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A Fan Letter to Michael Ramirez
Dear Michael,
I’ll apologize from the start if I seem to be gushing in this post. I can’t help myself. I happen to think that you are one of the most brilliant political cartoonists of our time. Maybe the best. And I’m so grateful to have your cartoons on Ricochet.
I have noticed, however, that you don’t get much feedback from those of us on Ricochet. I think that’s because we are so captivated by your work that we simply don’t think to click on the “More” key so that we can post a “Like” or a “Comment.” Then again, you may not even review our reactions.
I bring up our response because I’m quite certain that others feel as I do, and that your presence is a great boon to us. Whether you get lots of “likes” or “comments” or not is no reflection on your readership and our appreciation of you. Your last cartoon had one comment and eleven Likes, which is not bad but does not really measure our admiration for your work. Trust me: many of us look forward to your cartoons and when they are posted, we make sure to read them. As I said, they are so timely, hard-hitting, funny, witty and powerful. I, for one, am so glad that you are here. I hope you stay for a very long time.
Your ardent fan,
Susan Quinn
Published in General
Yeah, I think we probably take him for granted. Also, I kinda doubt he pays much, if any, attention to feedback here at Ricochet since he’s nationally syndicated.
I totally agree. I have commented on several of the cartoons (seems like such a weak word for what he does), but the comments are almost always the same thing. He can hit the nail on the head more directly than anyone else.
My wife and I also look forward to each new cartoon.
I totally agree. My day is not complete without reading that day’s Michael Ramirez cartoon. It’s especially great online because it’s usually in color as opposed to the black and white version in the newspaper.
I highly recommend either of the two collection of his cartoons. I bought the 2011 book on Amazon and there is a 2015 collection covering the first (and worst) years of the Obama Administration. Recent history with his perspective takes some of the pain out of it.
I probably shouldn’t but I do tend to think the same.
We absolutely take Michael for granted. So, thank you, from me as well. Political cartoons are the essential expression for the demos. We love them or hate them in the same measure as we apprehend the opinions around us on the street. For those of us in “progressive paradises” Michael’s expressions are sweet relief.
Totally.
Good on ya, SQ! You’ve seen and heard the results a recent email brought my way…
You’re probably right. Our @davesussman interviewed him, though, and he seemed so down-to-earth. Still, it makes me feel better to say something!
Susan, you’re absolutely right — as usual. Ramirez is a great political cartoonist. One can only imagine the blowback he gets from the “woke” crowd. I assume he is syndicated where they can see his cartoons.
Amazingly enough, about 20 years ago he was the house cartoonist for the Los Angeles Times. He really classed up the joint.
That’s when he first hooked me. I was broken-hearted when he left (or was dismissed). I learned later that he went to another publication.
For anyone who wants to know more about his background, I think this site is accurate:
https://everipedia.org/wiki/lang_en/Michael_Ramirez/
My husband and I attended a talk he gave on a National Review cruise some years back, and had the good fortune to chat briefly with him afterwards. A very humble man as well as talented!
Exactly. When someone has summed up something as succinctly – not to mention as aesthetically – as Ramirez does, there is nothing else to say.
Except ‘thank you’.
Good call, Susan.
What a great post – yes – the funniest cartoons even when the subject is serious. I love the artistic attention to the smallest details – you don’t see anything like that anywhere else. And he does Trump’s hair better than Trump… Thank you Mr. Ramirez!
So true, FSC. I think his cartoons that express some kind of darkness are the most remarkable. No one does “dark” and evil like him. Sometimes I feel a chill run down my spine . . .
Maybe @6foot2inhighheels will let him know that we want him to know how grateful we are to have him as a spokesman for the Right–for truth, justice and the American Way! (Is that too corny?)
Does anyone have a most memorable or a “my favorite” ? ….ok I’ll go first, the old fashioned soda jerk booth with the round stools was outstanding artistry, but the most memorable cartoon to date was when Hurricane Michael came and Trump was clinging to the top of a palm tree with water underneath, his hair blowing sideways and he’s holding up his phone with the other hand trying to get a signal to send a tweet…….HaHa Ha!!!!!!!
Ricochet folks are the best! Since there is some curiosity regarding whether or not Michael pays attention to comments, likes, etc; I can tell you that he works nearly constantly, and it took a long time for him to carve out the time to post here at Ricochet himself. So he probably doesn’t have the ability to monitor the feed, but I have alerted him to Susan’s lovely piece, and I’m sure he will read it.
Michael is actually quite modest; saying he’s only good at copying things he sees around him, and he reserves praise for his artist friends whom he considers much more talented. But of course, editorial cartooning is a field which requires a particular set of rare skills; artistic talent, a high degree of intelligence, a finely tuned sense of humor, and a certain childish playfulness that usually exhausts itself by adulthood.
I have great news, too. He will be appearing at CPAC 2019, with me in tow, and will be signing books and artwork. If you are there, and let me know, we’ll all meet up.
In addition, @davesussman‘s birthday falls on Wed. Feb 27, (at CPAC) so of course we’ll be having a party to celebrate. If Michael has arrived at that point, he’ll join us.
Thanks so much for all your kind comments – and you can always check out his latest cartoons at Michaelpramirez.com
Another interview is in the works!
Thanks so much, Melissa, for weighing in on Michael’s behalf!! And for the schedule information. I so appreciate it and I’m sure everyone else does, too!
You got it!
Another fan reporting in! I can’t imagine saying anything after Michael posts a cartoon because he already said it better with a picture. I hope he doesn’t feel neglected.
Here’s one that turns my blood cold . . .
Ditto to all the above!
Ramirez is one of the handful of political cartoonists who count, who have a role in public life equal to what Herblock, Bill Mauldin, and McNelly–and Thomas Nast–wielded in their day. I admire everything about him–his wit, his insight, his ability to conjure biting humor out of the bleakest of material, his draftsmanship and style–and I don’t even draw!
I am one of those who Susan refers to, who looks and enjoys Michael’s work, but rarely ever comments on it, not just here, but in other venues too. As a fellow “conservative” artist, I am a big fan of both Michael Ramirez and National Review artist Roman Genn (several of whose original works my wife and I own.) It feels wonderful to have a couple of gifted masters in our camp from the notoriously left-leaning art world.
I wish the Arizona Republic would print more of Ramirez, especially since their in-house kook Steve Benson was recently “laid off.”
My favorite Ramirez overall is probably the one from Feb 23, 2012 about “How Electric Cars Work” where a little electric car – I think Obama is the driver – is pulling a huge coal power plant behind it.
Here’s how I demonstrate my appreciation: I share his cartoons.