Say His Name

Rob Rogers

When was the last time a political cartoonist was fired for doing his job – mocking politicians? Isn’t that the fucking gig!?

According to Learn.org being a cartoonist means:

...you'll use your creative skills to draw cartoon figures that tell a story, make a point, or share an idea.

Apparently the Pittsburgh Post Gazette’s new owner, John Robinson Block, is blindingly ignorant of  his new employees' job descriptions or maybe he's just a sycophantic junior fascist.

In an interview, Rogers noted that:

“When I had lunch with my new boss a few months ago, he informed me that the paper's publisher believed that the editorial cartoonist was akin to an editorial writer, and that his views should reflect the philosophy of the newspaper,” Rogers wrote. “That was a new one to me.
“I was trained in a tradition in which editorial cartoonists are the live wires of a publication — as one former colleague put it, the “constant irritant.” Our job is to provoke readers in a way words alone can't. Cartoonists are not illustrators for a publisher's politics.”  (source)

Seems this little Richie Rich new owner wants to turn the newspaper into the print version of Fox (Faux) news. Ya know, the propaganda division of the Republican Party and their odious president.

It’s nice to read that the mayor of Pittsburgh doesn’t support this thoroughly un-American, swerve into being a stone shill for Dear Leader.

"I’ve known Rob a long time,” Peduto’s statement continued. “That has never stopped him from publishing cartoons that are critical of me, of my policy positions, or of my actions (or inactions) in office. He’s even made fun of my weight. But he is one of the best in the world at his time-honored craft, and I know people of all political persuasions stand with me in support of him, even if the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette regrettably does not.” (source)

There were myriad vile, disgusting and violently racist cartoons regularly published by the unhinged, fanatically hateful, tiny brained and combative white “right” while Obama was President. No one got fired. Nobody was kicked out of office for their watermelon patch or gorilla “jokes.”

But our dictator worshipping, narcissistic president manqué and his stunningly stupid slavering minions, who RILLY want to live in a theocratic (as long as it’s THEIR religion and no one dares criticize them EVER) plutocracy (as long as THEY’RE gonna be filthy rich – not you or me), are just not cool with this democracy crap. Nope. Not one bit. Democracy for me but not for thee.

If you live in the Pittsburgh area, what are the alternatives to the Post Gazette? Back when I lived down there, there was a day or two delay before the big city papers – New York and D.C. – arrived. We read the Post-Gazette or were out of step, behind the times.

No more. The New York Times arrives same day as does the Washington Post. Boycott the Orange Maggot's ass kissing fish wrap and read a paper that gives you the news AND comics without the cherry picked, dictatorial omissions.

You can see all of Rogers brill and archly funny offerings at his website.

I only mention it but Sesame Street – a children's educational program, fer fuck's sake – has regularly mocked the dismally dickheaded dimwit. John Block's Pittsburgh Post Gazette, in true bully form, is pathetically thin skinned, authoritarian and unctuous. He's unable to rise to the professional levels of even a children's television show.