Tex-Mix of Thoughts About Bush

By: Dave Astor When it looked like George W. Bush would reach the White House after the disputed 2000 election, E&P Online asked Texas columnists and cartoonists what they thought of him as their governor and future president. This month, these creators were recontacted to get their current views of Bush.

"Obviously, things have changed a lot," said San Antonio Express-News editorial cartoonist John Branch, referring to events such as 9/11 and the possible war with Iraq. But fans of Bush remain fans and critics remain critics.

In the first story (Dec. 11, 2000), Branch said Bush was a "decent governor" and "very popular," while wishing he had taken a more active stance on issues such as pollution. He added that Bush worked well with Texas Democrats -- many of whom aren't that liberal. When asked how Bush might do as president, Branch said he was "a bit uncomfortable with his qualifications" and didn't see him having "a clear vision."

In 2003, Bush has a vision of getting rid of Saddam Hussein, but Branch isn't happy with it. "I thought his response after 9/11 was appropriate in terms of going after the Taliban and al Qaeda," he said. "I'm real skeptical of the current plans for preemptive war against Iraq. I used to think one of his strengths was delegating authority, but I'm not comfortable with him delegating it to the hawks in this administration."

Branch said Bush as president sees things in "black and white," which some people might consider a strength but Branch finds too simplistic. To express this, he drew a cartoon showing the "Bush doctrine" as twin buckets of black and white paint. But each bucket dripped into a gray puddle labeled "Middle East."

The King Features Syndicate cartoonist added that Bush has been a lot more partisan against Democrats than he was as Texas governor, and is still not good on the environment. But Branch said Bush is "still very popular" in Texas.

President doing great, says DeOre

Another editorial cartoonist -- Bill DeOre of The Dallas Morning News and Universal Press Syndicate -- said in 2000 that Bush "projects the will" of many Texans on issues such as capital punishment, was not that partisan as governor, and is a "nice, congenial, affable" man who communicates well with people.

Today, DeOre thinks the president has done a "magnificent" job during an "incredibly tough" period of history. "He's a gamer," said the cartoonist. "He doesn't give in. He's not wishy-washy. He believes he has a mandate from the people to protect them." DeOre added that Bush "doesn't play the partisan-politics card as much as he could."

Columnist Bill Murchison, formerly of the Morning News and still with Creators Syndicate, said in 2000 that Bush is "honest and smart -- much smarter than he's given credit for by the media." He added that Bush would work well with "moderate Democrats" on a national level. Now? "I think he's been great," replied Murchison. "At the pace he's set, he's heading to be one of the best presidents of the last 50 or 100 years. He's showing character, dignity, and strength."

At the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, editorial cartoonist Etta Hulme didn't have a lot of confidence in 2000 about Bush's future presidential abilities. "But I was hoping," she said. Today? "I'm not charmed," replied the Newspaper Enterprise Association-syndicated Hulme, while adding wryly: "I'll give him a little more time and maybe he'll grow up."

Star-Telegram columnist Dave Lieber -- who never voted for a Republican presidential candidate before Bush -- said in 2000 that Bush was a "superb governor" with a "scandal-free administration," "not nearly as right-wing and Christian fundamentalist as he might appear," and will "surprise a lot of people."

This month, the 1950s-born Lieber described Bush as "the best president of my lifetime. I knew that he would be an honest president because he was an honest governor. He's gone more than two years without a major scandal, which is unheard of. There have been no terrorist attacks in the U.S. since 9/11. I admire him for risking his presidency on Iraq, and support him 100% on that."

Lieber -- who recently wrote a column about how appeasement didn't work in the late 1930s -- said Bush has "a lack of diplomatic skills" and other flaws, but added that no one is perfect.

Heloise -- who said in 2000 that she found Bush to be "charming, humorous, and pleasant" when she met him on a TV show -- noted that she "wouldn't want to be in his boots" today. Then, putting tongue in cheek, the Texas-based King columnist added: "If our president needed any hints cleaning house ... my suggestions would be vinegar, baking soda, and a heavy-duty vacuum!"

Sargent: "kind of terrified" of Bush

E&P Online also contacted three creators not in the 2000 story. Ben Sargent, Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist for the Austin American-Statesman and Universal, said "I'm kind of terrified" of the Bush White House. "It's easily the most radical administration I can think of. It makes the Reagan administration look like the Eisenhower administration. It's making a wreck of the economy, civil liberties, and America's foreign relations." Sargent wondered how much of this is the work of the people surrounding Bush in his administration -- recalling that Bush was more "benign" as Texas governor.

Two other Texas-based, Universal-syndicated creators -- the column team of Patrisia Gonzales and Roberto Rodriguez -- aren't fans of Bush either.

"It really concerns me when you have a president using spirituality to promote war," said Rodriguez, noting that most truly spiritual people oppose war.

Gonzales added that Bush may believe his policies are correct, but she thinks they're "very dangerous." This, said the columnist, "makes the next presidential election one of the most important in the last 100 years."

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'Bloom' With a View on the Web

Paying Customers Can See Breathed's Comic

"Bloom County" is back -- this time on the Web.

As of March 17, subscribers to uclick's MyComicsPage.com could begin seeing reruns of Berkeley Breathed's Pulitzer Prize-winning strip, which was syndicated from 1980 to 1989 and appeared in more than 1,200 papers at its peak.

Eventually, all the "Bloom County" episodes will be available, as will Breathed's 1989-95 Sunday "Outland" comic (featuring many "Bloom" characters) and 1978-79 "Academia Waltz" strip from his University of Texas days.

Breathed said the online offering is a "welcome change from the '80s, when strips couldn't get any smaller than the postage-stamp-sized boxes I had to stuff my characters into."

"Bloom County" will join more than 140 other comics and editorial cartoons available via MyComicsPage.com, which costs subscribers $9.95 a year to see a customized group of features via e-mail or on the Web. More than 15,000 subscribers have signed on since the service's launch last September.

Breathed (http://www.berkeleybreathed.com) is currently developing a film project starring his Opus the penguin character. His other post-"Bloom" projects include publishing several children's books.

The Washington Post Writers Group distributed "Bloom County" during the comic's original run. Uclick is a sister company to Universal Press Syndicate.

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