Romney Picks the Other Paul

Editorial Cartoon: Mitt Romney Picks the Wrong Paul

What they hell are you doing posting an editorial cartoon on a Sunday again and where is that obnoxious banner begging for votes?  Well I made it to week 9 among the top 10 but didn’t make it to the top 5 in the final week.  Thank you all so much for the support, votes, sharing and essentially putting up with me.  I’ll share my thoughts later in the post but first…

Today’s cartoon was inspired by Mitt Romney choosing his running mate as Congressman Paul Ryan (oh and former Miami University alum – anyone know any other famous MU alums??  ahem ahem).   There was some quiet chatter that another presidential candidate, Ron Paul should be considered for the VP spot and a little more outspoken chatter about his son Rand Paul getting the nod.  So for those out there who think Romney got the wrong Paul, this cartoon is for you.

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A few comments on the editorial cartoon contest…

What I liked

  • It forced me to create and post an editorial cartoon 2x a week for the past 9 weeks.  Sure I typically post on Sundays and Wednesdays but sometimes I might share a different type of cartoon work.
  • It allowed me to utilize social media and the power of my readers to have a great showing every week.  Until the last week I was consistently in the top 3 in votes and the last week I was number 4.  Again voting didn’t account for the entire process of who got picked for the next round.

What I didnt like…

  • No link love back to the creators.  Sure you could link to my twitter or facebook account from their page but why not open it up.
  • No direct voting links.  You had to go to the voting page and then find my picture to vote for it.  Several people accidentally voted for the first image that popped up and it wasn’t mine.
  • No archive of participants who didn’t make it.  There were several cartoonists who I loved that didn’t make it to further rounds but there is no way for me to find them because all their posts and info has been hidden.  Maybe it will pop back up after the competition.

If you keep voting, I am putting my support behind Al Goodwin.  I think he is the best of the rest.  Consistently on the mark, timely and a fantastic cartoonist.  All in all it was fun…though I doubt I will be participating again as I am looking at what I want the next chapter of my cartooning to be….  I’ll keep you posted.

Comments

91 responses to “Romney Picks the Other Paul”

  1. Cat Forsley Avatar

    You are One TALENTED BEAR ……..:)
    and you didn’t go to SPAMMY SPAM 🙂
    YAY BEARMAN YAY
    XO
    CAT

    1. Bearman Avatar

      Woohoo. Glad I didn’t go to the spam filter this time. Wonder why it still goes to mine..haha

  2. A.M. Frasier Avatar

    Congrats on how far you did get. Will you enter the competition again?

    1. Bearman Avatar

      Depends. Might take my cartooning on a different path.

      1. NEF Avatar

        Different Path, eh? How different?

        Congratulations on your contest and the votes.

        1. NEF Avatar

          Oh, and yes, I’ll bite the political bait.

          I think Romney picked up the wrong running mate because Ryan is a polarizing figure, not likely to appeal to the moderates and undecided that may decide the election. I think that Ryan attracts a constituency that although lukewarm towards Romney, was going to vote for him anyway, to try to get Obama out of the White House.

          I may be wrong, but I doubt it…

          1. Bearman Avatar

            My point too. I think Jon Huntsman would have done wonders to help Romney appeal to Moderates. Romney could speak to the right and Huntsman to the middle.

  3. Red Avatar

    I for one am thoroughly disgusted. I think two of the ones in the top three are crap, and I have since the very beginning. One in particular. You did a great job. Onward and upward.

    *More than idly wonders if Bearman ever considered putting a book together*
    Red.

    1. Bearman Avatar

      Thanks for your support. I thought of the top 10 I would have a chance for the top 5 but that’s my opinion. Don’t know what criteria the judges went with but there is another guy gone that I would have put in the top 5 as well.

  4. authormjlogan Avatar

    You did well and it was fun. I will still look forward to seeing new toons from you.

    MJ

    1. Bearman Avatar

      Thanks Michael. Appreciate all the support you gave during the contest.

  5. Comedy Plus Avatar

    You did very well, but I did hope you would win. You are that good. Just saying.

    Have a terrific day. 🙂

    1. Bearman Avatar

      My mother and wife think so too Sandee. Though neither seems technically savvy enough to vote for me.

      1. Bo Lumpkin Avatar

        I seem to be in the category with your mother and wife. I never could figure out how to vote either but you always have my support. Well, most of the time anyway.

        1. Bearman Avatar

          I’ll take most of the time Bo!

  6. Tony McGurk Avatar

    Congrats on getting as far as you did. Well done!!!
    Love the LOVE Revolution T-shirt.

    1. Bearman Avatar

      I just remade it from Ron Paul’s design. Thanks for the support.

  7. Nate Fakes Avatar
    Nate Fakes

    Hey, you got far! I was booted out of their contest last year, so it happens.

    1. Bearman Avatar

      But that is you…not me. haha

      1. Nate Fakes Avatar

        That was me? Oh….sorry. Well, I think you probably got the next one. Actually, I saw they’re having one soon again. I got an email.

        1. Bearman Avatar

          Enjoy yourself….I’ll vote!! haha

  8. Tim Green Avatar

    You’re still a winner with me, Bearman!

    1. Bearman Avatar

      Thanks Tim…you and my mom.

      1. Red Avatar

        Your mom seems to have some pretty talented company.

        1. Bearman Avatar

          That she does.

  9. DadaHyena Avatar

    Think of all the Pauls he could have ended that statement with! Giamatti, Anka, Newman, -a Abdul (okay, that’s stretching things).

    1. Bearman Avatar

      I would have voted for Bunyon

      1. Bo Lumpkin Avatar

        Well paint me blue and call me Babe.

        1. Bearman Avatar

          You big ox!!

          1. Bo Lumpkin Avatar

            Yep I used to be strong as one and about half as smart.

          2. Bearman Avatar

            Now you are half as strong as twice as smart

  10. George Avatar

    Man, I was hoping you’d clinch the title. I think you have what it takes for the big leagues. Don’t let it get you down, although I know it will affect you (it would me). Just keep doing the things that make you great.

    1. Bearman Avatar

      Thanks. At the end of the day, I got the best group of people who support me no matter what crap I put out there.

      1. Lynn Avatar
        Lynn

        Nice reply- you’re a humble man. A talented, sweet humble man.

        1. Bearman Avatar

          I can be a jerk too..haha

  11. James Avatar

    He’s such a tease.

    1. Bearman Avatar

      He has his ways

  12. Keith Bearman Avatar
    Keith Bearman

    If you are choosing a different route, I have a suggestion. How about a ballerina in love with a cellist and with a gay friend?

    No? Perhaps a succubus faerie fighting the forces of evil?

    Waddaya mean they’ve been done?

    BTW, the pun title for today was excellent.

    If you enter again, I can guarantee you a Bearman vote, since neither mom nor wife were able to vote last time around. (Yours, not mine.)

    Were you saddled with BEER-man during college as were all of my sons?

    1. Bearman Avatar

      I am NOT going to do a webcomic. I hate drawing the same people all the time. No probably going to supplement with another idea.

      Yes…even on my blog with people that don’t know me I get Beerman. Plus my friends in college were all cheap and assumed I would buy the rounds. So it fits.

  13. soma Mukherjee Avatar

    Oh you did such a great job Bearman 🙂
    and i liked your cartoons the most …

    1. Bearman Avatar

      Me too. Thanks for the support Soma!

  14. Scott Avatar

    You’ve done an incredible job–and I definitely look forward to more of such cartoons for next year’s contest–as well as many more until then!

    1. Bearman Avatar

      Thanks Scott. Appreciate the support.

  15. Friggin Loon Avatar

    Well that surely sucks Bearman, I was hoping to get a cut of the prize money….. you know ,for voting millions of times and all. Anywho, I agree, having to search for you was ridiculous. I did get quite a few Facebookers commenting though, so that’s good.

    1. Bearman Avatar

      Thanks for your help Loon. With the prize money you may have had enough money to buy at cup of coffee. But only at McDonalds, not starbucks.

      1. Friggin Loon Avatar

        😯 McCoffee sucks

        1. Bearman Avatar

          Well that would have been your prize.

        2. Lynn Avatar
          Lynn

          Starbucks sucks too- definitely not worth the price for burnt tasting coffee. Now hilltribe coffee is where it’s at. 🙂 It had to be said.

          1. Bearman Avatar

            I don’t like coffee so all of it tastes burnt to me.

  16. Michael Corley Avatar

    Since I’m not voting for either, I say go for it.

    1. Bearman Avatar

      He should have 10 running mates..haha

  17. Bo Lumpkin Avatar

    I’ll bet the winner of that contest don’t have nearly as many groupies and commenters as you do.

    1. Bearman Avatar

      Nope…which is sad for them.

  18. SpilledInkGuy Avatar

    The 9th round is nothing to sneeze at – congratulations, B!
    Still, I’m done voting. *grumble grumble* Nothing personal, I just feel like my bear is prematurely out of the race, er, something like that. Anyway, I hope you consider entering again, Bearman… you did a truly fantastic job! I’m sure all the other folks saw that, too… so hopefully you were able to pick up a few readers.
    🙂
    P.S. I have this odd feeling it’s not out of the question around late October J.B. will ‘decide’ he needs a nap and Hillary moves up to No. 2 on that ticket… is that just me?

    1. Bearman Avatar

      As long as Obama doesn’t send him to swim with the fishes.

      Thanks. I know it was enough to have to listen to me for 9 weeks begging for votes..haha

  19. Rent Textbooks Avatar

    Thats too bad that the contest wasn’t run really well. it would annoy me not to be able to find the competitions site or info. It would have been a great networking capability. I did notice how difficult the voting was and I almost did the same as other.

    1. Bearman Avatar

      Yeah…esp on mobile it was difficult as you couldn’t click from one image to the next even. So it gave an unfair advantage to whomever’s pic popped up first.

  20. jynksie Avatar

    What do you MEAN you didnt win?!? …wheres my bat? e-mail me some names! [wink]

    1. Bearman Avatar

      All available on their site…just make sure nothing tracks back to me haha

  21. Deb Avatar

    Your cartoon are the best hand down, Bearman! 😉

    1. Bearman Avatar
  22. Mark Stokes Avatar

    You’ll always be my favorite editorial cartoonist, Bearman!

    1. Bearman Avatar

      Am I the only one you know?

      1. Bo Lumpkin Avatar

        I tried to interact with one of our local political cartoonist on Facebook, Twitter, and on his web-site. I found out he has in-grown eyeballitus…He only focuses on himself and promotiong himself so I quit tryin’ to connect with him. Ain’t missed it either.

        1. Bo Lumpkin Avatar

          What I was gettin’ at is that I’ve known others but there is only one Bearman.

        2. Bearman Avatar

          haha In-grown eyeballitus. You have the best terminology. Thanks b

        3. Jande Avatar

          in-grown eyeballitus! OMG. Bo. that’s hilarious! I’m going to use that everywhere I can. (and give you credit)

          1. Bo Lumpkim Avatar

            Will that help my credit rating? 🙂

  23. Jack of Gulls Comic Avatar

    I like the tear with the frown. He’s really upset….and confused.

    1. Bearman Avatar

      Took me about 10 tries to get the facial expression I was going for…glad it works.

  24. Binky Avatar

    Well that’s unfortunate that you didn’t make it to the final week. You did go quite far, though, so at least that’s something to be proud of.

    I think the point you made are quite valid. I don’t like the way you can’t have a direct link to your own cartoon, and the cartoonist apparently can have a link to their own sites.

    1. Bearman Avatar

      I am most proud of how my online friends supported me.

      1. Binky Avatar

        And don’t forget about the rest of us, too!

  25. bschooled Avatar

    I agree, Bearman. The linkback should have been included, I’m actually surprised it wasn’t. And I agree that lack of a direct voting link was confusing. I almost voted for the first image more than once.

    Still, you did a great job. As for not making the final five, I totally blame the above.

    1. Bearman Avatar

      Well as I mentioned voting didn’t mean everything. There was a guy who consistently got more votes than I did who didn’t make the top 5 either..and I thought he was pretty good. Thanks for voting though.

  26. JerryBenedict Avatar

    It’s like Romney is still running in the primaries. Seems that Romney always tries to bend over backwards to appease the far right even at the risk of alienating moderates. I’ve read that Paul Ryan is the furthest right VP choice that anyone has chosen since 1900. I think Romney’s staff wanted him to choose Tim Pawlenty, but Bill Krystol and others really pushed him to choose Paul Ryan. As for Ron (or Rand) Paul, I think it’s all about building up Rand Paul to be a prospect in 2016 or later.

    1. Bearman Avatar

      Probably…though some may argue he may not have had as much personality, I would have picked Huntsman. How could Obama possibly go after someone he chose to be an ambassador.

  27. lisleman Avatar

    congrats on hanging in as long as you did. Good to hear, it was a great experience for you. It seemed to run a little too long for me.
    Based on just a tiny bit of reading, I would say that Ron Paul would have turned Mitt down if he had offered.

    1. Bearman Avatar

      It seemed to run a bit long for me too….hahah

      Oh I am sure. But then again Ron knows this is probably his last go around to try to run for President so why not put himself in a position of some authority at the end of his career.

  28. Roland Avatar

    Well congrats on your achievements Bearman, and as for Mitt’s pick, I think he picked a good running mate, I think it is funny that Paul Ryan’s budget proposal is getting such heat after I read that earlier Obama and some other Dems liked his ideas and how he can reach across the aisle and work with Dems. Oh well, I guess soon they’ll be saying he caused an illness in somebody by just walking by them.

    1. Bearman Avatar

      Roland!!!! Good to see you back in the mix.

      When you can do something for me, I can praise you. When you are trying to usurp me I will do all I can to denigrate you.

  29. starla Avatar
    starla

    Just another stepping stone on your path to success. I thought you did great! Count me in the groupie group with your Mom and Wife and a few other bloggers. :+)

    1. Bearman Avatar

      Thanks Starla…You were there a bunch and I appreciate it.

  30. Jande Avatar

    Well, Blast it. I missed the finale! I could use a little more spaminding from you on twitter so I’d know about updates, but I’m not holding you responsible for my horrible memory.

    You did really well with the contest. And you seem to be taking it all with equanimity. And you had fun and entertained us in your inimitable way. So, thanks!

    1. Bearman Avatar

      Rescued from the spam filter…see that is what too much spamming can do.

      I was really trying to strike a balance between reminding and annoying. My feeling was hey I would have been drawing stuff anyway…this just gave me another outlet.

      Thanks for the continued support.

  31. Colleen from Tix-Comix Avatar

    Paul Ryan!????? Bwahahaha! Oh f&#k! He’s serious! I cannot imagine a worse choice. Back in the primaries I was hoping Romney would lose to Newt the Scoot because I actually thought he (Romney) was somewhat sane, and Newt would screw up (AGAIN) and lose in a very embarrassing way. But I think him choosing Ryan is more insane than McCain choosing “she who must not be named.” I hope it knocks a little fear and sense into some fence sitters. BTW I can’t find the next & prev links on your site & Congrats on making it thru all the rounds you did, you did it without being spammy.

    1. Bearman Avatar

      There are no “next” and Previous links. Had things set up as a blog not a comic site. Planning a big redo of my layout so I will look into that.

      Still think he should have picked Huntsman.

  32. Frank M Hansen Avatar

    I would not put too much stock in not making it further in this contest. These contest are flawed in many ways and as you pointed out it was not that user friendly and was missing a lot of other basic functions. That said, I’m really glad they had it and hope they have more and improve the functions of the site for future contest. The overall site is a great idea. It just needs a little work. But hats off them them for setting it up. And congrats to you for producing a lot of great work in a short amount of time.

    1. Bearman Avatar

      Thanks Frank. I am sure it isn’t an easy thing to do to code and run a contest like that. I don’t fault them, I just see areas for improvement and hope they take it as that.

      Thanks for the support. B

  33. Lynn Avatar
    Lynn

    Congratulations Babeman, er.. B’man, I truly feel like you should’ve moved onto the last round. It was fun though and I feel fortunate to know some very talented folks the likes of Loon, S-i-G and many others that cling together in this funky artistic circle. You all are like the avant garde artistic types who hung out at the wild glitter-laden dance floor of Studio 54- in the ’70s. I’m fortunate to be privy to all your creative shenanigans… Peace and Love to all

    1. Bearman Avatar

      We are exactly like Studio 54…except

      – Some of us have better taste in clothes (Loon being the exception I think)..
      – Not all of us are on drugs