does anyone know the history of political animals??

[veganwitch]

i was in new hampshire flipping through some harper's from the mid 1800s and there were a few of the "democratic tiger" there was also the donkey. does anyone have information about the history of political symbols.

also i think a history of political cartoons would be interesting as hell. is there a book out already??

edit: i cant spell this morning.

[catmandu57]

1. Cartoonist Thomas J. Nast

gave birth to the democratic donkey and piggie elephant during the later 1800's around 1870 I believe. He was a cartoon editorialist for one of the new york papers.

[slappypan]

2. Thomas Nast

They were the creation of the great 19th century political cartoonist, Thomas Nast:

"Although his contribution to bringing down the Tweed Ring would remain the high point of his career, Nast's influence on American political culture went far beyond and continues today. Along with the Tammany Tiger, Nast created the G.O.P. Elephant, popularized the Democratic Donkey, and was the first to portray Santa Claus as the jolly, rotund, red-nosed character that is so familar today."

Looks like boondocksnet.com provides a lot of great information!

[sweetheart]

3. the animals should be changed

now that you mention it...

GOP - pig - as in Orwell's "animal farm"

Democrat - bald eagle

Green - Buffalo

[maha]

4. I agree with the pig,

But I don't see the eagle or the buffalo.

I'd change the Dems from donkey to mule. Mules, being a hybrid and unnatural critter, are thereby more inclusive, and they are bigger and stronger than donkeys. And they got more kick.

Greens -- Kermit the frog, maybe?

[maha]

5. You may have seen a Tamanny Tiger.

Great bit of historical Americana.

[dobak]

6. FYI:

The elephant is the "official" animal mascot of the GOP

The Dems have not made the donkey "official"

[maha]

7. Then President Wesley Clark can install an Army mule!

Works for me.

[LoZoccolo]

8. Histories from the party websites:

http://www.democrats.org/about/donkey.html

http://www.rnc.org/gopinfo/elephant