Over the years, in this profession, one gets used to the occasional outraged letter from someone who disagrees with what we publish. Especially if one is a cartoonist. Even more especially if one is a cartoonist of moderate-to-liberal bent. I have received lots of my cartoons, torn out of the Eagle, my captions whited out and replaced with new ones. One modest fellow, I assume modesty was the motivation for his refusal to sign his own name, used to routinely mail me one of those widely circulated cartoons of the contortionist with his head buried in his own posterior, usually taped to one of my cartoons.
But Jon Robert Gillilan of Wichita has left those others in the dust. Check out Robert’s depictions of my colleague, Randy Scholfield, and myself. Randy acknowledged that the likeness of himself was uncanny, but had the good grace to refrain from commenting on my own caricature. We scratched our heads over the "wheat pasture" reference, though. Can someone help us out?
Posted by Richard Crowson
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45 Comments
“moderate-to-liberal bent”: yeah, right, and I’m the Pope.
Try flaming liberal mouthpiece for the Democrat party.
(Hey, for fun, prove me wrong: why don’t you post a few of your most scathing cartoons about Sebelius, Morrison or any Democrat? Oh yeah, because there aren’t any.)
Hey “Gary” who are you really?
Richard? What you have from Jon Robert Gillilan is the semi artistic rantings of a frustrated neocon. Hey let him get his own forum and call it Gillilans island. Good on you for exposing Gillagan (my take) I invite that clown to the blog.
Amazing how these types immediately conclude that everyone with a vaguely liberal bent must be a Democratic party operative.
FYI: Richard, like myself, supported Nader in 2000, even though the Editorial Board endorsed Bush. Ask any hardcore Democrat what they thou–on second thought, PLEASE DON’T!!
It’s obviously a bad take on bio-fuel.I mean, come on, Richard? A methanol producer?
Take a look here for the picture I haven’t drawn; my comments that are not yet written, but mostly my thoughts that haven’t been thunk.
Gary – I will believe that they eagle is “flaming liberal mouthpiece for the Democrat party” when they endorse McGinn against Tiahrt. I’m not holding my breath.
The Eagle is liberal, Crowson is liberal (moderate? what is that, anyway?) Stop the denial. Just embrace it. Kumbaya.
Kumbaya – are you predicting that they will not endorse Tiahrt? Are you denying their past endorsements of both Tiahrt and Bush?
No, I’m not. They are liberal, not insane.
Thanks for the clarification hotlick. It’s still hard to understand a liberal endorsing Tiahrt.
It’s simple, really. Part of the liberal mentality is “gimme”. Tiahrt can grab more of the Fed cash and bring it to Kansas. Plus, why anger their readers with something as worthless as an endorsment. Play it safe. We all know Tiahart will win anyway. In fact, I vote for the Libertarian just for fun, knowing that. Please recall that the paper did endorse Glickman.
The real surprise here is the conservative “attempt” at humor and art. Only your high end model conservative can even speak intelligently these days, much less process humor or attempt creativity. Knuckles bruised from years of dragging don’t lend to artitstry.
I love it! Now they support Tiahrt because they are liberals. And why do they support Bush?
Here ya go Richard Crowson. Mind you this was done before my second cup of coffee. But an illustration of how easy ideas are to come up with when drawing political cartoons about the Democratic Party as well. Note, this is from an editorial by Deb Grubb, “Incumbent finds funds out of state.”http://mccluer.name/out%20of%20state%20funds.jpg
Great cartoon JM!
I wish I could draw – I have some cartoon ideas too.
Maybe some other aspiring artists who are also sufficiently computer savvy to do what you did can grace us with their cartoons.
Ben has made a leap that isn’t there. The paper does not support Tiahart, they only endorsed him. The “why” they endorsed him still holds true. The paper does not support Bush, but nobody said that except you.
If art was my forte, i’d probably be shot for sedition. hahahaha :)
endorse, support …
I suppose you can parse words sufficiently finely to claim that consistent endorsements do not constitute support. And I still find your “liberals endorse Tiahrt and Bush” logic a bit strained. I guess that means I cannot be a liberal since I definitely do not endorse Tiahrt or Bush.
Erik – I suspect there are a LOT of politicians (of BOTH parties) who would love to shoot the cartoonists!
Richard
Green wheat plants are tender and tasty. They tend to go through an animal, be it a cow horse or ass like shit through the proverbial goose. How that relates to your cartoons I’m not sure. Hope this helps.
My reference to the “Incumbents find cash out of state” should be Deb Gruver, not Deb Grubb. Need more coffee…
Does the cartoonist get to decide who the paper endorses?
First and foremost your paper is a business. It needs subscribers. What % of the vote went to Bush and Tiahrt in the last elections?They aren’t going to risk pissing off 2/3 of there subscribers when they know there endorsement isn’t going to make a bit of difference in the outcome.Just my personal opinion.
I think we have a BINGO!
JM,That was not a bad cartoon. Sebelius looked like herself and Crowson, kinda of looked like himself as well.
Deb Gruver is a reporter and not an editorial writer. She covers the money beat usually.
I think that if anyone wants a job where you don’t piss people off, editoral cartooning is not a good fit. I remember the storm that arose over Crowson’s cartoon which suggested the citizens of Winfield, KS thought that by virtue of the residents being at the former State Hospital there, that they “deserved” to be abused. I remember teams of ministers from Winfield writing letters of protest and demanding an apology. I don’t recall if they ever got one. Richard did not make many friends over that day’s work.
Also, it seems fairly clear to me that Richard is further along the liberal than moderate dimension. And, I don’t see anything wrong with that. It is the rare cartoonist who isn’t liberal. So, JM the market may be ripe for your new career.
As a life long Republican who has been deserted by my party’s head in ass rush to the right fringe- I find Crowson to be middle of the road-the social self rightous are easy to mock-they do such odd things.. Good on you, Crowson.
Chas DeGeer, Medicine Lodge
Well, takes iron skin to be a cartoonist. I imagine one gets barbed for questionable artwork and commentary. Wasn’t it that Norwegian artist that managed to tick off the Muslim world with his cartoon. Rough job unless you have good armor and a plane ticket for out of town. :)
Richard,
I agree with those above who indicate you need to post more of the cartoons that are sent to you. This has been a very productive blog thread for you.
Frankly, I am not getting the one you post above.
Remember, anyone who exposes the lies and absurdity in the right is automatically a liberal. It doesn’t even matter how far ‘right’ or ‘center’ or ‘left’ you are, as long as it is to the left of someone else, you’ll be called a liberal.
Newspapers are supposed to expose the truth. When that happens, liberal name calling is bound to happen.
Maybe if the left gave more absurd material to work with, we’d see more leftist cartoons?
Thanks, posters, for the input. One or two points: I still say I’m moderate-to-liberal. I wonder if some folks hereabouts have ever run into a real liberal. I suspect their head would explode. What’s called liberal in Kansas ain’t so liberal in some places. Still, context matters and I guess I’ll take whatever label you stick to me. As for the claim that I’ve never been critical of Sebelius, good grief. You haven’t been paying attention. I’ve called her “Governor She’ll bill us” and “Governor Sebillions,” and otherwise ridiculed her lots of times. On the Winfield cartoon — I’m wracking my brain to remember it but don’t. I wonder if maybe it was someone else who did that cartoon. I’m almost certain it wasn’t me. Thanks, Heckler, for the lesson in equine digestive systems. And, no, Mr. Kia, the cartoonist doesn’t get to say who we endorse. My criteria for endorsement has more to do with candidates’ nose sizes than their policies. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go back to grazing on those tender and tasty green wheat plants.
political_mom,Doesn’t Mallard Fillmore do the same “liberals are stupid” cartoon every day? I’m betting he is able to pay his bills.
Thanks for weighing in Richard. No doubt Mr. Gilligan (intentional retake on his real name) is reading us here. I wonder if he will have the guts to speak up. We’re always interested to plumb the depths of a small..er I mean conservative mind.
I think the Winfield State Hospital closed down in 1998 or there-abouts, so it would have had to have been before that year. I want to say the WSH abuse stories were in the early 90’s or late 80’s. Those dates may have meant that it wasn’t Crowson who did the cartoon. My memory of the cartoon (not due to Alzheimers or cannabis) is kind of hazy, too. But I’m recalling that it was of a bunch of redneck-types complaining that the residents of the WSH got into the institution because of criminal like behavior rather than retardation (thus their “deserving it” line). This contention was what got folks so upset about that particular cartoon.
If Richard did the cartoon, I would be surprised that he didn’t recall the reaction to it. So, I could very well be remembering inaccurately. And if so, I apologize.
I went to college, know former college professors who profess strong anti-death penalty sentiments (to the point that they visit the Carr brothers in prison), and have been called a liberal by some folks, so I think I recognize real liberals when I see them. Again, I don’t think being a liberal is tantamount to being a criminal; quite the contrary, in fact.
I greatly ppreciate your posting, Richard.
Just clicked on the cartoon . . . ugh . . . good thing conservatives aren’t funny . . . can’t draw either.
And thanks for the post, Richard C.
Say, does your boss know you’re blogging on company time?
hehehe . . .
This from an SRS history page – http://www.srskansas.org/25Anniv.htm
“In January 1987, federal surveyors from Kansas City HCFA office found serious problems of abuse and poor conditions at Winfield State Hospital & Training Center. This marked the beginning of an extremely difficult period of time for everyone associated with WSH&TC.”
Thus I am thinking the cartoon I am thinking of was from an era around 1987-1990.
I have a recollection of Richard Crowson being at the Eagle during the Summer of Mercy – with him drawing cartoons of Governor Finney and the Abortion Clinic protests (I think in 1991). I believe this is correct – I will look further to see if this is right.
There’s no trick to being a humorist when you have the whole government working for you…..Will Rogers
Hoo-boy, that cartoon shines like a diamond in a goats ass.
Thanks for the post, Richard, and having met some SERIOUS liberal types myself, I agree with your take on that.
I started cartooning here in 1987 (4 publishers, 3 editors and 35,000 gray hairs ago) but I’m sure I didn’t draw the Winfield cartoon. That’s not a position I would have taken philosophically, as described, at least.
And Will Rogers was right, Tracy.
I love it when the editors post! YAY YOU!
Richard,You must not have drawn it. There was such a fuss raised about it, that it would not be something soon forgotten. I apologize for thinking you did — that was almost 30 years ago, is my defense, however.
Have you thought about putting out another book? I have _Prairie Mirth_ – which has many of your classic Finney, GHWBush, et al. cartoons.
Hey Davis:Get out of Crowson’s ass. “Do you have any more books out?” “Classics?” It’s not attractive. Have some pride.
Hotlick–
It’s “medication time.”
Don’t make us have to tie your arms down like last time . . .
Capn?
You even acknowledged that mosquito? I haven’t bothered yet. I’ve seen ‘em come and I’ve seen ‘em go. That twit aint even on my radar yet.
And I see Jon Robert Gilligan never weighed in. I guess he does not choose to defend his work in the light. Domesticated poultry excrement.
hotlick,
I believe your email address says it all: hotlick@cox.net. Please go away, you dumb fuck.
While Capn ties you down; I know some people willing to give you an injection. But, because you want it, we won’t give it to you. HA!
Ahem. . .*I* endorse those sentiments, but let’s move on. . .
“They aren’t going to risk pissing off 2/3 of there subscribers when they know there endorsement isn’t going to make a bit of difference in the outcome.”
Mr. KIA, I mostly agree with that, but they also endorsed Bush in two elections where it COULD have made a difference.
A different editorial board also endorsed Dukakis (yes, the DEMOCRAT) in 1988. The local GOP flack, George Parsons, organized a protest (I’m NOT making that up!).
The editorial page editor, George Neavoll, responded (as I recall), “George Parsons can say any goddamn thing he wants. It’s a free country. Our editorial speaks for itself.”
Quite apropos.