More and more news about the Vatican has been appearing since the sudden resignation of Pope Benedict on Feb 11th. There’s a report which investigated the 2012 scandal over leaked Vatican documents , dysfunction within the Vatican, and criticism of Cardinal Mahony’s plans to participate in the choosing of the next pope. Speaking of Cardinals involved with the Church’s sexual abuse scandals, during next month’s gathering in Rome Cardinal Law (remember him?) will not be participating; he’s 81 and ineligible to vote in the conclave.
Author: Ann
Supreme Court will hear campaign finance case
This cartoon from my archives goes all the way back to 1997 but after reading the news that SCOTUS will consider lifting limits on individual campaign contributions I think it’s still relevant. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again- money is not speech.
State of the Union sketches
Here they are all together; lots of colorful ties.
Live sketching Obama’s 2013 State of the Union tonight
So much news- the Pope announcing his resignation, the ex-LAPD officer is in a standoff with police at Big Bear, and the State of the Union is only 2 hrs away. I’ll be doing live sketches during the SOTU speech so I hope you’ll follow via the Washington Post or twitter. For you dog lovers, the Westminster Dog Show is also on tonight. In case you’ll have to miss it, here’s a taste of our own Washington Worst of Breed:
Pope Benedict announces his resignation
Well, that was certainly a surprise when I opened up my laptop. I happen to be traveling this week so it confirms a time-honored belief for editorial cartoonists- anytime you’re on vacation or business travel, a BIG news event is bound to happen. So, here’s a cartoon from 2005 when Pope Benedict was elected:
Sen McCain and Chuck Hagel clash over Iraq
During Chuck Hagel’s Defense Secretary confirmation hearing today, Senator McCain grilled him over his past statements on the Iraq war. To use a phrase tossed back and forth between the two, I think history has already made a judgement about Iraq.
Rupert Murdoch apologizes for Scarfe cartoon
There’s another cartoon controversy overseas; A cartoon in the London Times has been labeled as anti-semitic by some critics. While one can question the timing of publication (Holocaust Memorial Day), I find the charges baseless. So does the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.
Here’s the cartoon by Gerald Scarfe; make your own mind up.
What a difference 4 years make…
Obama and Hillary Clinton did a joint interview last night on 60 Minutes. Remember when they weren’t quite as friendly?
Women in combat and Secretary of State hearings
It’s a busy news day- the Pentagon is announcing lifting the ban on women in combat and confirmation hearings for John Kerry for Secretary of State on the Hill this morning.
40th anniversary of Roe v Wade
Today is the 4oth anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision Roe v Wade, which made abortion legal in all 50 states. Every year on this day the Pro-life groups descend on Washington DC to march around the Court. I live in the area so I’ve witnessed these over the years and it always strikes me how the majority of these protesters are very young children. 
Sketches from 2013 Inauguration
I was live-sketching for the Washington Post today; here’s what I ended up with:
Looking back at the 2009 Inaugural
In preparation for the Inaugural, I dug out my animation from Obama’s first in 2009. Why did I color him blue? Oh, now I remember; the thinking at that time in Washington was that the new administration would usher in a period of cool, Rat-pack type style. That didn’t last long (either the thinking or my blue Obama).