GOP Gator Wrestling

GOP Gator Wrestling, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

Satan argues that a pair of recent scandals -- Newt Gingrich's past request for an open marriage, Mitt Romney's money in the Cayman Islands -- make both candidates well-suited to win the South Carolina primary, in the latest episode of "The Devil Made Me Blog It"!

Mitt Gives Rivals the (Pink) Slip

Mitt-Pink Slip, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

Mitt Romney has won the Republican New Hampshire presidential primary, and the Devil has kudos for his infamous remarks about "pink slips" in the latest episode of "The Devil Made Me Blog It"!

Mitt's Flip-Flop Fashion Statement

Mitt Flip-Flop Cartoon, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

A flip-flop parenting pair urges their children to emulate a certain GOP presidential candidate in the latest episode of "The Devil Made Me Blog It."

Thanks to my friend Mark for the idea!

Santorum's Spider Web

Santorum TARP, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

Oh, what a tangled web former Sen. Rick Santorum spun for three rivals at this week's Republican presidential debate. Santorum accused Mitt Romney, Herman Cain and Rick Perry of all backing TARP. Read more in the latest episode of "The Devil Made Me Blog It"!

Rick Perry's 'Alamoment'

Perry Alamo Cartoon, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry is circling his wagons. His fellow conservatives lambaste him for his stumbling syntax in debates, and for his softness on illegal immigration. One hundred seventy-five years after the Alamo, is it Perry's turn to make his last political stand? Find out in the latest episode of "The Devil Made Me Blog It!"
Merci to my muse for suggesting I actually look at a photo of the Alamo before drawing it.

Kiddie Cages and GOP Debates

GOP-Kiddie Cages Cartoon, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

While much of the United Kingdom has condemned the sight of 8-year-olds fighting in cages, Satan feels that the Republican presidential candidates should take a page from their playbook, in the latest episode of "The Devil Made Me Blog It"!

Can Mitt Bust Perry's Bronco?

GOP Bronco Busters, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

Looks like Texas Gov. Rick Perry will two-step right into the 2012 GOP nomination. Is there anything Mitt Romney can do to stop him? Read more in the latest episode of "The Devil Made Me Blog It"!

Barry, Bachmann & The Teleprompter

Teleprompter Toon, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

GOP presidential candidate Michele Bachmann has thrown down the gauntlet to President Obama. She says that unlike him, she won't use a teleprompter if elected in 2012. Satan urges Obama to follow her lead in the latest episode of "The Devil Made Me Blog It"!

Bachmann Betrays Palin?

Bachmann-Palin Cartoon, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann officially entered the GOP presidential field this week. Yet does this represent a LeBron-style betrayal of her mentor Sarah Palin, who also may harbor presidential ambitions? Read more in the latest episode of "The Devil Made Me Blog It"!

Bruins Win Bodes Well for Romney

Romney Bruins cartoon, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

The Boston Bruins are pro hockey's Stanley Cup champions ... and the Devil thinks ex-Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney can follow their lead in the latest episode of "The Devil Made Me Blog It"!

The Ballad of Sarah and Che

Palin motorcycle toon, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

Sarah Palin kicked off this week with a visit to a motorcycle rally in DC. Does this make her the political heir to Motorcycle Diarist Ernesto "Che" Guevara? Read more in the latest episode of "The Devil Made Me Blog It"!

Trump to Obama: "You're Fired!"

Trumptoon, originally uploaded by rbtenorio.

Donald Trump has shaken up Campaign 2012 with his smears about President Obama's birth certificate. Does this qualify "The Donald" to be on "2012 Dirty Tricks Apprentice"? Find out in the latest episode of "The Devil Made Me Blog It"!

Palin Meets The Buddha

Palin-Buddha Cartoon, originally uploaded by rbtenorio.

One has earned fame as the leader of a world religious movement ... the other has earned infamy as a voice of the Tea Party Movement. Siddhartha and Sarah cross paths during the latter's trip to India in the latest edition of "The Devil Made Me Blog It"!

Can Aung San Suu Kyi Succeed? You Betcha!

Palin-Aung San Suu Kyi Cartoon, originally uploaded by rbtenorio.

The government of Myanmar has released Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest and all signs are that she will retake the helm of the Burmese democracy movement. Yet could she work more effectively behind the scenes? Sarah Palin, who knows a thing or two about grass-roots movements, puts on her American tourist attire to chat up Suu Kyi in the latest episode of "The Devil Made Me Blog It"!

Palin's Unbearable Reviewers

Palin TV Cartoon, originally uploaded by rbtenorio.

Sometimes a cartoon just draws itself -- as was the case with this one, a reaction to the New Yorker review of Sarah Palin's upcoming reality TV show, in the latest episode of "The Devil Made Me Blog It"!

The Barbour of Mississippi

Barbour Cartoon, originally uploaded by rbtenorio.

If the Gulf oil spill made a hero out of anyone, you could argue that it was Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour. The former Republican national chairman did a creditable job helping Mississippians deal with the spill. Yet are Haley's hopes for the 2012 GOP presidential nod as unrealistic as his "come on in, the water's fine" attitude towards Gulf tourism? Read more in the latest episode of "The Devil Made Me Blog It"!

Clinton, Palin: The Members of the Wedding

Clinton-Palin Wedding Cartoon, originally uploaded by rbtenorio.

Two of our most prominent politicians, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, will be real-life “Members of the Wedding.” (Apologies to Carson McCullers.) Clinton’s daughter, Chelsea, will marry longtime boyfriend Marc Mezvinsky in Rhinebeck, N.Y., Saturday … while Palin’s daughter, Bristol, has announced her engagement to on-again, off-again boyfriend Levi Johnston. Yet do Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin have more on their agenda than upcoming nuptials? Read more in the latest episode of “The Devil Made Me Blog It” … and congratulations to the happy couples!

Clintons Cause Colorado Conundrum?

Colorado Cartoon, originally uploaded by rbtenorio.

So what are we to make of the dueling endorsements from President Obama and ex-President Clinton in Colorado? If we are to believe the odious former Clintonista Dick Morris, they may signify a challenge from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to the president in 2012. Read more in the latest episode of "The Devil Made Me Blog It"!

Sanford, Palin: Dems' Gifts from the Magi

Sanford-Palin Cartoon, originally uploaded by rbtenorio.

If you're a Democrat, chances are you gotta like the latest news coming out of Republican-Land. Two of the top GOP contenders for the 2012 presidential nomination, Govs. Mark Sanford and Sarah Palin, did their chances in recently -- one with an extramarital affair, the other with an unexpected resignation. Satan wonders whether Mitt Romney will make it a trifecta in the latest episode of "The Devil Made Me Blog It"!

PS - The title of this post -- and the fourth panel -- refer to the classic O. Henry short story "The Gift of the Magi."

Palin's Committee of Appropriations

Seems Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has appropriated someone else's work again ... and once more, she's drawn anger over it.
Huffington Post blogger Geoffrey Dunn accused Palin of lifting too much material in a recent speech from an article by former GOP House Speaker Newt Gingrich -- who, like Palin, may run for president in 2012. But the Associated Press calls it a non-story:

Dunn posted the accusation Saturday on the Huffington Post, a liberal political Web site and blog, after comparing Gingrich's article and Palin's speech. Palin twice referenced Gringrich's article last Wednesday in Anchorage as she introduced conservative talk show host Michael Reagan, the son of former President Ronald Reagan.

This isn't the first time Palin used someone else's words and got a negative response. After she debated Democratic vice-presidential nominee Joe Biden last fall, her post-party featured the accompaniment of country star Martina McBride's anthem of empowerment "Independence Day." This upset the songwriter, Gretchen Peters, who told "Democracy Now":

(This) is a song about domestic abuse ... she represented the opposite of what this song really is all about. And I just—I knew that I didn’t have any legal recourse, but I also felt like I could have—that there was some way for me to make some kind of a statement.

And make a statement she did. Peters donated royalties from the song to Planned Parenthood in Palin's name. Luckily, this time around, Palin's source isn't upset.
"Gingrich takes no issue with (Palin) for using his words," the AP reported. "In fact, he'd be happy if more Republicans espoused his ideas, a spokesman for the former House speaker said Monday."
Looks like Palin's internalized that time-honored journalistic chestnut: Consider your source.