For those like me who like to analyze humor

I'm fascinated by this comparison of different humorists' approaches to recent events.  Predictably, the panels that are least funny are the ones in which cartoonist's affinity for his own political party's Kool-aid is so apparent that it's hard to even muster a sympathy-laugh.  This is true for both these right-wing comics and one or two of the left-wing ones I get in the mail a la "Funny Times".  Some of the ones in this category are so artless and nakedly propagandist that they'd really be more at home in a Powerpoint presentation at some political convention than where they ended up -- sitting in the pages of a purportedly objective newspaper.

Also not surprisingly, though, the funniest stuff often comes from people making fun of their own "side".  I was relieved -- and honestly a bit surprised -- to see that there are a few of these among the strips in the R.W. Cartoon Watch.

It always raises a comedian's creds when they're able to take themselves with a sense of humor -- such as, for example, when Jon Stewart pokes fun at himself (or gives Stephen Colbert a whole show in which to do it).   But that's precisely what makes hack pundits such as Bill O'Reilly -- and really 90% of the people on Fox News's lineup -- so insufferable.  Of course, one could argue that they're not supposed to be comedians -- but somehow, through Mother Nature or the laws of Karma or whatever, they end up inadvertently making human caricatures of themselves, anyway.

I suppose the fact that I'm so engrossed by this study proves I've become more of a political wonk than I ever thought possible. :)