Earlier this year I received a phone call that led to one of the more interesting cartooning assignments of my career. The set designer for the upcoming George Clooney-directed film “The Ides of March” was looking for background ephemera—newspaper clippings, photos, political cartoons—that might be taped, say, to the back of a seat in a campaign bus.

The movie takes place in Cincinnati, during a pivotal Ohio presidential primary. Philip Seymour Hoffman plays Paul Zara, a veteran political advisor to a John Edwards-like liberal Democrat played by George Clooney.

After a number of conversations, we decided that I would draw six political cartoons for the movie. They would be printed on newsprint and placed on the set as described above.

I read the script and tried to imagine what criticisms a political cartoonist might have about the two rival candidates (Morris vs. Pullman) in the race as well as other facets of the Ohio primary that might be of interest. Of course, these candidates were imaginary. It was weird, and very fun.

I was a little worried my cartoons would wind up, like many fine performances by actors, on the cutting-room floor. So I didn’t tell anyone about it. But I was lucky. Two of them are right there, in the second scene (and later on in the film as well). You can even read them if you see them in a theater with a sharply focused screen.

The best thing about drawing cartoons about imaginary politicians is that no one gets angry at you.

Here are all of the cartoons in full color, the way God intended them to be seen. Hope you enjoy them as much as I did creating them.

Last week’s eBay cartoon auction finished a few minutes ago. Final price was $113.00.

A new auction has just gone up.

Last week’s chosen topic, which is now online, was: “Democrats and Republicans agree: Obama has got to go!”

I have just posted a new cartoon auction on eBay. Starting bid is 99 cents; the Buy It Now price is $500.

Winner gets to pick the topic of the cartoon. She or he also may reprint it or donate the reprint rights. They also get the original cartoon artwork.

I also may syndicate the cartoons that result from this. So far all of them have been syndicated.

Of course, this is also a great way to support my work. Thanks for bidding!

I got quoted in
this piece on Russia Today:

Despite reports to the contrary, the police have issued a four-month permit for us to remain. It is already assuming the character of an encampment.

Matt Bors brought Obama’s latest outrage to my attention.

Obama’s “Art Works for America” contest asks graphic designers to come up with a poster advocating the passage of his American Jobs Bill (never mind that it would not create any jobs). But I wouldn’t call it “Art Works.” “Work” implies pay. Here’s how much Obama is offering artists, who have been savaged by the Depression even worse than other workers:

Nothing.

Obama for America is seeking poster submissions from artists across the country illustrating why we support President Obama’s plan to create jobs now, and why we’ll re-elect him to continue fighting for jobs for the next four years.

Your poster can address the broader themes of the President’s plan or pinpoint a specific aspect, from supporting small businesses to rebuilding roads and bridges for the 21st century. For more on the desired specs, read the creative brief.

We’ll pick the 12 best submissions received by November 4th, 2011, then put the finalists to a vote. Three winners will receive a framed print of their poster signed by President Obama and a limited edition of their poster will be sold in the
campaign store.

The winner doesn’t even get to retain his or her own copyright.

This is the sort of vile “contest” you expect from a witch like Arianna Huffington, who doesn’t have a “model” that pays her bloggers and artists. I admit: I knew Obama was evil, but wow.

If you are an artist or know one, please pass this on. This is exactly the kind of disgusting “contest” that is killing the ability of talented artists to earn a living in the United States.

Obama plans to raise $1 billion for his 2012 campaign. Surely he can spare the standard rate for something like this: at least $50,000 (yes, really). Or something. Anything.

In the 1930s the federal government hired cartoonists and other artists. Now they’re wading into the private marketplace to destroy that.

It makes me wonder what kind of jobs Obama, who endorses slave labor for artists, wants for other Americans. What’s the point of a job that doesn’t pay? Exposure doesn’t pay rent.

He has a $1 billion budget.

Please pass it on.

Or at least licensed.

The National Parks Service license for the Occupation of Freedom Plaza (also known as the October 2011 Stop the Machine protest) officially expired at 2 pm. Just before, protest organizers sat down with the cops, who offered them a four-month extension (!). This was greeted with enthusiasm at the General Assembly. So the encampment is safe from arrests, at least until things get seriously cold in Washington.

No one asked me—I wasn’t in the inner circle of planners—but I would never have applied for a permit in the first place, and I certainly wouldn’t have entered private discussions with the Parks Police (even though they do have those cute Smokey the Bear hats) which led to an offer we would have looked churlish to refuse.

The authorities were brilliant; they look calm and reasonable and a militant occupation that sought confrontation with a despotic system has magically turned into a campground. Oh, well, make sure you take your garbage out when you leave.

If the 1O11STM is to move forward, grow and ultimately confront the system, it will need to find militancy and excitement in its offsite (not at Freedom Plaza) actions. Which, according to one principal organizer I talked to today, is what is intended.

We shall see.

Much has already changed; this was supposed to be about the Afghanistan War and nothing else, and now Afghanistan is scarcely mentioned specifically (though militarism is).

Now there are two occupations: Occupy DC in McPherson Park eight blocks away, and us. Occupy DC has the anarchists and the homeless and the young scruffy kids. They also have the energy. We have organization and experience from the Reagan and Clinton eras, but we are lacking the joyful spirit of the Occupy people. Obviously we need both, together. We should merge.

At this point there are hundreds of Occupys around the nation. It is clear that I am not needed here, that this occupation will be here for a while. DC is only a train ride away. Like the workers councils in Russia called the soviets, which became the basis of the Russian Revolution, this movement is local. Sooner rather than later, it will be time for me to join or start a local occupation closer to home.

This revolution is chaotic, sloppy, wanky and annoying. Aren’t they all?

It’s crunch time. As of tonight, we are illegally occupying Freedom Plaza in Washington DC. At this point the police may come any time; so far, however, they have laid very low.

Today Stephanie McMillan and I released a Cartoon Newsletter. Here’s one that someone taped to their tent!

You can download the two pages here and here.