Cartoon: Oh Really?

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By Andrew Wahl.  Andrew Wahl writes for the Wenatchee World, and has his own web site with all of his weekly cartoons.

Here is Andrew's weekly commentary:

This week’stoon, “Oh, Really?” [Archive No. 0730], was inspired by the blunt,fantasy-world assessment Bush delivered to Australian Deputy PrimeMinister Mark Vaile earlier this month about the situation in Iraq:“We’re kicking ass!” In researching this toon, I was stunned by 1. Theobvious disconnect Bush often seems to have with “reality on theground,” and 2. The sheer number of times he’s offered variations ofthe “We’re making progress” quote over the last four-plus years.
    In other news, a bit closer to home: Following an eight-plus yearrun at The Wenatchee World — the last six as features editor — I’vedecided it’s time to step away. To be honest, I never expected to leavedaily newspapers, but it’s become increasingly obvious that it’s time.I’ve let the paper know I plan is to finish out the rest of this year,then will head in a new direction with the new year.
    So what does 2008 hold for me? Full-time cartooning, if everythinggoes right, including more editorial-cartoon projects and my firstcomic-book work since 1993’s “Darkseed & Other Defamations.”(Details on those new projects soon.) I also plan to start graduatestudies via a distance degree program offered by Kansas’ Fort HaysState University. It’s a liberal studies master’s program with aconcentration in history; I’m pretty sure editorial cartooning willplay into that endeavor, as well.
    As for what else? I don’t really know yet. But if any of you knowof any interesting part-time or freelance gigs coming up in 2008, keepme in mind.
    I must admit that this career change is a little scary, but like Isaid, it’s time. And I’m sure when it really hits me that I’ll havemore time to spend at the art board, life will be good.
As always, feel free to stop by the OtWP Blog to sound off about thisweek’s cartoon. New to the blog this past week: a review of “Ultra:Seven Days,” a graphic novel by the Luna Brothers.

Till next week,
Andrew
toon@offthewahl.com