Any bets on what Obama's Doonesbury icon will be?

[Jester Messiah]

G.H.W. Bush was a "point o' light", Bill Clinton was a waffle, and the douchetard was an asterisk wearing a cowboy hat, and then an increasingly battered Roman helm. I can only guess what Obama's will be... how do you capture "Hope & Change" in an icon?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. An exclamation point with ears?

Or the Obama O?

[El Supremo]

2. Something transparent.

[jeff30997]

3. Great idea.

I love lingerie! :)

[Jester Messiah]

4. Yikes!

I love the O-man, don't get me wrong, but I'm not looking to see him sporting Victoria's Secret!

[sohndrsmith]

5. fun question... thanks...

um... a red/white/blue "halo"? : ) ... that's sort of politically incorrect though, isn't it. Probably won't be that.

um... a white cowboy hat? (as in the "good guy" of old western movies, etc.?)

... a parody of the Superman chest logo with an "O"?

... a contented, smiling, happy globe?

... dark sunglasses (a la the "I got this" photo?)

... an ice cube (cool) with an olive branch (duh) in/on it?


that's all I can think of right now. I should have stopped before I started, I know.

Great brain fun, though...

[Rowdyboy]

7. Some really great suggestions there....

I could live with any of them

[sohndrsmith]

8. thanks - : ) great post. We NEED the diversion...!!! n/t

[Jester Messiah]

11. Aye, my pleasure.

This place has been getting way too serious of late!

[Rowdyboy]

6. Maybe a halo....That was our best guess when we talked about this recently at a party

Like this, only without the guy

[kiranon]

9. Wings or a halo. n/t

[Voice for Peace]

10. somebody on a previous thread suggested a Brain

[Jester Messiah]

12. Oh, that's a good one!

Or any symbol of academia. There was an article in the Washington Post (I believe) that claimed the era of the good-natured dunce was over, that the intellectual was back in fashion. Oddly enough, we may have The Douchetard to thank... now that he's demonstrated the dire consequences of electing a fool, we may be spared the likes of Sarah Palin.

[CK_John]

13. I'll go with a question mark. n/t

[Bucky]

14. Pie

Or pi

[Kalyke]

23. That would be the best choice.

It would bring a cliquish reference out into the public eye.

(Most people don't get the pie/pi reference in the real world)

[Muttocracy]

15. how far back did Doonesbury use those? did it start with GHWB? nt

[yardwork]

16. During Reagan there were a lot of saddles in front of the White House, I remember.

[Muttocracy]

17. thanks. I don't think I read Doonesbury until GHWB. nt

[yardwork]

18. I can't remember if there was an icon for Jimmy Carter but I think there was.

I have this memory of a big grin but maybe it wasn't Doonesbury.

[Bucky]

28. You're thinking of Alice in Wonderland. And that was the Cheshire cat, not Carter

The first empty air president was Poppy Bush, later changed to a feather floating in the air.

Earlier presidents like Carter & Reagan had usually just stayed off panel or were shown as a hand pointing from off panel.

[Jester Messiah]

29. No, the feather was Dan Quayle.

Representing his status as a feather-weight.

[csziggy]

19. Doonesbury FAQ on this question!

http://www.doonesbury.com/strip/faqs/index.html

What will Obama's icon be?


Three U.S. presidents have been represented in Doonesbury by icons:

George H.W. Bush -- flag / point o' lite
Bill Clinton -- waffle
George W. Bush -- asterisk with cowboy hat / helmet

As early as November 2nd, Doonesbury readers began writing in from all over the globe -- from Dallas to Denmark -- asking what icon would be used to represent Barack Obama. The appearance of the president-elect's legs in the 12/7/08 Sunday strip suggests that GBT might not be planning to use an icon for our 44th president, but before we find out for sure, let's take a look at some of the suggestions readers have sent in:

The number "1" as in "That 1" or "The 1".
-- Greg Smith, Vancouver, CANADA

May I suggest a cucumber (as in "cool as a")? When he gets into his first scandal, you can turn it into a pickle.
-- Dan Derozier, Houston, TX

I thought of a rising sun, but that's too imperial Japanese, and of a wizard's wand because that's what he and his team will need to begin to clean up the mess left them.
-- Martha, Portsmouth, NH

Must be tough to find a funny symbol for hope/brains/eloquence/thoughtfulness.
-- Frances Segal, Laguna Niguel, CA

You could use a mortarboard, as he was for years a professor.
-- David Derbes, Chicago, IL

How about a construction hard hat? He has a huge job ahead of him and a hard hat may come in handy!
-- Diane Harvey, Falls Church, VA

I think a good symbol for for Obama would be: !? joined at the base by the period mark to form a 'V' shape. His campaign and post-election conferences have all been huge promises and words of action, but with a 'how' left sticking out there like a huge sore thumb.
-- Brian Peters, Pensacola, FL

Obama's symbol could be a golden halo, or his giant famous O-Crest.
-- Pete, Boulder, CO

I suggest the triangle/Greek letter Delta, which in math and science means "change in".
-- Stephanie Stokes, Metairie, LA

[SaveAmerica]

20. A clenched fist (terrorist fist bump/jab style), or how about his smile?

[Nancy Waterman]

21. An ear

He has big ears and his "thing" is listening to others.

[progdog]

22. Shades.

n/t

[ogneopasno]

24. I think he should just draw him as a person...I think the icon shtick has worn a little thin.

Besides, he used the icons for presidents that didn't have much to them.

[MilesColtrane]

25. Scholar's Cap

[gkhouston]

26. Well, if Trudeau was thinking of a shoe, that's definitely out now.

:evilgrin:

[Bucky]

27. A giant armadillo

It has nothing to do with Obama himself, but I think it's fun to draw armadillos.