Not A Blagojevich

If you read yesterday, you may now be thinking "Waitaminnit, if the dude yesterday was a lobbyist and he was in Players, why is this lobbyist dude in Classics?" ANd the answer is, Bart Stupak (whose birthday is today, every four years) served as a U.S. Representative from Michigan from 1993-2011. So he's retired. Kinda.

Oh, and Happy Birthday Mr. Stupak!

But he needed the money!

Happy Birthday Jack Abramoff!

I think he's out of jail, he can probably read this.

Just in case you thought corrupt lobbyists never contributed anything to American culture, check out this man's modern Ulysses...

He's no Byrd...

Happy Birthday Carte Goodwin!

Mr. Goodwin is an attorney who was "appointed" to the Senate upon the death of Robert Byrd. To his credit, he served and then returned to private practice and… now he's going to run for a WV House seat? NO, you can't believe everything you read on Wikipedia.

Overshadowy?

Tim Kaine is not like Joe Lieberman. He is not gonna just sit back and do nothing, not when he has twelve years of experience in politics in his skill set. So Mr. Kaine is running for Jim Webb's vacated senate seat in Pennsylvania. Read his wiki entry to find out why he was not the 2008 Vice Presidential candidate to run alongside President Barack Obama.

Oh, and Happy Birthday Tim!

WOOOOOOO!

"For those who believe, no explanation is necessary; for those who do not believe, no explanation will suffice." -Joseph Dunninger

No discussion of politics in our country would be complete without some mention of "the Man". You've heard of Him; no one elected Him, He answers to no one, He is often the scapegoat for all manner of ills , and just as often gets away scott free.

So Happy Birthday, Ric, to The Man who overcomes all obstacles on His path to glory. 

I'll ConnectiCUT ya

I am not somebody who thinks term limits are the right solution to our problems with machine-politics in Federal Government. When I see somebody like Joe Lieberman suddenly deciding to not run again after decades of beltway life, though, I always wonder what his motive is. Why now? What changed behind the scenes?

Happy Birthday Mr. Lieberman!

Why, no, I actually haven't...

I haven't read anything S. E. Cupp has written. In fact, I had never even heard of her before. Had you?

I have now, though. Happy Birthday Ms. Cupp!

Timeslip

Marc Grossman is not today's Birthday Boy. But he was the man I practiced using a new (to me) digital drawing program for a popular tablet device. I am quite pleased with the interface and the result of ArtStudio, and I will append the digitally inked version  via link when I have had time to play with it a bit more. 

Today's real birthday is for another unelected member of our Federal government, Alyssa Mastromonaco.

Here also is the pre-promised Home Team Card for Dennis C Blair. Happy belated Birthday, Admiral.

Pączki

Happy Birthday John Lewis!

<<EDIT!>> One week after this caricature of Senator Snowe was published, she announced she would not seek a fourth term as Senator. Read the article HERE.

Happy Birthday Olympia Snowe!

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Fat Tuesday in Chicagoland means Pączki. I'd like to admit, here and now, that today both my son and I will experience this culinary creation for the first time. We will probably both need extra insulin. Ours came from Vesecky's bakery in Berwyn, and I never leave without picking up a few other treats too.

Too Nice

When I meet up with other caricaturists I am often told I am "too nice" to my subjects. Mitch McConnell is low-hanging fruit for our kind, and rather than push myself to be something I'm not I just draw my way. I'll explain later in the year why I draw "nice" caricatures most of the time. For now, let's just wish the Senator a Happy Birthday, shall we?

One from FUN

Valerie Jarrett is one of our current influential and important political figures who nobody elected. you can see her, and a host of other players, in Executive Fun starting March 5th. Meanwhile , Look her up on Wikipedia. She's actuality much prettier than that caricature makes her out to be. 

I sometimes worry when it's this quiet...

Happy Birthday Representative Engel!

The Candy Desk

Other than being fun to draw, I will always remember Senator Thomas because I had never heard of the Candy Desk before reading up on him.

I know, not very politically important, but it's little things like that that help me keep track of what's going on in the chamber, and when.

Jeremiah Jones Colbath

Happy Birthday to Henry Wilson. He was much more interesting than he looked.

More Social Reform

Happy Birthday to Susan B Anthony!

Now that was a community organizer.

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Now, in the news today is a fellow named Jeff Zeints. He's slated to appear in Executive Fun, but as I was doing my research on Wikipedia today I came across a curious alert for the first time. Call me naive, but I hadn't even considered this at any point executing this HOME TEAM project. I did make sure any image I used as reference was public domain, but I trusted that Fair Use and Free Speech precedents would cover my use of the politician's likenesses. Mr Zeints is apparently the only one who is so worried about his personality representations in the mass media that he or his staff have gone so far as to post an alert on his wiki article. Also, no birthdate is listed, so nobody will be able to tweet him happy wishes.

SO, anyway, here's a goofy caricature of some guy. He's probably gonna end up in the Classics after his gaffe at a press conference today. And by gaffe, I mean he actually told the truth.

>meanwhile, on TMZ...

"The life of the nation is secure only while the nation is honest, truthful, and virtuous."

Happy Birthday to a true Home Team Classic, Frederick Douglass.

On the other hand, Cliff Clavin might also run.

Happy Birthday Senator Blumenthal!

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It's shaping up to be an exciting year to vote in Connecticut.  We are guaranteed at least one new senator due to Joe Lieberman relinquishing the seat he has held since 1989. And as a Pro Wrestling Mark, I am always more excited about the rematch than about the initial confrontation, so Linda McMahon running against the incumbent Marine is gonna be a schmoz I pay close attention to.

Active versus Passive

I'm not sure what point I would be making if I caricatured Abraham Lincoln and Omar Nelson Bradley, both of whom have birthdays today. I can tell you that John L Lewis and Arlen Specter, both Home Team Classics, had very different strategies for accomplishing the things they believed in.

You already know what Sarah Palin looks like...

…so today's Happy Birthday from Home Team Politics is for Tammy Baldwin. We may be seeing her again after the next election, but it won't be as a Representative. Tammy is ready to join the Senate, or at least to run for the office. Good luck!

Mobile Diva

Happy Birthday Tara!

From Left Field

Can't point you to a wiki about today's Home Teamer, cuz it doesn't exist. Yet. I'm sure pundits on each side are busily preparing their research. Me? I just sketch. Here's Andrew Lorenzen-Strait. Google him or something.

(Also, let me know if you find out his birthday. I'd like to, y'know, put him in his place. Chronologically.)

Mainly I like this guy because otherwise today's sketch would have been George Stephanopoulos. happy Birthday, George. you dodged the cartoon bullet. 

Skipping A Gimme

I am not getting involved in state-level politics on this project. Governors, yes. But State Senators, no. Not even a Republican state Senator for District 37 in Maryland whose birthday is today and who I really want to caricature. I am standing by my precedent.
Until after the 2012 election, at least. I have a lot of work to finish before then. Oh, and then after, too, when I have to revise the whole book and fill in all the newly-elected and swapped around politicians from redistricting. But THEN, oh yes, I would LOVE to caricature all of the governments in all of the states. ALL OF THEM!


Also...

Today's Classic is Thomas Paine, because, COME ON!

( Yes, I realize he was not born in America.)

Big Day for Denial

By way of explaining that title, let me just tell you that when I started this project I planned on caricaturing any and everybody whose bio on Wikipedia struck me as interesting... But mainly politicians and pro wrestlers. As I discover more and more about the politicians I am less and less inclined to caricature the wrestlers, whom I legitimately respect. And today is a doozie for wrestler birthdays, so thanks for reading this sidebar as I wish Happy Birthday to Paul Wight! More popularly known as The Big Show, Paul shares his birthday with Hall Of Famers like Sherri Martel and Freddie Blassie. My denial is of the urge to caricature those entertainers. Instead…

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Today's Classic is William Tecumseh Sherman!

(hopefully next year I can forget the politics, but I doubt it.)

Quitter

Yes, THAT Kohl's.

Happy Birthday Herb. Not running again in 2012 eh? I'd think that now is exactly the time you would be needed in Wisconsin, politics being what they are. Maybe you know something we don't? Something you'd like to share with the rest of us?

Or, are you just anxious to be traded to the Home Team Classic set?

No comparison intended.

Todays Classic is Aaron Burr. Fascinating story, really…

And our modern day Player is Luke Ravenstahl, youngest Mayor in Pittsburgh history. Big Toby Kieth fan. Read up on him!

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There were lots of other amazing political caricature to be done today. Birthdays include Ronald Reagan, James Ewell Brown Stuart, William M Evarts and Charles Lee. They're on my list, believe me. 

Something New to know

Classic today is Adlai Stevenson II. 

(There may end up being an inordinate number of Chicago political figures in this by the time we're finished.)

Jennifer Granholm. I'm not ready to call her a Classic yet, and anyway, she's still influential. I guess. But she's a Canadian whole moved to california. Make of that what you will.

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I have no business doing "extras" here when the new book is due in less than a month, but I found Hiram Stevens Maxim in my research andy could not pass the opportunity by. I can virtually guarantee this fellow has given you some fond memories , although you have probably never heard of him before. 

Fast Forward

Alyssa Mastromonaco's birthday isn't until the 22nd of this month.

But her birthday card got drawn a little early.

Today's actual birthdays will be Oliver Ames, Rosa Parks, Donald W Riegle Jr, Dennis C Blair, and Dan Quayle. Those should be ready on the 22nd :)

ONE Month Countdown to DANCON

Today's Classic birthday is Paul Sarbanes.

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Aiming to have the HOME TEAM EXECUTIVE FUN Coloring and Activity Book ready for a DanCon Launch only one month from tomorrow!

Caricatures of our elected Executive Branch, as well as the Presidential Cabinet and all the current unelected Czars! Word Finds, Mazes, Scrambles, and all the other things Federal Government has in common with children's entertainment!
Approximately 100 pages, suggested Retail Price $4.95.

(there will be no digital watermark across the printed image, FYI.)

Groundhog Day 2012

Today's Classic is Albert Sidney Johnston. 

Our special contemporary birthday guy is John Cornyn.

Remember, I use wikipedia as a starting point for research. It is my opinion that all their articles are subject to considerable spin. Love it though. Can't stay away. Donate here if you do too!

Also, got my second issue of Exaggerated Features today. Amazing to see the talent that gathers around our funny profession. Check out the International Society of Caricature Artists to find a creator in your vicinity!

Rick James and Brandon Lee made me cry a little today, but Pauly Shore reassured me that GOD has a sense of humor.

Today's Classic is Tom Lantos. What a story!

And our 2012  Home Teamer is Mike Enzi.

Happy Birthday!