Hillary Clinton is a strong candidate: Smart, talented and ready to fight. But she’s not a likable candidate. And, as America looks to get its groove back after two torturous terms of George W. Bush, that lack of likeability appears to be a fatal flaw.

Our nation is hungry for healing. It’s tired of partisan warfare. After more than a decade of red states and blue states, people are ready to try on some purple. Clinton is seen as part of the old way. Democrats respect her — and her husband. But, unfairly or not, the previous Clinton administration is seen as the beginning of this divisive period.

The next president is going to have to build bridges. I don’t think Clinton can do that; she’s red meat for Republicans. And she’s not helping herself in the way she’s gone about “Setting the Tone” this past week.

Links: Buy a hand-signed, 11×14 print of this cartoon | On the main site: “Setting the Tone” [Archive No. 0808]

And now for something completely different: my first concert poster. Time constraints keep me from tackling too many freelance jobs, but I took this one on as a favor for former co-worker Travis Hay. (Of course, it helped his cause that he slipped me a box of comic books.) Travis writes the Ear Candy music blog for the Seattle P-I, and is hosting a three-band gig to celebrate his blog’s second birthday. If you’re in Seattle Easter evening, check it out. (I must admit, I’m enjoying Ms Led’s latest CD, “Shake Yourself Awake,” quite a bit. Their poppier tracks sound quite a bit like The Reputation, which is high praise in my book.)

With the Republican nomination all but wrapped up, John McCain used his TV time following the latest primaries to try out attack lines on Barack Obama. Somehow, I don’t think “The GOP’s Best Argument” is going to hold up against Obama’s youth-driven change tsunami. But November is a long way off, and Obama still has work to do in the Democratic primaries before he can worry too much about McCain.

Links: Buy a hand-signed, 11×14 print of this cartoon | On the main site: “The GOP’s Best Argument” [Archive No. 0807]

Super Tuesday was supposed to be the big one for the Democrats, when one candidate would emerge victorious to lead the party to the Promised Land. And, in a way, that might have been what happened. While it appeared Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton dueled to a stalemate, the reality seems to be that Super Tuesday was the day Obama finally caught up. Since then, he’s been leaving Hillary in the dust.

Louisiana. Nebraska. Washington. Maine. Maryland. Virginia. Washington, D.C. Seven in a row, with the smallest margin of victory being 19 percent. More importantly, yesterday’s contests saw Obama making inroads with Clinton’s core voters — working class whites, women, senior citizens, even Latinos. And all of this while Clinton is struggling for cash and replacing her campaign chair.

Clinton is betting the house on Texas and Ohio on March 4. But based on the view “One Week After Super Tuesday … ,” Superman could be well on his way to Metropolis by then.

Links: Buy a hand-signed, 11×14 print of this cartoon | On the main site: “One Week After Super Tuesday …” [Archive No. 0806]

Super Tuesday lived up to its hype, giving us political-junkie types plenty to digest.

On the Democratic side, voters continue to be torn between two historic contenders: The first woman, a wonkish machine of a candidate who brings back memories of a better time; and the first black, an inspirational orator, though a bit light on substance, who promises a brighter tomorrow. Yesterday’s split decision means this thing could go on all the way until the convention in August. Barak Obama looks to have an edge in almost all of the remaining February contests (including my home state of Washington, which caucuses Saturday), and maintains a major fundraising advantage. Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, maintains double-digit leads in the three remaining big states: Ohio and Texas (both March 4), and Pennsylvania (April 22).

Because of the winner-take-all nature of several of the Republican primaries, Super Tuesday all but anointed John McCain as their nominee. The exit polls reveal serious weakness in support from the conservative base of the party, but who else can the GOP rally around? Few seem impressed by the clone-meat artificiality of Mitt Romney, while Mike Huckabee seems stuck in the South. The rank and file appear ready to hold their noses and move on.

Finally, the thing that really stood out to me yesterday is how far Iraq has fallen off the map as a campaign issue. Except for Obama’s occasional poke at Hillary’s authorization vote, the Dems have lost their way on this issue. Where’s the outrage over McCain’s talk of staying in Iraq for 100 years? It appears the war is “The Forgotten Issue” of this election year — and the topic of this week’s cartoon.

Links: Buy a hand-signed, 11×14 print of this cartoon | On the main site: “The Forgotten Issue” (color version) [Archive No. 0805b]

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Links: Buy a hand-signed, 11×14 print of this cartoon | On the main site: “The Forgotten Issue” (B&W version) [Archive No. 0805a]

I’ve received more information about the previously announced art show I’ll be taking part in a few weeks. I’m not sure how many pieces I’ll have in it, but I’m hoping it will be several. Details for those who are interested:

What: “Left, Right, & Wrong: Celebrating the Art of Editorial Cartooning,” an exhibition presented by Cartoonists Northwest and The Art Institute of Seattle
Where: The Art Institute of Seattle’s Burnley Gallery
When: Feb. 25 through March 31; public reception Feb. 29 from 4 to 7 p.m.
For more information: mlivingston@aii.edu or (206) 239-2562

As for the “why,” a few words from the organizers, lifted from the press release:

“We think it’s important – especially in this election year – to recognize the power of art in shaping political discussion,” says Roby Gilbert, show curator and Director of the Animation program at The Art Institute of Seattle. “Whether from the left or right, art is a powerful weapon in the war to persuade. This show celebrates the history and triumph of editorial art from a variety of perspectives.”

“Cartoons have this unique ability to traverse taboo topics and politically correct ‘red tape’ and comment on them with a wonderful blend of humor and poignancy that would be impossible with other tools of public communication! They’re the loud guy in the back of the crowd who shouts out exactly what you were thinking, but could never say,” says Luke Martin, President of Cartoonists Northwest.

I plan to attend to the opening reception. Maybe I’ll see some of you there.