I draw cartoons for The Los Angeles Times about issues related to California and the Southland (metro Los Angeles). This week: Are there commies in classrooms at the University of California? A study long on innuendo and short on facts commissioned by a conservative group shouts: you betcha! How can you and your children protect themselves from academic bolshevism?
It’s day one. Sporadic fighting continues. The Capitol is ablaze. Pumped with adrenaline and thrilled that the day of victory has arrived, revolutionaries storm into the centers of power of the former United States of America.
What will they find? What should they do?
This question looms large in the minds of everyone who tries to imagine a different political and economic system than the one we live under now. Few of us can think of anything new, much less better, much less how it would/will look like.
I am asking your support to help fund the research and writing of a follow-up to The Anti-American Manifesto with the title “Congratulations! You Have Just Overthrown the Government of the United States of America.” The idea is to walk through the early days, weeks and months of a theoretical American revolution: What should be done to make sure that what comes next is better, not worse?
If I get support, I will rely on historical precedents as well as the experience of actual leaders in parts of the world that recently came into the control of revolutionary movements to set up a sort of Revolution for Dummies book.
Please go to Kickstarter for the details and to watch a video.
I know, I know.
Daily Kos has added just about every leftie cartoon in America except me and Stephanie McMillan. Lots of you have written to me asking me about this, and it’s gotten to the point that it’s probably easier for me to just post here.
Here’s the skinny:
Q: Is it some permission thing?
A: No. I’d be happy to have my work appear on Kos or any other website that wants me. Unfortunately, they’re not interested in my work. I’ve asked. My friend and colleague Tom Tomorrow is the editor over there. He pitched me but Markos (who runs Daily Kos) doesn’t like my work.
Q: Why doesn’t Markos like your cartoons?
A: Dunno. Never met the guy. I assume it’s politics. The only two major leftie cartoonists he excludes are me and Stephanie, neither of whom conform to his support of President Obama and the Democratic Party. But then, some of his cartoonists have criticized Obama (though not as much). I’m guessing here.
Q: How about running on some other liberal blog?
A: At this date there are no other liberal blogs that pay to run comics. Which is insane when you think about it. It’s the Web. This is a visual medium. Comics are popular with readers. I assume it’s only a matter of time.
At this point your energies would be better spent trying to get me and other cartoonists into sites like Firedog Lake than Kos. Even though Kos’ reader survey overwhelmingly called for me to be added, Markos ignored it. But a well-placed email and/or post to Firedog Lake, Real Clear Politics, etc. might be worthwhile.
As Sartre said, death is absurd. Both because all that accumulated experience and knowledge is lost with the final closing of an eye, and because it’s so incomprehensible. There are people I lost years ago whom I itch to call and talk to, then remember they’re Not Here Anymore, and…but I still remember their phone number.
One of my colleagues, fellow cartoonist Rex Babin, died Friday after a two-year battle with stomach cancer I assumed he’d somehow be able to beat because he was so strong and vital. I knew Rex for years. We worked together on the board of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists, and he beat me out for the job opening at the Sacramento Bee. I’m sure I’ll expect to see him at the AAEC convention in Washington…and yet…
Rex leaves behind a lovely wife and young son. Which is why I’m posting this. The Bee is putting together a trust fund for his son. I want to donate, but I’m broke due to the complete collapse of income-earning opportunities in print journalism. So I’m going to place some original cartoon artwork up for auction next week. All the proceeds of that auction will go to the Rex Babin Trust Fund, so if you’re interested in picking up some artwork and donating to a good cause, please bid high and often.
Watch this space next week.
It’s been a long time since my last cartoon auction, so I’ve just posted a new one.
If you win, you get to choose the topic of my cartoon. Which I will draw. If I want to, I will syndicate it so it will appear in newspapers.
You get:
Opening bid is a mere 99 cents, and there is no minimum, so happy bidding!
Mainstream media self-censorship
by Anastasia Churkina
RT America
March 29, 2012
I’ve been interviewed by RT television about mainstream media self-censorship.
Interested in guest-blogging on the ? If so drop me a line using the Contact tab above.
If you’re a webpage designer, information architect, or SEO specialist with a left-leaning bent and an interest in being on the ground floor of a startup out to change the world, I’d love to hear from you.
I draw cartoons for The Los Angeles Times. This week’s offering: Cal State trustees have voted to hire two new presidents at high salaries, 10% more than their predecessors. Meanwhile, students face class cancellations and budget cuts.
