Bloom County was always better on the political humor, as Berke Breathed was far less one-sided. One day, he might be skewering one party, and the next day, it would be the other. He was good at pointing out the foibles of both groups, rather than one-sided hammering of his own agenda.
Yeah, the Republicans have problems, but anyone who doesn’t see that the Democrats have just as many problems, isn’t really looking.
I’m not sure if Trudeau has gotten better at seeing the foibles of both sides, or if he’s just finally getting jaded of all politicians as he gets older. From what I’ve seen, he is starting to lambast the Democrats a little more often now.
pabs, I don’t recall very many comics giving the Dems grief for their foibles, but then I may have just missed them. If you’ve got specific examples in the archives, could you point them out to me? I’m getting tired of laughing at Republicans so now it’s time to laugh at the other side :-)
Pab’s political humor is just that - political without regard to party affiliation. Just may be that the elephants provide more to laugh about than the donkeys. That says something all by itself.
Well done, Pab.
Hoomi, I don’t think I agree. Trudeau always knew something (and got better at it over time) that a lot of political strips would benefit from: he made all his characters likable on some level, and all his characters flawed in some way. Even when Mark Slackmeyer was hammering on Nixon, it showed him as gloating about it. And his father, despite being every inch a capitalist pig, became a sympathetic figure when he realized he would be caught for insider trading and went out dancing – it showed a side of him that was unexpected and charming. Once he even did a nice statement for Nixon, on Christmas.
And he stomped on Clinton every bit as much as he did on Bush I, for example.
If the nitwit who draws “Mallard Fillmore” (his writing is largely dictated by FoxNews that day and lacks story or punchlines, so I don’t count him a writer) studied Doonesbury, he might be worth reading.
motivemagus: I remember. “Guilty! Guilty! Guilty!” Trudeau even named one of the Doonesbury books after that punchline.
MsngNOLA: Back during the election, I made fun of Biden’s telling a guy in a wheelchair to stand up and take a bow. I’ve been pretty relentless on Obama. Hillary was an occasional target back in 2006 and 2007, even being a punchline in the “An Inconvenient Queen” storyline. I don’t have the energy to go back through the archives right now.
And I do have to admit that the Republicans make it so much easier to make fun of them.
Right said. If memory serves (it has been ten years, after all), Trudeau depicted Clinton as a waffle. Hardly a glowing, butt-kissing term of endearment.
The Repubs over the last 30 years could stand to learn from Trudeau’s ribbing (oddly, they never notice when he pokes fun at Dems or anyone to the left of far right), but have instead chosen to label him and other satirists and reject them outright.
pabs, I’ll definitely take your word for it. I meant to mention that I’ve only been reading your strip a little over a year now, so I missed all of the campaign strips. I’m happy to know that there are objective folks out there who do see the hypocrisy and ignorance on both sides of the political spectrum. I hope that I am among that number and if not, strive to become one.
Wasn’t a stab at you, Pab, but rather just my own impression of Trudeau. I have nearly 51 years on this ball of rock, and so have had plenty of time to watch the various administrations and comic depictions of them. While Trudeau has lampooned the Democrats, he cuts them a lot more slack then he does Republicans. His strip is better suited for the Op-Ed page than the funnies. I always found Breathed much more balanced, and - frankly - far wittier than Trudeau ever managed to be. I’ll take 25 year old “Bloom County” over current “Doonesbury” any day of the week.
Wildcard, I don’t bother with “Mallard Fillmore” either. It really doesn’t matter much to me which side a strip or commentator is off balance towards. Off balance is off balance, whether to left or right.
aardvarkseyes about 14 years ago
Different artistic style - similar concept and execution. Nice point, though - has it really been 40 years?
rockngolfer about 14 years ago
I miss Gary Larson more
thetraveller4 about 14 years ago
I’ve been thinking that all week, but I didn’t know about the 40th thing….Good for Trudeau!
vldazzle about 14 years ago
So all the politics has just been a tribute to Trudeau? I never read his, even when I got it in the print paper (not my type of humor)
Hoomi about 14 years ago
Bloom County was always better on the political humor, as Berke Breathed was far less one-sided. One day, he might be skewering one party, and the next day, it would be the other. He was good at pointing out the foibles of both groups, rather than one-sided hammering of his own agenda.
Yeah, the Republicans have problems, but anyone who doesn’t see that the Democrats have just as many problems, isn’t really looking.
I’m not sure if Trudeau has gotten better at seeing the foibles of both sides, or if he’s just finally getting jaded of all politicians as he gets older. From what I’ve seen, he is starting to lambast the Democrats a little more often now.
Pab Sungenis creator about 14 years ago
Hoomi: I go after everyone. When the Republicans do something stupid, I make fun of it. Should I not do the same with the Democrats?
Frankr about 14 years ago
Touching tribute, Pab
MisngNOLA about 14 years ago
pabs, I don’t recall very many comics giving the Dems grief for their foibles, but then I may have just missed them. If you’ve got specific examples in the archives, could you point them out to me? I’m getting tired of laughing at Republicans so now it’s time to laugh at the other side :-)
Spyderred about 14 years ago
Pab’s political humor is just that - political without regard to party affiliation. Just may be that the elephants provide more to laugh about than the donkeys. That says something all by itself.
Motivemagus about 14 years ago
Well done, Pab. Hoomi, I don’t think I agree. Trudeau always knew something (and got better at it over time) that a lot of political strips would benefit from: he made all his characters likable on some level, and all his characters flawed in some way. Even when Mark Slackmeyer was hammering on Nixon, it showed him as gloating about it. And his father, despite being every inch a capitalist pig, became a sympathetic figure when he realized he would be caught for insider trading and went out dancing – it showed a side of him that was unexpected and charming. Once he even did a nice statement for Nixon, on Christmas. And he stomped on Clinton every bit as much as he did on Bush I, for example. If the nitwit who draws “Mallard Fillmore” (his writing is largely dictated by FoxNews that day and lacks story or punchlines, so I don’t count him a writer) studied Doonesbury, he might be worth reading.
cwreenactor about 14 years ago
LOL!!! I love it.
Pab Sungenis creator about 14 years ago
motivemagus: I remember. “Guilty! Guilty! Guilty!” Trudeau even named one of the Doonesbury books after that punchline.
MsngNOLA: Back during the election, I made fun of Biden’s telling a guy in a wheelchair to stand up and take a bow. I’ve been pretty relentless on Obama. Hillary was an occasional target back in 2006 and 2007, even being a punchline in the “An Inconvenient Queen” storyline. I don’t have the energy to go back through the archives right now.
And I do have to admit that the Republicans make it so much easier to make fun of them.
freeholder1 about 14 years ago
Easier to see them by the light of the books and tapes they keep burning, pab.
Wildcard24365 about 14 years ago
@motivemagnus, pab:
Right said. If memory serves (it has been ten years, after all), Trudeau depicted Clinton as a waffle. Hardly a glowing, butt-kissing term of endearment.
The Repubs over the last 30 years could stand to learn from Trudeau’s ribbing (oddly, they never notice when he pokes fun at Dems or anyone to the left of far right), but have instead chosen to label him and other satirists and reject them outright.
Wildcard24365 about 14 years ago
Post script: does anyone actually know anyone who finds Bruce Tinsley funny?
MisngNOLA about 14 years ago
pabs, I’ll definitely take your word for it. I meant to mention that I’ve only been reading your strip a little over a year now, so I missed all of the campaign strips. I’m happy to know that there are objective folks out there who do see the hypocrisy and ignorance on both sides of the political spectrum. I hope that I am among that number and if not, strive to become one.
Hoomi about 14 years ago
Wasn’t a stab at you, Pab, but rather just my own impression of Trudeau. I have nearly 51 years on this ball of rock, and so have had plenty of time to watch the various administrations and comic depictions of them. While Trudeau has lampooned the Democrats, he cuts them a lot more slack then he does Republicans. His strip is better suited for the Op-Ed page than the funnies. I always found Breathed much more balanced, and - frankly - far wittier than Trudeau ever managed to be. I’ll take 25 year old “Bloom County” over current “Doonesbury” any day of the week.
Wildcard, I don’t bother with “Mallard Fillmore” either. It really doesn’t matter much to me which side a strip or commentator is off balance towards. Off balance is off balance, whether to left or right.