Quite Possibly the Worst Editorial Cartoon Ever (Tim Russert Edition)

More proof that the editorial cartoon is the absolutely lowest form of art:

This is either funniest thing ever or just really sad.

Question: Was there no space for a crying Statue of Liberty?

Thanks to Dave Weigel. And tip o' the pixel to Michelangelo, of course.

Update: More Russertania below and here.

Whole archive here.

Comments

Ergonomic Slingshot | June 20, 2008, 3:07pm | #

Russert is full of monkeyshines and will totally pull his finger.

Crusader Rabbit | June 20, 2008, 3:14pm | #

Which one is Tim?

Rhett | June 20, 2008, 3:15pm | #

E.S. beat me to it, but my first reaction was to have the caption read, "Pull my finger, Tim!"

Anthony | June 20, 2008, 3:17pm | #

I agree 100% here. I showed this one to a friend and told him this has to be the worst editorial cartoon I have ever seen.

Taktix® | June 20, 2008, 3:20pm | #

Where's his honorary Buffalo Bills Super Bowl ring?

Oh wait, that's right...

Guy Montag | June 20, 2008, 3:24pm | #

LOL, I vote FUNNY!

Sending a cable to my Electorial Representitive right away.

Art-P.O.G. | June 20, 2008, 3:25pm | #

Argghhhhh but the original meaning of the painting is totally subverted. Head hurt.

thoreau | June 20, 2008, 3:30pm | #

Look, I'm sure Tim Russert was an OK journalist and nice guy in his personal life, but this is getting a bit over the top.

Bingo | June 20, 2008, 3:34pm | #

Obama is the hand on the right.

Guy Montag | June 20, 2008, 3:34pm | #

I think it has something to do with him being a genuine nice guy AND a MSM bigshot that is generating all of this syripy sweet gushieness as a substitute for disbelief or denial.

Episiarch | June 20, 2008, 3:37pm | #

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

This is either funniest thing ever or just really sad

It's absolute over-the-topness made me literally LOL, in my office. Well, I controlled it so it was more of a snigger, but you get my point.

There's no possibility that this cartoonist is mocking the "let's lionize Tim" bandwagon, is there?

TallDave | June 20, 2008, 3:40pm | #

Lawlzes.

I can't wait for the first episode of "Meet The Press: with Katie Couric." The only thing better would be Keith Olbermann.

Scott Stantis @ Reason.com | June 20, 2008, 3:42pm | #

the editorial cartoon is the absolutely lowest form of art

Hey! I quit!

Alan Vanneman | June 20, 2008, 3:44pm | #

It's interesting that this encounter is apparently taking place in a cave rather than in heaven. Did the printer perhaps tilt the drawing the wrong way? That Tim is actually on the way to Hell? Just a thought.

Guy Montag | June 20, 2008, 3:46pm | #

"Meet The Press: with Katie Couric."

I was expecting Dick Gregory, you know, someone else NBC thinks is "straight down the middle".

However, this AM on MSNBC, it sounded like Joe Scarborough was trying to audition as an improved-Russert.

Other Matt | June 20, 2008, 3:50pm | #

Obama is the hand on the right.

Nope, if that were the case, it wouldn't be a hand on the left side of the page, and the finger would be rather more straight.

Jamie Kelly | June 20, 2008, 3:56pm | #

Russert: "Explain the China earthquake, Hurricane Katrina and the recent tsunami."
God: "I ... I thought we were going to talk about my intelligent design."
Russert: "Those have everything to do with so-called intelligent design. How intelligent was it to make the Earth with plates?"
God: "Is this on the record?"
Russert: "Yes."
God: "OK, Tim, I fucked up and dropped the Earth and it cracked."
Russert: "So you admit you're not infallible?"
God: "Well ... I ... this interview is over."
[walks off set]

John-David | June 20, 2008, 3:58pm | #

Jamie Kelly,

Brilliant! Best LOL I've had all day.

Episiarch | June 20, 2008, 4:04pm | #

TR phone home

Episiarch | June 20, 2008, 4:13pm | #

Those cartoons are a testament to the megalomania of the press. Right now I bet people from Matthews to Hannity are having fantasies about the hagiography they'll receive when they tear down the veil and join the choir invisible.

joe | June 20, 2008, 4:13pm | #

Awesome, Jamie Kelly.

That cartoon gives me sick feeling in the pit of my stomache.

ed | June 20, 2008, 4:14pm | #

You knew it was coming. He was made a saint faster than Mother Teresa.
It's telling how all of official Washington seemed to adore him.
That's because, despite all the alleged tough talk, they knew he was one of them.

NotThatDavid | June 20, 2008, 4:17pm | #

Still better than anything Chip Bok has come up with.

duster | June 20, 2008, 4:17pm | #

I think I'm gonna puke....

brotherben | June 20, 2008, 4:18pm | #

Jamie Kelly,

Brilliant, absolutely brilliant.

Anthony | June 20, 2008, 4:18pm | #

Euro 2008 update: Croatia 0, Turkey 0. 69th minute.

MP | June 20, 2008, 4:22pm | #

I didn't know a peacock's plume consisted of colored condoms.

brotherben | June 20, 2008, 4:23pm | #

Jamie Kelly, that interview would be followed by books from Pat Robertson and Hagee and others, explaining that they believed the statements they previously made were accurate at the time, but upon further introspection, they realize that God had mislead them to cover His own errors in judgement

Art-P.O.G. | June 20, 2008, 4:28pm | #

I didn't know a peacock's plume consisted of colored condoms

I thought the exact same thing, but didn't say it because I thought if I were the only one that saw that, it would mean I am secretly gay.

jp | June 20, 2008, 4:32pm | #

Those cartoons are a testament to the megalomania of the press. Right now I bet people from Matthews to Hannity are having fantasies about the hagiography they'll receive when they tear down the veil and join the choir invisible.

My feelings exactly. Journalists think their poo doesn't stink. (Present company excepted.)

Reinmoose | June 20, 2008, 4:37pm | #

*BARF

twistedmerkin | June 20, 2008, 4:40pm | #

MP and Art-P.O.G. are secretly gay men. NTTAWWT.

fish | June 20, 2008, 4:40pm | #

Those cartoons are a testament to the megalomania of the press. Right now I bet people from Matthews to Hannity are having fantasies about the hagiography they'll receive when they tear down the veil and join the choir invisible.

Frankly a big send off would be a reasonable price to pay to send those two to the netherworld!

Francisco Torres | June 20, 2008, 4:42pm | #

Oh.... crap.

http://www.laweekly.com/news/dissonance/a-sinners-view-of-tim-russerts-passing/19115/

Bingo | June 20, 2008, 4:43pm | #

The new cartoons are even worse. All that's missing is a plane flying into the WTC and a crying eagle while Lady Liberty coddles a baby in an American flag.

Francisco Torres | June 20, 2008, 4:45pm | #

Almost makes me wish I was glad he is gone... oh, wait, I am glad that Mr. Tim "We would still have slavery!" Russert is gone.

DJ Voton | June 20, 2008, 4:47pm | #

You can tell it's Tim Russert's hand, because it's fat and has stubby little fingers.

Brian Sorgatz | June 20, 2008, 4:48pm | #

I'm glad Adam is clothed in this version.

Rimfax | June 20, 2008, 4:55pm | #

That says more about Sherffius than about editorial cartooning in general. Going back through his recent cartoons, his artwork is often magnificent and imaginative, but his editorial ear is frequently tone deaf.

Franklin Harris | June 20, 2008, 5:04pm | #

If Russert were half the hardball interviewer his reputation maintains, he wouldn't have so many friends willing to deify him.

Flying Spaghetti Monster | June 20, 2008, 5:38pm | #

I prefer my version.

You can see it at the top of this page:
http://www.venganza.org/

TheFlamingoKing | June 20, 2008, 5:39pm | #

Is it OK yet to bring up my favorite Russertism of the last year?

MR. RUSSERT: You say you're a strict constructionist of the Constitution, and yet you want to amend the Constitution to say that children born here should not automatically be U.S. citizens.

REP. PAUL: Well, amending the Constitution is constitutional. What's a--what's the contradiction there?

MR. RUSSERT: So in the Constitution as written, you want to amend?

REP. PAUL: Well, that's constitutional, to do it.


Oh, it had me in tears...

Ironic | June 20, 2008, 5:44pm | #

"and yet you want to amend the Constitution to say that children born here should not automatically be U.S. citizens."

This is why I was not a Ron Paul supporter. This would be VERY dangerous to do as well as unjust to children who committed no crime but coming out of their mother's bodies on the wrong side of a border.

TallDave | June 20, 2008, 5:57pm | #

Amendng the Constitution is unconstitutional?

That's a hell of a penumbra.

TallDave | June 20, 2008, 6:00pm | #

Russert: "Explain the China earthquake, Hurricane Katrina and the recent tsunami."

Don't worry, according to an aura-reading scientist God's off the hook on that one. Earthquakes are the fault of SUV drivers.

No, really.

TallDave | June 20, 2008, 6:03pm | #

Oh, he also says the Earth will explode in ten years if we don't stop global warming now. And he's a scientist so it must be true.

No Name Guy | June 20, 2008, 6:43pm | #

Amend the Constitution to state that you are not a citizen until the age of 18. That would solve the "anchor baby" issue without totally eliminating birth-right citizenship (which is usually a good thing).

Francisco Torres | June 20, 2008, 7:09pm | #

This is why I was not a Ron Paul supporter. This would be VERY dangerous to do as well as unjust to children who committed no crime but coming out of their mother's bodies on the wrong side of a border.

The Constitution did not establish birthright citizenship until the 14th amendment was ratified, because it was not needed - Americans were not US citizens, they were the people of the free States of America. The Constitution was meant to protect people from the government, not to give away positive rights. Paul's position is perfectly consistent with the original intent of the ratifiers.

Francisco Torres | June 20, 2008, 7:12pm | #

Is it OK yet to bring up my favorite Russertism of the last year?

How about this one:
"What would happen if Iran invades Israel?"

Abe Vigoda | June 20, 2008, 7:13pm | #

I hope that when I die the media doesn't get into such a mawkish frenzy about it as they have with Russert.

brotherben | June 20, 2008, 8:17pm | #

Ahhhh, Fish on friday.

Guy Montag | June 20, 2008, 10:08pm | #

Amend the Constitution to state that you are not a citizen until the age of 18. That would solve the "anchor baby" issue without totally eliminating birth-right citizenship (which is usually a good thing).

Yea, all well and good until science gives us 18 yo. newborn poledancers!

Nice try, now back to the drawingboard for you.

Pro Libertate | June 20, 2008, 10:39pm | #

I'm sorry that Russert died, but at least I can now pray to him for intercession with the Lord.

Sam Grove | June 20, 2008, 10:58pm | #

One of the best political cartoons I've seen.

NP | June 20, 2008, 11:43pm | #

Jesus (no pun intended), these cartoonists actually get paid for crap like this? Well, at least we know that a century from now they'll be even less remembered than Pietro Torrigiani, another Michelangelo offender.

joe | June 21, 2008, 11:23am | #

What's up with that Copy No thingy in the link Sam Grove provided?

You can just PrintScreen and paste.

What's it supposed to accomplish.

Art-P.O.G. | June 21, 2008, 1:19pm | #

Boy, I'm scared to think of the reaction when John Stossel dies.

Gene Trosper | June 21, 2008, 6:25pm | #

Enough already. He's dead. We all die eventually.

Deal with it, media sycophants.

D. Brinkley | June 21, 2008, 8:43pm | #

Who cares about Russert? Cronkite Lives!!

SxCx | June 21, 2008, 8:49pm | #

Americans: can you attempt to explain the comprehensive 24-hour mourning of this Tim Russert? Was this man close to curing cancer?

As a member of Canada, I'm very confused by the enormity of this man's death.

Art-P.O.G. | June 21, 2008, 10:25pm | #

SxCx, I'm assuming French is your first language?

SxCx | June 22, 2008, 12:13am | #

Would Russert tributes make more sense in that language?

Art-P.O.G. | June 22, 2008, 12:50am | #

No, it was just when you said you were a "member of Canada", I assumed it was some sort of translation.

Sean Scallon | June 22, 2008, 11:37am | #

The top cartoon is representative of the "compassion pornography" Dr. Thomas Fleming refers to whenever someone famous dies. Truly sick to look at.

endel bendel | June 22, 2008, 1:56pm | #

"Thoreau" is right. Russert hagiography is media self congratulation. To be authentic, decide who you like and give him a day of compliments before he drops dead.
We all like easy-going fat guys.

faye | June 22, 2008, 10:14pm | #

the crying peacock wasnt such a bad one. the first one was just retarded.

Marcvs | June 23, 2008, 1:11pm | #

As a member of Canada, I'm very confused by the enormity of this man's death.

It only seems that way because he was in the media. Just watch the coverage when a reporter dies in war opposed to, say, 1000's of young men and women.