# What is Doonesbury's icon for Obama? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 14, 2009, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-doonesburys-icon-for-obama/481193 "2009-01-14T03:04:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-doonesburys-icon-for-obama/481193/21 "2009-01-14T18:57:46Z")
> [@Greg\_Charles](#): > > I’m voting halo too. If he doesn’t go with that, it will be because it’s too obvious. Crown o’ thorns, maybe? (At least after the first sign of scandal or serious criticism somewhere\*) \*Not a dig on the man—but we all know the media and the public when it comes to politics. Fickle, and eager to jump on any sign of metaphysical impurity. It sells. ---
**Author:** ![Encinitas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Encinitas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Encinitas)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-doonesburys-icon-for-obama/481193/22 "2009-01-14T18:57:54Z")
The earliest icon I can remember being used was a cigarette butt for William Bennett (Drug Czar for G.H.W. Bush). ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-doonesburys-icon-for-obama/481193/23 "2009-01-14T20:21:43Z")
> [@Encinitas](#): > > The earliest icon I can remember being used was a cigarette butt for William Bennett (Drug Czar for G.H.W. Bush). Are you sure you’re not thinking of [Mr. Butts](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Butts)? ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-doonesburys-icon-for-obama/481193/24 "2009-01-14T20:42:09Z")
I remember at one point Dukakis was shown as a figure covered in mud (which had been slung at him). (I’m only 31, honest! I’m not old just because I remember this!) Does anyone remember how Trudeau introduced the point-o’-light for Bush or made it clear that it wasn’t just a voice emanating from an empty chair? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-doonesburys-icon-for-obama/481193/25 "2009-01-14T21:09:02Z")
> [@Alan\_Smithee](#): > > I remember at one point Dukakis was shown as a figure covered in mud (which had been slung at him). (I’m only 31, honest! I’m not old just because I remember this!) That was a _Newsweek_ cover from 1988, with Trudeau (uncharacteristically) drawing recognizable images of Dukakis and Bush41 in a battle titled “Here’s Mud in your Eye!” ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-doonesburys-icon-for-obama/481193/26 "2009-01-14T21:57:20Z")
> [@WarmNPrickly](#): > > I thought he might go with a halo. Either that, or a superhero costume. With big ears. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-doonesburys-icon-for-obama/481193/27 "2009-01-14T22:15:23Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > That was a _Newsweek_ cover from 1988, with Trudeau (uncharacteristically) drawing recognizable images of Dukakis and Bush41 in a battle titled “Here’s Mud in your Eye!” On further research, it was the October 31, 1988 issue, but I can’t find an image of the cover online. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-doonesburys-icon-for-obama/481193/28 "2009-01-14T23:11:46Z")
I’m pretty sure it was in a strip as well. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-doonesburys-icon-for-obama/481193/29 "2009-01-15T00:34:02Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > According to the Doonesbury [website](http://doonesbury.com/strip/faqs/faq_cs.html), this is the list of icons used in the strip so far: > > George H.W. Bush – point o’ lite > Dan Quayle – feather > David Duke – swastika > Newt Gingrich – bomb > Bill Clinton – waffle > Dubya – asterisk (wearing cowboy hat) I could have sworn he did Nixon once or twice (although many years after he resigned) as a reel of tape, but maybe I just dreamed that… ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-doonesburys-icon-for-obama/481193/30 "2009-01-15T01:24:30Z")
A good hunch: it’ll be [Shades](http://img.perezhilton.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/boeb__oPt.jpg). Cool Obama, and easy to have some fun with: lense cracked, armpiece askew, what others? ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-doonesburys-icon-for-obama/481193/31 "2009-01-15T01:44:56Z")
> [@Alan\_Smithee](#): > > Does anyone remember how Trudeau introduced the point-o’-light for Bush or made it clear that it wasn’t just a voice emanating from an empty chair? The way I remember it, this started when Bush was Reagan’s VP. The joke was that you never saw him. I’m pretty sure it predates his “points of light” speech, too (wasn’t that from the '88 campaign?) - he was just supposed to be invisible. ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f08c70/32.png) [@Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Brother_Walker)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-doonesburys-icon-for-obama/481193/32 "2009-01-15T06:30:06Z")
I think I’d like to see a triangle. In physics, it’s considered a change - Delta V = change in velocity. Maybe an Escher triangle? Just sayin’… Or maybe throw some kind of hat in there. If Obama makes some kind of gaffe somewhen. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-doonesburys-icon-for-obama/481193/33 "2009-01-15T06:35:16Z")
How about a blank slate? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-doonesburys-icon-for-obama/481193/34 "2009-01-15T17:24:12Z")
A basketball? ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-doonesburys-icon-for-obama/481193/35 "2012-09-14T17:34:29Z")
Does he have one by now? I haven’t been able to find it. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-doonesburys-icon-for-obama/481193/36 "2012-09-14T17:40:21Z")
According to the wikipedia page; “No symbol for Barack Obama has appeared in the strip; the May 30, 2009 strip showed Obama and an aide wondering what the reason for this might be.” ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-doonesburys-icon-for-obama/481193/37 "2012-09-14T17:41:43Z")
> [@WarmNPrickly](#): > > Does he have one by now? I haven’t been able to find it. Pretty sure he hasn’t had one. He’s always gets the “voice bubble over the White House” treatment. Ah well, guess we’ll have to wait for his second term. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-doonesburys-icon-for-obama/481193/38 "2012-09-14T17:44:11Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > According to the wikipedia page; > > “No symbol for Barack Obama has appeared in the strip; the May 30, 2009 strip showed Obama and an aide wondering what the reason for this might be.” To clarify, the strip in question doesn’t show Obama, it shows the White House, with text bubbles for Obama and the aide emanating from it. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-doonesburys-icon-for-obama/481193/39 "2012-09-14T17:51:19Z")
Manduck: > [@](#): > > The way I remember it, this started when Bush was Reagan’s VP. The joke was that you never saw him. No, the joke in that is that he had no personal identity other than being part of the Reagan administration; it’s a comment on how he totally threw away any differences of opinion he and Reagan once had once he became VP. When he was running in 1988, there was one strip where he seemed to be about to say something that didn’t parrot the Reagan line, and a human outline began to form in the place where his voice was emanating from, and then in the last panel, he said something like, “But then, I decided the President was right,” and the outline vanished, to the disappointment of the assembles journalists. There was a series of strips during the Reagan years in which Bush placed his manhood in a blind trust. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-doonesburys-icon-for-obama/481193/40 "2012-09-14T21:18:44Z")
It started with Reagan as Max Headroom. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-doonesburys-icon-for-obama/481193.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-doonesburys-icon-for-obama/481193.md?page=3)