Ted Rall is a Malcontent.

[SidneyCarton]

Discuss.

[islandmkl]

1. seems contented enough to me...

[SteppingRazor]

2. Ted Rall's work is certainly somewhat misanthropic, but...

Ted Rall's actually a pretty nice guy.

[SidneyCarton]

6. Good to know.

His bread and butter is raising Cain through his cartoons, so his recent strips are not surprising. I don't doubt that Garry Tredeau will soon jump on the band wagon.

[nxylas]

3. Yes, and a good thing too

Most political cartoonists are so boring and intellectually stifled that the world is a better place for having the occasional bomb-thrower like Rall around.

[SidneyCarton]

7. Fair Enough.

There is bomb throwing and there is indiscriminate playing with explosives, I wonder some times if Rall has difficulty telling the difference.

[nichomachus]

4. Yes, truth tellers often are

in the world of non-stop propaganda from both sides of the political aisle.

[SidneyCarton]

8. Truth telling or poo-flinging?

Rall makes his money from controversy, which he does very well, but just because it's controversial, shocking or unsettling doesn't necessarily make it true.

[Bucky]

5. I think he's very talented, but directs most of his talent toward complaining

His thinking is a little oversimplistic at times, but I agree with him more than I disagree.

I seem to recall thinking at times in the past that he too easily buys into oversimplifications to the tune of "America is a racist country" and "all cops are racist nazis" without bothering to seek nuance. For those of us who value truth over being on the progressive side of every issue, it can be a little annoying.

But, again, I like most of his work and appreciate his style even when I disagree.

[SidneyCarton]

9. In fairness to Mr. Rall

He is somewhat limited by his media. Cartoonists convey controversy and polemical arguments well, but nuance is difficult, if not impossible in a single frame.

[zulchzulu]

10. My hats off to him for being a syndicated political cartoonist...

... who can't even get close to the master, Mike Luckovich.

http://www.creators.com/editorialcartoons/mike-luckovich.html?comicname=lk

[SidneyCarton]

11. Luckovich is very good, I enjoy his work.

[Shiver]

12. Malcontent or not

His artwork sucks.

[SidneyCarton]

13. A question of aesthetics.

I don't care for his drawing either, but that said, it's better than mine.

[Shiver]

14. Admittedly, it is a question of aethetics

But my drawing is far better than his, although I have a sneaky suspicion he makes it look so damn ugly on purpose...

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

15. God bless him for it.

That's exactly what a political cartoonist should be.

[SidneyCarton]

17. I don't disagree, it's how he makes his money, if he were content, he'd have nothing to draw.

[Sebastian Doyle]

16. Anyone who is "content" with the way things are in this country the last 28 years

Is either delusional, or a criminal.

[SidneyCarton]

18. sure.

But there is a difference between a starving dog and a rabid one. A starving dog fights to find food. A rabid one attacks both those who abuse them and those trying to help. Some of Rall's latest strips have made me wonder if he doesn't just put anyone in power into a third-world military dictatorship uniform and accuse them of being warmongering fascist monsters.