Right-Wing Cartoon Watch

Right-Wing Cartoon Watch #34

2009-02-05T00:33:00.001-08:00

Head on over to RWCW's 34th installment (covering cartoons from 11/22/08 to 2/1/09, with the emphasis on the more recent). When last we saw our intrepid band of conservative cartoonists, a few were gracious about Obama’s election, a few more had actually acknowledged how disastrous Bush had been, and many more were inventing creative ways to blame all the ills under the sun on those villainous Democrats. With a new year and Obama’s inauguration, how might things have changed? Hmm…

Right-Wing Cartoon Watch #33 (9/26/08 – 11/21/08)

2008-11-20T19:54:00.001-08:00

Head on over to the overdue, over-sized 33rd installment of RWCW, covering eight weeks of important economic developments and a historic campaign. Who among our usual gang would rise to the occasion? Who would flirt with reality-based satire? And who would stand athwart history saying, “Stop! Everything is the Democrats’ fault”…?

Right-Wing Cartoon Watch #32 (7/21/08 – 9/25/08)

2008-09-26T02:45:00.001-07:00

The ~~much-anticipated~~ long-delayed 32nd, over-sized installment of RWCW is here, covering ten weeks of terrifying turmoil and tabloid tumult. See our usual gang trot out their favorite attacks against their avowed foe! Watch them swoon over their latest conservative darling! And observe as economic woes make the reality-based community grow just a little bit larger.

Right-Wing Cartoon Watch #31 (6/16/08 - 7/20/08)

2008-07-21T21:56:00.000-07:00

The 31st installment of RWCW is here, covering five weeks of newsy goodness. Thrill to the newest mock outrage! Shake at the latest recycled smear! Marvel at the sight of conservatives attacking key parts of the Constitution - except the Second Amendment, of course. Plus, The New Yorker and its critics horn in on our act! (Well, sorta.)

Right-Wing Cartoon Watch #30 (4/7/08 - 6/15/08)

2008-06-20T21:56:00.000-07:00

The new installment is here! Check out the 30th, long-delayed, super-sized installment of RWCW, covering eleven weeks of election mayhem, skyrocketing gas prices, and um... surely other things happened elsewhere in the world, too?

About the Series

2008-06-20T01:16:00.000-07:00

Comedians, artists and certainly political cartoonists tend to possess an anti-authoritarian, skeptical, irreverent streak. This makes the staunchly conservative cartoonist an especially odd bird.

Right-Wing Cartoon Watch seeks to highlight far right cartoons, but also document the broader range of opinion from conservative cartoonists on the hot issues of the day. While a primary goal is to challenge GOP talking points and fallacies, we also seek to celebrate the fine American tradition of editorial cartooning - and have a little fun in the process.

Which cartoonists dare to criticize their own party? Who literally seems to illustrate GOP talking points? Who are their favorite targets? Who mocks liberals - and who seems to truly hate them? Who's funny? Who's independently minded and who's a hack? Read, and decide, for yourself!

Right-Wing Cartoon Watch #29 (2/1/08 — 4/6/08)

2008-04-14T21:55:00.000-07:00

The 29th, long-delayed, super-sized installment of RWCW, covering nine weeks, is finally here, with conservatives overwhelmingly focusing on the Democratic presidential race. If all the scandals, real, manufactured, underreported and overblown are already slipping from your memory, never fear! We're here to, um, help.

Right-Wing Cartoon Watch #28 (12/17/07 — 1/27/08)

2008-02-01T21:54:00.000-08:00

(Baby Jesus weighs in on the election.)

The 28th installment of RWCW is here, covering six weeks, with the emphasis on the new year. It's been a crazy political month, with tight races for the presidential nomination in both parties, pundits more blatantly wrong than usual, and scandals ranging from the overblown to the manufactured. Meanwhile, the greatest threat ever known to ~~democracy~~ conservatism — since the previous one, that is — spurred our right-wing cartoonists into action!

Who would be the focus of their ire? Who? Who? (I'm sure the suspense is just killing you.)

Right-Wing Cartoon Watch #27 (11/12/07 — 12/16/07)

2007-12-19T21:52:00.000-08:00

The 27th installment of RWCW has arrived, covering four weeks. Everything’s coming up roses in Iraq, they say! Every time we torture someone, another 9/11 is averted! You can’t trust intelligence that doesn’t urge us to bomb the enemy du jour! And ~~Gore Edwards Obama~~ Hillary Clinton is the anti-Christ... or at least, a woman.

Right-Wing Cartoon Watch #26 (10/1/07 — 11/11/07)

2007-11-16T21:52:00.000-08:00

The 26th installment of RWCW is finally here, otherwise known as "the ridiculously long debunk of right-wingers - with pictures! - done by some guy with undiagnosed OCD."

In this larger-than-usual installment, covering five weeks, conservatives pretended the news from the Middle East was both great (Iraq) and dire (Iran), attacked one of their favorite bugbears, and massively ramped up the assaults on their presumptive foe for 2008. Somehow, a few of them still managed to find time to attack health care for kids and defend torture.

Pace yourself, now! And skip whatever you like! Too much wingnuttiness consumed too quickly can lead to toxic overload

Right-Wing Cartoon Watch (Hall of Infamy Edition)

2007-10-05T21:50:00.000-07:00

For the one year anniversary of Right-Wing Cartoon Watch, I thought it might be fun to look at the cartoons that inspired it, as well as offering a retrospective.

As the RWCW blurb says, most cartoonists have an irreverent and slightly anti-authoritarian streak. Most comedy has a bit of anarchy to it, after all. There's certainly nothing wrong with expressing a conservative viewpoint, and most politicians deserve to be mocked or at least questioned, but I was quite struck by how extreme and far right the following cartoons were.

(Read on here.)

Right-Wing Cartoon Watch #25 (9/18/07 — 9/30/07)

2007-10-05T21:49:00.000-07:00

During the two weeks covered by this new installment, conservative cartoonists warned us of the dangers of health care, attacked a former conservative icon, and made sure to scold the working man and woman. They offered reflexive attacks on John Kerry and the Clintons, which is like warm milk, cookies and, uh, red meat to the faithful. Still, nothing could compare with their fury denouncing The Greatest Threat the World Has Ever Faced since - um - their previous Hitler du jour!

RWCW #24 (9/4/07 — 9/17/07)

2007-09-24T16:43:00.002-07:00

The twenty-fourth installment covered two weeks. Conservatives hailed their new hero, excoriated one of their favorite old foes, manufactured some fresh slanders, recycled many lame ones, and commemorated a dreadful event.

Highlights/lowlights included:

Henry Payne delivered a great tribute to Pavarotti:

While Gary Varvel was one of many cartoonists who drew a good remembrance for 9/11:

RWCW #23 (8/20/07 — 9/3/07)

2007-09-24T16:43:00.001-07:00

The twenty-third installment covered two weeks, and thus offered less of a chance of toxic overload than the previous, super-sized installment. But never fear, it was just as wonky at a quarter the size. And conservative cartoonists were in fine form. Slandering Dems! Lauding a scalliwag! Shunning homosexuals! Lancing straw men and agitating for war! Apart from a few more lame attacks on Ted Kennedy or John Kerry, what more could you ask for?

Highlights/lowlights included:

Gary Varvel delivered a nice piece:

RWCW #22 (6/4/07 — 8/19/07)

2007-09-24T16:42:00.001-07:00

The super-sized twenty-second installment of RWCW covered a sizzlin' eleven-week period. What's most distressing is seeing the cartoons that could have been just as easily drawn at the start of that period as the finish.

Highlights/lowlights included:

RWCW #21 (5/14/07 — 6/3/07)

2007-09-24T16:41:00.002-07:00

In the even-larger-than-usual, twenty-first installment, covering three weeks (5/14/07 - 6/3/07), most but not all conservative cartoonists mourned Jerry Falwell and opined angrily on immigration. Gas prices were a surprisingly popular topic. Meanwhile, the usual gang lambasted Democrats for criticizing Bush, for opposing Bush, and for - voting in accord with Bush! Huh? Remember, kids, whatever the Democrats do, they're baaaaad!!!

Highlights/lowlights included:

RWCW #20 (4/30/07 — 5/13/07)

2007-09-24T16:41:00.001-07:00

In the twentieth installment, conservative cartoonists ranged all over the map in terms of subject matter. Iraq experienced a, err, surge in popularity again. George Tenet received some ridicule. Meanwhile, conservatives also noted the impending resignation of a Brit they loved and celebrated — the French?!?

Highlights/lowlights included:

RWCW #19 (4/16/07—4/29/07)

2007-09-24T16:40:00.002-07:00

The nineteenth installment covered two weeks, 4/16/07-4/29/07. The biggest topics were the Virginia Tech shootings and a Supreme Court decision on abortion — but there's always time for conservative cartoonists to attack prominent Democrats and — Rosie O'Donnell?!?

Highlights/lowlights included:

RWCW #18 (4/1/07—4/15/07)

2007-09-24T16:40:00.001-07:00

In the eighteenth installment: See chickenhawks squawk! See a(nother) manfactured scandal! See creative ways to attack liberals and African-Americans over Don Imus!

Highlights/lowlights included:

RWCW #17 (3/26/07—3/31/07)

2007-09-24T16:39:00.002-07:00

This installment of Right-Wing Cartoon Watch covered - gasp - a single week, from 3/26/07 to 3/31/07. (I know, I know, I was shocked too.)

During this week, Iran capturing British troops was easily the hottest issue - but poisoned pet food and dastardly Dems made appearances as well!

Highlights/lowlights included:

RWCW #16 (3-27-07)

2007-09-24T16:39:00.001-07:00

This sixteenth installment covered three weeks, from 2/26/07 to 3/25/07. This stretch provided plenty of scandals — both the real kind, and the manufactured-BS variety. With Walter Reed, Plamegate, Purge-gate, Ann Coulter, Peter Pace, and - for Republicans, the mere existence of Democrats - there was plenty of material! The litmus tests abound. If you didn't know where a conservative cartoonist stood before in regards to accuracy, hackery, and what generates his or her moral outrage, you were likely to find out!

Highlights/lowlights included:

RWCW #15 (3-2-07)

2007-09-24T16:38:00.001-07:00

The fifteenth installment of Right-Wing Cartoon Watch covered a two week period from 2/12/07 to 2/25/07. The hot topics included Bush’s troop escalation (the so-called “surge”) and the field of presidential candidates on the Democratic - and Republican! - sides. Plus, the "Bomb Iran!" campaign continued strong, there was an odd love for a "human sacrifice" metaphor, and you may well ask: for how many issues can a cartoonist still work in an Anna Nicole reference?

Highlights/lowlights included:

RWCW #14 (2-17-07)

2007-09-24T16:37:00.000-07:00

The fourteenth installment of Right-Wing Cartoon Watch was a super-sized edition covering cartoons from 1/29/07 to 2/11/07. This time, the hot topics included supporting the troops, global warming, and diaper-wielding astronauts. (Err, make that diaper-wearing, pepper spray-wielding astronauts.) Plus, the "Bomb Iran!" campaign continued!

Highlights/lowlights included:

RWCW #13 (2-1-07)

2007-09-24T16:36:00.000-07:00

After a hiatus, the lucky 13th installment arrived!

Highlights/lowights included:

RWCW #12 (12/20/06)

2007-04-26T23:58:00.000-07:00

The twelfth installment covered cartoons published between 12/11/06 and 12/17/06. Conservative cartoonists primarily took aim at favorite targets, plus said goodbye to a departing one.

Most Offensive Cartoon contenders included this one from Glenn McCoy:

...And this one from Chuck Asay:

...And this one from Bob Gorrell:

...And this one from Mike Shelton:

...And this one from Michael Ramirez:

As always, read the original post and comments for full explanations.

RWCW #11 (12/14/06)

2007-04-26T23:50:00.000-07:00

The eleventh installment covered cartoons published between 12/4/06 and 12/10/06.

Most Offensive contenders included this one from Eric Allie:

...And this one from Mike Lester:

As always, read the original post and comments for full explanations.

RWCW #10 (12/6/06)

2007-04-26T23:40:00.000-07:00

The tenth installment covered cartoons published between 11/28/06 and 12/3/06. Most Offensive contenders included two from Glenn McCoy:

...Plus one from Ken Chuck Asay:

As always, read the original post and comments for full explanations.

RWCW #9 (11/27/06)

2007-04-26T23:29:00.000-07:00

The ninth installment covered cartoons published between 11/12/06 and 11/27/06.

Two weeks previously, conservative cartoonists focused on the midterm elections, and one week previously, to console themselves, they mostly attacked Democrats and played Chicken Little about Iran. What caught their fancy for this period? Most Offensive contenders included this one from Chuck Asay:

...And this one from Paul Nowak:

As always, read the original post and comments for full explanations.

RWCW #8 (11/22/06)

2007-04-26T23:18:00.000-07:00

The eight installment covered cartoons published between 11/12/06 and 11/18/06. Rightwing cartoonists had to search a little harder for their subjects — and largely settled on habitual bugbears. This week, most of cartoons were relatively restrained in terms of offensiveness, but earning consideration were this one from Henry Payne:

...And this one from Mike Shelton:

As always, read the original post and comments for full explanations.

RWCW #7 (11/16/06)

2007-04-26T23:05:00.000-07:00

The seventh installment covered cartoons published between 11/6/06 and 11/11/06.

The midterm elections of course dominated, but nothing could dissuade conservative cartoonists from flogging a dead, non-story if it involved John Kerry! Most Offensive contenders included this one from Glenn McCoy:

...And this one from Ken Catalino, although at least two other cartoonists drew pieces showing terrorists celebrating over Democrats winning:

As always, read the original post and comments for full explanations.

RWCW #6 (11-6-06)

2007-02-17T13:55:00.000-08:00

With the midterm elections looming, the sixth installment of Rightwing Cartoon Watch chronicled the full-front assault on John Kerry's gaffe, with over one third of all conservative cartoons for the week focusing on it. Read the original post for the full range, but here's a sample from Mike Lester:

Chuck Asay's cartoon received votes for the "Most Offensive," repeating the theme of McCoy's recipient the previous week:

Meanwhile, Mike Shelton received special credit for a striking cartoon memorializing California firefighters:

RWCW #5 (10-28-06)

2007-02-17T13:30:00.000-08:00

For the fifth installment of Rightwing Cartoon Watch, Iraq made a resurgence after being conspiciously avoided as a subject in previous weeks. The most popular subject, however, was the fast-approaching midterms elections. Demonize your opponent early, and often!

The pick for "Most Offensive Cartoon of the Week" wasn't even close. See the original post for the debunk and critique. From Glenn McCoy:

RWCW #4 (10-25-06)

2007-02-02T01:33:00.000-08:00

For the fourth installment of Rightwing Cartoon Watch, the hottest topic remained North Korea. However, the leading contender for Most Offensive Cartoon of the Week seemed to be this Henry Payne cartoon on the the Foley scandal:

Foley, of course, did not resign volutarily, but only because ABC News had found him out. Hastert did not demand his resignation, because he only found out about it a couple of hours later. It's not as if there was anything honorable about Foley or how the GOP leadership handled it.

RWCW #3 (10-15-06)

2007-02-02T01:05:00.000-08:00

For the third installment of Rightwing Cartoon Watch, the hottest topics were North Korea's nuclear test, and, for the second week in a row, the Mark Foley scandal. All three nominees for Most Offensive Cartoon of the Week centered on the Foley scandal. Click any cartoon for a slightly larger view. First, from Chuck Asay:

Then Chip Bok:

And finally, Mike Lester:

RWCW #2 (10-7-06)

2007-02-02T00:49:00.000-08:00

For the second installment of Rightwing Cartoon Watch, the hottest topic was the Mark Foley scandal. Contenders for Most Offensive Cartoon of the Week included this one from Glenn McCoy:

This one from Cox and Forkum also merited consideration:

But the runaway winner was this cartoon from Mike Lester:

RWCW #1 (9-30-06)

2007-02-02T00:35:00.000-08:00

For the first installment of Rightwing Cartoon Watch, readers picked the Paul Nowak cartoon above as the "Most Offensive of the Week." (Nowak actually copies an earlier, infamous one by Michael Ramirez.)