John Dingell, 1926-2019

The News-Herald

My dad worked on one of Mr. Dingell's early campaigns decades ago, when we lived in Riverview. I remember my dad hand-lettering placards for local stores, barber shops, etc. Later, as campaigns became more sophisticated, my dad remained a solid supporter - passing out handbills and brochures door-to-door and attending neighborhood rallies. It was at a neighborhood "block party" type event that I remember first meeting him, when I was a pre-teen. Throughout my cartoon career, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to meet him a few more times. Of all the political figures who've appeared in my cartoons, I believe he's the only one that I never lampooned. His integrity, his dedication to the people of his district, and his love of this county always guided him. Even if, (very) occasionally, I disagreed with one of his positions or opinions, it was nonetheless worthy of respect.

With his passing, I'm afraid we've lost the last of our statesmen; the last of a generation that understood that the political process is about listening, understanding and sometimes agreeing to compromise to achieve a solution.

This was a hard one to draw, on so many levels.

Today's Cartoon: So Cold, It's Not Funny!

The News-Herald, January 30

Several days ago, when I drew my annual Groundhog Day cartoon for The News-Herald, I joked about the coming snowfall (which hit us Monday) and bitter cold (which moved in last night). Now, in the midst of it, it's clear that it's SO cold, it's not funny! Be smart and careful if you must be outside. This is the coldest it's been in many of our lifetimes - dangerously cold.
That's the Point!

Today's Cartoon: Back to Normal, Whatever It Is

The News-Herald, January 2

The new year really begins today, right? You can't count a national holiday, when everyone's recovering from New Years Eve celebrations and watching meaningless college bowl games as day one. So - today we're back to normal. Wall Street is holding its breath, the president has unleashed another Twitter storm and here in metro Detroit, auto workers and newspaper staff members are awaiting word on layoffs. Normal has gotten more stressful than the holidays!
That's the Point!

Happy New Year! Here we go again, for the 31st year ...

The News-Herald, December 30

Early deadlines - especially over the holidays - are a fact of life in the newspaper business, so my "first" cartoon of 2019 is dated 2018. Nonetheless, the best wishes for a Happy New Year are timely. This cartoon closed my official celebration of 30 years of editorial cartooning for The News-Herald. It was fun looking back, but tomorrow it's back to the drawing board. There's a 31st year to begin!
That's the Point!

2018 Top 5 Topics: #1 - One (Legal) Toke Over the Line

Crain's Detroit Business, December 3

I didn't have to reach far back for my #1 cartoon of 2018 - only to the December 3 edition of Crain's Detroit Business. When Michigan voters OK'd recreational marijuana in the November mid-term election, it was a cultural milestone for many of us early 1970s college students. Those who are so inclined may now take that one toke over the line legally, at a yet to be established retail price - and including, of course, state sales tax.
That's the Point!

2018 Top 5 Topics - #2: The Fourth "R" - Readiness

The News-Herald - April 4

Even our elementary schools feel the negative pressures of our current society and culture. Today's students (the generation of our grandchildren) experience active shooter lockdown drills and evacuation drills, in response to social media threats. These threats, it seems, are more personal and terrifying than the threat of nuclear war that motived our duck-and-cover drills in elementary school in the early 1960s.
That's the Point!

2018 Top 5 Topics - #3 A New Battle for Rosie?

Crain's Detroit Business, April 9

With hints of coming tariffs and a looming trade war in the spring, many in manufacturing - especially those in SE Michigan - pondered if this was the sort of war we could win. As the year closes, collateral damage from this war seems to be minimal and the president is hinting that a deal with China is near. As wars tend to do, it's spilling over into another year and perhaps in 2019 we'll see moves toward "trade peace?"
That's the Point!