Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau for December 14, 1980

Transcript:

Mark: In the top of the news, you're not going to believe this story... no wait a minute, I found an even better one. Get this, okay? Hold on to your hats, campers. It's time for yet another in-depth WBBY "Profile on Parade"! Today's victim is our own professor, Herman Cavendish, here to plug his latest textbook, "The Vanishing Liberal". Professor Cavendish, at the risk of ruining the rest of my week, what's "The Vanishing Liberal" all about? Man: It's the story of an anthropolgical tragedy, Mark, the very extinction of a once pervasive political species. For many years the common liberal used to roam the corridors of power in great numbers. But around 1978, their supply of solutions began to give out, cross-breeding of ideas ensued, and many liberals evolved into moderates. This was followed by a dangerous development: the crafty and cunning conservative began to prey on the common herd. Before long, it had all but taken over the liberals' traditional territory. Today, the liberals have nearly vanished. They are occasionally sighted at benefit screenings in New York, but unless drastic conservation measures are taken, they are expected to die out within the decade. Mark: Aren't there any in captivity? Man: Very few. The ACLU keeps springing them.