August 15, 2008
More Cartoons The Seattle Papers Don't Want You To See

From Pulitzer prize-winning cartoonist Michael Ramirez.  My favorite in the current batch is from August 13th, but you will probably find a number that you like.

I have never quite figured out why the Times and the PI refuse to run his cartoons, though I suspect that it is because the cartoons are too effective.  And, at times, way too politically incorrect.

Posted by Jim Miller at August 15, 2008 10:10 AM | Email This
Comments
1. But they happily run Doonesbury. Media bias anyone?

Posted by: Carol Kujawa on August 15, 2008 12:03 PM
2. Not politically incorrect at all - they're drawn by a members of the Hispanic 'protected' class, and therefore by academic definition must take precedence over all expressions of non-protected species such as WASPs.

Funny, that. The Editorial staffs of the Times and P-I are mostly members of the non-protected species, as is the best known cartoonist at the P-I - who is so well-known that he's been made a member of its editorial staff, for his ability to draw viciously biased political cartoons. Certainly not for his ability to gather and disseminage news, nor for his sophomoric analysis columns.

The point could be made that these editorial honkies are keeping a Hispanic cartoonist down, to protect one of their own. Where's the outrage?

Posted by: Insufficiently Sensitive on August 15, 2008 12:09 PM
3. Just a reminder - Please keep the comments family friendly. I had to delete one that was just a little too crude -- even though I agreed, to some extent, with the sentiment.

Rule of thumb: If you wouldn't say it to naive kid, say one 8-10 years old, don't put it into a comment.

Posted by: Jim Miller on August 15, 2008 12:49 PM
4. I love Ramirez. He is most excellent. Unlike Horsey, he doesn't rely on tired stereotypes and bigotry to make a point. But then again, I wouldn't expect anything less from a conservatively oriented cartoonist.

Posted by: G Jiggy on August 15, 2008 12:57 PM
5. Yes!

The Dub grad library has an exhibit of current political 'toons ... dozens of mards from the rear end of a Horsey, including his rancid McCain-sliming riffs 'on' the New Yorker's Obama cover ... and not one Ramirez.

The Horsey P-I, remember, is the "news"paper that used to put Mallard Fillmore in a black hole of its classified section before, for fairness and balance, they broomed Mallard onto the cutting room floor. Probably did the same with Jeff MacNelly, Ramirez' soul brother.

Posted by: Horsey Droppings on August 15, 2008 01:44 PM
6. I can well see why the Times/PI don't carry Michael Ramirez cartoons. The truth hurts. And this would introduce a clearly different viewpoint from what they are trying to put out there. Esp. the PI, of course. Oh well--and those papers wonder why I don't subscribe....

Posted by: Michele on August 15, 2008 02:19 PM
7. Maybe it's because his cartoons are not funny like Toles, or well drawn like Horsey, but I do think they could beat the pants off the Seattle Times cartoonist who in neither funny or a decent artist.

Ramirez's most recent cartoon, one with the tank & offshore drilling seems a little misguided. He seems to be equating Russia's attacking of Georgia on whether we can drill off-shore. I'm not even sure how those equate.

Off-shore drilling would produce oil sold on the open market, which Russia could buy if they wanted to and use to attack our allies Poland and the Ukraine. Drilling off-shore seems to be tied to a myth that it will reduce gas prices, but what the hell that has to do with a tank and Russia I don't know. This cartoon seems misguided at best.

Posted by: Cato on August 15, 2008 02:32 PM
8. The "truth" Michele? You mean the fact that "Reaganomics" and insane flat world trade policies that only benefit the super rich and multi national corporations have turned America from the largest creditor nation into the largest debtor nation in the world?

The fact that the GOP blocks almost every single attempt to ween us off of foreign oil, and fund alternatives?

The fact that our military is bogged down in Iraq and couldn't do anything to protect anyone, even if they needed to.

The truth is Michele, the sooner we kick the Republiconvicts out of our government, the better off Washington State, the country, and the world will be. Just ask anyone without a kool-aid iv.

It appears [expletive deleted - JRM] cartoonist has a problem with our constitution. Maybe that explains his lack of attention...... Just sayin.....

Posted by: All Facts Support My Positions on August 15, 2008 02:38 PM
9. Cato: You certainly missed the point on the Russian tank cartoon. Ramirez was referring to the very important pipeline that runs through Georgia and supplies a whole lot of Europe.

Posted by: katomar on August 15, 2008 02:52 PM
10. The left-leaning folks tend to be like spoiled children in that they will tolerate no criticism of themsleves personally or their ideology.

Goodness knows I seen it time and again over at Goldy's blog.

Posted by: Politically Incorrect on August 15, 2008 03:24 PM
11. Hey Facts. What would you know about the truth? I doubt anybody here has the time to go back through all of your posts here and refresh your memory on the garbage you call "truth". You're nothing but a little parrot.

But you need to post more specifics. Like when you talk about "Republiconvicts" (or whatever) you gotta tell us what you are referring to. Give is some facts Facts. Every general comment you made in #8 is the exact opposite of what you can find in any newpaper. So where are your facts Facts?

Unless of course you are posting humongous generalities so that nobody can respond with real facts. Don't be a chicken, give us those facts Facts or did your phone line to the DNC go down?.

Posted by: G Jiggy on August 15, 2008 03:34 PM
12. Ramirez was referring to the very important pipeline that runs through Georgia and supplies a whole lot of Europe.

I don't see a pipeline in the cartoon, all I see is a tank with a gas nozzle. What does the Georgia pipeline have to do with US off-shore drilling and gas nozzles? Again, it's not clear what the heck his cartoon is trying to say which is likely the reason no in Seattle one picks him up.

Posted by: Cato on August 15, 2008 04:05 PM
13. Few facts support my assumptions:
"The fact that the GOP blocks almost every single attempt to ween us off of foreign oil, and fund alternatives?"

So "facts" is in favor of off shore drilling and drilling in ANWR...good to see we can agree on something.

"The fact that our military is bogged down in Iraq and couldn't do anything to protect anyone, even if they needed to."

Nice regurgitation of DNC talking points, but far from reality "on the ground". Of course, nothing short of an all out U.S. defeat in that region would be acceptable to the "hate America first" crowd which you appear to belong to. A little more education and a few less trips to Goldy's hate site and you might be on the road to recovery my friend.

Posted by: Rick D. on August 15, 2008 04:06 PM
14. U.S. defeat in that region would be acceptable to the "hate America first" crowd

ROFL, so you are saying that a democratically elected Govt. of a country does NOT have the right to decide for themselves when they want a friendly foreign military force to leave their country? Boy that's the dumbest thing I've heard all day.

Why do you hate democracy so much Rick?

Posted by: Mr. Realist on August 15, 2008 04:39 PM
15. @ 14 - "...are saying that a democratically elected Govt. of a country does NOT have the right to decide for themselves when they want a friendly foreign military force to leave their country?"

Evidently you need some remedial reading comprehension classes Mr. Surrealist. At no time did I say anything approaching that in my post.

Besides, A "democratically elected Govt." of Iraq has never passed a resolution saying "they want a friendly foreign military force to leave their country". Where do you people dream up your delusional talking points? Honestly, it just highlights your ignorance on the subject.
But do continue.

Posted by: Rick D. on August 15, 2008 04:52 PM
16. Cato: It has nothing to do with offshore drilling in the U.S. It has to do with Russia wanting Georgia back in the fold so they can control the pipeline.

Posted by: katomar on August 15, 2008 05:52 PM
17. Also, I don't think the "No U.S. Drilling" tag on the tank necessarily means domestic offshore drilling, probably more "No U.S. Drilling in Georgia" which the Russians are afraid would happen with Georgia being independent and an ally of America.

Posted by: katomar on August 15, 2008 05:58 PM
18. The tank one is ridiculous. "Russians have infiltrated the democratic party and are preventing drilling for oil."

Sometimes I think Ramirez just wants to draw weird shit and then he realizes he has to come up with a political statement to go with it.

Posted by: Jstar on August 15, 2008 07:42 PM
19. Hey Cato! (and to a lesser extent katomar):

The "No U.S. Drilling" tag refers to the fact that if the U.S. starts increasing its domestic production, as conservatives and the GOP want, then the price of oil will significantly drop. This will mean that Russia, who is a next exporter of oil, will not be getting as big of a paycheck. By taking over Georgia, Russia is trying to gain more control of Caspian region oil.

As with most incidents of this nature, the old axiom of "follow the money" rings true once again.

Posted by: Devil Dawg on August 15, 2008 08:21 PM
20. Devil Dawg: You're right, and I stand corrected. In fact, with the barrel price dropping recently, I guess Russia is losing money, which would not make U.S. offshore drilling very attractive to them, would it? As you say, follow the money.

Posted by: katomar on August 15, 2008 09:11 PM
21. I dunno. Some of Ramirez's stuff was amusing but a lot of it seemed heavy handed, or strident or something -- like some Eureopean political cartoons. Search them out if you've never seen them. When I look at European cartoons, I look at them without any bias, usually, because I don't know the issues and the players. And it's therefore pretty easy to criticize them for overdoing it, like Ramirez does with Ted Stevens driving off a bridge (7/31), Obama kicking a service-memeber in the face (7/30), and also not being all that clever like Iraq literally looking a gift horse in the mouth (7/10)or Dodd being litrally in bed with a lobbyist (7/1.) There are too few cute and clever ones like "Obuma" (7/7), or "Ich bin..." (7/15).

Posted by: Quincy on August 15, 2008 10:42 PM
22. For the ones who want to know which "truth" I'm referring to in the cartoons: e.g., Chinese official "torching" human rights, Bill & Hill glumly pretending to support Obama, Obama screaming out "Ich bin ein beginner!" etc. just read the cartoons.
And no, "All Facts", not all of us agree that a far left extremist with lots of scary anti-american friends/associates and having absolutely NO accomplishments OF ANY KIND WHATSOEVER while in office would be a good candidate for president.

Posted by: Michele on August 16, 2008 12:37 AM
23. Ramirez's cartoons do have a mild flaw, which prevents the mentally challenged from enjoying the full range of communication within them. The flaw is that he honors his viewers by assuming them to possess a normal intelligence.

Those who do have such equipment can immediately connect the prevention of American drilling with higher oil prices (stuffing Russian pockets) and the support of Russian militarism by the political left under the disguise of environmentalism.

Posted by: Insufficiently Sensitive on August 16, 2008 09:47 AM
24. CATO #12 He didn't need to draw a pipeline because everyone with 2 IQ points to rub together knows about the pipeline. The Editorial page is for adults not children.

Posted by: Moondoggie on August 16, 2008 12:07 PM
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