Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau for March 10, 2011

Linen tunics are a sign of poverty? Have you ever priced those things?

Torches, get your torches! I got pitchforks! Pitchforks for sale! I say I got torches. Meanwhile, back in Wisconsin——–

Those aren’t Linen Tunics, those are Muslins.

^ Nice play on words, Sarge.

What about those rake-like things? Can’t have a proper mob without them!

Hmm, zip in a helmet? Wouldn’t it be neat if he came back and continued wearing helmets for the rest of his life?

Don’t underestimate those pitchforks… toss one up into the chopper blades and it’s Game Over.

Sgt, well done on the Muslins comment, but I think the comment fell “flat” for most people here.

It can’t be Wisconsin. If it were, half of the protesters would be high school kids brought in by their teachers, interspersed with the occasional physician writing fake sick notes for the rest of them.

If pitchforks are the best the Berzerkistan protestors/rebels can manage, I would think Prez-For-Life Bmzklfrpz wouldn’t have much to worry about. I would imagine his forces would be a little better armed.

It would surprise me if Trudeau is planning to kill off Jeff & Zipper, or maim them for life like BD. It also wouldn’t be fair to Joanie, who doesn’t deserve such a pathetic son. But it would be satisfying if he did it. Zipper’s slacker heir-to-Zonker schtick is getting tiresome, and Jeff is representative of the worst qualities of his generation.

I can’t believe Jeff noted the poverty - that’s not like him at all. Is it possible his moronic character has room for growth? Hard to be optimistic.

Good morning!

I haven’t been around much the last few days, but I have been thinking. What I thought is that BD lost part of a leg, and therefore, couldn’t go back to Iraq (or is Ray in Afghanistan?) even if he wanted to.

Yes, maybe Jeff’s character is developing.

Still, a strip like this needs people of all persuasions.

annamargaret, I agree. It Takes A Village, and Jeff is our Village Idiot.

However, he can’t help that. I don’t see him as representing the worst of his generation at all, which is represented as the “helicopter generation” (which doesn’t mean “Blackhawks”, but the fact that their parents have hovered over them all their lives and left them incapable of making decisions).

Jeff is independent, imaginative, brave, compassionate, willing to learn, and passionate about his work. He’s dangerous only because he’s chaotic, but he’d be much more dangerous if provided real leadership (his parents are not role models in that regard). Despite his lack of common sense leading to his misadventures, I think GT likes him a lot, in a “Forrest Gump” sort of way.

^ Yep, that’s how we can afford this here fancy internet-thingy.

Linen went out of fashion in the ’60s.

The Republicans are destroying the corrupt money-laundering scheme that encourages Democratic politicians to sign blank checks to municiple unions at negotiating time, whose leadership then funnels off a chunk of the union dues back to the Democratic politician. It’s an admirable ponzi scheme, except for the fact that the taxpayer is funding all of it. Its destruction is long overdue. No matter what happens now, the public - particularly the Independents - are getting an education on how this corrupt system works, and organized labor will never completely recover.

I dunno, rickmac. CNN is reporting that:

“Throngs of protesters gathered in Madison, Wisconsin, Thursday, pounding on the windows of the state legislature one day after the Senate passed an amended form of a controversial bill that curtails the bargaining rights of most state workers.

Their actions prompted Capitol police to close the building and forcibly remove demonstrators inside who refused to leave.”

All that’s missing are the pitchforks, but there’s no shortage of them in Wisconsin. Stay tuned.

Chikuku, you are so right! I think there is a tidal wave of disaster coming for working class people in this country. Given the increasong number of multi billionairs and the decline of the middle class, maybe that would be the situation for poor people across the world for that matter.

I do think there are very bitter days ahead for everyone. That is the direction things seem to be heading.

A lack of compassion and fellow feeling and a disgregard for kindness, goodness and honesty leads the way.

“Did you ever in your life think you’d see Zipper in a combat helmet!”

Why not, Zonk wore one for a while. Of course, Zonk was a much more developed character than Zip will ever be.

Can you believe it, it was suppose to snow in San Francisco the other day! But it was nice and sunny instead, so I went down to the Civic Center and hooked up with some peasants with roach clips to see what the hub bub was all about. Man, there were a lot of teachers there, but it was on Sat, so no one missed school. They sho had no love for Gov Walker.

About the same time there was a Libyan demonstration at the UN Plaza, so it was a whoopin’ hollerin’ twofer. Heck the Libyans felt the same way about Kaddafi as the teachers felt about Walker. I think the Libyans had more fervor though.

zipper reminds me of some of the worthless trash that was protesting in the 60’s.

Zip wasn’t even a wet dream gleam in his father’s eye in the ‘60’s tcambeul, 2008 maybe.

Wow, Nem, What are you ON? I can hardly wait for the little Hitlers to come after you next. You don’t realize that people who say “let them eat cake” get their heads cut off?

Maybe now is the time for zipper to earn those classic Doonesbury eyes

freeholder, don’t forget that the little Stalins killed many more people than did the little Hitlers. They’re still more of a threat today.

Besides, as I was myself reminded several weeks ago for a fringe transgression, you are in direct violation of Godwin’s law… not to mention guilty of horrific mixed metaphors for flip-flopping Marie Antoinette for Adolph Hitler.

One of the problems in Wisconsin is the trouble reporters are having (as well as Dem. representatives) getting IN the State House to work.

And the Faux Noise ‘reportage’ slant coming out.

Madison is certainly a reminder, and perhaps a seed crystal.

Do you work a forty-hour week?

Do you work eight-hour days?

Do you get ANY kind of paid vacation, sick leave, benefits?

Thank a union if the answer is yes.

I know, I know, unions have also (as have corporations) been susceptible to takeover by organized crime. So have governments. The power balance is invaluable, even when unstable. The game is worth the candle.