Naturally, one thinks of insects, bees, in a swarm. But what about reporters, hmmm? They swarm, and not in an attractive way.

Married Calfornia state assemblyman steps down after he might have had a sexual relationship with a lobbyist, or just talked about it

The news media jumped all over Assemblyman Mike Duvall after it was reported that he MAY have had “relations”, as Bill Clinton liked to put it, with a couple of women in the legislature, including a lobbyist. Sure, men talk about sex a lot, but so what? It was off the record, Assemblyman Duvall talking with another legislator, next to a mic that no one knew was turned on. (this might be a double entendre)

As far as I know, talk is cheap. No one proved, or attempted to prove, anything. Duvall quit the next day. :(

Originally published in my OpEd blog, with more info there.

This is one of my favorite political cartoons in 2009! More about the news event, and why I did the cartoon, at the link.

More cartoons:

1. Talk radio just stirs up trouble.

Whoa, Jimmy, I’ve been pretty disappointed in you the last couple years, as you broke up with the captivating and beautiful Sarah Silverman, made even more stupid jokes about older people, overused your overacting security guard, Guillermo and your dull uncle Frank, and TOTALLY IGNORED the death of your other security guard, Veatrice. I was so shocked when you casually announced last January that she was DEAD.  I thought it was a joke. She was your only natural funny person. I liked her. You sucked, Jimmy.

But I still do watch you, sometimes – love the Cousin Sal bits the most, and the Dancing with the Star losers.

I got all excited when you announced that Governor Rod Blagojevich was going to be on last week. I did a Blagojevich cartoon a few months ago, and was fascinated by him last winter as he got knocked down and just kept on coming. Plus, I tend to like Mafia types. Your first interview that night was a man who is married to Mariah Carey. Don’t know his name, but that’s all you talked with him about. You were all awkward, kiss-ass, and uncomfortable.

Then Ex-Governor Blagojevich came on (I think he’s ex-gov) to pitch his new book, called The Governor- so maybe he’s not an ex-governor? I found him very interesting. He said there were a lot of secret tapes that he is NOT allowed to talk about, that would clear his name, and that the whole scandal is upside down. Hmm. So you let him talk about that – and he is an interesting speaker – and then you made him talk about his hair, and how he conditions it. Funny as hell. The 2 of you hit it off, didn’t you? Youtube.

You also offered to sell the chair he was sitting in on set in ebay. I thought it might be a joke, but he signed it, and here it is on ebay! It’s in the closed section, so you have to be signed in to see it, I think, and it will only be up a month from now, as it just sold, so here’s the description:

- For sale: former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich’s seat from the set of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
- custom made
- 33″ long x 35″ deep x 35″ tall
- perfect for home, office or prison
- relatively hair-free
- start your own Smithsonian!
- celebrities who have previously sat in this seat include:
*Shaq
*Paris Hilton
*Mel Gibson
*Megan Fox
*Matthew Fox
*Jamie Foxx
*Gerard Butler
*Jonas Brothers
*Shia LaBeouf
*Tom Cruise
*Jennifer Connelly
*Denzel Washington
*Mariah Carey
*Robin Williams
*Adam Sandler
*Kobe Bryant
*Regis Philbin
*Kelly Ripa
*Seth Rogen
*Charlize Theron
*Anne Hathaway
*Eminem

All proceeds from this purchase will go toward putting people to work (as per former Governor Rod Blagojevich).

It got 67 bids and $10,200 for the people of Chicago. Good for everyone.
You got me back on this one, Jim-boy.

I write more about the hair-man – TWO men with big hair, actually – here.

More cartoons:

1. Sarah Palin cartoon as Venus, by Barstow.
2. Let’s talk about hair.

Sorry, sometimes you gotta be plain and simple in a blog. Sarah Palin has just resigned as Governor, so she won’t be around to undress anymore. I drew this cartoon when she still had hopes to win as VP.

The Governor’s New Clothes (Sarah Palin). Full size at link.

This cartoon was a result of her clothes scandal – that she spent too much money dressing as a winner. Pshaw.  Have you seen the prices of men’s suits? She was in the media everywhere, for Pete’s sake. So I drew her Clotheless. (Nudes may be okay in art – okay, they’re a major part of art history – but Google is afraid of the n-aked word, I believe.) Isn’t she a wonderful Venus? I, on the other hand, never claimed to be Botticelli. But I’ll take it.) As I said in my OpEd post:

That was the first season when I actually paid attention to the campaigns and elections, and she was electrifyingly real. In character, and a character. Mesmerizing, even in, or especially in, her most humiliating moments. And I always thought she was beautiful, and I loved her voice.

Go see her. And I’ll have a new cartoon up on Sarah Palin in Slate on Monday.

Caption: Sarah Palin starring as The Governor’s New Clothes – Nude!

More cartoons:

1. Sarah Palin is a five-letter word.
2. Ted Rall gives Time Magazine what for.

(Originally published in my OpEd blog.)

Sure, I’m curious why he died. But nah, I never thought he was funny. Not the animals, the plastic surgery, the kids. Nor is his death funny. I’m sad a talented performer died so young. But what about Farrah Fawcett, or Ed McMahon? NO. Not funny, either. All sad. (And Michael Jackson’s death is not more important than theirs, thanks. All deaths are equal.)

But my job as an editorial cartoonist is to comment or reflect on the news, not make instant flower bouquets, or practice sanctimonious phrases.

Actually, this is the first time a well-known figure has died since I started doing cartoons for Slate in February, so I wasn’t sure just how to approach it.I rarely read other editorial cartoonists (although I do have my favorites, I prefer to read their older stuff, and not something that would influence me in current news). But I read a lot of giggling comments by Daryl Cagle and Ted Rall and other political cartoonists, on Facebook and Twitter, wondering aloud how far they could go with Michael Jackson’s peccadilloes. And then there was the Jeff Goldblum hoax on Twitter. So some people were laughing about this.

So I redid it for Slate, below, minus the quips:

Michael Jackson, King of Pop, Farrah Fawcett Majors, Queen of Hair, and Ed McMahon, Jester of Johnny. Gravestones. ©D. Barstow 2009

But this time I asked people on Facebook, which is the better cartoon? They liked the top one. And I think I do, too. Sometimes dying needs to be put in its place with funny. I think these stars would have smiled, too. But what do you think? Which cartoon would you rather read with your coffee? Or would you rather do Sudoko?

PS. Joe Heller is one of my fave editorial cartoonists and did a great cartoon on MJ. (Do you think he drew all of these views by hand, or was it Photoshop magic?!)

*Just found this post by Steve Greenberg:

The problems are either doing a cliche usually something involving St. Peter and the Pearly Gates, and there have been a zillion of these, or doing cartoons similar to what other cartoonists might be doing for the next day.

Read the whole thing for insight from an experienced cartoonist.

More cartoons:

1. I’m not like Ikea, I judge.
2. Dilbert isn’t funny anymore.