELMAN' (cagle.com) In the wake of Michael Jackson's death, more than a couple of political cartoonists struck upon the same essential idea:...

By The Reliable Source  |  09:30 AM ET, 06/27/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon

Posted at 10:05 AM ET, 06/25/2009

Mark Sanford to Smartphones: What This Riffster Is Reading Now
By Michael Cavna
Obama-swatted insects. Hoax instead of hope. Smartphone envy. And the global mourning over Neda. Here are five editorial cartoons that top the 'Riffs Reading List for the day -- followed by my Mark Sanford Picks o' the Day. If...

By Michael Cavna  |  10:05 AM ET, 06/25/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon, The Political Cartoon

Posted at 08:45 AM ET, 06/18/2009

Reader Poll: Cast Your (Rigged) Vote for Best 'Iran Election' Cartoon
By The Reliable Source
Yesterday, one 'Riffs reader asked why so relatively few Palin/Letterman political cartoons were populating the landscape. Well, perhaps it's partly because the election-aftermath in Iran is just so politically hot -- and so important -- that it merits days...

By The Reliable Source  |  08:45 AM ET, 06/18/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon

Posted at 12:00 PM ET, 06/01/2009

Huffington Post and Sotomayor Draw Fire
By Michael Cavna
It's not just the content of political cartoons that can generate heated debate. These days, even their very existence can result in someone suddenly writing in a huff, if not a Huffington. Back in April, a HuffPost contributor named...

By Michael Cavna  |  12:00 PM ET, 06/01/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon

Posted at 12:00 PM ET, 04/14/2009

A Landscape Lacking in Political Cartoonists...
By Michael Cavna
Greetings, Cartoon Nation... So the San Francisco Chronicle's Tom Meyer -- for decades a Bay Area morning must-read -- is the latest political cartoonist to lose his journalistic perch. This change comes while the losses are still fresh in...

By Michael Cavna  |  12:00 PM ET, 04/14/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon

Posted at 08:00 AM ET, 02/24/2009

An Open Letter to NY Post Cartoonist: Time to Do the Right Thing
By Michael Cavna
As an artist who myself, when under fire, has reflexively assumed the Official Editorial Cartoonist's Defensive Crouch, I feel compelled to reach out to the New York Post's controversial political cartoonist to advise -- nay, implore -- him with seven...

By Michael Cavna  |  08:00 AM ET, 02/24/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon

Posted at 11:45 PM ET, 02/20/2009

The Post-Chimp Poll: Was the NY Post's Apology Pretty Sorry?
By Michael Cavna
As we move into the "mea culpa" phase of the New York Post controversy, its political cartoonist Sean Delonas might want to ring up Don Imus's attorney for a little advice. Then again, throwing himself on the mercy of the...

By Michael Cavna  |  11:45 PM ET, 02/20/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon

Posted at 11:25 AM ET, 11/18/2008

The Political Cartoon: These Five Candidates Await Your Vote.
By Michael Cavna
Nothing is quite as tantalizing to many cartoonists as a visual-heavy news story that lacks audio. Such a story just begs for sharp-witted satirists to fill in the blanks. As President-elect Obama visited the White House last week, viewers got...

By Michael Cavna  |  11:25 AM ET, 11/18/2008 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon